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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shadows Mind: Murder - Chapter One

Title: Shadows Mind: Murder

Chapter: 3/?

Character/Pairing: Adam Carson/OFC; Hunter Burgan/Jade Puget; Davey Havok

Genre: Angst; AU

Rating: T

Summary: In a time of devestating war and destruction, five young children witnessed their world come crashing down before them. Twenty years later, they have risen above the chaos to lead their once war-torn land, Allyria, into an era of peace. But the serenity they have brought may only be the calm before the storm as a powerful force from beyond their kingdom threatens to tear their world, their kingdom and their lives apart. Can they rise above the wreckage or will Allyria fall into the darkness building steadily on the horizon? Written with FadingStar. In-Complete

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement. Graphic depictions of violence. Death

One: We’re just the empty set floating through, wrapped in skin

Violet eyes were eerily calm, unfeeling, unperturbed, even though their owner, a tall lissome woman, was surrounded by over a dozen well armored men. Her arms, which were clad in by pliant leather guards and soft black fabric, were crossed over her small bust, accentuating the cockiness of her stance, one hip jutting out to the left. Her face was expressionless, but the twist of her frame said everything that needed to be said to the men. She was ready for them.

"Well," she said, a sneer playing upon her coral lips as she looked at the men. "Come on. I haven't got all day."

There was a second of silence before one of the men, younger, more brash, by the looks of him, unsheathed his sword and charged her with an almost cliche little roar. She almost laughed outright at that, she just loved the young ones, they were deliciously over sure of themselves and it was all the more fun to deflate their egos.

In one graceful motion, so fluid there appeared to be no bones in her body, the woman had unsheathed her own blades from their scabbards strapped to her back. Slender, curving, like a wicked smile, they fit into her hands like she'd been born with them there. A very believable notion when she arced the blades against her attacker, blocking his downward swing with one blade, while the other slammed into the belly of his armor. He stumbled back few feet, and might have attempted a second run at her, had she not spun on the heel of her boot and slammed her other foot into his rib cage. He fell, sure not to be getting up for a few minutes. He was out in any case.

The first attacker's brethren awoke with his charge and they, together started toward her, the woman smiled in an almost feral way as they did. If nothing else, this would be fun.

Her body was like a ribbon of muscle, interweaving nearly like a dancer in between the weapons of her opponents. Delivering blows with her swords, her elbows, and her legs, the entirety of her figure was as deadly as the blades she carried. In less than four minutes all but five of the thirteen men that had come at her had backed away, defeated, some of them unconscious. To their credit the five who remained were far more experienced with this woman and her fighting style, so they could hold out against her fairly well. Apparently though, experience was not enough, and those five too were soon part of the circle of defeated that surrounded her.

"I expected more from you all," the woman said, shaking back her violet and jet tail of hair. She wrinkled her nose as she felt sweat tricking down her forehead. "Really, that was barely an improvement at all from last time. How do any of you expect to protect the Chancellors from hordes of enemy soldiers if you can't at least take me out?"

"With all due, respect, Lady Kali, no one can take you out," one of the more experienced group said with a smile.

Kali threw her head back and laughed at that one.

"Flattery gets you no where, Ashneil," she told him, crossing her arms again. "Though it is appreciated. Now, come on, on your feet, all of you. You're in training for the Chancellors' guard, you don't get to rest. And you'd better shape up or you'll be eating nothing but bread and the Cook's secret stew until you do."

A loud groan came from the men making Kali chuckle.

"Now none of that, you big bunch of babies!" she tried to reprove without smiling. "Come on, come on!" She clapped her hands. "And Morgan, work on your footing, boy! You tripped yourself up on that butterfly arc, I barely had to swing to push you off balance."

Grumbles continued to issue from the men's throats but Kali paid it no mind, smiling at them. This afternoon was going to be a good one, she could tell. Or at least that was the plan until a young boy dressed in the black and white livery of a castle page, came running through the entrance to the practice yard, to kneel before Kali. Kali frowned down at his prostrated blonde head, she didn't like this very much.

"Yes?" she barked her permission for the boy to speak.

"L-lady Kali a messenger has just entered the castle from Letor province," the boy stammered, a slight tremble to his slender frame, not daring to look her in the eyes. Almost everyone outside of the Chancellors and the men she trained to protect them acted in such away before her. Perhaps it was the fire that flickered in her violet eyes, or her reputation as a merciless killer in the Chancellors' names. Most likely it was the latter, but Kali hardly cared. Letor had been mentioned, that was all that mattered at the moment.

"And?" Kali prompted, a little more gently, though she had a feeling of what was going to be said already.

"And he requested an audience with the Chancellors," the boy said. "Lord Cormac said you should be sent for as well, he-he said you would want to be there with them."

Kali's eyes darkened, she definitely didn't like this. "All right I'm coming, they'll be seeing him in the planning room, will they not?"

"Y-yes ma'am," he said.

Kali nodded. "You're dismissed then." She watched as the boy stood and practically ran for the doors, chuckling just a bit before turning to her men. "All right, you pansies are lucky, I doubt we'll get to practice anymore today. You're free. But if I were you all I'd spend every free second practicing, if you don't do better next time you are getting put on that diet." The men let out a loud groan again and Kali didn't hide her laughter as she started out of the practice yard. She was well suited to this life with the sword.

In the fields adjacent to the castle stables, another man was sitting calmly on black horse, looking over the landscape before him. No snow had fallen in the capital yet, despite December being only days away from its start, so the weather was still good for riding. Cold as the seventh hell, but it was riding weather nonetheless, and until snow covered the ground, interceding his mount's hooves for a gallop, ride he would.

He pushed back his leftward hanging shock of hair, black colored with strips of blonde, patting the neck of his horse idly. Beneath him the animal shifted, scratching a hoof against the brown winter grass. The rider smiled, his steed was as ready for this little jaunt as he was, and he wasn't one for holding back.

"Yah!" he shouted giving the horse a quick nudge in the side with his heels. At once the gelding was moving, its muscles rippling beneath him as they worked from a trot to a full fledged gallop. The rider grinned and leaned forward against the saddle, his face resting close to his horse's neck. This was bliss.

Rider and horse were one as hooves kicked up dirt through the fields, the rider's body moving in tune with each motion the animal made. It was artistic, the way they melded together, becoming one solid blur as the horse propelled them across the grass. When they came to a series of fences it was not just the horse that jumped, the rider leapt with it, standing partway out of his stirrups as they cleared the wooden frames. So at ease and well trained was the rider that he thought nothing of closing his eyes after the fences had been cleared and they were circling rapidly about the field.

There was nothing so liberating as riding, nothing in the world. It was another plane of existence compared to the life that the rider lead, composed of the earth and pure, untamed, movement. There was only himself, his steed, the earth below, and the sky above. Nothing else, no one else, the rest of the universe was muted out by the rapid hooves pounding the earth in tune with his heartbeat. The rider released the horse's reigns, curling his fingers into it's mane. This was true freedom.

All to soon the animal began to slow, weary from the jaunt. The rider frowned, but allowed it to happen, patting it's neck and pulling the reigns to slow the horse himself. There was no sense in trying to push his mount beyond it's limits, he was not a cruel trainer, after all, just a man who enjoyed the pace. Easing the horse into a stop he slid from the saddle, deciding to make things even easier on the animal, and lead it by the reigns back toward the stables, where a small audience had gathered.

"You flew out there today, Chancellor David," a man grizzled and muscled from ages of work in both the stables and in the fields said as the rider and his horse approached. "Your Lyell barely had to bunch his muscles to clear the fences this time about. You've quite the hand at riding. If you ever get tired of those fancy political things you do, you might take my job."

David chuckled at that comment and patted the horses flanks. "Don't praise me so much, Jereth, I've just got a good partner to work with," he said. "If you want to be saying such nice things, they'd be better going to him."

It was Jereth's turn to chuckle as he opened the gate to the inner stable for the Chancellor. "Yes, a good horse makes quite a bit of difference, milord, I won't argue that with you," he replied. But I have to say a good trainer makes an even bigger one. Any horse can be taught to trot, teaching them well is a gift."

"Well, we both thank you for the compliment, then," David said, smiling as he guided Lyell to his pen.

Next to the actual ride, caring for the horse was David's favorite part about being in the stables. There was something very gratifying about it, the quietness of the stables as he curry combed the animal, watered it, and made sure it had clean dry hay to eat. There was no thank you in the work, not besides knowing his horse was being cared for, but that feeling was worth it all.

He had just taken Lyell's saddle off, and was removing his bit, when his plans for tending the stallion, were interrupted by the appearance of Jereth, unexpectedly, at the stall door a page at his side. David's stomach sank at the appearance of the boy. He didn't often make use of the castle pages, preferring to deliver messages in person to his co-councils, and their showing up before him always meant bad news.

"Yes?" David asked as the boy dropped to one knee and bowed his head to him, his tone taking on a distant quality.

"Chancellor David, a messenger has just arrived from Letor, he's requested an audience with yourself, Chancellor Adam, Chancellor Jade, and Chancellor Hunter," the boy said. "Lord Cormac sent him to the planning room. Will you see him, milord?"

"Yes, of course," David said with a confident nod, though his stomach began to feel a bit uneasy. "Go to my chambers and have a maid set out new clothes for me and tell Cormac I'll be there shortly. Hurry."

"Yes, milord," the boy said rising to his feet, bowing politely at the waist, and sprinting off, evidently eager for his task. With the boy gone David turned to Jereth, who was watching with wise eyes and gave a sheepish smile, holding up the curry comb.

"Is there any way you could take care of him for me?" he asked, nodding to Lyell.

"Of course, milord," Jereth said, moving without hesitation to take the comb from his master. "Don't worry about a thing. I'll take good care of him, you don't pay me to be the stable master for nothing."

"I know," David said, smiling again, as he patted his horse goodbye on his velvety nose, sparring a moment to pull a cube of sugar from his pocket for the animal. The young Chancellor wiped his hand off on his worn riding breeches and turned away, the smile dissipating from his features as he did. So much for an afternoon of freedom.

Sawdust filled the small room, filling the cool air with a scent that had always reminded him of home. There was something safe, something comforting about the smell. If he dared to let himself dwell on it, he would admit it brought back memories of his father. Memories of the life he still missed acutely.

With each piece he carved, he felt connected to who he was. To what he could have been had the attack on his village never come. It was bittersweet, the longing he had for that life, and he struggled with it daily. But as well as reminding him, each piece he through himself into allowed him to forget. It allowed him to escape and that escape was what he longed for most of all.

He sat, hunched over the small work bench carefully carving each intricate detail into the wooden box sitting before him. Long flowing lines mixed with sharp angles. He had no plan in mind, simply letting his fingers and the piece itself lead the way. It was something his father had taught him. The best work didn’t come from detailed planning but from your heart. And it was something he cherished.

The sun hung low in the sky behind him, casting faint orange light across the table. How long he’d spent locked inside the room, he couldn’t quite say. And somehow it didn’t seem to matter to him. In the back of his mind the thought that his absence from his duties was probably noticed, but it did not hold enough precedence to pull him from the room. They would simply have to make do without him.

It had been a while since he’d allowed himself to be pulled in like this. Too long, he reasoned. But the duty he held to the men he counted as brothers, the people he considered family, and those he helped to lead, called for the vast majority of his time and his energy. On more than one occasion he’d found himself overwhelmed and wanting to run, but he knew that would solve nothing. Hiding from your problems would not make them vanish. And who was he to cast more burden on those he knew shouldered more than their share.

He shook the thought from his mind, focusing instead on the smooth feel of the wood beneath his fingers and the contrast of the rough pieces of shaved wood left behind by his chisel. He breathed deeply, taking in the strong scent left by the carved wood. It was oddly comforting and he allowed the feel and the scent to ground him.

A soft knock residing on the door shook him from his trance, forcing him back into reality. He stood, rasing his arms above his head in a vain attempt to ease the stiffness in his back. He had let himself grow far too involved in his work.

Slowly, he made his way to the door, pulling it open with ease. He was greeted with the stoic gaze of one of the many attendants of the citadel. Nodding at the boy, he allowed his eyes to wander down the empty hallway. Torches burned in their holders, casting an eery glow over the stone around them.

“Chancellor Hunter, I apologize for disturbing your work, but a messenger of Letor has arrived requesting an audience with you and the other chancellors,” the boy spoke, handing him a small piece of parchment.

Hunter quickly read over the letter, nodding. “Tell the others I shall be there shortly.” With a curt nod, the boy turned and hurried down the hall. Closing the door once more, Hunter sighed. His duties called for him once more.

Brushing the saw dust from his clothing, Hunter took one last slow glance around the small room, not quite knowing when he would have the chance to return again.

The earth was the most important thing, it was warm and cool, soft and hard, all at once, it was everything. Life began with the ground, life ended with the ground. Like life, it could be rough, filled with stones and other hard bumps, and at the same time it could be easy, rich with rewards that far surpassed any others in existence.

These were the thoughts that ran through a young man's head as he knelt in the middle of a little garden encased my thick glass walls, his rough hands digging straight into the cushy soil while planting several bulbs and seeds set upon a small tray beside him. A startling contrast to the outside December air, the atmosphere in the glass room was sweltering like mid-June, thick and sticky. So much so that sweat matted down the gardener's oddly cut auburn and blonde hair, trickling down his face and bare back; he'd removed his shirt almost at once after entering the place. Dirt was streaked upon his forehead and nose from the many times he had wiped his brow since coming to there to work.

Memories lay in the dirt, memories unreachable, unwanted in any other places. Working the ground and raising greens, gave a sense of the world being unchanged. If he closed his eyes and tried hard enough, he could become lost in those gentle, unbidden, recesses of his mind. That's where his truest passion lay, a fantasy world that was nary ever touched.

He would see her first, in this little world set in his head. Hazel eyes and auburn hair, smiling and waving him on as she worked in front of the oven. A blonde man would be next, tall with a deep laugh that rumbled past his lips like thunder. Next would be two teenage boys, almost men, with a slight stubble on their chins, teasing him as they always tended to do. It was only because they cared, though, he knew now. A girl, little younger than the boys, would be sitting in a corner, rocking a baby in her arms, giving him a warm smile as he passed. Then, already at the table, making a copious amount of noise, would be...

"Chancellor Jade?" a small voice cut into his reflection just before he could grasp hold of that one memory that meant the most to him. Almost angry, he stood and turned toward the room's entrance, his one visible hazel eye snapping. The boy at the door dressed in a page's livery nearly curled into a ball from the look on his face. He ducked his head, taking a few steps backward, not daring to look up into his liege's face again.

"What?" Jade's voice was a cold monotone, void of any sort of feeling. It matched the look on his face perfectly.

The boy jumped, shaking and scrabbling for the reason he had come here, the last place any of the pages would want to be.

"I-I-Um-Letor!" he almost shouted the last word as he felt Jade's eyes boring into him. "L-Letor my lord, a-a messenger?"

Jade quirked an eyebrow at that, the only emotion he really ever showed, intrigue. "I understand," he cut the still stammering boy off, turning around to find the shirt he'd discarded somewhere nearby. "Go and inform Cormac I will be in the planning room shortly. Now." He added the last word when he sensed the boy still frozen in place. He melted immediately and the sound of footsteps running down the hall greeted Jade's ears.

Jade looked down and eyed the bulbs he had left lying on the ground, biting his lower lip. He hated to leave work undone but still, more important matters needed his attention. He sighed but gathered up the plants he'd left lying to the side, taking them to a sunlit corner of the room to wait his return before striding out the door.

The soft ruffle of bed clothes filled the small room. It was growing colder, December coming just around the corner. A young man tugged the sheet higher up on his naked form, running his hand slowly through his shaggy dark hair. His eyes were half lidded, his face holding the last traces of color and warmth that had been caused by the activities he had engaged himself in only a few minutes prior.

With wide, warm eyes, the young chamber maid smiled at the him, hoping he could see the hope in her eyes. It was the first time they had coupled and she hoped it would not be the last. Oh she knew it wouldn’t move far beyond that, she wasn’t completely naive, but she hoped that they would at least have more time together.

He returned her smile softly, reading her intention, and shook his head. She was lovely, that he would not deny. Her bright green eyes and soft golden hair had been what captured his eye in the first place. She was quiet, shy almost, but sweet. To say he didn’t enjoy the coupling would be a bold faced lie, but he simply was not the one to tie himself to another, physically or otherwise. Attachment was not something he needed, a release was. As cruel and cold as that fact was, it was what he knew, how he lived. And he refused to change for anyone.

The subtle change in his eyes told her all she needed to know. This was all that would come to pass between them, a quick roll in the sheets. That fact stung, but she fought to keep her face calm, expressionless. She refused to show him her pain, refused to allow herself to be made vunerable again.

Silence filled the room, as the chamber maid pulled her simple dress over her head. The young man watched her move then turned his attention to the ceiling, stretching his arms above his head. He heard the wooden door slowly open followed by a rustle of fabric before it closed once again.

Alone with his thoughts, the man allowed his mind to clear, taking in the soft sounds filtering around him. He could hear the soft roar of the fire, the scurry of feet along the stoned hallway just beyond his door. They were familiar sounds. Small things. Simple things.

Perhaps it was selfish and cold, the way he took women to his bed. But he made them no promises, he told them no lies. He made sure they knew it was only sex. Only physical release he sought. Commitment, love, these were things he had little time for. Things he had no need for. His life was simply not built for them. It was something he’d come to accept long ago.

A soldier’s life had no room for anything more than battle and loyalty to the land and the people he called home. Not to say he was cold hearted. No. He loved in his own way. The people he kept close to him were the people he cherished. The people he would give his life for; Kal, Davey, Hunter, Jade. They were his family.

The sharp knock resounding from outside his door, pulled him from his thoughts. Grumbling, he stood, pulling his robe from the chair beside his bed and fastening it around himself. He made his way to the door, pulling it open, the displeasure he felt from being disturbed marring his face.

Wide green eyes stared back at him. “Sir,” the page began, lowering his eyes immediately.

“Yes?” he nodded, waiting for the boy to continue.

“Chancellor Adam,” the page began once more, “I apologize for disturbing you, milord, but a messenger has arrived from Letor requesting an audience with you and the other Chancellors.”

Adam nodded at the boy. “Tell him that I will be down shortly.”

With a nod, the page turned and made his way quickly down the darkened hallway. Once he had disappeared from sight, Adam pushed the door closed and made his way towards the small wooden wardrobe in the far corner of the room. With a sigh, he grabbed his tunic and robes, donning them slowly.

It seemed a soldier’s work was never done.

#afislash #Junter #Adam Carson/OFC #co-written with FadingStar #AU #sparkinside writes #Shadows Mind: Murder

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shadows Mind: Murder - Prelude part two

Title: Shadows Mind: Murder

Chapter: 2/?

Character/Pairing: Adam Carson/OFC; Hunter Burgan/Jade Puget; Davey Havok

Genre: Angst; AU

Rating: T

Prelude 21

Jade was frozen, out of his body, as he watched the horses mercilessly pound his six year old brother into the ground. He couldn't think or speak, he could just watch, watch as Smith was murdered. It was as if the soul in him had been ripped out, like there was nothing left, just his sight and the disbelief that it was really happening and that the riders, while they could only see but five yet, were drawing closer.

"Jade!" he heard his friends shout his name, felt Hunter tug on his arm, but still, he was numb.

"Jade!" Davey was screaming, "Jade we have to get out of the way!"

"Grab his arm!" Kali shouted to Hunter, already throwing one of Jade's limbs up and over her shoulders. "Come on, we need to climb! Move! Move!"

Hunter reacted without thinking, locking his hands around Jade's small arm, helping Kali tug him out of the path of the horsemen who showed no sign of stopping. His heart pounded wildly in his chest as his mind fought to understand what was happening around him.

Adam quickly jumped in, helping his friends pull the frozen boy back towards the woods from which they came. He'd never run so fast nor hard in his entire life. His chest burned and his sides ached, but he knew he had to keep going, they all did. They had to get back to the village, the soldier's fort. They had to warn them.

The pounding of hooves on the earth echoed behind them as they ran. Every time he shut his eyes, Hunter could see Smith's helpless and terrified face as the horses plowed over him. It turned his stomach and twisted him about.

Smith had never been the easiest of children, he'd heard and witnessed countless times when the boy had gotten himself tangled in one chaotic mess or another. But this, this was something Hunter couldn't compute. His eyes cut to the boy beside him. Jade hadn't stopped screaming his brother's name the entire time, the word tearing from his throat, ringing in Hunter's ears. He'd never seen his friend so broken.

"We can't outrun them!" Davey panted, glancing over his shoulder, where the riders were weaving through the thicker entanglements of trees and brush, a force that were mercifully slowing them down and keeping them from the children's presence still.

"Well we can't bloody well stop either!" Kali replied, a little more angrily than she meant to. She was not a slight child, in fact, at this stage of pre-teen puberty, she was the tallest of her friends, even if it wasn't by much, but Jade was still a bit of a burden. She and Hunter were doing well to carry him but they were still just children.

"We have to warn the village!" Adam shouted. "The—the fort! The soldiers, they'll know what to do."

"I think there are more of them though than the soldiers," Hunter said, almost meekly, barely heard above the ruckus of pants, grunts, horse whinnies, hoof steps, and metal.

"We—we'll take the shortcut!" Davey finally said after a few more seconds of stumbling/sprinting through the brush. "That cuts right by Jade's. If—if we get there fast enough his parents—Jade's father will know what to do!"

"Smith!" Jade cried out for his brother one last time, before hanging his head to weep in quiet, his whole figure going limp.

"Dammit!" Kali swore at this.

"Jade!" Hunter screamed, "Jade come on. We have to go. We need you to work with us. Please." With Jade now dead weight between them, Hunter knew that they would never make it to Jade's farm.

The pounding grew louder as the horsemen drew ever closer. Davey's dark eyes widened as he stared at his friends. Panic hung acutely in the air. "We can't stop," he pleaded, "They're gaining on us." If they didn't move they would surely suffer the same fate as Jade's brother.

"Jade isn't moving and we can't leave him here!" Hunter snapped, his voice wavering as the gravity of the situation sunk in around him. They could die here. Like Smith.

"Well we can't stay here either!" Adam shouted. He didn't know what to do. They had to get help. Had to warn someone. "Split up," he murmured, "We have to spilt up. It's our best shot."

"Who—who goes where?" Kali asked, her amethyst eyes wide and glittering with fear just as the stone. She clutched Jade's arm, afraid to just leave him, even for a moment.

"You and Adam are the fastest," Davey said, locking eyes with Kali. "If you can get to the fort, Hunter and I--we can hide with Jade til they’re gone then head for the farm."

"You—you want us to just leave you?!" the girl cried incredulously. She began to shake her violet and jet head. "No—no—we stay together we—"

"Kali, Smith just died!" Hunter bellowed, a strange and very out of place fury ringing in his blue eyes. "He's dead! Those men just ran him over without a thought! They'll do it to us all, to the whole village! You have to go!"

Kali whimpered at the anger Hunter had thrown at her. Not once, in lifetime she'd known him, had the younger boy yelled at her. Never. Hunter was too lighthearted and bright to come to anger, he became annoyed, never angry, and it hurt to feel such rage directed to her, even if it wasn't mean spirited.

"Come on, Kal," Adam said, knowing that the argument in his friend had been snuffed out after that. He put a hand on her arm, pulling her away from Jade. The auburn haired boy fell limply, Davey quickly taking Kali's place as a support.

"Be careful," Davey said, nodding to the two of them.

"And you," Adam returned, he gave Kali's wrist a tug and turned, at first dragging her into the east, towards the shortcut home, praying this would not be the last time he would see the three other boys alive.

Kali stumbled along behind Adam, angry at the fact that her opinion in the matter was completely overlooked. Adam paid the annoyance and fear rolling off of his friend little mind. He focused solely on getting to the fort as fast as his legs could carry him. They had little time to waste and the devil on their heels.

"Kali, come on!" he snapped, his voice ragged and harder than it had ever been.

Behind them, the pounding of hooves echoed but slowly grew softer. Fear pierced both of their hearts. Their friends were back there, possibly trampled to death by the mad men rampaging behind them. Please let them be alright, Adam pleaded. Please.

Hunter and Davey watched them go, wondering just what to do now, Jade hanging between them half dead with shock.

"Come on," Davey finally growled looking upwards. "We'll climb and hide, then follow after them once they've cleared off."

"You sure?" Hunter asked, a little surprised and slightly frightened, more for Davey than himself. Davey didn't climb often, he had a slight fear of heights and preferred the ground. He didn't doubt that he could put his hand at it, and probably manage to shimmy up, but that was on his own, and now they had Jade to worry about.

"Yes, I'm sure!" Davey snapped, though he spoke more confidently than he actually felt. He gave Jade's torso a jerk towards the nearest tree, a very sturdy looking oak with low hanging branches. "You go first, I'll push him up to you."

"You—" Hunter started to ask, but the flash in Davey's eyes stopped that question before it could fully roll from his tongue. "Right, me first." And he let Jade's weight fall completely onto Davey, the black haired boy sagging a bit under his weight, before taking firm hold of a branch and pulling himself up.

"Okay, hurry hand him up, they're starting to get used to brush riding," Hunter said when he had a good foothold against the tree branch.

Davey grunted inaudibly and did as he was asked, using all his meager muscle power to heft Jade up. Hunter did his best to take the weight from Davey quickly, knowing that the smaller boy couldn't hold for too long, and pulled as Davey lifted. Grasping at the tree bark, the blonde boy steadied himself as Jade's figure landed against him, the momentum of his pull nearly setting him off balance.

"Got him?" Davey panted from below.

"Got him," Hunter replied, voice slightly muffled by Jade's hair, as his friend's head was lying heavily upon his shoulder and lulling towards his mouth. "Your turn, hurry it up."

"Right," Davey said with a nod. Again it was a task easier said than carried out. The boy still standing on the ground looked at the tree branch then back at the quickly riding up troupe, then to the branch that seemed so far out of the way now. He licked his lips. Definitely easier said than done.

"Come on!" Hunter hissed frantically as Davey began to scramble for a good hold on the bark and one of the lower branches. "Davey hurry!"

The riders were closing in.

"I'm trying!" Davey hissed, now panicking himself.

Hoof beats sounded closer and closer, voices were mixing into the noise as well.

"Davey, they'll see you!" Hunter shrieked, he adjusted Jade's weight, wishing desperately now that he'd forced Davey to go up first.

Closer.

"Davey!" Hunter was screaming now as the boy below jumped feebly for the branch. Tears started to form in the youngest of the five's eyes. "Davey no, no, no! Not like Smith!"

It was if those words were a magic spell, the dead weight of Jade's body once so lumpishly held to him was gone, as the redhead crouched, reaching down just as Davey gave one last feeble leap upwards, hands closing around the black haired boys' wrist, jerking him upward.

Hunter stared for just a second amazed, before his wits returned, and he too crouched, grabbing Davey's free wrist. Together Jade and Hunter pulled Davey upward, catching him and themselves against the roughness of the tree trunk, where they clutched at one another, panting, crying, and praying for dear life as below the murderous horsemen passed.

Kali yanked her hand free of Adam's as she worked to match her pace with his. There was nothing she could do now but take the path they were on. With each second that passed, she prayed Davey, Hunter and Jade were still breathing. Her legs burned and fear threatened to consume her. This wasn't happening. This had to be some sort of nightmare.

Adam noted Kali's forceful tug and did not challenge it, knowing his friend hated being pushed into anything. His heart pounded wildly in his chest as he forced himself on. Kali passed him, sprinting ahead, as if she'd hit her second wind.

They ran for what felt like hours, their sides screaming in agony, but they never faltered in their pace. They couldn’t. Not now. Every once in a while, Adam would allow himself to glance behind them. He could still hear the faint pounding of hooves, though he noted it grew softer and softer with each moment. Fear gripped his heart and he shot his eyes to Kali, who wore an equally fearful look in her eyes.

Glancing back ahead he could just see the faint tip of the observation tower of the stone soldier’s fort. There were still much more ground to cover, but they were growing closer. Both of their tired limbs ached as fatigue slowly began to set it. But they refused to slow, refused to stop. They couldn’t. Their friend’s lives depended on them. The fate of all they loved depended on them. They couldn’t stop.

The two skidded to the crest of the hill, Adam just barely remembering to stop before he tumbled head over heels down the grassy face. Kali, however, didn't remember, and would have done just that, had her companion not reached out to grasp her arm. She gave him a quick look of thanks before they began to jog, carefully down the sharp and pitted incline.

Once they'd hit the bottom of the hill, they were once again running, and now waving their arms and shouting as well, as they caught sight of several watchmen standing guard just above the gates.

"Open up!" Adam shouted, knowing the two of them would get attention quickly enough. Both he and Kali practically lived here some summers.

"Call Sergeant Fergus!" Kali yelled, catching one guardsman's eye, undoubtedly with her strange mop of hair. "Raiders are riding towards the cove!"

Even though they were so far off, both Adam and Kali saw the men who were staring at their display tense, and at once the gates started to open. Both children jogged inside at once.

"Adam, Kali, what the bloody hell are you two raising such a fuss over?!" a booming voice greeted them as soon as they had run into the great stone courtyard of the fort. Lungs burning from their run, both girl and boy looked up to find Sergeant Gamail Fergus, head of the Mendel Cove Fort, and one of Adam's father's good friends, glaring at them, his bulging arms crossed over the barrel he called a chest. Behind him were the lean staff of soldiers stationed at the cove, many out of armor, all looking as surprised as their commander.

"R—raiders!" Kali managed to spit out, clutching her knees, she was so out of breath. "They—They—"

"They ran over Smith Puget," Adam finished for her, unsure if Kali just couldn't say it or was simply out of breath. "They—they're heading towards the cove, Sergeant."

Fergus' big bushy brows went up and the children could hear the breath hitch in the chests of his men. This was a very unpleasant, and more than unexpected, surprise, to their outpost, probably more than either Kali or Adam, or Fergus, cared to think about.

"You—you're sure?!" Fergus boomed after a few moments. Despite their fatigue both Adam and Kali managed to screw their faces up, the girl getting ready to let loose a blast. Fergus, however, recovered from his folly, shaking his head. "Never mind, there's no one who'd lie about something like that, especially you two. Sergeant Connel!" He roared the last two words, bringing his second in command, a leaner fellow, and the only other soldier besides the commander with his armor on.

"Sir?" he questioned with a salute, his jaw clenched as he stood before his leader.

"Gather the fort," Fergus ordered. "Tell the stable hands to ready the horses. We're marching to protect the cove. Now." He didn't really yell, but everyone within the fort had to have heard that command. At once the Connel was barking orders to the subordinates just beneath him and each and every man was in movement as Kali and Adam watched with wide eyes.

"You two," Fergus barked, catching the children's attention as they surveyed the now chaotic fort. They jumped at his voice, looking up to meet blazing amber eyes. "Come with me." And he turned on the heel of his boot, already starting off, knowing they wouldn't disobey.

"Where to?" Kali spoke up first, her violet eyes flashing with urgency and annoyance. She knew was Fergus had in mind and she refused to be treated like a child. Refused to be pushed aside when she knew there was something she could do to help. This was her home, how could she not defend it?

"You two can't stay here. Not now. It's far too dangerous." Both Kali and Adam opened their mouths to protest but Fergus quickly cut them off, "Not a word. This is something we need to handle, not something either of you should be a part of."

"But this is our home!" Kali forced out, her voice filling with frustration. Adam nodded, anger shining along with fear in his blue eyes.

Fergus understood, but stood firm in his statement. These children had seen enough. "Do not question me. You will stay here and we will handle it." His tone left little room for argument, though Kali certainly seemed ready to challenge him with everything she had.

"No—No I won't—my Mother—!" Kali started to protest, amethyst eyes ablaze, but her protests were cut off as Fergus gave a wave of his hand, and the girl felt herself being grabbed up by a pair of arms far too strong for her to fight against. To her side, Adam was given the same treatment, though he was slung, like a bag, over his captor's shoulder.

"Take them to my quarters and lock them in," Fergus ordered the two men who had taken the children up, taking the punches, kicks, and occasional bites the youngsters dealt without so much as flinch. The men nodded and set out on their orders immediately, passing by the sergeant as they did

"I'm sorry," Fergus said barely loud enough for them to hear as the shrieked and struggled. "I'd dearly love to have two with your spitfire fighting for me." And he was walking away, roaring orders for a horse as Adam and Kali were unceremoniously hauled up the stairs and dumped inside of the sergeant’s spacious quarters.

"No!" Adam shouted, both he and Kali running for the heavy door after they'd been thrown into the room. He only succeeded in crashing against it with enough force to bruise, and heard a bar lock slid into place on the other side.

"Let us the bloody hell out of here!" Kali shrieked, slamming her balled fists against the oaken slab, Adam joining her after a moment. The two of them pounded, yelled, and cursed, stopping what seemed to be an eternity later, when they realized that the sound of men beyond the door had faded away. They looked at each other, Adam swallowing hard, Kali biting on her lower lip until blood trickled down it. Their home was under attack and they had been left behind. Hunter, Davey, and Jade were still out there and had no one to protect them.

Davey, Jade, and Hunter waited in their tree for what felt like forever, holding tight to one another, eyes shut tight as the marauders below galloped on, as if maybe by not seeing it would make it go away. They continued to wait there ages after the last horseman had passed them by, frozen in place, afraid that even a breath might bring them back.

"I—I think they're gone," Davey croaked, his voice slightly muffled by Jade's shoulder and Hunter's crown, as the three of them huddled together closely in their shelter. His heart thudded maniacally against his rib cage, as if it was trying to break out of his body and run free. "We--we could go now."

Hunter looked at his friend uncertainly, the fear still pumping through his veins. True, they could no longer hear or see the horsemen, but that didn't guarantee that they were safe. They had come out of nowhere, who was to say that wouldn't return from it as well?

Jade trembled against his friends, his mind swimming in maddening thought. This had to be a nightmare. It couldn't be real. None of this was real. He just needed to wake up. Why couldn't he wake up?

"What if they aren't..." Hunter's soft voice trailed off, his question hanging in the air around them. For a few moments, none of the boys uttered a word.

"We—we can't just stay here. We need to get somewhere safe..." Davey paused for a moment, closing his eyes. They couldn't stay in the tree forever, especially if the horsemen returned.

Hunter raised an eyebrow, "Where then?"

"Jade's," Davey said. "Like we told Adam and Kali. We'll take the short cut there. It's—the farm was probably passed by, it's so out of the way of the path to the cove."

Between his friends Jade tensed. Home? His home? He couldn't go there. Not after what... The images of Smith's last few moments of life passed before his eyes and he trembled, his insides rolling.

"No," he whimpered, clutching the material of his friend's shirts.

The two other boys looked at him in complete surprise, more because he'd spoken than what he'd actually said. Neither Hunter nor Davey were sure he'd even be able to talk for sometime.

"What, Jade?" Hunter spoke after several seconds of wordless staring at the slighter boy.

"I can't go home," Jade said tears rolling down his cheeks, ducking his head down in an attempt to hid them. "I—Not after—Mama wanted me to bring him home. I was supposed to—I can't go back."

"This isn't your fault, Jade," Davey spoke softly, seeing the pain, confusion and guilt swirling in his friend's eyes. Jade merely shook his head. It was his fault, all of it. If he hadn't have been so angry at his brother. If he had started searching for him sooner. If he had just gotten there sooner, Smith would be alive. He did this. "No, Jade. Look at me. Listen to me. You didn't do this. You couldn't have done anything to stop it. None of us could have."

Hunter nodded, holding his broken friend closer, wishing he could help take away the guilt eating Jade alive. "Davey's right. You aren't to blame. You mother and father will know that. They'll understand."

"No!" Jade hissed, pulling away from Hunter, "They won't. I did this! Me! It's my fault he's dead and you all know it!"

Both boys stared at their friend in disbelief. They had never seen Jade this way. The pure venom pouring from his lips startled them, though both knew and understood where it was coming from. But this was not their friend. This wasn't Jade.

Davey sighed, hating the fact that he knew nothing either of them said would sway Jade's thinking. He raised his gaze to Hunter for a brief moment, recognizing the fear and uncertainty in the boy's gaze. An understanding passed between them. They couldn't risk staying here any longer. Jade's farm was the only smart move they could make. Adam and Kali had headed for the fort--he prayed they had made it there alive, he doubted any of them could handle losing anyone else—it would be silly to head in the same direction. The farm was safe, out of the way. Surely the men had passed it by without so much as a care. They would be safe there. They had to be.

"Jade," Davey spoke calmly after a brief pause to swallow and search for the right words. "Jade, we--we don't have a choice. There's no where else. The cove will be under attack by now." He licked his very dry lips, trying to block out the thoughts he was now having of his mother, still in the town. Beside him, Hunter was pushing down similar upsurges of remembrance. "Please, we---"

"No!" Jade shrieked, nearly knocking himself and the other two boys from the tree as he pushed at them. Hunter and Davey, however, had a sturdy grip in their hold, hand despite Jade's attempt, kept their fingers hooked into his shirt, though they almost let go for the look in their friend's eyes. Jade's hazel eyes, normally so soft, full of heart and light, had been replaced with something....something maddening .

And this frightened both Davey and Hunter.

"I can't go back!" Jade continued to yell, that altogether lost, sorrowful, and hateful, gleam in his eyes made all the more terrifying as there were tears pouring from them. "I can't! I won't! Not without--"

"Jade," Hunter said sharply, just loud enough to be heard, but the way he rolled his friends name across his tongue, his tone, it elevated the syllables far more than yelling ever could have, and Jade stopped his tirade to just look at him. His blue eyes were oddly calm, more so than he actually could have felt, but appearance was the most important thing for now, especially since it seemed to be holding Jade's attention and nervousness in check.

Hunter gave a swallow as Davey had and moved his hand upwards from clutching at his friend's shirt to his shoulder, keeping eye contact with Jade all the while. He held the auburn haired boy's gaze for a few moments, willing the calm he was showing to somehow seep into his friend.

"You won't be alone," Hunter said finally, squeezing Jade's shoulder in that comforting way his father would sometimes do to him. "I'm going to be right beside you, I promise. So is Davey. We're not going to leave you, and--and if they do get mad at you...well, they--they'll have to be mad at all of us. We were with you then and will be with you now. I'll never leave you alone with anything, I swear."

There were another few moments of silence, filled with such a tension, that Davey, who was watching this deep exchange with wide, wondering, eyes, could hardly breathe. His eyes flicked from Jade's face, which had become unreadable, a strange new sort of flicker in his eyes, and Hunter's, who kept himself calm. Finally Jade lifted his arm and for a few seconds both of the other boys were sure he was going to hit his friend, but that, amazingly didn't happen. Instead, that arm was flung around Hunter's shoulders, as Jade let his head fall beside it, silently crying.

Stricken with surprise for a moment, Hunter looked from Davey to Jade, finding enough of his wits after a few seconds to begin awkwardly patting his back. Davey almost sighted with relief, the hardest part of their battle, seemed to be over.

"Come on," Hunter said, continuing to pat Jade's back. "Let's get down from here and go. Adam and Kali will come looking for us. We should try to be where we told them we were going to be before we get there. The last thing they need is to worry about us anymore than they already have."

Davey smiled softly and nodded as the boys climbed down from the large oak. The tension that had filled the air had dispersed greatly and for that he was thankful. Jade nodded silently as well, allowing Hunter to lead them on towards his family's farm. He shut off his mind, forcing all thought but the will to just keep moving from his mind. He couldn't let himself think of anything else, if he did there was no way he would make it.

Hunter allowed his hand to continue to rest softly on Jade's back; a small, unconscious gesture. He could sense the change in his friend, the withdrawal. But he did not speak on it. Now was not the time, nor was this the place. Later. There would be time for all of that later.

The air around them was still as they silently made their way through the woods, each lost in their own thoughts. Davey ran a shaky hand through his thick, dark hair, willing away the fear clawing at his chest. His mother, his home, everything he cared for, was in danger and there was little he could do to stop it. Silently, he prayed that Adam and Kali had made it to the fort in time. That the soldiers could fight the horsemen back. But it was difficult to ignore the small voice in the back of his mind screaming that it was hopeless, the town was out-numbered, they stood little chance. No, he could not think that way. He refused to.

Hunter’s eyes flitted between the path before him and Jade, who still remained at his side. He could see the way his friend seemingly shut off the world around him, the way he shut down, and a part of Hunter wanted to shut down with him. To forget everything he had seen. To forget the fact that his mother and his father were still in the cove, in danger. Forget that the last thing he had seen, had felt towards them, was uncertainty and the need to run. He might never see them again.

Mentally, he shook himself. No, he had to stay strong. Jade needed him to be. His friends needed him. Silently, he pressed his hand firmer into Jade’s back. He could feel the boy tense slightly then relax, though never fully, and he too relaxed. He needed to keep Jade calm. Needed to be strong for him. Even if strong was the last thing he felt.

They were silent the entire journey through the brush and stone strewn path that was the shortcut to Jade's family home. It was a tense quiet, prickly, but in a way it was a comfort. Quiet meant that the horsemen were still far away, that somewhere, somehow, in their little world, things stood a chance of being alright. It was proven to be an evanescent comfort at best, foolhardy at it's worst.

The quiet as they recognized the path taking them mercifully close to their destination, remained. Jade's family's farm was a very peaceful place, rural and soft, but one thing the fields ever were not, was quiet. There was always a buzz in the air, the yells of Bryant to his sons to help in the fields, the laughter and jeers of the twins, the cries of the younger children, Livia's voice as she called her family to the supper table, the bays of the livestock. It was always busy, always full of life, but not then. As the three boys came closer to the edge of the woods, where they opened onto the farm orchard they, Adam, and Kali, had spent many falls helping to gather apples and pears, and the unnatural serenity stayed in place, they all knew that nothing was right there.

They stood on the orchard's edge for a few moments, frozen, uncertain, knowing that the chances that what lay before them was something they didn't want to see, and staying their feet to avoid the harshness of reality. Then, very suddenly, like in the tree when Davey had been threatened with death, Jade was ignited with the spark of life.

"Mama! Papa!" he screamed right before taking off through the orchard at a run.

"Jade, no!" both Davey and Hunter yelled, grabbing for him but missing narrowly. Only a second's hesitation and they were following right behind him.

"Jade, stop!" Hunter continued to shout as he and Davey sprinted after him through the trees. "You—you don't know what's—" Hunter stopped speaking, as Jade made it out of the orchard, just past the final row of trees and stopped, skidding to a halt. Vaguely, Hunter recalled seeing what lay before them before he stumbled to Jade's side.

The twins were the first ones that they could see, Corbin lying only a few feet away from Cullen, or the pieces of him. His head had been sloppily dismantled from his shoulders. His twin, it appeared, had been running for him, when an axe buried itself in his back. Both bodies were studded with the broken shafts of arrows, telling they'd been run over as soon as they'd been dispatched.

Farther away was Bryant, close to the barn. He had probably heard the shouts of his oldest children and run out to assist them. An arrow was sticking out from his eye, and another from his mid–section.

They boy's eyes wandered mechanically, along with their feet, to the cottage, or what was left of it, seeing as it was now up in flames. Livia lay in a crumpled heap on the threshold of her burning home, her clothes were bloody and torn, suggesting a sword had cut her down. Not too far from his mother was Myra, a broken spear jutting out from her back.

The worst of all the sights lay just a few feet from the teenage girl, a bloody mess of rags that not one of them could doubt had been little Wynne. It seemed that Myra had attempted to run with her youngest sibling, but was brutally stopped from doing such, Wynne being thrust from her arms as the spear tore into her, leaving the infant to the dirt and the nonexistent mercy of the horses hooves. Just like Smith.

They stared for what had to have been at least five minutes, numb, not even blinking, the little bubble cracking as Jade simply fell to his knees, though this time he didn't sob. He had been broken too much, there was nothing left in him, just like there was nothing left in his family.

Hunter felt the bile rising in his throat. The stench of blood and death overpowered him. He placed his hand, shakily, on Jade’s shoulder, not knowing what else to do. What else to say. There was nothing he could say. Everything Jade knew, everything he loved, was gone, slaughtered, and he had been powerless to stop it. Jade didn’t respond to Hunter’s touch at all, kneeling there, frozen, eyes wide and unseeing, his mind blank.

Davey slowly approached from behind, barely fighting the urge to be ill. This couldn’t be real. These were people he knew, people he considered family. This couldn’t be real. His eyes flitted down to Jade’s unmoving form. He had never seen his friend like this and he hadn’t the first idea what to say. Guilt washed over him. He’d brought them here. He’d insisted they come to the farm. He brought Jade to this. Oh Gods.

The door refused to budge, even as Kali pressed all her weight against it. They were well and truly trapped in there. "Damn Fergus," Kali hissed, "Damn him to hell."

Adam’s frustration mirrored her own, his blue eyes fixed in a determined stare. They had to get out of there. Had to get to Davey, Jade and Hunter. Had to make sure they were alright. They had to do something. "Move, Kal," he breathed. Merely pushing on the door was doing them little good. Maybe if he ran into it, using all of his strength, he could get it to move, to open.

"Oh, what are you going to do? Play battering ram?" Kali demanded, her frustration getting the better of her. She put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at her friend. "For the gods' sake, look at you! You'll break your shoulder before you so much as dent that door!"

"Well what do you suggest?!" he snapped, also a little less than tolerant at the moment. "Do you want to just sit here while the village is sacked?!" His mind flashed to his father, and he felt his heart clench and unclench within his chest. Garret would be all right, he had to be, his father was the strongest, bravest man in the world, he could probably take on ten of those murderers all by himself. Or so he very much wanted to believe.

"Of course not!" Kali replied. "We--we just have to find a better way than what involves you being stupid and breaking something."

"Well I suggest we find that better way fast," Adam grumbled, knowing very well Kali was right, but arguing made him feel better.

"I know," Kali said, her tones dropping to a soft quality. She bit her lip and surveyed the stone room. It was a windowless place, it had a pot bellied stove in the corner for heat, so climbing up the chimney flue was out of the question. The girl stepped back, taking a breath as she tried to clear her head, there had to be a way out, something they were missing. She was about to just let Adam knock himself silly against the door when she took a good look at it again.

Kali was a clever girl, and there was nothing vain or pompous in the statement, it was simple fact. She had to be to be accepted amongst her friends and run out of her mother's watchful eyes so often. And Kali, as she looked the door over and found her eyes focusing on it, was about to prove once more why she was a master of escape.

"Put me on your shoulders," Kali ordered Adam, her voice soft as she unsheathed her dagger. She looked the blade over, it had never failed her before and she prayed that it wouldn't start know.

"Heh?" he said, wanting to know what in the hell his friend had in mind.

"Now, Addy," she said, eyes still locked on the hinges. "I can't reach the top."

Adam followed her gaze, cerulean eyes widening as her plan clicked into place in his head.

"You think it'll work?" he asked, trying to hide the fact he was now very excited. He knew there was a reason he was friends with this crazy girl.

"It has to," she replied. "Now hurry it up."

Adam said nothing more, he simply knelt down so Kali could straddle his back. Kali climbed up, being as careful as she could, though she did accidently pull Adam's hair as he grunted and struggled to his feet with her on his shoulders.

"Ow!" he exclaimed as she tugged.

"Sorry!" she said, though she didn't let go. He was still wobbling too much for her comfort.

"Dammit, watch what you're doing, Kal!" he grumbled, needing to vent despite the fact he knew she wasn't doing it on purpose.

"Sorry, just, hold onto the wall beside the door, kay?" she said. "You're not steady and you're hair's the only thing I've got to hold onto, Ads."

"Just pop the bloody hinges, girl!" he snapped, doing as she directed, laying his palms flat on the stone wall. Kali made no reply and simply leaned forward a little more, one of her hands pressed to steady on the wall as she felt the hinge out, and slid the edge of her dagger into it, levering upon it.

"Hurry up!" Adam hissed after a few moments of Kali grunting and jerking on his shoulders. He was no weakling but Kali wasn't a small girl, she wasn't fat but she was going to be a tall thing, and her twisting and pumping her arm was not helping him to keep her up in the slightest.

"I'm...working...on it!" she grunted, pressing all of her weight into the levering end of her blade. She almost had it, she could feel the metal giving way, getting ready to burst apart. Seconds later her intuitions proved true as the topmost hinge flew apart and Kali shrieked as the broken pieces flew at her.

"Kal--ah!" Adam exclaimed flailing uselessly as Kali's jerking sent him toppling backwards to land on his rump. Kali tumbled from his shoulders and he heard her yelp as she fell, groaning a bit as she did. Looking up, slightly dazed, and ready to give her an earful for squirming, those intentions faded as he found his friend's lucky dagger had, during the fall, become embedded in her arm.

"Kal!" he exclaimed, running over to where she was sitting up, already pulling the blade from her forearm. "Kal, are you—"

"I'll be fine," she murmured, pressing her fingers to the wound, which was a little leaky. "It'll—it'll stop soon enough. Here." She wiped the blood on her dagger's edge off on her breeches. "You do the bottom hinges."

Adam nodded, though he had a difficult time tearing his eyes away from the bloody wound on Kali’s arm. Kneeling before the wooden door, he struggled, grunting and cursing, with the hinge. He could feel it loosening, but he just couldn’t seem to get it to loosen enough to pop it. "Damnation," he growled under his breath as the dagger slipped in his hand.

Kali winced, certain her friend had injured himself. That was the last thing they needed. Her forearm burned as the flesh began to heal itself, Kali merely gritted her teeth slightly and continued to watch Adam. "Come on Ads, you’ve almost got it. Just don’t slice your hand off in the process. You need both of them you know."

"If I weren’t so keen on getting us out of here, Kal, I’d hit you for that," he grumbled, his annoyance and frustration shining through.

"Such a gentlemen," she teased him back, knowing now was probably not the best time for humor of any kind, but knowing that they both needed something to keep their fear from completely overtaking them. Adam merely grumbled, returning his attention to the hinge. After several curses and slips of his hand, the hinge popped loose.

"Finally!" Adam panted, falling back onto his rear as the hinge came apart. Unlike Kali he managed to keep a hold on the knife, and he didn't injure himself by accident, something, if under normal circumstances, he would tease his friend about. These however, were not normal circumstances, so instead he jumped to his feet, and walked back over to Kali.

"Is it—?" he started to ask, looking at her bloody sleeve. It always unnerved him, the way she could heal, even though he would rather see her skin sewing itself back together than her continued bleeding.

"Fine," she said, flashing him what was now scar tissue, it would be healed within moments. The violet eyed girl took back her dagger, sheathing it in one fluid slip of her arm. She nodded to the door. "Come on."

Adam nodded in return, and together they moved for the door. It didn't take much, the slab just creaked away, hanging crookedly as they pushed. They looked at one another again, before slipping under the lock bar and out, rushing down the stairwell.

"What now?" Adam asked as they ran into training yard, the emptiness of it sending chills through them.

"They said they would go to Jade's didn't they?" Kali asked, continuing to trot along, as if she had a plan in mind. Adam was grateful for this, it was quite the reassurance amidst the turmoil.

"Yeah," he replied.

"Well, then that's where we go," she said, Adam noticed they were standing in front of the stables before Kali threw the doors open.

Inside there were several spare horses. The only problem with this was that neither of them were yet very experienced in the cavalry part of combat. It was one of the things Fergus and Garret promised they would learn this summer, both Kali and Adam had only the minimal equestrian skills.

"Kal..." Adam began.

"We don't have any other choice, Addy," she said softly, he noted she bit her lip, a nervous habit. It made him all the more unsure, Kali nervous didn't settle well with him at all. She turned those bright eyes on him, their color piercing him as they always did. "I don't know about you, but I can't run like that again."

Adam closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath. She was right. Curse her, but she was. "All right," he said, giving another nod in concession. "We'll ride together. Find a bridle."

Kali nodded and ran to do as he asked while Adam looked over the mounts still in their stalls. There was only one real choice out of the three horses and two mules left, a roan gelding Adam knew didn't have too bad of a temper. Still he was a big horse, and Adam didn't even want to imagine how his thighs were going to feel after the ride was over. Of course he didn't really want to imagine how anything was going to be when the ride was over, period.

His thoughts again flicked to his father, and he prayed to any available deities that Garret was safe. That the whole village was safe. He knew it was a false hope, even as he moved towards the roan's stall. Kali joined him and together they calmed and bridled the horse. Once the bit was in place he pulled himself up, then offered a hand to Kali, hefting her up behind him. He felt somewhat better as her arms circled his waist, reassuring him of her presence and things still had a chance to be okay.

"Hold on," he advised needlessly. Kali nodded into the back of his shirt.

Adam, hoping that the horse didn't sense how absolutely terrified he was slapped the reins and shouted a "Yah!" The horse, mercifully, obeyed and started out at a quick trot through the doors.

The silence surrounding them served only to increase the nervous tension between them. They had to get to Jade’s farm, had to make sure their friends were alright. Kali clung to Adam as the horse steadily picked up speed. She refused to think on the fact that neither of them really knew what they were doing, that one false move on either of their parts could send them flying.

Neither spoke as the horse sped over the rock laden ground. Each stride nearly sent them flying, but each held on tighter. Adam’s mind raced, his fingers curled so tightly around the reigns that they were nearly white. Everything he had known, everything he thought would always be there, everything he thought would never change, had turned completely on its axis. The small selfish, childish part of his brain couldn’t help hoping that if he closed his eyes everything would just disappear, that none of this had happened.

Wind whipped roughly against his face and Adam fought to keep his eyes open, he couldn’t afford to risk anything now. Swallowing thickly, he nudged the horse on. He had to keep himself steady, had to keep pushing on. He couldn’t lose his focus. It was something his father had taught him. One of the few things Adam was able to concentrate on as they raced ahead.

Kali gripped Adam’s waist tighter, snapping her eyes tightly shut. She could feel the wind whipping her hair against her face and her heart pounding in her chest. She hated this, hated not being in control. Had it been her at the reigns, Kali knew she would be far less terrified, but Adam wouldn’t let her take over now. There wasn’t enough time for that. Damn him, she cursed.

Neither spoke as the brush and branches of the woods just beyond the fort sliced and snapped against them. Adam urged the horse onwards, praying that everything would be alright once they reached the farm. It had to be.

The steady beat of hooves echoing from the woods on the boarder of the farm snapped Davey to attention. With a quick jolt of his head, he ripped his gaze from his catatonic friend turning towards the sound, his body tensing visibly. Hunter took note of the sudden and strange change in his friend, the sound finally sinking into his ears as well. They were coming back.

Fear clutched Hunter’s heart and he wrapped his arms tightly around Jade’s rigid shoulders, pulling him closer. Jade barely registered any of this, his mind blank and his eyes hollow. For a few tense moments Hunter held onto Jade like this, unconsciously trying to comfort both himself and his friend. He squeezed his eyes shut. No, this wasn’t how he had envisioned his life ending, he honestly hadn’t even thought that far ahead into the future. He had never thought much about his life. There was always tomorrow, always another chance, another day. For the first time, he well and truly realized that it could all be snatched away and that thought terrified him. Like lightening, his mind flashed to his mother and his father, his home. If the men were coming back that could only mean...

"Hunter!" Davey’s strong, panicked voice called out, "We have to move!" They couldn’t stay where they were, out in the open. They would be picked off easily. They had to find a place to hide. Somewhere. Anywhere. His eyes scanned the decimated farmland, finally falling on the stable. It was badly charred and falling into ruin, but it was their best shot. It would shield them from the eyes of the monsters who’d destroyed everything they had known. Maybe if they hid, if they stayed silent, they would survive. Maybe. "The stable," he choked out, "We have to get to the stable!"

Davey’s words were frantic, Hunter found himself staring at his friend in confusion before he finally understood. They had to move, had to run. Frantically, he clawed at Jade’s waist, trying to pull the unmoving boy to his feet, but he wouldn’t budge. Hunter only pulled and tugged at him harder. They had to move, they didn’t have time. But it was of no use.

Eyes wide with fear and uncertainty, Hunter shot his gaze towards Davey, silently pleading for his help. Without a word, Davey dropped to his knees, locking his arms around Jade’s waist as well. Both boys tugged and pulled relentlessly at their friend. "Jade, please! You need to move. We have to get out of here!"

Violently, Jade shook his head, "No."

Both boys froze, dread slowly spreading through them. Jade’s voice was hollow, detached, cold, so unlike the friend they had known. "Jade, please,” Hunter begged, the fear in his voice was audible. He didn’t want to die like this. He didn’t want them to die like this. But Jade still refused, pulling forcefully away from their arms. This was his fault. All of it. If he had just...No. He forced that part of his mind shut.

The whinnies of one horse shattered the tense silence that had fallen over the three boys. "Jade!" Hunter screamed, his voice echoing off of the burning house beside them. It was too late.

It was as if time had stopped, as Kali and Adam rode past the through the last of the evergreen trees and came upon the broken mess of the Puget farm. Stunned, they slowed their animal, stopping as they saw the forms of their three friends kneeling near the remains of the burning house. Davey and Hunter stared back at them in absolute disbelief, and then...

Kali gave a strangled cry, leaping off the horse's back and ran, just ran until she crashed into her three friends, Davey and Hunter still clutching at Jade. Adam was right behind her after he figured out how to walk after that ride.

They were a complete tangle of arms and legs within a moment, grasping at hands, touching to verify whether or not they were all real. Even Jade seemed to regain something at the reappearance of the boy and girl, though he was quickly backing away from the group, he eyes becoming hallow again too soon for comfort. The other four, for just brief second paid that no mind.

"Y—you're alive!" Davey almost sobbed, clinging to both Adam and Kali. "Gods..."

"We told Fergus," Adam told the shorter boy, returning the embrace. "He gathered the whole fort and they went into the cove."

"Bloody bastard," Kali spat, the fire returning to her eyes. "He tried to lock us up there, said he was going to keep is safe."

"You got out though," Hunter said, smiling through the intense worry that still clouded them all. "You came."

"Said we would, didn't we?" Kali replied matter 'o factly. She reached out to ruffle his downy blonde hair. "Since when am I a liar, Duckfluff?"

"Never," he told her, the smile deepening upon her face and Adam's. "Never ever."

They continued to look at one another, searching for words to describe the relief they felt at the moment, but there were none profound enough. It was probably better that way, there was still too much going on for any more pleasant repose. That was proven as Jade fell to his knees again, gaining attention from all his friends. Hunter ran to him at once, putting his arms about the slighter boy's shoulders and saying his name, as if trying to keep him awake or in his mind.

It was at this time Kali and Adam had a good look at the once familiar surroundings, at all the places that they had once played here. They had searched for kittens in the barn every season, and now it was in flames, they'd helped pick fruit in the orchards that would now go untended, played battle in the fields, and they would now be overgrown. Yet another chunk of their lives had been ripped away. Kali covered her hand with her mouth as she saw the remains of the baby, willing the bile to stay in her mouth. It was a battle she lost and was soon heaving up what little contents her stomach held, as Davey held back her hair. Adam fared little better, hiding his eyes in his hands as he tried to block it all away.

"We're too late," the soldier's son whimpered. "We were too late."

"No, no we're not," Kali said, her voice unnaturally low. All eyes shot to the girl as she pushed Davey away, wiping her mouth on the back of her already bloodied shirt sleeve. Her eyes blazed, "There's still the rest of the cove. We're not too late yet."

"Kali," Hunter murmured in total disbelief of what she was suggesting.

"I'm not asking you to go!" she snapped, clenching and unclenching her hand about the hilt of her dagger. "I'll go on my own!"

"No, you just ask us to watch you go!" Hunter snarled in return, hugging Jade's listless frame closer to him.

"I'm not asking anything!" Kali said, her tone bordering on outright anger. "But don't expect me to just—just stay here among the dead while those monsters make more! I won't do it!"

"You bloody idiot, you're a twelve year old girl!" he shouted, face turning crimson with outrage. "What in the seven hells are you going to do?!"

"Something!" she shouted back, tears threatening at the corners of her eyes. She unsheathed her knife and waved it. "Anything! Anything other than just stay here and wait! I'd rather die than sit here and wait! At least there's some honor in that!"

"Enough!" Davey yelled at the top of his lungs, making his companions, even Jade, start. All eyes locked on him in pure surprise. Davey didn't yell, never, not like that. He was too calm and collected for that, and really it frightened his friends to hear it, and it frightened them even more to see the way his eyes snapped at that moment. "Enough," he said more quietly, though his voice was just as hard as when he'd raised it. "We've had enough fighting for one day, don't you think? The last thing we need is to tear at one another."

Hunter and Kali looked down and away at once, their faces flushed with shame. Adam stared at Davey as he panted from the effort of yelling, his blue-green eyes wide, he'd never imagined Davey could hold such sway over their hotheaded girl and fixed Hunter, it was slightly eery.

"What do we do then?" Adam asked after he swallowed, a little unsure of speaking, afraid Davey might erupt again at the slightest noise. Davey only looked at him, his dark eyes back to their normal (for the moment anyway) worried state. "Where do we go from here?"

Davey licked his lips, gazing up at the once welcoming blue spring sky, searching for an answer or just an inkling of what they needed.

"We—Kali's right, we can't just stay here," he said after a few moments. "They came through this way, they'll probably return the same route."

"Then where do we go?" Hunter asked, a little afraid of the answer Davey might give.

Davey remained silent, not to be poignant, or because his words were already in the air, but because someone else spoke for him.

"The village," Jade croaked, his voice as hallow as his eyes, making chills run down his companions' spines to hear it. "We have to go into the village."

"Jade," Hunter started hesitantly. The boy was speaking, but he wasn’t right. This wasn’t right. Gently, Hunter went to rest his hand on Jade’s shoulder but the boy shrugged away from the touch.

Pushing himself away from his friends and to his feet, Jade slowly made his way towards the woods leading back to the cove. The four remaining children stared at his retreating form in stunned silence. Regaining his composure, Adam was the first to approach Jade. "Jade maybe you should..."

"No." Once again, his voice was hollow, lifeless. He didn’t bother to turn and face his friend. "No." Adam stood, frozen, unsure of what to do, what to say. As he stared at the boy standing stiffly before him, he watched his hands clenching roughly at his sides. The only outward sign of any emotion from him and Adam was both relieved and terrified to see it.

Fear coiled tightly in Hunter’s stomach. He could feel it radiating from everyone surrounding him. It was as if they had been frozen in time. Slowly, cautiously, he once again began to approach Jade. Hesitantly, he raised his hand, laying it gently on his friend’s shoulder only to have it shrugged away once more. He couldn’t begin to process the swirl of confusing emotions flowing through him. He didn’t know what else to do. His friend was gone and even he couldn’t reach him now.

"Jade’s right," Davey spoke after a long silence, taking in the puzzled looks on his friend’s faces. "Everyone’s gone, we can’t do anything here. But maybe we could at least try..."

"And what, get ourselves killed?!" Hunter snapped, recovering from his stupor. Both of them had lost their minds.

"We have to do something!" Kali yelled back, her violet eyes shimmering with frustration and anger.

"What can we do? We’re children! How are we supposed to fight back against something like that?" Hunter’s chest heaved with each word he spat out, his face growing redder by the moment. Going was suicide, pure and simple. He could not force the images of Jade’s slaughtered family from his mind. If they couldn’t survive, how on earth could he? Could any of them?

"Stop it both of you!" Davey shouted once again, a stunned silence falling around him. Even Jade, he noted, flinched slightly at his tone. "Just stop," he repeated, his voice softer now, more controlled. Standing there, fighting like this wouldn’t do them, do anyone, any good. "We have to go back. We don’t have a choice anymore."

Hunter stared dumbly at his friend. A part of him understood just where he and Kali, for the matter, were coming from. There was nothing more they could do at the Puget farm. There may not be much they could do in the cove, but they couldn’t just abandon their home, their families. They had to do something. They had to try.

An unspoken understanding passed between them and silently, the five slowly headed towards the woods. They would have to return to the cove by foot. It was a longer journey this way, yes, but there wasn’t any physical way the horse Kali and Adam had ridden in on would hold the five of them. So it was on foot they traveled back towards the home they were unsure would be there once they arrived.

They stayed close together as they pushed through the woods, going slow after an initial jog to catch up with Jade. Despite the fact he obviously did not want to be touched, both Kali and Hunter ignored his shirking to pull him back in step with them. He eventually gave up trying to walk behind or ahead of his friends, knowing that they wouldn't let him be alone, for fear of losing him, whether it would be to a stray marauder or himself, it was unclear. So he walked between them, allowing Hunter's hand to rest on his shoulder, his head hanging.

They were at least a half a mile from the village, they knew the path they walked well enough to mark the distance very well, when they heard the first clang of swords and shouts. The five stopped dead in their tracks, Hunter fisting the material of Jade's shirt, ready to jerk if Jade did anything foolish. On the other side of the auburn haired boy, Kali had taken out her knife, her eyes were cold and she trembled but not much. Beside her Adam swallowed, clenching and unclenching his fists. And Davey, he simply stood in place, perfectly still, his jet eyes unreadable.

"Where will we come out by?" Davey asked after he swallowed, his voice was oddly even, so much more than he felt.

"By the Temple," Kali said, she knew the area very well from all her times sneaking away from her mother. She blocked out thoughts of the beautiful golden haired woman whom she fought with so bitterly, so often. "If we keep going this—this way, we'll hit the north side. By the alter to the Lady's Northern Face."

"If it's still there," Jade said, his voice barely audible.

Kali swallowed, whether it was from the vacuous tone of Jade's voice or his point, she wasn't sure. Adam saw the look that passed over her face and reached over to squeeze her arm. It seemed to reassure her, or so he liked to believe, as she didn't brush him off and she shook a little less.

"We come out there at a run," Davey murmured. "If—if it's still there, we find Priestess Rissa. She'll—she'll know to do something."

"What if she's not—" Adam began to ask, not to be callous toward Kali, but just to honestly figure things out. If Davey had a plan, he'd like to know it. He needed the reassurance.

"Then we move on," Davey said. Again there was so much more confidence there than what he felt, but he knew to show strength to his friends meant to provide them with there own. So he didn't waver. He simply started to jog forward, toward the break in the trees Kali had directed him to. His friends followed closely behind.

The five prepared themselves for whatever horrors might be awaiting them beyond the tree line in the split second they had right before pushing through. Adam had a tight grip on Davey's arm, and Hunter and Kali had Jade wedged between them, his arm about his waist, her dagger free hand pressed upon his shoulder blade, and together they broke past the low hanging branches hitting the dirt before the still very intact temple.

The only problem with this was that while the familiar temple was still where it should be, there were several things there that should not be. Specifically five men and their horses. Five big, burly, sword carrying men and their armored horses. And they noticed the children.

"Bloody hell," Kali whispered.

"Run!" Davey yelled, already pulling at Adam.

Two of the men, who were still mounted, were at once galloping after them, yelling things in a language the children did not understand but could tell were far from good. They had planned to keep running, just keep sprinting on until they had either lost the riders amongst the houses, but as a strange "zipping" noise flooded the air, and gargled shouts erupted from their pursuers, that plan dissipated. For some reason or another Hunter paused to look back, and found that arrows had buried themselves into the riders and their horses and continued to do so.

He looked up, following the direction from which the shafts were flying, and found two slim figures stanched upon the temple roof, firing arrow after arrow down on the riders. Beyond them, amidst the three raiders who hadn't mounted back up to pursue himself and his friends, a very familiar man had come up almost out of nowhere and he was cutting through the attackers like they were nothing.

"Wait!" Hunter ordered his friends, true relief finally coming to him as he recognized the two archers and the swordsman. "Adam, Kali, Davey look!"

Adam turned around just as the swordsman tore through the last of his opponents, hacking with a fury he had never really seen before but had many times pictured from all the stories he'd been told. Adam met the fighters eyes, standing paralyzed to the earth before the slightly strangled cry of "Father!" came from his throat, and he'd let go of Davey to run back towards him.

Garret paused, staring back at Adam as the boy charged at him. Relief and worry mingled through his mind. "My boy," he murmured as his son’s body collided with his own, kissing the top of his head. His son was safe. He allowed his gaze to fall on Kali, Jade, Hunter and Davey. They were all safe. But this ground, the cove, it wasn’t. They had to get out, had to run. For their own sake.

With a quick glance upwards, Garret turned back to the children quickly approaching him. The fear and uncertainty in their eyes shook him to his core. They were far too young to see such carnage, such death.

Davey was the first to speak, breaking the tense silence that had fallen between them, "Where is everyone?" His voice was soft. Though the words had fallen so freely from his lips, he feared the answer.

Garret continued to just look at them, still pressing Adam to his leather armored chest. He opened his mouth, but no words came out, like the words had just become stuck in his throat. The adult closed his mouth, licking his lips as he searched for words. It was, however, unnecessary.

"David!" a familiar voice shrieked and a black haired figure, a quiver full of shafts slung about one shoulder, came running out of the temple doors, sweeping Davey off his feet.

"Mama!" he exclaimed happily as she crushed his slender body in her arms, dropping the bow she'd been carrying. The boy tried his best not to cry but he found himself unable to hold a few renegade tears back, and buried his face into his mother's hair, breathing in the soft clean scent of her ebony tresses.

"Oh, my darling!" Marcielle was sobbing herself as she fell to her knees, holding her son close. She kissed his cheeks and forehead. "Oh—I—oh, David!" And she hugged him all the more tightly, so that Davey and his friends thought that his head just might be popped off.

Kali, who was watching Davey with wide eyes, thinking about her own mother, did not noticed the second figure emerge from the temple until Hunter shook her arm and pointed. Kali followed his index finger to find the golden haired priestess standing in the doorway, a bow in her hand and a sling of arrows upon her back just as Marcielle had. Rissa was in full temple dress and makeup, she'd probably been getting ready to preform services for The Lady when everything had struck. Purple eyes shuddered as they found steely gray boring into them.

"Ma—" Kali began but didn't finish as within an instant her mother had closed the distance between them and raised her arm back to lay her hand smartly against the side of her daughter's face. Kali fell back with the force of the blow, the resounding crack of it making even the two other adults look wary.

"You miserable little wretch!" Rissa shrieked, her whole body shaking, fingers clenched so tightly about her bow that everyone feared it might snap. "I told you to stay in your room! You didn't listen did you! You just had to run off! I—I—Kalika Oriana Sirenidae—!" Whatever hot oaths were going to follow Kali's name were choked out as Priestess Rissa began to sob, and hand knelt down to envelop her only child in her arms.

Kali looked around, her body tense, glancing at the two adults as if to question whether or not she was safe at the moment. Rissa paid this no mind as she hugged her daughter.

"Damn you, girl," she cried, smoothing back Kali's messy black and violet tendrils. "I was so afraid. Oh, Kali." Rissa pressed her lips to Kali's forehead, finished for the moment, so very relieved to have her daughter back she could barely breathe.

"Ma, I'm fine," Kali said, trying to play the sentiment of the moment off, though by the blush in her face (what wasn't left from the slap, of course) told she was just as happy as well. "Really, no bruises or nothing—well what I won't have from that backhand of yours."

Rissa couldn't help it, she didn't bother with manners, to try and dull her child's sharp tongue with a reproval, she simply laughed, just glad she had time to hear that wit once again.

"Mother, where's everyone else?" Davey asked suddenly, breaking the soft, happy little bubble that had enfolded their group. He looked up at her with wide brown eyes. "The rest of the village, the soldiers? Kali and Adam said they were coming here?"

"Where—where are my—my mother and father?" Hunter asked, making the adults jump as the remembered his and Jade's presence. His blue eyes were large and hopeful as he glanced up at the temple. "Are they—are they in there?"

"Hunter, dear—I—your Mother and Father—they're gone, love," the village head woman spoke softly, trying to be as gentle in the delivery as was possible for this sort of news. "Your house—it was one of the first—I'm so sorry, dear."

"No," Hunter whispered, shaking his head in disbelief, "No." They couldn’t be gone. They couldn’t be dead. He refused to believe it. No, she had to be wrong. This all had to be wrong. A cold shiver of dread spread slowly through him. Please no.

Marcielle watched the complex swirl of emotion flash through the young boy’s eyes. Pain, disbelief, anger, then finally, nothing. The dullness staring back at her shook the headwoman to her core. Gently, she reached toward Hunter, pulling him against her. The boy simply allowed himself to be pulled, denial still gripping his mind.

Jade watched the scene unfolding before him, his eyes remaining dull, his stance stiff and tense. It was something Adam noticed, the sight making him shudder. He turned back to his father, uncertain and confused. If everyone else was dead...

"We need to get them out of here," Garret whispered, his eyes falling on Rissa and Marcielle. Both women nodded in agreement. It was far too dangerous for them to stay. There had been enough bloodshed.

Davey watched the stoic expression on his mother’s face. Had he not known her so well, he would have thought her unaffected by the massacre around them, but her eyes told a different story. Davey could see the fine traces of worry and fear that resided in him and it sent a shiver through him.

"The docks," Rissa spoke, her eyes flitted between the group and the dirt and stone path before them. This was the only logical choice they had left. Heading back into the town would be suicide, they all knew that though no one uttered the words allowed. Marcielle nodded, tightening her grip around both her son and Hunter’s still shaking form.

"Let’s make haste," Garret murmured, his eyes wandering back to the path leading back to the center of the cove. The ring of steel still echoed in the air. They had to move now, while they remained unnoticed.

Silently, the eight hurried along the path, not a word uttered between them. Each was painfully aware of the danger a mere several hundred feet behind them. Kali’s eyes flitted between Adam and Jade, who stood on either side of the young girl. She could see the combination of fear, anxiousness and anger flooding through Adam, knowing he was torn between wanting to stay and defend his home and wanting to flee, while Jade remained unreadable. His face was stony, his eyes dark and empty. The fact that she couldn’t read him terrified her.

Adam allowed his gaze to fall to his friend, knowing that Kali hated the fact they were being made to leave. Hated the fact that there was little she could do to defend her home. But he could also see the relief in her eyes for the fact that her mother was alright. Despite everything, he knew just how much the woman meant to his friend.

The dock was deserted, the smoke from the burning homes and stores rolling over the calm water. It was eerily beautiful, the soft waves rocking the boats as smoke swirled around the small craft. The thought flickered through Davey’s mind before he shoved it away, turning towards the rest of the group.

The five children looked up expectantly, already half knowing what was about to pass before it even was spoken. They could see it in the three adults' eyes, the way the six orbs glimmered with sadness and determination. It sent shivers through them all and made the three youngsters left with parents cling to them a little tighter, particularly as tears began to pour down Marcielle's cheeks again, a silent flow of crystal salt.

"Fath—" Adam began but was silenced as Garret pulled him to him, practically crushing the boy to his chest.

Marcielle and Rissa made similar moves toward their own offspring, and Kali surprised everyone who watched her by not fighting against the embrace. She looked less of the little hoyden she'd always been, and more of the child that should have been there, quiet, face buried in the stained silk of her mother's ceremonial robes. Davey clung to his mother for all he was worth, not bothering to hide the fact that he was crying. It didn't matter now, not when this...

"You're just like your mother," Garret whispered for his son's ears alone, as he ran his fingers through the thick mass of dark brown hair Adam obviously received from him. He pressed his lips to the boy's crown, breathing in the scent of his hair; it smelled a little like Lisette's had. "You'll be fine. You're her son, you'll be just fine. She watches you."

Adam swallowed thickly, refusing to cry at the tenderness of his father's words. He was a soldier's son, he'd never been a baby in front of the man before, and he would not now. His father deserved to see the strength with which he'd reared him with, deserved that respect. So Adam pushed the lump in his throat down, and kept his head buried in the front of his father's leather armor until the burning in his eyes dulled.

Marcielle said nothing to Davey, all the things that mother and son had to say had already been said or were conveyed by their embrace, no more was necessary. Rissa and Kali were silent as well, but not in the same way. Kali had many things she wanted to say to the woman she'd spent twelve years of her life battling against, many questions, but they stuck in her throat, unwilling to come. The girl reasoned it was because she wouldn't get a straight answer now any more than she had before.

Rissa's eyes flickered on her daughter's face, also looking as if there were words wishing to make it past her lips. But they did not, instead, the golden haired priestess simply offered her child a smile, a kiss, then let her go.

Hunter looked at the three a dull ache throbbing in his chest. He wished desperately that he'd had a moment like this with his mother and father, even just a second. Guilt coupled with his grief, hitting his insides like a thousand spikes driving up and out of his chest, as he remembered his thoughts just before his father had sent him from the shop. He had resented them, resented the anger they had for one another, that they let him see it, the work he was forced to do because they weren't strong enough to take care of everything without depending on him. Hunter would gladly accept all of those things if he could just have them back. Briefly, he thought he might miss their bickering as he pressed his head into his pillow at night. At least the sound of it would assure him they were there.

Hunter jumped as he felt his hand being squeezed and looked at over at Jade, realizing the smaller boy's hand was still in his own, it had been for the entire walk. Jade didn't look back, his eyes were still empty, focused on the dirt in front of them, but the pressure on Hunter's hand was still constant, telling the other boy that somewhere in the broken shards of his inner self, Jade was still there. Still feeling, still sensing, still with them, with him. And for some reason, that was more comforting than even if Kira and Samien had walked down the path at that moment.

"You take the Sea Bird's helm," Garret told Adam after he'd released him and cleared his throat. "Take her down the cove, stay close to shore as you can. You should reach the Sapphire Port within a day of sailing. Dock there, you'll find someone, you'll be safe." He licked his lips before reaching into the confines of his shirt, pulling out a rather hefty looking cloth bag which he pushed into his son's hands. Adam's eyes widened as he recognized the bag and what had to be in it. It was the shop gold pouch, all the money Garret made in a week he put in there before taking it to the bankers, and considering the success of his father's shop, he knew it must be a lot.

"That should take care of you all for a bit," Garret said crossing his arms. "Until you find a place that's safe."

Adam blinked, trying to say something, feeling like he should, but he didn't get the chance. Somewhere over the hill that lead to the docks there was shouting a shouting and clanging that made even Garret flinch. The tension however, faded, as the adults' eyes darkened and they looked at one another.

"Help them shove off!" Rissa said to Marcielle, the priestess already sliding a shaft into her bow. For an instant Kali knew she was truly her mother's daughter, for the ferocious light glimmering in her eyes as she took up her weapon and started to sprint back from where they'd come.

"Hurry!" Garret urged, drawing his blade and following Rissa. "Well hold them off as long as we can!"

Adam started to go after his father, unwilling to let him go just yet, but he was stopped as Marcielle grabbed hold of his shoulder (she grabbed Kali's as well, even though the girl didn't look like she was going to follow, just for good measure) and spun him about, pushing toward the boat.

"You heard them, come on!" Marcielle ordered, her voice hardened with determination. "Get in the boat and cut the line! You children have to leave now!"

Even Davey didn't argue with her, and scrambled in, helping Hunter pull Jade into the boat behind him. Adam followed shortly after, pulling Kali behind him, the girl had her dagger out in an instant preparing to cut the line anchoring them to the docks as Adam went for the boat's helm. Marcielle was already running for the hill, and they watched her go, somewhat frozen as the last link to their old lives left them. The moment became all the more regretful as, just when Marcielle came to the crest of the hill, starting to load her bow, so did an armored man with a sword.

It wasn't like with Smith, this time it happened so fast they barely saw the marauder's arm draw back and swing, his blade piercing right through the head woman's shirt, before pulling out, letting Marcielle's very limp figure tumble back down towards the docks.

There was a dead silence, even blocking out the sounds of the ocean an the birds above as they watched the body of Davey's mother roll and the raider approach it, tearing at her clothes, scavenging for goods. Then suddenly, there was a roar of "Mother!" and Davey was off the boat, running toward the murderer, a manic gleam in his eye.

"Davey, no!" Adam and Hunter yelled, following him at once, Kali pulled her hand away from the anchor line, leaving it uncut. She started to go with them but stopped as she found Jade's hands wrapped about her forearm, locking her in place with his terrified weight. Stuck, the violet eyes child watched horrified as her three other friends ran towards what would surely be death.

The murderer looked up as he saw Davey coming, simply staring at the boy as he stood, not even bothering to pick up his sword that he'd dropped beside Marcielle's body. His friend's saw what was about to happen long before he did, Davey was blind to all except the urge to pummel the much bigger man, and their shouts to watch out fell on deaf ears. He didn't see the man's hand come back, the backside of it colliding with his cheekbone quite smartly, sending him flying to land hard in the dirt.

At once the raider was on the boy, looking as if he was going to strangle him with his bear hands, he very well could have had Hunter and Adam not launched themselves upon him, trying desperately to pull the killer down with their meager weight. They succeeded in causing him to stumble back a few feet, away from Davey enough so that the black haired boy had time to pull himself into a sitting position, but not much else.

The man, or perhaps beast would have been a better word, gave a guttural curse and shook his arms, which Hunter and Adam were clinging to, knocking Hunter off and to the earth almost at once. Adam however, managed to keep his grip, but that was shortly remedied for the marauder as he drew back his free hand and slammed it into Adam's face, hitting him square upon the nose. Davey and Hunter heard bones breaking as Adam let go, moaning and clutching his bleeding nose as he hit the ground.

Davey looked up at the monster who killed his mother as he scrabbled with Hunter to help Adam to his feet. He the mountain of dark muscle, armor, sinew, and dirt, towered above them, looming closer and closer to them. A wicked smile played over his face, and Davey knew, just knew that they were going to die. They were all going to die, just like his mother, because he couldn't control himself.

The warrior was standing less than half a foot from them when a sharp "No!" pierced the air. Less than a second later, before the raider could turn around, a wiry figure had leapt onto his back, fisting his hair to jerk his head back. He cursed and flailed, reaching for the body latched onto his hauberk, but was too clumsy to get a good hold. There was a flash of white steel in the sunlight right before the shining metal buried itself into the murderer's throat. Spurts of hot red accompanied the utterly awful sound of ripping flesh and a gurgled scream that came with the blade's work. The figure jumped from the raider's back as he began to fall, landing in an almost catlike crouch a few feet back.

Hunter, Davey, and Adam all stared at Kali in a mixture of horror and awe. Her eyes glowed, her face was stony as she watched her opponent fall. Blood covered her small hands clear to her wrists, a few droplets were on her face from the spurting, and her dagger shone crimson from the deed. The gravity of the moment was painful. Kali had taken life, and she had done it for them.

At the same time that the three boys came to this realization, the cold, killing, facade Kali had worn as she slit the raider's throat evaporated. She shook her head, looking down at her hands. At once she was trembling, dropping her knife, as she really took in the act she, a twelve year old girl, had just committed. She stared at her hands, still slick with the essence of life, and she felt it. She'd killed.

Adam was the first to snap back into reality, falling to his friend’s side, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Kali." She didn’t say a word, barely moved even. She couldn’t seem to wrap her head around it. She’d taken a life, it didn’t matter that it had been that of a murderer, it was still a life. A life she’d ended. "Kali," Adam tried once more. This time she turned her head, facing her friend. The confusion and uncertainty in her eyes shook him.

The rest of the children stood in disbelief, unsure of what to make of the scene before them. Hunter was vaguely aware of the way Jade moved steadily from the boat towards the body laying at Kali’s feet. The blank stare he wore grew darker as he bent down, yanking the knife from the blood stained dock. Without a word he plunged the blade into the dead man’s chest over and over again, each stab growing more and more forceful.

His breathing came in short, hard pants, blood slowing covering his hands, causing the knife to slip around in them. But Jade didn’t let that slow him. No, these men had robbed him of everything. They had to pay. He would make them pay. He would make them all pay.

"Jade," Hunter started, snapping from his daze and moving quickly to his friend’s side. The boy didn’t hear the word falling from his friend’s lips and he continued to slam the knife into the unmoving form before him. Hunter locked his hands around Jade’s arm as he raised it back for another strike. "Jade, stop. It’s done. It’s over."

The boy turned, staring blankly at Hunter, the knife shaking in his hand. For a brief moment his eyes flitted down to the body before him. Blood covered the man’s mutilated chest, spilling onto the dock beneath him. There was no movement. Nothing. The monster was dead.

"Jade," Hunter repeated once more, his voice soft and low, meant only for his friend’s ears. A soft cry fell from Jade’s lips and the knife slipped from his fingers, clattering down against the dock. His blank eyes snapped shut as he fell listlessly against Hunter’s form. Pulling his friend tightly against him, Hunter clung to Jade before allowing his gaze to fall on the others surrounding them.

Davey, Adam, and Kali, all met his eyes, a silent conversation passing between the four. Finally he murmured one word, "Boat" and they nodded in return.

"Come on, Kal," Davey murmured reaching down to take hold of Kali's blood stained hands along with Adam and pull the girl to her feet, neither boy showing an ounce of disdain for the still warm liquid that passed from her hands to their own. The blood on Kali's hands had been spilled for them, they could never look at her differently for it, and together they lead her back to the boat, arms fastened about her waist.

With the others already going, Hunter knew he and Jade must follow, there was no telling when even more murderers like the one Kali had just dispatched would come along. They needed to run as Marcielle, Rissa, and Garret had planned for them to do, while there was still time for it.

"Jade," Hunter said giving the smaller boy's a pat. "Come on, we have to go."

Hunter felt Jade shudder against him and a small whimper escape as he said, in a small defeated, voice, "What's the point?" Another shudder wracked his frame. "Everything's gone."

"No," Hunter hurried to protest, shaking his head vigorously. He pushed Jade back by an arms length, taking hold of the side of his face so that there was no way his hazel eyes weren't meeting Hunter's blue ones. "No, it's not. We're still here, Jade. Kali, Adam, Davey, and I, we're here and we're together. We won't leave you. I won't leave you."

Jade started at those words, the weight of them almost crushing the air from his chest, particularly as he continued to stare into Hunter's eyes. It was like he'd regained his hearing after a period of being deaf, the way they touched his ears. It was like if nothing else ever was true in the world, if anything had not been before, those words were truth, maybe the only truth in the world. It didn't matter, all that mattered was that they had been said.

Hunter swallowed at the sudden heaviness in the air, his throat feeling a little dry. Whether it was from all the horrible things they had seen today, or the intense, almost burning quality to Jade's eyes, he wasn't sure. He only knew that something paramount had just changed within him, between the two of them actually, and that change teetered upon a razors edge of being bad or good.

Hunter didn't know what he was thinking as he leaned forward and very delicately pressed his lips to the corner of Jade's mouth. But he did it, and they remained that way for several moments, Jade not pushing away, and Hunter not drawing back.

In those seconds of being connected Hunter felt such a rush of things he couldn't begin to count or decipher them, the one thing that did come to mind was Jade's pulse beneath skin, his heart sounding off harder than the hooves of a thousand horses. Somehow, that was very comforting.

Hunter pulled away at the sound of Adam yelping, on the boat Kali had ripped away her already bloodied shirt sleeve and pressed it to his still dripping nose, trying to remold the broken cartilage there. Again, the urge to flee crossed his mind, and the blonde thought this, whatever it was, needed to be left for a better time, one where they weren't so close to dying.

"Come on," he said standing, meeting Jade's eyes which were still unreadable, holding a hand out to the other boy. "Let's go, they need us."

Jade didn't make any other reply other than to take hold of Hunter's hand, and allow him to pull him up. He kept a tight hold on Hunter's forearm as they walked back to the boat, after Hunter turned them back to grab up Kali's dagger, knowing that it had been a gift from her mother, and that she wouldn't want it to be left behind, even after the stain it was going to carry.

With the five of them again on the boat, they returned to the plan set by the adults, Adam went to the helm, with assistance from Davey, Kali took her blade back from Hunter, after it was washed along with her hands in the sea, cutting the line keeping them to the dock while Jade and Hunter pulled up the sail. They were moving at once, sailing away from Mendel Cove, from death, from their home, and from a part of themselves that would be buried there.

#afislash #junter #Shadows Mind: Murder #co-written with FadingStar #Adam Carson/OFC #AU #sparkinside writes

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shadows Mind: Murder - Prelude part one

Title: Shadows Mind: Murder

Chapter: 1/?

Character/Pairing: Adam Carson/OFC; Hunter Burgan/Jade Puget; Davey Havok

Genre: Angst; AU

Rating: T

Prelude 12

“Is it coming along well, love?” a soft voice asked. A boy, slender and young, most likely twelve, at first sight, looked up and around from where he was seated with a book in his lap, back pressed against a rather large oak tree. The boy, named David, but more commonly called Davey, smiled at the approaching figure of a woman. By the small mouth, lean angular features, and river of midnight tresses that they shared, it was easy to see that the two were related, the only real differences being in their builds, sexuality, and eye color. Davey’s eyes were brown, soft and quiet, like that of a doe’s, while the woman’s were a bright, confident, green.

“Very well, mother,” Davey told her. He had a soft voice, again something that seemed to have been given to him by the woman standing above, as quiet as his eyes and just as warm, when he wanted it to be. Right now, as he beamed up at his mother, he did indeed desire that quality, and gave it to her. Those who knew this boy would sometimes say they felt privileged for that warmth, it could be that impassioned, at times. “I’ve gotten nearly a quarter’s way through it since this morning.”

“That’s very good, David,” she said, showing yet another trait her son had received through her, as she gave him back the warmth of his smile with her own. “But do you understand what you have read?” She smoothed back her simple but nicely tailored skirts as she sat down cordially beside her boy in the soft spring grass. Watching her, Davey, even after so many years, could not help but to be awed with almost every move that his mother made. She exuded some sort of unearthly grace, like there were no bones in her body, just some sort of poetry of blood, sinew, and elegance that made even a breath by her seem artistic. Her large, doll-like, yet soul piercing eyes, met his, telling her son she expected a good answer.

“I think what Master Thais is to convey to the reader is that reason alone cannot guide one through life,” Davey said, closing up his book to show he was not drawing any knowledge from it. Or at least he was giving her his own interpretation of what the knowledge within the text. “That you have to also allow your emotions and instincts to lead you. That you should embrace both mortality and divinity to become a person who is complete with the world.”

“And is that a possible?” she asked, a grin lighting her emerald eyes. “Can a human perceive with all of those things? Think for themselves in that way, David?”

Davey regarded her in silence, knowing this was a test. Marcielle Marchand was always giving him these little tests, it was her way of keeping his mind sharp, shaping it to be as wise as her own. And Marcielle, as the headwoman for their little seaport village, was very wise indeed. She had to prove it often enough, and not only just because her position required it, but because her sex coupled with it demanded it. Marcielle had proven that her title was well given many times, gaining respect from even the harshest of her male critics within Mendel Cove.

“Well, I believe that, many people are capable of that, Mother,” he began after thoughtful silence. “Really, no one, who is born with the necessary mental position, is not capable of it. The problem, however, is that many people do not wish to be capable of it and ignore the gift of their conscious.”

Davey resisted a complacent smile as his mother quirked a slender ebony brow at those words. Being self–assured, he reminded, himself, was the first step to self–destruction. Marcielle had ingrained that within his mind from the cradle, and he would not be so foolhardy to forget it now. Still though, he allowed himself to be just the tiniest bit pleased on the inside that he had given her an answer she both liked and had not fully expected him to speak.

“Hmm...explain your thesis, son,” she finally said, Davey could see, with glee, she too was trying to hide a smile, one of pride. Pride was also a brick on the roadway of self–destruction.

“Generally, people don’t want to possess this capability because it’s just easier for them to ignore it,” he said. “Human beings, by nature, find more reason and pleasure by taking the easiest path in life. What path in life is easier than allowing their conscious to be lead? It’s a point proven in the fabric of government, religion, and war. Without willing followers and leaders then not one of those institutions would be possible in the slightest.”

Marcielle gazed at her son for several more long moments, her eyes guarded and secretive as they ever were. Just when Davey had begun to doubt himself though, she was smiling again, gently, just a touch of pride in her verdant irises. She reached up to pass a long fingered hand through his black tresses.

“Your answer is good,” Marcielle said, a smile, as bright and warm as the delicate May sunshine that flooded the little field in which they sat. “I daresay your father would be inclined to agree with you.”

Davey blushed a little from the compliment. His father, a scholar, had died when he was barely two. Lyell had been a man greatly respected in the cove for his intellect, greatly respected along the whole Sapphire Coast, his mother had always loved to tell the story of the day one of great Lords came to Mendel Cove, seeking Lyell’s advice. In all truth, Davey greatly enjoyed that tale as well, it was one of those eternally aching, secret, wishes that many keep to converse with his father, to know the man he had been. But it was one that he could never have, save for his dreams, so he tried his best not to contemplate it very much. He didn’t believe in false hopes.

“You know,” his mother spoke, jerking him from his inner musings. “In all honesty, I didn’t expect you to be here, doing your school work today.”

It was Davey’s turn to raise a single black eyebrow. “And why is that?” he questioned. “Have I ever disobeyed you before, when it came to my studies, Mother?”

“No, you’ve never really disobeyed me yet,” she told him, an amused light in her eyes keeping her plush red lips turned up. “But I simply told you that this book would be your reading for the day, my love. I told you not a word about finishing it. It’s such a lovely day, I did not actually think you would have the restraint to sit here and read it.” His mother’s eyes flicked towards the harbor that the little field which they sat in, overlooked.

Davey smiled as he finally caught the gist of her words. On a day like today a twelve year old such as Davey should very much be sailing down the coast with his friends in his close companion, Adam’s, little boat. The thought had indeed passed his mind, but there were circumstances beyond his control that prevented the plan. Of which he told his mother.

“Hunter’s father needed help down at his workshop,” he explained. “Jade’s little brother ran off and his mother sent him off to fetch him. Kali had a row with her mother this morning, so the priestess ordered her to her rooms all day. Adam said it wouldn’t be any fun with just the two of us, so he went to spend time with his father. There was nothing else for me to do, so...” he raised his book with a chuckle that his mother joined in with.

“Ah, well, perhaps you should go and see if Rissa has let Kali out then?” Marcielle suggested, continuing to preen her boy’s midnight locks. “Or just track her down, because I assure you she is out.” His mother gave a small laugh. “I saw her headed towards the practice yards. I think her intentions were to convince Adam to spar. A pity, her mother had set her hair up in such a lovely little plait.”

Davey laughed outright at the thought of Kali with her hair neatly arranged, it did not suit his friend at all and he decided at once he must see if it were true. It would be a wonderful thing to tease her over if it was.

“Go on,” his mother chuckled, prying the book gingerly from his fingertips. “Go, have fun with your friends, David. Childhood doesn’t last long, my love.” Davey smiled at his mother, adoring her all the more for her generosity and understanding as much for her unthinking grace, and leaned into kiss her on the cheek.

“Thank you, Mother,” he told her sincerely after pulling away and standing.

“You’re welcome, dear,” she told him with equal love in her eyes. Her smile became playful as she took the book and gave him a gentle swat on the rear. “Now off with you! Don’t give me time to rethink my offer, child.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he laughed, and without another thought or word had started running towards the slope of the cliff, the gentle curve that separated away from the rock face on it’s left side.

Marcielle watched her only child go, beaming in a way that only a happy mother could. She was right, she knew, childhood would not last long for her boy.

Across town, the wide blue eyes of another boy stared in wonder at the man seated before him, listening intently to the tale falling from his lips. Behind him the light crackle of the fire filled the room. Each word that filled the air captivated him. It didn’t matter that he had heard them a hundred times over. Every time they seemed to take a on a new life, they changed and for that reason alone, Adam Carson would sit and listen to them a hundred times over again.

At just barely thirteen years old, Adam had spent his entire life in the small seaside village of Mendel Cove, dreaming of the people and lands his father had spoken of in his stories. He wanted nothing more than to make his way into the world, to find the honor and the glory his father spoke of. To become a soldier as his father had been. When he wasn’t helping his father run the small, but successful, shop in the center of the village, he was in the training fields in the soldier’s fort with anyone willing to spar.

More often than not, his sparing partner were his friends Hunter and Kali. He had known both for as long as he could remember. They had spent many a summer’s day sneaking off to the training fields along with their less combative friends, Davey and Jade, often times staying there until the sun began to set over the rolling waves of the sea, sparring and chasing each other around the archery targets. The soldiers still occupying the fort had been long time friends with Adam’s father and simply laughed off the children’s antics.

Truth be told, Adam enjoyed sparring with Kali far better than he did with the rest of their small group. The only girl in their midst, Kali was light and quick on her feet, she made him work twice as hard, never let him off his guard, and he was the better fighter for it. With each practice, it became apparent, within their little group, that Kali and Adam were going to be the ones truly excelling at the combative arts.

Garret Carson knew of his son’s activities, and while he did not approve, he knew there was little he could do to stop him. Adam had inherited his mother’s stubbornness and determination, something Garret both cherished and cursed. Lisette Carson had been a strong-willed and passionate woman., that was one of the many reasons Garret had fallen in love with her. She was full of bright ideas and big dreams, helping her husband build his shop and working there each and everyday, morning til dusk even after she had found out she was with child.

Lisette had passed away shortly after giving birth to their tiny son and Garret had taken it harder than any had expected. For the first few months of his young child’s life, he barely spent a moment’s time with the boy, throwing himself into the shop. Rissa, Kali’s mother had acted both as wet nurse and mother in that time. As priestess and a close friend of both Lisette and Garret, she could see no other path for herself.

As the months slowly passed by, Garret began to warm to his son, his only remaining link to the woman he cherished. He watched his son grow into a bright and active child, questioning and full of life as his mother had been. And Garret supported and encouraged that quality in him. It would serve him well as he grew, though he did his best to instil the importance of family, of loyalty to those you love, in Adam’s mind. He had learned the hard way just how quickly life could be snatched away.

“Adam,” the soft voice of a young boy echoed from beyond the door, accompanied by several steady knocks. Garret paused his tale, looking up thoughtfully at the boy before him. With a nod, Adam pulled himself to his feet, lumbering quickly to the door. With a steady tug, pulled it open to discover his friend, Davey, staring at him with his signature smile.

“You finally pulled your nose out of that book,” Adam teased. It was well known, amongst the group, that the boy standing before him absorbed knowledge like a sponge, reading any and everything his mother placed in front of him. When he was able to pull himself away, even for a moment, his friends were there tease him, lovingly of course, about it.

Davey simply cocked his eyebrow. “At least I can read,” he countered with a knowing smirk.

“Oh hush, you.” It was not to say that Adam did not have the ability to read, he simply saw little value in it. He could read the orders at the shop and the signs along the town, but beyond that he saw no use for reading. He would be a soldier, what did he need books for?

“I think that will conclude our tale for the time being,” Garret called from inside the darkened cottage. Adam turned quickly towards his father, saddened to not hear the conclusion of the story, but hopeful that he would be allowed to head out, even for a few hours. “You boys go and entertain yourselves, but mind my boat, you hear. If she comes back maimed, you will both get a beating neither of you have ever dreamed of.” This was added with a smile, though the boys faces had grown considerably paler. “And mind you to keep Kali out of trouble, I know she’ll be heading out with you. She has that knack of falling into it, though sometimes I wonder if it’s the company she keeps.” Garret raised a knowing eyebrow.

Adam and Davey both chuckled nervously before uttering “Yes sirs” and scrambling out the door into the bright light of the village square. After several rapid blinks, Adam’s eyes adjusted to the severe and sudden change of light. “Do you know if Kali’s made her way out of her mother’s clutches yet?” he questioned, his eyes falling upon his shorter companion. “What exactly happened this time?”

“Most likely. You know Kali, she’s probably heading our way as we speak,” He let loose a chuckle, “I fear Priestess Rissa’s tried to put her in a dress again.”

Adam chuckled at that as well, “I’ve yet to see Kali in a dress and I think I’ll die the day I do.”

“It will certainly be a surprise,” Davey chuckled along with his friend. A comfortable silence fell over the two boys as they made their way into the town.

“Do you think we can wrestle Hunter away from his father for a few hours?”

“We could try,” Davey answered with a shrug, “Maybe we can catch up with Jade as well, help him track down that infernal pain in the side he calls a brother.”

“Lord help Smith when Jade finds him,” Adam added, shaking his head, “He’s probably furious.”

“He certainly seemed that way when earlier. I don’t even think he waved us goodbye.”

“Aye, we’ll find them soon enough,” Adam added as the two boys continued down the dirt and cobblestoned path leading through the heart of their village, both their minds set on the adventures this day would bring.

“Damn, her,” a very agitated young girl swore as she looked at her neatly braided and arranged mass of black hair in the dingy mirror that had been set up in her room. She screwed up her pretty face, violet eyes snapping at the image created with the hairstyle. “Damn her!” Her fists, though small, clenched and unclenched menacingly as she looked from her laughable hair in the mirror, to the corner of the room where very recently a freshly stitched lavender dress had been hung over the back of a chair. Kalika Sirenidae, more commonly called Kali, was not a happy girl that day.

She looked out her window, past the sycamore that had grown close to the cottage, over the town square, and to the peacefully lapping waves of the sea. With a pout, she remembered where she was supposed to be at the moment, sailing close along the shore in her friend’s boat. Supposed to be at least, but Kali’s plans had altered after a fight with her mother in regards to her hoydenish nature. Priestess Rissa had informed her only child that she was to start acting like a proper young woman, and stop running amuck with the group of boys she had known all her life as well as desist with her combat studies down at the soldier’s fort. Kali cared nothing for her mother’s commands and told her so quite emphatically, which, seeing as she had been locked in her bedroom until she agreed to wear the dress, had not been received by the Priestess so warmly.

Kali growled deep in her throat at the lilac monstrosity in the corner of her room, as if it silently mocked her, advocating itself as the source of her plight. The violet eyed girl agreed with it, and, deciding to pay both it and her mother back, ran to pull on her breeches and boots. She knew as soon as she started to pull her clothes on that this probably was not one of her better, more prudent ideas. She would get caught, she always did, but she would do it nonetheless, and probably would many times in the future. Kali wasn’t always careful, no, but she had enough guts to make up for it at times.

Kali had just finished lacing her boots and was about to climb out her window into the sycamore, when a silvery flash on her bedside table caught her eye. The girl almost kicked herself for forgetting the object, a long dagger in a plain sheath, oddly enough given to her by her mother. It was Kali’s most treasured possession and she’d been taught to use it, though the opportunity to do so had yet to arise. Whether or not she ever wanted to have that opportunity, she didn’t know, but she buckled it to her waist nonetheless before climbing out onto her widow ledge and leaping out, grabbing hold of the nearest branch.

This was a practice the Priestess’ daughter was more than accustomed to, and next to her friend, Jade, who was occasionally called Squirrel for his tree climbing savvy, she was the best. In a matter of seconds, Kali had scuttled from limb to limb, until she was within range of the ground. With one last heave of her body, she dropped down to the earth, landing like a cat on her heels and palms. Well, almost, Kali hadn’t been paying attention to where her hands went and felt the skin on the heel of her right palm split as a rather sharp rock she hadn’t noticed buried itself into the flesh there.

Giving a slight hiss, she jumped up, picking the rocks and gravel away from the wound to look it over. It was a nice gash, deep and trickling with crimson to stain down her wrist and shirt sleeve. If she had been a normal twelve year old girl she would have been crying and running to her mother to fix it. Kali, however, was not a very normal girl, proven by her more than strange eyes, hair, and now, by the fact that the skin on her hand was starting to pull itself together.

Kali was not sure how she could do this, how her body would do this to itself, mend on its own so fast, but it very well did. Once when she was five, she had spilled hot oil from the temple alter all over herself, almost everyone was sure she was going to be blind, if not scarred for life, but that hadn’t happened at all. The skin had bubbled and cracked and within an hour’s time, the bloody, raised, flesh had been replaced by scar tissue, by the following morning, the skin was as smooth as nothing had ever happened. It might have very well been dismissed as a dream, if she had not seen her body repair itself on later dates. She had asked her mother about this thing, about many things, thinking perhaps it had to do with her father, no one save for Priestess Rissa knew who he was, but her mother was tight–lipped about it. Kali knew no more about why her eyes were violet, or why purple tendrils grew amidst the black in her hair, or why her body could do what it did, than any one else. Her mother always said it would be something she would hear when she was older. The Priestess had been saying that since Kali was two, and the girl, needless to say, had grown tired of the runabout. Long ago Kali had accepted she was less than normal, her friends accepted it, and so she stopped thinking about it. Or at least she stopped admitting to do so.

When the skin on her hand had scabbed together nicely Kali dusted herself off, and looked about. No one of importance who might alert her mother to her departure seemed to be standing about, so she took off from beneath the sycamore tree at a sprint, a destination already in mind. Adam would be free, he was always free, and when she had gotten hold of him perhaps they could convince Davey to put his book down for awhile. After they got Davey then they could run by Hunter’s and help him finish his many chores, and after that track down Jade, who could be across the countryside, looking for Smith, and help him out. After that Kali estimated they should have close to until sunset to do as they pleased.

Slinking down the streets she, tried to be as inconspicuous as possible, though with her hair and the fact that it was her she was probably a bit down on her luck already. But save for the fact that she thought she saw Marcielle Marchand looking at her as she jogged down the street, away from the temple and it’s adjacent cottage that she shared with her mother, Kali remained virtually unnoticed as any other day. She was quite proud of that fact, and her head became a little bit stuck in the clouds as she ran along, remaining there, unnoticing of the world around her, until she literally turned about a corner and ran into her destination.

Adam gave a deep “oomph!” as Kali’s lithe frame hit his lanky one, stumbling back a few paces at the collision while Kali herself nearly bounced back on her rear. Nearly, she was saved from that humiliation (and soreness) by the quick thinking of the other half of her goal. Quicker than a blink Davey had skittered past the stumbling Adam to grab hold of her wrist, and giving a tug that was surprisingly strong for a boy of his size, pulled her upright. Kali stumbled a bit from the force of that, but was caught again, as Adam reached out to lay a hand on both her and Davey’s shoulders, steadying her and keeping her from knocking into the black haired boy.

The three looked at one another for a few moments as they regained both composure and balance before cracking smiles and beginning to laugh, Adam half keeling over as he held his belly.

“You’re a real wreck, Kal, you know that right?” the tallest of the boys laughed, looking up with mirthful tears in his eyes at his sole female companion.

“You mean she causes them,” Davey chuckled, breathlessly happy himself.

“Oh hush, the both of you!” Kali tried to sound stern, but felt the futility of the attempt due to the smile playing across her lips.

“My gods!” Adam suddenly gasped, making both his friends, jump, the smiles disappearing from their faces.

“What?” Davey and Kali chorused together, slight alarm ringing in their eyes.

“Kal—what in the name of the gods–your hair!” Adam exclaimed, right before holding his stomach as he began to laugh again, Davey took a quick look at Kali before joining him.

Kali’s purple eyes lit up with a spark of that hellfire she’d shown to her mother just that morning, remembering she hadn’t bothered to take her hair out of it’s elaborate plate before sneaking out, and scowled at her friends, Adam in particular. While Davey at least tried to stop, Adam only began to giggle more, breaking the last straw upon the girl’s back. With a rather loud roar, she leapt upon Adam, taking them both to the ground as she began to pummel him. Davey moved out of the way of the ball his two friends became as they tumbled, laughing as they started throwing punches at one another.

“To hell with you, Carson!” she shrieked as she hit. “I didn’t do this to myself you know!”

“Nope, your mummy did!” he cackled, blocking some hits while returning others.

“Bastard!” she growled.

“You would know!” he taunted back.

“Okay enough, you two!” Davey said, reaching down to grab their hands, fingers balled into fists ready to smash into one another. Davey’s touch calmed them both immediately, and they relaxed, Adam allowing his hands to fall to his sides, while Kali jerked hers away. There was tense silence for few seconds as Adam lay on the ground, Kali straddling his waist, glaring down at his chest, Davey watching them both with his arms crossed. Finally Adam gave a sigh and sat up, and in one quick motion passed his hand through Kali’s disheveled hair, his hand returning with the tie that held it up on the end. Laying the tie down he ran the hand back through her violet and jet mange, tousling so that it was wild about her face.

“There,” he said with a half smile, leaning up further to replace the tie in a haphazard fashion, and very Kali way, about her locks. He pulled a few stray tresses down into her eyes, obscuring her piercing violet gaze just a bit. “Much better. Girl hair doesn’t suit you, Kal.”

Kali grinned. “Yeah I know,” she giggled before jumping up. She held out her hands to him, and Adam accepted them, allowing the girl to pull him onto his feet.

Davey smiled, knowing things were, as always, very fine between Kali and Adam, as they turned grins upon him. “Come on,” he said beckoning with his left hand. “We’ve still got Hunter and Jade to collect yet, don’t we?”

“Ugh–huh!” both his friends laughed in unison before all three began a run up the cobblestone street, back the way Kali had come along. The sole girl among the friends smiled as she sprinted between Adam and Davey, she was not going to become a proper young lady today.

The wooden box dug heavily into his tiny shoulder, a grimace of pain flashing through his blue eyes. He was not a slight boy by any means, but at twelve years old, Hunter Burgan was stronger than some of the boys twice his age. This, he did not doubt, came from the hours he spent working along side his father, Samien, in the small carpentry shop he owned on the outskirts of the village.

Work was demanding and often times straining for the young boy, but Hunter knew that by doing this, he was helping to put food on his family’s table. And with the way times were, his family needed all the help they could possibly get.

Hard times had fallen on the Burgan household after Hunter’s mother, Kira, had fallen ill shortly after her son’s first year of life. At the time, none were sure the young wife and mother would survive, but Samien had never given up hope on the woman he loved. He poured nearly all of their savings into finding a cure, a treatment, anything for his wife.

Countless doctors and months later, his prayers were finally answered. Though the illness had left Kira unable to bear more children or even carry on the working life she had once lead, she was alive. But things, life, had forever been altered for the young family. Money was scarce and with the care Kira still required, they barely earned enough to keep food on the table. This burden fell heavily on both Samien and young Hunter’s shoulders.

From the time Hunter was able to walk on his own, he worked to help his father in the shop. Little things at first, greeting customers, holding tools. But as he grew, so did his tasks. Now he worked along side his father on many of his jobs. In what little spare time he could find, Hunter was off sparring and playing with his friends.

The five of them had done so for as long as the young boy could remember. And it was with them that Hunter felt most at ease. He could escape the frustration and tension that settled around the Burgan household like a dense fog. Though he never fully understood it, it was something Hunter could not deny. He could see it in his father’s eyes, feel it in his mother’s silence, in the way they spoke to one another.

With a grimace, he placed the box heavily down on the workbench next to his father. The man sat, his entire attention focused on the small chest before him. It was a wedding gift for the daughter of one of the villages prominent families. The detail requested of the piece had kept Samien locked in his shop for the past several days, only emerging when his body could no longer stand the lack of food or sleep. But the pay was quite well, and for the Samien would suffer through the frustration. That pay was so desperately needed.

“I’ve finished the box,” Hunter whispered softly, knowing that by speaking now he risked breaking his father’s concentration and invoking the short temper he had so acutely developed.

“Leave it be, son,” his father only mumbled in reply. The last thing he wanted to do was drag his only child into this mess. Into something he had little control over.

Hunter merely nodded, turning from the workbench and heading back to the far corner of the shop to return to the few other pieces his father had asked for his help in finishing. As he passed by the window, he watched the sun beam down on the people passing by, wishing, not for the first time, that he could be outside with them, enjoying the day. But he knew that was impossible and though he hated that fact, he understood.

Settling himself at his own small desk, Hunter turned his attention to the shelf sitting before him. He allowed himself to become engrossed with his work, barely pausing when he heard the door from to the shop open softly.

“Samien,” the soft voice of his mother filled the quiet shop. His father merely grunted in return, his attention focused solely on the task before him. But Hunter could sense a change in the room. The all to familiar tension that seemed to radiate around them. “Samien,” she called again.

He turned to face the doorway, eyes falling on his wife’s frail form, questioning why she had come in the first place. She hated that stare. Hunter forced himself to focus more intently on the piece before him, trying with all his might to block out the world around him. Block out the tension surrounding him.

“You’ve been in this room all day....I thought you might want to come back to the house for something to eat. To get a bit of fresh air,” she posed softly. “You’re always cooped up in here.”

“I’m here because I’ve got no other choice, Kira. We need to eat and we can’t very well do that without money.” His voice was soft and even, but there was little mistaking the frustration in it.

Kira physically shrunk backwards at his verbal assault, knowing what role she and her illness played in it. “I was merely suggesting. Plus it would give the boy a chance to run around for a bit. He needs to be a child. He only has so many years of childhood left, you can’t keep him cooped up in here forever.”

Hunter froze at her words, his mind wandering back several hours. Kali, Adam, and Davey had all come by, smiling and ready to bring him along as they took Adam’s father’s small boat out onto the harbor for a few hours, only to be turned away. Samien had done so with a heavy heart, hating the disappointment he saw flashing in his son’s eyes.

“Do you not think I know that, Kira?” Samien’s voice rose with each word that feel from his lips. “Don’t you think I would rather see my son, my only child, outside enjoying life? Enjoying everything while he still has that chance? Do you think I want this for him, Kira? If I had a choice in the matter he wouldn’t be in here! But I don’t have that say. I lost it a long while ago. This is the only choice I have! The only one we have, so do not speak of matters you know so little about!”

“Don’t,” she shot back, her voice raising as well. “This is not solely my fault. I didn’t ask for this to happen, Samien. I didn’t chose it!”

The silence that filled the small shop was deafening. Hunter wanted nothing more than to run, to get as far away from this, from them, as he possibly could. But his limbs, it seemed, were made of lead and refused his mind’s every command. Stop, he pleaded silently. Please stop.

He hated this. Hated how even the smallest of things brought forth such bitterness in the two people he cared for most. He could see the hurt and guilt in his mother’s eyes, the frustration and pain in his father’s face. The way they stared each other down, each waiting for the other to say something more. To challenge the other.

Slowly, he found himself able to stand, though he had no idea where he would go. The only exit to the shop was where Kira currently stood and the last thing Hunter wanted was to place himself in the middle of their argument. As he pushed himself away from his desk, his foot caught on the scraps of wood he’d left carelessly laying about the floor. A sharp howl of pain feel from his lips, causing both Samien and Kira to break from their stare and turn to face him.

“Hunter,” Samien began slowly, seeing the discomfort in his son’s eyes, “Why don’t you go see if you can find Adam, Kali and Davey?” The boy didn’t need to see any more of this. It wasn’t fair to him.

“But what about...” Hunter started, grateful for a chance to leave what he knew would only be another fight. But he still could not help feeling guilty. There was still a great deal of work left and he knew his father could not handle it all on his own.

“It can wait.” Samien’s voice was firm, leaving the boy little room to argue. Silently, Hunter nodded before making his way towards the door and past his stunned mother. As he jogged down the cobblestone street, he could hear the voices of his parents raising once again.

Pushing their voices from his mind, the boy made his way through the now crowding streets in the direction of Adam’s home. It was the most logical of places to start, even his emotionally cluttered mind could make sense of that. Hunter paid little attention to the commotion around him, his eyes focused blankly on the street before him. He refused to let himself think anything beyond finding his friends and putting this morning behind him.

Unshed tears burned in his blue eyes, blurring his vision. But he refused to allow them to fall. No, this didn’t matter. This was life. He could deal with this. He could handle it, he had to. They needed him to be strong. His family needed him. As his thoughts sped, so did his pace, until he was practically sprinting down the street. He didn’t slow until a warm, solid wall halted his progress.

Stumbling backwards, Hunter found himself thrust back into reality, his eyes falling upon the familiar, concerned face of one of his closest friends. “Davey.”

Davey outstretched his hand, offering his friend a soft smile. “Are you alright?”

With a silent nod, Hunter returned his friend’s smile, though both boys knew it didn’t truly reach his eyes. Gathering himself, Hunter turned to face the other two companions standing behind Davey. Both looked uncertainly at Hunter, seeing the redness in his eyes, before exchanging knowing looks. They were looks Hunter had known all too well and he waited for the line of questioning he was certain would follow. But neither said a word, merely offering their friend knowing smiles. A conscious effort to lessen the slowly building tension.

“I see your mother let you out, Kali.” Hunter stated, breaking the silence. Noting the shift in Kali’s gaze, before smirking, “Or did you pull a Jade and put that sycamore tree beneath your window to good use?”

Chuckling, Kali nodded her head. “I’ll die before I’ll let her put me in a dress.” A roar of laughter fell from all of their lips at that. “What? You think I’m kidding?”

“Oh no, Kal. I think the world will come to a fiery end if you were ever to spend more than a few moments in anything other than your tunic and breeches,” Davey voiced, his eyes dancing with mirth.

“That’ll be enough out of you, bookworm.” The four dissolved into a fit of giggles, Davey shooting Kali a knowing glare. “Speaking of fiery ends, why don’t we go see if Jade has gotten his hands on Smith yet? Because lord knows that poor boy is treading on thin ice as it is.”

“Let’s hope we haven’t missed the show yet,” Adam chimed in with a hearty laugh. The four nodded, making their way towards the woods in the distance, each looking forward to the excitement this day would bring.

Jade Puget was normally a very patient boy. On an average day, he did not rush through tasks, he was calm and collected, quite the levelheaded child. Today was not one of those average days though. Today, he was, more or less, pissed off.

The day was bad from the very start, when he had was woken an hour and a half early before his usual time, a little after dawn, by the cries of his month old little sister, Wynne. He’d struggled to try and return to sleep, but it was a useless fight, as his younger brother Smith, whom he shared a bed with, was snoring forcefully. Usually it didn’t bother him, but today the nose simply got under his skin like no other time, so he’d started the day off a bit grumpily. Further aggravation had been piled on as he was kicked in the side by a cow he was trying to milk that morning. Not badly, but enough so that his father, Bryant, had ordered him off chores that morning and his two older, Cullen and Corbin, had found reason to tease him.

Sent off to the house to help his mother with chores there (the twins had very cleverly said he was becoming a woman for the day), he’d spent the morning half being fussed over by his mother, Livia, and elder sister, Myra, and being humiliated by assisting with the cooking. It had only gotten worse when his friends Adam, Davey, and Kali, had come by, to ask him to go sailing, and had seen him churning butter. Nothing was said but he was shamed nonetheless. The worst of it was he might have been allowed to go, in fact his father had seen his friends, knew he wanted to go with them, and had given his permission. And then out came his mother, shouting for Smith, and upon not finding them, had more or less, politely, ordered Jade to find his little brother, seeing as he had nothing else to do.

So here he was, combing the fields near his family’s farm, his ribs still aching from that kick, looking for his miserable puke of a bratty little brother. No, for Jade today was neither average or good, and he was in a rotten mood for it. Rotten enough that he might just beat the snot out of Smith upon finding him.

Jade heaved a sigh, pressing a hand to his still faintly throbbing chest. “Gods damn you, Brownie,” he cursed the cow that had given him this nice gift. The thirteen year old looked about. He was on the outskirts of his father’s lands, another hundred yards and he would simply be in unclaimed fields, but he recognized the place, he was twenty feet from a pond that he and his friends sometimes swam and fished in. By that pond was a rather large rock, and deciding from the pain in his chest, he was deserving of at least a few moments’ repose, trotted his way there to recline against the sun heated stone surface.

Another heavy sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes, allowing the light of the sun to warm him. It was early spring in this part of the country, bright with sunshine, though still chilly at times. It was perfect weather to be sailing down the shore, but no, of course he couldn’t have that. The gods had decided today would just be misery for him and nothing more. He groaned, spreading his lanky frame across the rock’s face. He was really going to kick Smith’s behind for this.

“Oh look a rock on a rock, fellas–and fellaette!” a familiar voice taunted from a not too far off. Jade sat up at once as he recognized the voice and the echoes of laughter that followed it, trills of excitement and happiness flooding him as he did, though those trills were a bit dimmed as the pain in his chest flickered and he nearly fell back against the stone, clutching the mark that be–damned milk cow had laid upon his chest.

“Oye, Jade!” a second and equally familiar voice exclaimed, this time slightly worried. Jade looked up to see four figures, through his fringe of auburn hair, running toward him. A blonde head at the front of the pack.

“Jade, you alright?” Hunter asked, as he came up toward his friend, laying a hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he grunted sliding off the rock, though his hand still held his ribs. He did his best to look pleasant. “Never get kicked by a cow, if you can at all help it,” he advised them all with wry smile. “It’s not pleasant.”

“Does it hurt much?” Davey asked, not in a mothering way, just concerned.

“It’ll be fine,” Jade said, grunting as he rubbed the spot. “Or it least it will after I find that foul brother beast of mine and drag him home. I swear, he only ran away to vex me, I just know it!”

“Yeah, well, he’s your little brother, that’s his job,” Kali laughed.

“Yes, and you would know,” Jade retorted a bit scathingly. “You’ve got what? A hundred younger siblings?”

“No, just you all,” she retorted.

“Firstly, that retort was immature,” Jade said, crossing his arms as he gave her a withering look. “Secondly, next to Duck–fluff,” he nodded to Hunter, who’d earned his nickname from his tufty white hair, “you’re the youngest here. It’s illogical.”

Kali only rolled her eyes. “You, Davey, and your logic,” she said, hands on her scrawny hips. “I swear you should marry it, you’re so hung up on it.”

“Jealous?” both the redhead and raven-haired boy said together, a line perfectly rehearsed through the lifetime they had been friends.

Kali, Hunter, and Adam exchanged eye rolls, jealousy was hardly the word to describe the feeling for their friends over this particular subject.

“Okay, okay, come on!” Hunter said, jumping and gesticulating a bit as he spoke. “The sooner we find Smith, the sooner we can do something interesting with ourselves! Let’s move!” And he started running off past the pond, towards the woods, a place Smith would most definitely enjoy hiding in. His friends watched him bound away and laughed before following his example. Every day with one another always proved to be an adventure, today would be no exception to the rule.

The quintet ran through the forest, as they had done many, many times, in their years together, nimbly avoiding branches and roots. Well for the most part, Davey wasn’t as adept at it as his friends were, and Hunter’s was known to fall on his face more than a few times, but it was nothing that either boy did not immediately recover from. Dirt on their faces they were back up, gaining on the others, laughing just as their friends were. Jade and Kali climbed and swung part of the way, playing a brief game of acrobats as they found familiar handling upon the branches of a springy juniper they’d played upon many times before.

“Hey, Jade!” Kali called from her place high in one of the trees. Her four companions looked up, seeing the violet eyed child scanning a bit ahead of them. “I see him! He’s in the clearing up ahead running around after some rabbits!”

“That little brat!” Jade exclaimed as his friends tittered. “Damn him! He did this last week! Ooh after Papa gets done with him I’m taking a turn! Senseless–ooh!” The last was a guttural rumble, barely a cognitive arrangement of syllables, but his friends paid him no mind. They simply hid their smiles from his ire, knowing it would pass. Jade often became irritated with his little brother, and most of the time Smith deserved it, nothing new for them to witness. Jade would yell, cuff his younger brother, Smith would cry, recover, and go back to rile him as he had everyday since near birth, it was a cycle for the two brothers, stability, a way. They all knew, this, and followed him to watch the scolding about to take place, Kali, dropping to the ground to trot shoulder to shoulder with Adam.

“Smith!” Jade hollered at the top of his lungs as they cleared past the last of the trees. “Smith Puget of Mendel Cove, you get your scrawny—”

Smith looked up, but not at the sound of Jade’s voice and not in his direction, and they all knew why. The voice of the elder of the brother’s had been drowned out by a strange rumbling sound. The five older children followed Smith’s gaze, to the opposite site of the clearing, as the ground began to shake beneath them. In a matter of seconds the branches and saplings were pushed out of the way as a fleet of armored horsemen galloped through.

They all saw it in slow motion before it happened, the look on Smith’s face, his small body freeze, the dirt flying from the wickedly giant hooves of the beasts. Time stopped, life stopped, for a few precious brief seconds as Jade realized what was going on, where those animals and their riders were headed with out any regard whatsoever for his baby brother. The moment was frozen, the absolute look of shock on Smith’s face, the squirming little brown rabbit he’d finally managed to catch after so many attempts, clutched in his small hands, the beating of his heart. Most of all Jade remembered all the terrible things that he’d been thinking right before this moment.

The broken scream of, “Smith!” tore raggedly from Jade’s throat right before the first of the riders trampled right over his little brother’s now tiny looking frame, rabbit still in his hands.

#afislash #co-written with FadingStar #Shadows Mind: Murder #Junter #Adam Carson/OFC #sparkinside writes #AU

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Updated master list

sparkinside master list

Blacking the Looking Glass

Culpabilité

Échec Et Mat

Hearts in Pain

Brave

The House Wins

Reflections

Coffee Date

Désastre

Lonely

Some Days I Wish I Didn’t Have A Tongue (Sequel to Lonely)

We’re Recording

When You Catch Fire

Minutiae

Promise

Snowday

I’m Good For Nothing Will You Love Me Just The Same?

Patience

The Last Time

Anymore (Companion to The Embrace)

Tell Tale Signs

Rhythm

Deconstructing Gods

Truth or Consequence

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine

One Two

#sparkinside master list #afislash #advey #javey #jadam #junter #hundam #The Embrace #I'll Be There For You #Shards of Us #The Devil Inside #The Truth Can't Save You Now #This Glassy Surface #Adam Carson/OFC #RPF #sparkinside writes

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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I’ll Be There For You - Chapter Two

Title: I’ll Be There For You

Chapter: 2/?

Character/Pairing: Adam Carson/OFC

Genre: Angst

Rating: T

Summary: There are always lines, always limits, and learning when to cross them, when to risk it all can be the hardest lesson to learn.

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement.

TWO

Monday mornings had never been a favorite of Adam’s, they always seemed to come far too quickly for his liking. Especially this particular Monday morning. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, he needed coffee and badly. Stumbling towards the kitchen, he groped blindly for the light switch. He swore the damned thing moved just to spite him.

He finally found it a few moments later, continuing his stumble into the kitchen. His eyes fell upon the half filled coffee pot. It was stone cold and from the previous morning but he desperately needed the caffeine. He could always make a fresh pot later. A minute or so in the microwave and it would be good as new...Or well, close enough to it.

A hiss fell from his lips as the now steaming liquid passed them. Shit, he really needed to learn that the ‘beverage’ button on his microwave only brought third degree burns and a handful of curses. Dropping the mug onto the kitchen counter, he sighed. Just what he needed.

Somehow, though he honestly wasn’t sure how, he’d managed to get maybe four hours of sleep the night before. And, he thought with a grimace, he didn’t even want to think about how little he’d gotten that Saturday.

True, he’d gotten used to sleepless nights, living on the road seven months out of the year off and on for the past thirteen years saw to that, but between worrying about Ron’s odd behavior and the odd dreams he’d been plagued with the night before he’d barely managed to get enough to function. The best he could hope for now was that the coffee would at least make him bearable.

His eyes rolled over towards the clock on the coffee pot. Seven thirty-five. Jesus, it was far too early. With coffee mug in hand, he wandered from the all too small kitchen towards his even smaller living room. True, he could afford bigger and certainly better, but this was his home and he didn’t abandon things easily. Ron had always told him he was a stubborn bastard like that. He chuckled, she really had a point there.

Settling on the well-worn couch, Adam leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He knew there was no way he’d be getting anymore sleep today, but maybe if he just forced himself to relax a bit he’d feel more rested. As well as he’d managed to function on little sleep, he knew he needed to have his wits about him today. It was the last day he’d have off before another long stretch in the studio and there was quite a few things he wanted to get done while he had the chance. Top thing on that list being paying a visit to Ron.

Ron had been a constant in his life for as long as he could remember. They’d grown up together, shared more than he’d ever shared with another living soul. She was the one person he could say he knew inside and out and that knew him the same way. And that was what made her subdued and somber reaction so jarring for him. This was something she had always wanted. She should have been singing from the rooftops; not laying in his arms, silent and uncertain.

He didn’t dare begin to explore his own discomfort at the situation. It had to be simply the fact that something was bothering her that made him so uneasily, so uncomfortable with the entire situation. This was good news. His best friend was going to be a mother, was finally getting the one thing he knew she had longed for. This was a happy thing. He would be an honorary uncle; all the best parts of the job without the responsibility of raising a child on his own. This was a good thing. She was just scared and therefore so was he. That was it. That had to be it.

Adam rubbed his free hand over the two days worth of stubble on his chin. Jesus, he was getting too old for this. And he certainly was no closer to relaxing than he had been half an hour ago. He grimaced as the brought the coffee mug to his lips. Great, now his coffee was stone cold. Perfect.

Pushing himself up off the couch, he made his way back into the kitchen for round two of his caffeine battle. When the microwave chimed for the second time that morning Adam made sure to wait a few minutes more before taking his first, well second if he was going to be completely honest, sip of the morning. Much better. At least he’d managed to learn something that morning.

It took him a half an hour from that point to finish enough of that cup to even contemplate a shower, which he knew he desperately needed. Maybe this would offer him a clean slate, a fresh start. Or at least hide the fact that he was running on caffeine and not enough sleep.

Ron hated the fact that he rarely slept, that he wasn’t taking care of himself. It was annoying really, sweet perhaps, but mainly annoying. He chuckled softly to himself; she’d been mothering him like that for as long as he could remember. Now she would have something, someone else, to mother. That thought unsettled him slightly. And that would never do.

Grabbing the first set of clean jeans and a t-shirt he could find, Adam made his way into the bathroom. It took him a few minutes to get the water temperature to the perfect setting between the either freezing cold or scalding hot that his shower seemed to prefer. Shedding his clothes, Adam stepped inside. He closed his eyes and let the warmth envelope him.

Clean and vigor slightly renewed, Adam walked from his apartment to the small lot towards his car. It was early still, but he knew Ron was an early riser, something he had teased her about for years. She could be up until all hours of the night and still be up before seven. It was uncanny, really and upon occasion, rather annoying; especially if she decided that he should be up as well. She had always been evil like that.

It was nicer outside than he had thought it would be. The jacket he’d grabbed on the way out of the door now seemed rather unnecessary. But, he figured, it was better to be safe than sorry. The last thing he needed was to catch a cold now. Their time in the studio was already tight to begin with; any changes to it now would only serve to create a bigger headache than was necessary.

The drive to Ron’s was rather uneventful. The volume of traffic on the road was surprisingly light for this time on a Monday morning, cutting the normal half an hour drive in half. As he turned the corner of her street, Adam felt a surge of annoyance. Chris’ car sat idly at the top of the driveway. He made a conscious effort to shake the feeling off. What the hell was wrong with him? Of course he would be home; it was his house after all. And Adam liked Chris, most of the time anyway. He was good to Ron and that was all that he could ask for.

Adam pulled his car alongside the curb, letting the engine idle a minute before shutting it off. No time like the present, he thought. He climbed from the car and began his trek up the small sloping driveway to the front door. Adam raised his hand to knock on the door, startling slightly as it pulled open before his hand made contact.

Chris stood in the doorway, smiling. “Hey, is everything alright? You’re here awful early.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Adam started, running his hand through his hair, “Had a rough weekend and couldn’t really sleep. She awake?” He couldn’t shake the thought that this was a bad idea. He hadn’t thought any of this through. He never seemed to when it came to Ron. He never really had to. She was always there, no matter the time, no matter what else was going on. She had always been his rock. But things were different now. Everything was different and that scared Adam more than he cared to admit.

Chris nodded, stepping aside to let Adam enter. “Yeah, she’s in the kitchen.”

Adam smiled briefly in thanks before heading towards the back of the house. He shook off the annoyance that was creeping through him and worked to school his face into a calm facade. He caught sight of her sitting at the scarred wooden table, her shoulders tense and a weariness radiating around her that stopped him in his tracks. Something was very wrong.

Steeling himself, he knocked lightly on the door frame before walking into the room. Ron jerked her head up at the sound. “God, Adam you nearly scared me to death.”

He smirked and silently settled himself into the chair next to hers. “Not my fault you’re unobservant.”

“Fuck off.”

Adam threw a hand over his heart, “Language, young lady! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?”

Ron laughed, rolling her eyes. “You are absurd.”

“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.” She looked calmer now, slightly more at ease, and Adam felt he knot in his stomach loosen ever so slightly but did not let himself dwell on just why that was.

Sighing, Ron turned her attention back onto Adam, her eyes taking in the dark circles and still drying hair. Unconsciously, she reached up tucking an unruly curl behind his ear. He was taken aback by the jolt that coursed through him. “You alright? You look like you barely slept.”

Adam blinked for several minutes, trying to focus on her words. “Yeah, couldn’t seem to shut my brain off. Studio jitters,” he trailed off, his reasoning sounding weak even to his ears. What the hell was wrong with him? “And I figured you’d be up to annoy them away.” He cracked a smile, hoping to force her to do the same.

But she just stared at him, eyes scanning his face and full of concern. He knew that she hadn’t believed a word of it, she knew him too well. “What’s really going on, Ad?”

Adam shook his head, leaning himself back against the chair. “I’m fine. Just tired. It’s been a long weekend.”

Ron smiled softly at him, placing her hand on his knee and giving it an affectionate squeeze. “Still stuck on her not showing?”

He blinked in surprise at her words, “What? Oh yeah, I guess. That and just the stress of everything. You know me.” He shrugged and smiled. “I just mainly wanted to see how you were doing? You seemed, I don’t know, a bit off earlier. Are you okay?”

It was Ron’s turn to blink incomprehensively for several moments. “I’m fine. Just a bit discombobulated by it all. I mean, it’s a big change. A great one, don’t get me wrong. It’s just a lot to take in.”

Adam nodded, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was far more to the story than she was letting on. She was obviously not ready to say anything and experience taught him that pushing her would only cause her to pull farther away. So he would let it be. No matter how much it ate at him.

“Seriously, Adam, what the hell’s wrong with you?” Davey’s voice was laced with barely repressed frustration. And Adam couldn’t blame him. His concentration was shot. He was making stupid mistakes. Mistakes he never made. And for the most part his band mates had been understanding. He got the usual shit from Hunter, the man could never leave well enough alone. But Davey and Jade had been surprisingly patient until that point.

“I don’t fucking know,” Adam hissed between his teeth, dropping his sticks and grabbing for the bottle of water he’d taken to keeping by his kit. He knew these songs, they had practiced them nearly to death before heading into the studio. He shouldn’t be constantly messing them up. He sighed, tightening the cap back onto the bottle and tossing it back onto the floor. “Let’s try it again.”

But several takes later it was clear that his head wasn’t in it. He growled in frustration, ripping the headphones off his ears. He was tempted to throw them across the room in a fit of temper but immediately thought better of it. He ignored the concerned and frustrated looks of his band mates and the rest of the studio crew and stormed for the door. He needed a cigarette and badly.

It had taken three to calm his nerves enough to re-enter the studio. He muttered an apology and took a seat in the back of the studio, running his hands through his hair. He needed to get a grip. This was his life, why the fuck was he letting himself screw it up? He’d gotten so good at keeping his personal life out of the band. They had always been two distinctly separate parts of himself. And here he was letting something that he had no control over, no real say in, mess him up. It was ridiculous and he knew it.

“You okay?”

Adam shrugged. “Yeah, just tired.”

Jade’s inquisitive eyes roamed over Adam, narrowing slightly, eyebrow rising. It was clear he didn’t believe a word Adam had spoken. Adam chuckled, the man never missed anything. It was annoyingly endearing.

“I’m fine, Jade. I just needed a few minutes to get my head back in the game. Let’s get back to it.” He pushed himself up off his chair and made his way back into the recording booth, settling quietly behind his kit.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of noise and frustration. Somehow he’d managed to lay enough down to at least make the session not a complete waste, but nowhere near what he was capable of. Adam felt drained.

I just need to sleep, He told himself. Everything would be better once he actually slept. He was just tired and not thinking clearly. Once he’d slept it would make more sense. It had to. But his brain refused to shut off. He’d tried just about every trick he’d learned to force himself to sleep and nothing was working.

This is ridiculous. He couldn’t understand why he was so worked up. It’s not like he hadn’t handled change before. Sure it wasn’t his strong suit, stick in the mud was how his mother had put it, but he could roll with change. It just took longer. But this felt different. And he couldn’t understand why.

But it needed to stop. He couldn’t keep doing this. Not if he wanted to survive with any amount of his sanity intact. He just needed to let it go. Things were changing. That was all. It wasn’t like his world was ending. Ron wasn’t going anywhere. This was a good thing. This was what she’d always wanted. He was just being stupid and stubborn about this change. That was all it was. That had to be it. He would do better.

#sparkinside writes #I'll Be There For You #Adam Carson/OFC

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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I’ll Be There For You - Chapter One

Title: I’ll Be There For You

Chapter: 1/?

Character/Pairing: Adam Carson/OFC

Genre: Angst

Rating: T

Summary: There are always lines, always limits, and learning when to cross them, when to risk it all can be the hardest lesson to learn.

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement.

ONE: I’ll be chasing you the rest of my life

Slowly, he drummed his fingers across the white tablecloth, every once in awhile his eyes straining up to the clock hanging on the far wall. The soft murmur of the tables surrounding him filled his ears. He should have known this would happen.

He sighed. She was late again. She was always late. Why he kept expecting that to change, he’d never understand. But still he was here. Still he’d given her the benefit of the doubt again. It was stupid of him, he knew that, but it didn’t stop him from agreeing to meet her in the first place. He was a real fucking idiot.

Giving the clock one last glance, he pushed himself from the table. Coming had been a mistake. He had known it would be from the moment he’d gotten her message the day before. Why he refused to listen to his own sense of reason was beyond him as well.

Leaving enough to cover the three cups of coffee he’d consumed while he waited, he pushed open the glass door of the small restaurant and stepped out into the darkened sidewalk. The air outside was slightly chilled, a sure sign that winter was on its way. He paid it little mind, pulling his light jacket tighter around his tall frame as he made his way into farther the night.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, staring ahead at the sidewalk before him. The streets weren’t crowded in any sense nor were they completely empty. He liked it that way – he wasn’t invisible but he didn’t stand out. Hardly anyone he passed paid him any mind, all too tangled in their own happenings.

A half smile formed on his lips. Yes, the night had been as close to a complete disaster as he cared to come, but he would get over it. She didn’t really matter in the scheme of things. And now he had the rest of the evening to do with as he wished. No painful small talk, no awkward silences or clumsy, desperate sex he’d regret soon after waking the next morning. In a way, he was grateful she’d stood him up.

Though his car still sat in the restaurant’s parking lot, he continued down the sidewalk. He didn’t feel like heading home. Not just yet. He took a deep breath, taking in the sights around him. The city was beautiful at night. The soft glow of the street lamps, the shine from the lights of the signs advertising the various stores. He’d never bothered to notice any of that before; he’d been in too much of a hurry for this or that. Everything had just held a higher precedence than the world revolving around him.

He shook his head, laughing softly at himself as he continued down the sidewalk. What was wrong with him lately? Maybe he had been spending too much time in the studio, like Ron had pestered him about for weeks on end. He sighed, it wasn’t his fault they had been on a roll and he’d been hard pressed to break himself from it. The last record had taken them nearly three and a half years to put out and as happy as they all had been with the finished product, spending another three and a half years in the studio would drive all four of them completely mad.

But tonight had been one of the few nights he allowed himself off. True, it had partially been for the sole purpose of the night he’d planned to spend with her, but it was a night off. And now he had been left with the task of finding someway of filling it.

The longer he walked, the thinner crowd on the streets became. He hadn’t bothered to glance at his watch, but he knew almost instinctively that it was growing late. The small voice in the back of his head urged him to give up the ghost and head home. There wasn’t much else he could do tonight, but the prospect of his empty apartment was something he wasn’t quite ready to face.

He allowed himself to loop once more around the block before he began his slow trek back to his car. It wasn’t the most beautiful of vehicles, older than he cared to think about and clinging to its last legs, but he had grown attached to it over the years. As silly as it sounded, the bag of bolts had become a part of him, much to the chagrin of his closest friends.

He chuckled to himself as he climbed inside, being careful to shut the driver’s side door just so. It was a fickle thing but over the years he’d learned all its tricks. He’d grown used to it. Yes, he could afford a new car, he knew that. And he knew probably should, but letting go of something had never been a strong suit of his.

Absent-mindedly, he flipped on the radio. It wasn’t that he much cared what was playing, it was the fact that he needed some sort of background noise when he drove. He hated silence – why he couldn’t explain, but he needed the noise. It drove his bandmates crazy – it seemed to drive everyone crazy, but it was something they eventually had grown used to. Or at least they’d given up complaining about. It was something everyone eventually accepted as purely him.

The roads were relatively empty for this time of night, but then again long stretches of time on the road meant his sense of time wasn’t exactly on par with the general public. It was nice, really, having the road mostly to himself. For a moment he contemplated simply starting off in one direction and never looking back. He knew he never would, but he did have to admit the idea was alluring.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he pulled onto the main road, being his slow trek back to the small apartment he called his own. It wasn’t much, but it was home and that was enough for him. The restaurant wasn’t a long drive from his place, and in hindsight, he realized she’d picked for that very reason. She never had been much at subtly, and in the past it was one of the many things he’d found attractive about her. That and the fact she was quite inventive between the sheets.

He laughed at this; Ron was always saying he thought with his dick. Maybe there was a fair bit of truth to that one. But that was something he would never admit to Ron. Never. Not when an “I told you so” would follow, and he knew it would.

Ron always had the keen, and often times annoying, ability to say any and everything that needed to be said, especially in regard to Adam’s habits, actions and behaviors. It was something he’d grown used to over the years. It had certainly worked to keep his ego in check and considering how fast paced his life had become, it was something Adam knew he needed.

He’d made it nearly a block from his apartment when he found himself turning the car around. The empty apartment held little appeal at the moment. He quickly glanced at the clock on his dashboard. It was getting late, but he’d shown up at Ron’s far later. And besides, he knew his best friend wouldn’t mind the company.

It was another twenty minutes until he found himself pulling into the dimly lit driveway. He smiled as he noted Ron’s black Honda, still in desperate need of washing. The porch lights had been turned off, but there was still a soft glow emanating from the livingroom window. Putting the car into park, he slowly climbed out and made his way to the door.

He spent the next three minutes knocking on the door before footsteps sounded from within the house. “I’m coming,” he heard the familiar voice call. Warm, soft light poured out onto the porch as the door slowly pulled open, revealing the tall red head whose eyes were still glazed with sleep. “Do you own a watch at all, Carson?”

Adam chuckled and shrugged his shoulders, “You know I live for these moments.”

“Smart ass,” she quipped. “Well since you got me up for no reason, you might as well come in.”

He laughed once more, “And here I thought your mother had taught you manners, Veronica.”

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Watch it, pal. I’m still half asleep, I can plead temporary insanity if I murder you.” In all the years he’d know her, she’d always hated her first name. It might have had something to do with the fact that the only time she seemed to hear it was after they’d gotten into something they shouldn’t have and her mother gave them hell about it. Considering the frequency of their misadventures, he couldn’t quite blame her.

“You can’t kill me, you love me.” He batted his eyelashes for the effect.

“Leave the dramatics to Dave, you just look ridiculous.” She smirked and headed back into the livingroom, leaving Adam to follow her inside. He shut the door behind him before joining her on the couch.

“Chris working tonight?” She nodded, cuddling back until the blanket that had been tossed to the side of the couch. He still found it odd that she was married, even after nearly five years. That probably had something to do with the fact that he’d been on the road for the better part of that time frame. He’d been there for the wedding. Hell, she’d tried to make him her maid of honor before he threatened to shave her head for the ceremony in retaliation. She’d backed down begrudgingly after that. But he’d been there.

“He gets off around three, should be home around four-thirty,” she paused turning to look at him. “She stand you up again?”

That was the one thing he both loved and hated about Ron – she never beat around the bush. He sighed, leaning his head back against the back rest of the couch. “Yeah. And no ‘I told you so’s. I’ve done that quite enough on my own.”

She smiled softly at him, shifting to settle her head against his shoulder. “I am sorry, you know. I mean, yeah she’s certainly not my favorite person and I can’t say I’m not glad she didn’t show, but I am sorry.” Ron sighed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but fuck you know how to pick them.”

Adam chuckled, as much as he hated to admit it, she had a pretty good point. He’d never had particularly great taste in women; cute, pretty face, nice body, adventurous. He’d been chasing after the same type since his early highschool days. You think he’d have learned by now. “Remind me to call you the next time I need my ego brutally murdered.”

Ron grinned, looking up at him briefly, “That’s what I’m here for. Someone’s gotta kick you in the ass every once in awhile. Besides I’ve been doing it since the fifth grade, be kind of silly to stop now.”

“Yeah yeah.” Ron smiled, closing her eyes as she settled farther into his side. As he always did, Adam wrapped his free arm around her, resting his head against the top of hers.

He’d always loved being able to just sit with Ron. As much as he enjoyed the banter and verbal ass-kicking, he cherished the fact that they could just sit together without having to really say a word. Their relationship was more than just well timed words and knowing just when to say them, and it was great knowing they had that.

“How’s life treating you?” she chimed in several minutes later.

“Not too badly. We’ve been in and out of the studio, things are coming along...”

“Not the band, Adam,” she interrupted, sitting back far enough so that he could fully see the knowing glare she shot him. “How are YOU doing?”

He stopped, softly chuckling as her words began to sink in. Sometimes it was hard to shut off the almost auto-pilot response he’d fallen into giving whenever anyone asked how he was. Most seemed only to care about when the next record would be hitting stores, not what was going on in his or any of their, everyday lives. “Sorry, forgot where I was for a moment.”

Ron simply frowned. “You do that a lot, you know.”

He sighed, “I know. It’s just – habit really, you know that. I’m fine, its nice to have a little down time. And besides, I have you to keep me in my place, so all’s good.”

“Someone has to because Lord knows you can’t seem to handle it on your own.”

“Hey now, I handle things just fine,” he cut in, cracking a small smile. “I just tend to take the more interesting route.”

A sharp cackle fell from her lips. “You could call it that.”

“I will then.”

Ron merely shook her head. “What am I going to do with you, Carson?”

With a bat of his eyes, he shot back, “Love me forever.” She shook her head, reaching over to gently hit his arm. “Hey now, play nice.”

“Since when do I play nice?” she asked with a cock of her eyebrow.

Shaking his head, Adam let a peel of laughter escape his lips. Ron soon followed suit, both leaning against one another, struggling to catch their breath. “Alright, alright, smart ass.” Ron merely grinned, resting her head on his shoulder once again. Silence fell between them once more. “So you’re holding up alright?”

With a soft nod of her head, she paused before answering his question. “Yeah. Work’s work. The kids can be a nightmare, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”

For as long as Adam could remember Ron had loved working with children. And, truth be told, it hadn’t really surprised him at all when she’d chosen to become a teacher, though he never fully understood her reasoning. He’d never been great with kids. True, his experience with them had been limited, few of his friends had kids and he doubted working with Ron’s little brother really counted seeing as he spent most of the time trying to get the little boy to stop being his shadow, but he simply didn’t see himself working well with children, his or otherwise.

“So when are you going to have rug-rats of your own?” he joked, resting his arm on her side. He wasn’t completely sure why he’d asked the question. Hell, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. The idea of Ron with kids of her own was...unsettling. Why, he wasn’t entirely sure. Adam knew she’d always wanted kids, knew she would probably be a mother someday. Maybe it was just the idea of knowing that when it happened she wouldn’t be the same old Ron anymore. She’d be someone’s mother.

“Okay, now you’re starting to sound like my mother.” The look she shot him forced a smile to his face. That was his Ron. “And wipe that smirk OFF your face, Carson. That wasn’t a compliment.”

But his smile only grew.

“Fine, smart ass,” she grumbled, glaring at him a few moments more before softly smiling. “Actually a bit sooner than I’d planned.”

“A bit sooner than you planned?” Adam echoed dumbly. Something about that statement seemed off to him. Sooner than she planned, that would have to mean that...His eyes widened slowly as the meaning began to sink in. “You mean...”

Ron nodded softly, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “Yeah. We found out this morning. It’s been kind of...surreal.”

Adam could only nod. Something seemed...off. That much Adam was able to register as he struggled to keep his own thoughts from racing. The smile on her face wasn’t reaching her eyes. It seemed, fake almost. Forced. And that honestly disturbed him. This wasn’t his Ron. She was supposed to be giddy, ecstatic almost. This wasn’t right.

He placed his hand gently on her arm, her eyes flashing up to his. For a moment he could clearly see the uncertainty swimming in them before they clouded once more. In a very real way she was hiding from him and Adam didn’t like that at all. She’d never hidden from him before. The cold churning in his stomach only served to perpetuate his unease.

“Congratulations,” he whispered softly, unsure of how to react himself. This was something completely out of his depth. It was entirely foreign and that fact frightened him. Whether it was the mere fact that Ron was hiding from him or something more, Adam honestly wasn’t certain.

“Thanks.”

The silence that fell over the two of them was tense, and he hated that. Hated the awkwardness. They had never been awkward before. Never. Ron could sense it too, that much he knew instinctively. The way she sat; her knees pulled up to her chest, her hands fidgeting with the frayed edges of the blanket wrapped around her, it spoke volumes for what was going on in her mind.

Several more tense minutes passed before he felt her relax somewhat, leaning herself lightly against him once more. He didn’t protest it, simply opened his arms to her. Ron needed him and Adam had never turned her away before, he couldn’t do that to her now.

#sparkinside writes #I'll Be There For You #Adam Carson/OFC

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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sparkinside master list

Blacking the Looking Glass {Adam Carson/Davey Havok}

Sometimes its easier to hide than to face who we truly are. Caught between honesty and fear, Davey is forced to make a choice.

Culpabilité {Adam Carson/Davey Havok; Adam Carson/OFC; AU}

A glimpse into a life shattered. (warnings: character death; grief; alcohol abuse; depression)

Échec Et Mat {Adam Carson/Davey Havok; NSFW}

He may have lost the battle, but there wasn't a chance in hell he'd forfeit the war.

Hearts in Pain {Adam Carson/Hunter Burgan; Adam Carson/OFC; AU}

The choices we make have long reaching consequences, whether we choose to face them or not. (warnings: cheating/extramarital affair)

Brave {Adam Carson/Davey Havok; AU}

Truth has a funny way of coming out. Especially at four in the morning.

The House Wins {Hunter Burgan/Jade Puget; NSFW; AU}

You don't have to be alone to be lonely, you might as well give in.

Reflections {Adam Carson/Hunter Burgan}

In the dark, its easy to look back on our choices and wonder where everything went so horribly astray.

Coffee Date {Adam Carson/Jade Puget; Fluff}

It really should not have been this complicated. It was just a simple question. Any idiot could do it. So why was he having such a rough time with it?

Désastre {Adam Carson/Jade Puget; Fluff}

Sometimes the worst possible outcome can have the best possible results.

Lonely {Adam Carson/Hunter Burgan; AU}

Friends for years, Adam Carson and Hunter Burgan had faced college, med school, and the real world. But can one night and one impulsive action change everything.

Some Days I Wish I Didn’t Have A Tongue {Adam Carson/Hunter Burgan; AU}

The truth has a funny way of coming about. Sequel/Companion piece to 'Lonely'

We’re Recording {Hunter Burgan/Jade Puget; NSFW}

Jade decides Hunter has been working far too hard, especially on Christmas, and drops in to offer a much needed distraction.

When You Catch Fire {Davey Havok/Hunter Burgan}

You can only push someone so far before everything falls apart. Written with Chaosti.

Minutiae {Adam Carson/OFC}

Adam finds himself musing one night on tour.

Promise {Hunter Burgan/OFC}

Memories fill their home and wading through them is harder than she ever could have imagined. (warnings: major character death; grief; loss)

Snow Day {Hunter Burgan/Female Reader; NSFW}

Playing in the snow.

I’m Good For Nothing Will You Love Me Just The Same? {Hunter Burgan/Female Reader; Hunter Burgan/Smith Puget; NSFW}

The trails and tribulations of a complicated friendship

Patience {Davey Havok/Jade Puget; NSFW}

A test in patience makes for a fun morning.

The Last Time {Adam Carson/Davey Havok; NSFW}

He always swore it would be the last time. So why does he keep finding himself back here?

Anymore {Adam Carson/Jade Puget; Adam Carson/OFC}

There are two sides to every story. Companion to ‘The Embrace’

Tell Tale Signs {Adam Carson/Davey Havok}

Endings are never easy.

Rhythm {Adam Carson/Davey Havok}

Some times all it takes is the right incentive.

Deconstructing Gods {Adam Carson/Davey Havok; Davey Havok/Jade Puget}

You can only push someone so far.

Truth or Consequence {Adam Carson/Hunter Burgan; NSFW}

The truth is he’d always been a coward. (warnings: cheating/extramarital affair)

A collection of vignettes featuring various pairings. (warnings: cheating, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, death)

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve

Davey is the sole witness to a brutal murder. Adam Carson is the agent assigned to protect him. When the lines between duty and love blur, trouble is the only outcome. Written with Havoksangel. (warnings: murder, violence, sexual assault) Complete

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen

{Adam Carson/OFC; Adam Carson/Davey Havok} Faith and fear are two of the strongest forces in our lives. Adam had never questioned himself or his beliefs. But what happens when he stumbles across his greatest temptation in the eyes of another man? Written with Havoksangel. (warnings: cheating) Complete

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen

{Adam Carson/Davey Havok} Creating a balance between what was and what is strains the ever twisted relationship between Adam, Aubrey, and Davey. Sequel to The Devil Inside. Written with Havoksangel. Complete

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine

{Adam Carson/OFC} There are always lines, always limits, and learning when to cross them, when to risk it all can be the hardest lesson to learn. In-Complete

One Two

{Adam Carson/Jade Puget; Character Study} There were several things Jade had always been sure of and his relationship with Adam had always been one of them. But people and situations change and most times no one is prepared for the fallout. Complete

{Adam Carson/OFC; Hunter Burgan/Jade Puget; Davey Havok} In a time of devestating war and destruction, five young children witnessed their world come crashing down before them. Twenty years later, they have risen above the chaos to lead their once war-torn land, Allyria, into an era of peace. But the serenity they have brought may only be the calm before the storm as a powerful force from beyond their kingdom threatens to tear their world, their kingdom and their lives apart. Can they rise above the wreckage or will Allyria fall into the darkness building steadily on the horizon? Written with FadingStar. (warnings - Graphic depictions of violence, death) In-Complete

Prelude:12 | Prelude:21 | One

#sparkinside master list #afislash #advey #javey #hunvey #jadam #The Embrace #Shards of Us #The Truth Can't Save You Now #The Devil Inside #This Glassy Surface #RPF #I'll Be There For You

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shards of Us - Chapter Nine

Title: Shards of Us

Chapter: 9/9

Character/Pairing: Davey Havok/Adam Carson

Genre: Angst

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Creating a balance between what was and what is strains the ever twisted relationship between Adam, Aubrey, and Davey. Sequel to The Devil Inside. Written with Havoksangel.

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement.

NINE

Davey sighed and rolled his hips under Adam, kissing him roughly. This felt so nice. It had been forever since they'd made love, since they had the time to truly enjoy one another. Things had been so hectic. He scratched his nails lightly down his back and nipped at his lips. He loved this man so much it hurt and by the grace of God, they were still together after all the hurt that had circled them.

Adam sighed, nuzzling into Davey’s neck. The feel of his lover’s warm, hard body beneath his was incredible. Between work and the chaos their lives had become, the two barely had a chance to kiss let alone go much farther. "Davey," he murmured into his lover’s ear. He loved the way his lover’s name fell from his lips.

Davey kissed down Adam's neck and to his shoulder, biting him softly. Gently he wrapped his legs around him and moved his body slowly to push Adam deeper inside him. This was Heaven, it was perfect. This was what he had been waiting for. This was all he needed.

Hissing, Adam allowed his hands to grip Davey’s moving hips, keeping his rhythm steady. He didn’t want to rush this. It had been far too long since he’d had Davey like this. Far too long. This would last, he would make sure of it. Even if it drove both of them mad. "Slow," he whispered, "We have all night."

He nods and whimpers. "Its been so long, Baby." He didn’t want to wait. Not now, not when they were so close.

"Mmm," Adam mumbled in response, his eyes slipping shut. "Too long."

Davey scratched his nails down Adam's back and arched his body into his lover. He was so achingly close, he couldn’t see straight. He needed this. Needed Adam.

Sensing the change in his lover, Adam slowed his movement even more. He wanted to make Davey long for this. Make him want it with every fiber of his being. It didn’t matter that he could barely handle this himself. No. Waiting, wanting, made this all the sweeter. Even if it would piss his beautiful lover off.

Davey groaned. "Adam, please," he pleaded, bearing down. "God, I need to come." He couldn’t decide for the life of him why Adam felt the need to torture him.

Adam merely chuckled, "Soon."

Davey was just getting ready to protest when a tiny whimper from the bedroom across the hall filtered throughout the room. Davey shut his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. Oh God, it was over. Natalie was crying and he was going to stay hard and miserable. As much as he’d come to love the little girl, he’d never regretted her more than he did in that moment.

"Dammit," Adam mumbled under his breath, slowly and carefully pulling out of his obviously frustrated lover. He tensed, sensitive, pulling himself into a sitting position and fumbling blindly for his pajama bottoms. This little girl would be the death of him, that Adam was sure of.

Davey panted and licked his lips, trying his best not to scream. Natalie had a knack for crying just as they were about to finish. It never failed. He sat up and ran his hand through his hair. "Well, she has her mother's timing."

Adam cocked his eyebrow, "Davey..."

Davey looked down, regretting his outburst almost immediately. Aubrey was still a tense subject between them. "Sorry."

"She’s just a baby, she doesn’t know any better." Adam didn’t want this to start an argument between them, not when things had been going so well. "Please don’t be like this. Please."

Davey looked up at him. "Adam, you really need to relax. I am not faulting the baby. I was trying to make a joke because my dick seems to stay hard and painful when we keep her."

Adam sighed, "I’m sorry...I just..." His voice trailed off, "I’ll go make sure she’s alright." With a soft, but strained, smile, Adam tugged on his pants carefully and made his way to the adjacent bedroom. Natalie’s tiny face was red and Adam felt his heart sink slightly. He hated it when she cried. Hated knowing she wasn’t happy. Gently, he made his way to her crib, lifting the small girl into his arms.

"Hello angel. Daddy’s here, it’s okay. I’m here," he whispered, rocking her back and forth in his arms.

She rubbed her tiny head on his shoulder and gummed it. Her tiny face was stained with tears as she cried harder. Davey got out of bed and walked into the bedroom, placing a hand on the back of her head. "Is she alright?"

"I don’t know," Adam whispered, feeling helpless. Here she was, dependant on him completely and he hadn’t the first idea how to make it better. She wasn’t wet and he had fed her less than an hour before. He couldn’t fathom what was wrong.

Davey watched as she gummed Adam's shoulder and took her gently from his arms, cradling her. Carefully he put a finger in her mouth and felt her gums, feeling a little bump. "Ah, she's teething."

"How can you know just what to do when I don’t have the first idea?" Adam mumbled, watching Davey softly rock his daughter, letting her gum his pinkie. Davey seemed to be a natural, why couldn’t Adam have things come so easily to him?

Davey grinned at him. "Because you are scared you are going to break her." He bent down and kissed her forehead.

Adam shot his head up, staring at Davey.

"What?" Davey questioned, watching his lover curiously.

"I’m not scared I’m going to break her," Adam spoke in his own defense, though his tone was far less convincing than his words.

Davey raised an eyebrow and handed him back Natalie, leaving the room with a smirk. "Go for it, Daddy."

Adam glared after his lover before turning his attention back to the tiny girl once again in his arms. Her cries only grew louder and no amount of bouncing would silence them. Sighing, he looked at her once more, trying desperately to remember the things he’d read in the number of parenting books he’d acquired in the months leading up to and after Natalie’s birth. "Cold wash cloth," he mumbled to himself, proud that his frazzled brain had come up with something.

Bouncing her in his arms, Adam made his way into the bathroom, pausing that the linen closet for a fresh wash cloth. He cursed when he couldn’t find any. Now what was he going to do?

Davey walked in and dangled one off his finger. "We washed them today." A smirk spread across his angular face.

"Aren’t we cocky?" he murmured, taking the wash cloth from Davey’s fingers and reaching to turn on the cold water.

Davey looked at him. "Adam, are you mad at me?"

"What do you mean?" He busied himself, soaking the cloth and ringing it dry before placing the tip of it in Natalie’s mouth.

She busily chewed on it and looked up at him, whimpering a bit as she quieted. "I just wanted to make sure you weren’t mad at me because of what happened earlier."

"I’m not mad...I’m just...I want this to work and sometimes I don’t know how it will. I feel like I’m fumbling around in the dark half the time. What kind of father am I? I can’t even take care of my own child?"

Davey kissed his shoulder then gently petted Natalie's head. He took a look in the mirror, grateful for what he was seeing, something he never though would happen. Aubrey was actually letting Adam and him share custody of her daughter. Letting them both be a part of her life. He kissed Adam’s shoulder a second time. "You are a fantastic father."

Adam closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of Davey’s lips against his bare skin. This was something he cherished, having the both of them in his life. "You’re biased."

"She loves you and you take care of her. No parent has the answers right away."

"You sure you’ve never done this before?" Adam asked with a smile. "You’re too much of a natural."

He grinned. "I helped raise my little brother and I watched my mother."

"So no secret kids stashed away somewhere?" He chuckle. Davey shook his head, "Just as well. Means more of you for me."

Davey licked his neck. "No, no secret children," he assured him, still rubbing Natalie's head. She was finally starting to drift back to sleep.

A shiver ran through Adam’s body. "You are the Devil, do you know that?"

Davey smirked over his shoulder, his dark eyes the only thing able to be seen in the mirror as Adam looked at him. "I know and you love it."

"Just wait until she calms, I’ll make you eat your words."

Davey smirked and pinched Adam's ass as he moved away. "She's calm."

Adam squeezed his eyes shut, his breathing rate increasing for a moment. Calming himself, he risked glance down at his daughter who was gnawing on the washcloth, her eyes closed. He almost didn’t want to risk moving her for fear of upsetting her once again. But the temptation Davey had laid before him was great. Raising his eyes, he sought Davey’s dark ones in the mirror.

"Put her to bed, Adam. She's asleep," he said with a smile.

"Eager aren’t we?" Adam joked with a smile, his eyes once again falling to the sleeping child in his arms. "You are going to be such a bad influence on her, I can tell."

Davey smirked. "Nah, I'm just gonna keep her daddy happy," he told him, licking his lips.

"Well then you’re a bad influence on me then. What are we going to do when she gets older. If she’s anything like her parents, she’ll be a quick one and I don’t fancy having my daughter walk in on us," Adam added with a smirk, motioning for Davey to lead the way from the bathroom.

Davey grinned and sashayed to the bedroom and leaned on the door frame. "Well," he began," I suppose we will just have to figure something out unless you want to stop having sex with me."

"That might be an option," Adam dead panned, mirth twinkling in his blue eyes at the shocked look on his lover’s face. He quietly made his way into Natalie’s darkened room, placing her gently back into her crib. She stirred just slightly before falling back to sleep. Adam found himself standing beside her, watching her tiny chest rise and fall as she breathed. She was beautiful, perfect.

Davey grinned and walked in behind Adam, watching his lover watch his sleeping daughter, and wrapped his arms around his waist. "She's exquisite."

Leaning back against his lover, Adam nodded, "Isn’t she?"

Davey slowly kissed up the side of his neck and sucked on his ear lobe. "Like her father."

Shivering, Adam leaned back into Davey’s warm body. "You’ll say anything to get into my pants, huh?" Not that he was complaining. Turning more fully, Adam leaned in to claim Davey’s lips with his own.

"Oh yeah. I'm a sweet talker and I know what I want," he said against his mouth.

Allowing his arms to wrap around Davey’s waist, Adam slowly backed them both out of the baby’s room and back into their own. "And what is that?"

Davey rocked his hips against Adam and kisses his neck. "Give me what you've got, Daddy," he said with a smirk.

With a soft laugh, Adam shook his head. "You think you can handle that?"

"I always can."

"So cocky," he teased, nipping at Davey’s neck, "I like that," he paused again, kissing down his lover’s chest, "Very much."

Slipping a hand down Adam's chest and into his pajama bottoms, he wrapped his hand around his cock and led him to the bed. "Show me."

A strangled groan fell from Adam’s lips."What do you want me to do?"

Davey licked the shell of his ear and breathed hotly against it. "Me."

Pushing him roughly back onto the bed, Adam smirked, "I plan on it."

#afislash #Advey #Shards of Us #co-written with havoksangel #AU #sparkinside writes

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shards of Us - Chapter Eight

Title: Shards of Us

Chapter: 8/9

Character/Pairing: Davey Havok/Adam Carson

Genre: Angst

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Creating a balance between what was and what is strains the ever twisted relationship between Adam, Aubrey, and Davey. Sequel to The Devil Inside. Written with Havoksangel.

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement.

EIGHT

Aubrey had never felt so exhausted in her life, nor more fulfilled. A soft smile played on her lips as she found herself staring down at her tiny daughter sleeping peacefully in her arms. She was amazed at just how much this little girl resembled her father. It was both a blessing and a curse. Sighing, Aubrey closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the pillows behind her. It was a little after four in the afternoon and she felt like it was far later.

Davey came up to the door, knocking softly. He knew Adam had stepped out for a bit to take care of things at Aubrey's, making sure that everything was just right for the baby when she got home. He figured this was the best place and time to discuss where he and Aubrey stood. He knew he couldn’t leave things hanging so uncertainly. Not if this was going to work. He refused to tear this family apart anymore than he had.

Her head raised at the sudden sound, eyes locking on the figure standing in the doorway. A plethora of emotions flitted through her as she stared. "Davey," she started, neutrally, unsure of her own feelings at the moment. The little girl in her arms stirred but did not wake.

"Can I come in?" He whispered so he wouldn’t wake the baby. "I thought we should talk."

Aubrey nodded silently. She was still uneasy around him. Still unsure. But he had been there for her. Helped her. She didn't know what to make of him.

Quietly he walked in and took a seat next to the bed. He peered over at the baby and smiled. "She's beautiful."

"She looks like Adam."

Davey nodded in agreement. "Have you two named her yet?"

Aubrey shook her head, "No. Adam and I haven't really...settled on anything yet. " They would need to soon, though, she noted. This little one could spend the rest of her life as baby girl Carson.

"Aubrey... I can’t not be in her life," he said, his voice soft and almost pleading. "I watched her come into this world. I can’t not see her."

Davey's sudden change in demeanor and attitude startled her for a moment. He wanted to be a part of her daughter's life. She could understand that. But she still felt uneasy about the situation. It was selfish, she knew it, but she couldn't help fear he would replace her in that aspect as well. And that was something she knew she would not be able to handle.

He locked eyes with her. "I know she is your daughter and I know she is Adam's, and I promise not to step over any lines," he began slowly, cautiously, "but please let her be a part of my life. She is a part of Adam and..." he trailed off, tears welling up. "Don’t punish him for what I caused him to do."

Aubrey swallowed thickly, closing her eyes "I'm not trying to punish anyone...I just...This is hard for me. I trusted him...I trusted you and I'm scared to do that again. It's not just my life anymore, it's hers."

Davey nodded. "I know I betrayed you and I know he did, but I have changed. I have. Being with Adam, loving him, has made me a better person. I swear I will never hurt her. Or you."

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "I just...You are asking for something I don't know if I'm fully ready to offer. I know you aren't a horrible person, but I don't know if I trust you enough to be alone with my daughter." Or if I can ever fully trust either of you again.

"You don’t have to trust me alone with her, but let her come to the house with Adam," Davey pleaded.

"Davey..." Aubrey started. It was too soon for her to even consider letting her daughter out of her sight, much less let her spend the night away from her. This was all new for her. She couldn’t contemplate anything beyond this hospital room. Not now.

He looked down. He'd hoped this would help, but he was getting nowhere. She didn’t trust him, maybe she never would. It hurt that she would do this, but as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t blame her for it. Not really. He took a deep breath and looked up. "This was a mistake. I'm sorry."

"Stop," she started softly, unsure of herself, but knowing she couldn’t let things carry on this way, "Baby steps. I need to take all of this in baby steps."

Davey nodded and clasped his hands in his lap. He really shouldn’t have come in here. He was a fool to think that she would change her mind, no matter how much he'd helped her. He wiped away tear a before it had the chance to fall, keeping his eyes down.

"I don't want her alone with anyone right now. She's still brand new, this is all new for me. I just..I need some time to adjust to being a mother. Maybe when she's few months old she can stay with Adam for a bit...But it's just...It's too soon."

Davey again nodded. "I just don’t want him to miss out on her life because of me," he whispered. Slowly, he stood, heading for the door.

"I don't want him to miss it either." Sighing softly, she added, "Thank you. For everything."

He smiled and leaned down, kissing the top of her head. "You're welcome."

Closing her eyes for a moment, Aubrey fought against the small voice in her mind and asked, "Would…would you like to hold her?" As difficult as it was to ask, Aubrey knew it was the least she could do. He could have just left her to get to the hospital herself. To give birth herself. But he hadn't. She still didn't understand why.

He looked at her, mouth parted in shock. Yes, he wanted to hold her. "Are you sure?"

Aubrey nodded. Baby steps, she told herself. She smiled softly at him, waiting for him to take a seat in one of the nearby chairs, before gently placing her slumbering daughter in his arms.

Davey pulled the chair closer and held his arms out for her. He couldn’t believe that Aubrey was actually going to let him hold the baby. He figured he wouldn’t get within ten feet of her.

This was incredibly difficult for Aubrey. It nearly took everything she had to not simply grab the child back. But she did not. Doing so wouldn't solve anything, nor would it be safe for her child. "Support her head and don't rock her too much. She doesn't like that."

Davey nodded, cradling her against his body. He smiled down at her face, her sweet little face, and traced her cheek with his finger tip. "Hi, Sweetheart," he whispered

The baby stirred, slowly blinking her blue eyes. She wiggled a little before her eyes drooped closed once more.

"She's so precious, Aubrey."

"I know she is," Aubrey whispered, smiling softly.

Davey lightly touched her little hand only to have her grab it and give it a tiny squeeze. From that touch, he felt tears welling in his eyes. He was holding a miracle in his arms.

Aubrey laughed slightly at the sight. "She's got quite a grip, doesn't she?"

All he could do was nod. He couldn’t even look up because he wasn’t able to take his eyes off of the baby.

Davey had fallen head over heels in love with the little girl in his arms, that Aubrey could tell easily. And she couldn't blame him, for her little one had stolen her heart as well. Absently she wondered just what she would do once she and her baby had made it back home.

True, her mother had offered to take her in, to help raise the child. Aubrey had refused before, stating that she would have Adam's help raising her daughter though it had only earned her a lecture on morals and what it meant to be a fit parent.

It was the only thing they could never see eye to eye on. Even after all Adam had done, he would be a wonderful father and Aubrey knew that. But at the same time she knew Adam would not be able to be there whenever she needed him. He'd try his best, that she knew, but he had a new life now. New responsibilities. Maybe she should have taken her mother's offer. She just didn't know.

"What do you need for her?" Davey asked.

Confusion spread across Aubrey's face, "What?"

"Is there anything you need for her that you don’t have?"

"Some extra help here and there. I'm going to need to put in a lot more hours at work to make sure she gets everything she needs. More hours in a day?" she joked with a sigh, though wishing there was some way there could be.

Davey looked at her. "You don’t have to hire a sitter. Whenever you feel you trust me, I'll change my shifts at the cafe. I'll work nights and watch her if you need." He knew he sounded hopeful, maybe overly so, but he wanted this. Wanted to be a part of this if she would let him.

Aubrey smiled lightly, "Maybe." She was far from ready for that. But maybe...maybe a bit later down the road. It would be nice not having to worry about finding the money to pay for a sitter. Struggle through finding one that she felt safe leaving her child with. Someone Adam felt safe leaving their child with.

Davey looked up as the door opened, seeing Adam poke his head in. He was sure the man was going to die to see him holding his daughter.

To say he was caught off guard by the sight before him would have been a gross understatement. Davey was holding his daughter. Aubrey was letting him hold their daughter. The very idea of it melted his heart. He could still sense the tension between them, something he knew would always linger, but this was a sight he never expected to see. Maybe things would work themselves out after all. "Hey," he called softly, terrified of disturbing them.

Aubrey smiled at him. "Hey." After a short pause, she added, "She seems to like Davey." She was trying her best to make this work. This little girl didn’t need the stress of angry adults. She needed a happy life and in order for Aubrey to give her that, she was going to have to bend a little. No matter how uncertain she was.

Adam merely nodded, unsure what to say. This was honestly the last thing he had expected. "She does," he murmured, taking a few cautious steps towards the hospital bed. Gently, he rested his hand on Davey's shoulder, conscious of his actions, still unsure how long this peace would last.

Davey looked up at Adam, smiling. "She's gonna look like you, she has your eyes. And Aubrey's hair."

Smiling, Adam gently rubbed Davey's shoulder before reaching down to stroke his daughter's head. His little girl. He was a father. It was something he still was trying to wrap his head around. Her tiny eyes slowly blinked open and a smile spread across her face. She smiled at him and his heart completely melted.

Aubrey watched the two for a moment and couldn’t help but feel sadness that this wasn’t something she was going to be able to share with Adam the way she'd always thought she would. Davey was going to have that, but she couldn’t deny her little girl her father because of circumstances that were not her fault. That she could not control.

"Hey there, little one," Adam whispered, stroking his daughter's cheek. She was perfect. The one thing he had done right.

Slowly he raised his eyes, allowing them to fall on Aubrey's face. The sadness in her eyes shook him. It was something he knew he would never forgive himself for. But she was granting him this, the chance to be a father. To be involved in his daughter's life. Something he knew had to be one of the hardest things she had ever done.

Davey stood up and handed her back to Aubrey. He didn’t want to see clingy, though he loved that little girl already. "I think Mommy and Daddy need alone time. You need a name, Princess."

Aubrey smiled softly at Davey as she took her daughter back into her arms. She was so small. "Thank you," she murmured.

Davey smiled at her and winked before leaving. He knew the three of them needed time as a family.

Adam watched as his lover headed slightly towards the door before turning his attention back to Aubrey and the little girl she held in her arms. "He's right, you need a name, little one." He locked eyes with Aubrey.

Aubrey smiled. "I was thinking after our mothers."

"Natalie I think is lovely, but I would never condemn a child to the name Harriet," he joked, knowing his mother's name was something he refused to name his child. "Rose," he added after a few moments of silence. After his Grandmother. "Natalie Rose."

She grinned and kissed her head. "I think it fits. Natalie Rose."

Adam nodded, "It suits her." Slowly he leaned down, running his finger over the soft tufts of hair on his daughter's head. "My little Natalie." Natalie closed her eyes under his touched and drifted off to sleep in her mother's arms. "She's perfect."

Aubrey grinned at him softly. She was perfect and despite everything, this moment was perfect as well.

#afislash #Advey #Shards of Us #co-written with havoksangel #AU #sparkinside writes

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shards of Us - Chapter Seven

Title: Shards of Us

Chapter: 7/9

Character/Pairing: Davey Havok/Adam Carson

Genre: Angst

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Creating a balance between what was and what is strains the ever twisted relationship between Adam, Aubrey, and Davey. Sequel to The Devil Inside. Written with Havoksangel.

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement.

SEVEN

Davey watched in horror as the contractions grew stronger and closer together. Adam still wasn’t home yet and if he didn’t hurry up, they were going to have to leave. Repeatedly he’d tried to talk Aubrey into letting him take her to the hospital, but she refused. However, his patience was wearing thin and he was beginning to fear for Adam’s child. He worried about all the possible complications. What if something went wrong? He didn’t know what to do and he refused to put her or the baby at risk.

Aubrey bit softly at her lip and closed her eyes. The contractions were growing closer and closer together. Time was starting to run out. Why wasn't Adam there yet? He should have been home by now. She needed him with her. Why wasn’t he there? Taking in a sharp breath, she forced herself to block those thoughts from her mind and focus on the road before her. The only thing keeping her from admitting defeat and just heading to the hospital was the fact that her water hadn't broken yet. She still had time.

"Aubrey, will you please let me take you to the hospital? We can tell Adam to meet us there," Davey reassured, still keeping his hand in hers so she could squeeze when she needed.

She shook her head, "No. We we still have time," she hissed as another contraction peaked, "Ad Adam's not here yet."

Davey sighed and closed his eyes. He knew that she had to want Adam there but he was starting to get really nervous. "Aubrey, he may not get here. Do you really want to risk it?"

In the back of her mind, she knew Davey had a point. "I need him," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"I know you do, but what if something goes wrong? We can at least wait for him at the hospital where they can monitor the baby, make sure she’s okay. I won’t leave you until he gets there, I promise."

Aubrey stared at him, unsure of what to make of his offer. She didn't know if she wanted him there. She wasn't sure if she could allow herself to trust him enough to let him be there for her. With a shuddering sigh, Aubrey closed her eyes. She didn't want him there but she didn't want to be alone. She couldn't be alone.

Davey leaned over her to where she could look into his eyes. "Look at me," he whispered warmly.

Uncertainly, Aubrey opened her eyes.

"Trust me enough to know that I would never do anything to jeopardize you or this baby. It’s a part of Adam and despite the fact that you don’t want me around her, I love her just the same because she is a part of him," he whispered, his voice cracking a bit from the emotion building up. "Let me take you to the hospital before your water breaks. Let me help you."

Closing her eyes once more, Aubrey nodded slowly. As angry as she had been at Davey for what he'd done to her, she couldn't risk her child's life like that. She would never forgive herself if she did. Adam would never forgive her for it.

Davey breathed a sigh of relief and took both of her hands in his, helping her up rise to her feet. He tightly held her to him as they walked to the door, grabbing his cell so he could call Adam once they got into the car. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, fear momentarily taking over her. What if she wasn’t strong enough to do this? What if she wasn’t a good mother? She fought to push those thoughts away,

His nurturing nature taking over for a second, he kissed the side of her head softly. "Yes, you can."

"You don't know that," she whispered. With a groan of pain, Aubrey closed her eyes once more, allowing Davey to lead her to the car.

He opened the door and gently placed her inside. Once she was settled he shut the door and made his way to the other side, calling Adam as he did so.

---

Adam jumped, the loud ring of his phone jolting him out of his thoughts. He quickly glanced at the screen. Davey's number. With shaking hands, Adam flipped the phone open, placing it at his ear. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. Meet us at the hospital. I needed to get her there before her water broke," he said getting in the car and putting on his seatbelt.

"What hospital?" His heart was racing and his eyes darted around the road before him. Traffic was now inching along. Maybe he would be able to make it in time for the birth...Maybe.

"Saint Mary's," Davey told him, starting the car and pulling out to head towards the hospital. "You want to talk to her?"

"Please."

She took the phone and placed it to her ear, panting a bit. "Adam?"

"Bree," he started, calming slightly at the sound of her voice. She was okay.

"It hurts, Adam. I don’t think I can do this," she told him, clutching Davey's hand.

"Bree, baby, you can do this," he reassured her, "I know you can. You're the strongest person I know. You can do this."

She whimpered and again squeezed Davey's hand, another contraction starting. Soft pants echoed over the phone and she leaned her head back.

Davey turned to her. "You're doing so well. We're almost there."

"I'm coming, Bree," Adam whispered to her. "Just hold on. You can do this. I have all the faith in the world in you."

"Adam?" She panted.

"Yes?"

Desperately she wanted to tell him she loved him, but she held back out of respect for Davey. He was helping her, even though she knew he didn’t want to be there with her. She had to give him credit for that. "Hurry."

"I am, Bree. I am."

She hung up the phone and handed it to Davey. He squeezed her hand and gave her a soft smile as he drove. They were almost there. "You doing okay?" Shaking her head, Aubrey leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes. She didn't want to do this. Not now. She was scared.

Davey rubbed his thumb over the knuckles of her fingers and pulled into the hospital parking lot. Once he found a parking spot, he carefully got her out of the car and inside th building. It took the nurses no time to get her upstairs and into a room. They hooked her up to a fetal heart monitor and checked to see how far she was dilated. Davey leaned down, still not letting go of her hand. "You’re doing so well."

The nurse checking Aubrey's pulse and vital signs smiled at them both. "First time parents?"

Aubrey shook her head. "He's not the father."

Davey looked down for a moment. "The father is stuck in traffic."

Nodding, the nurse took that as her cue to leave the matter be, the tension in the room becoming a tad too uncomfortable for such an event. "You're doing well, Aubrey," she encouraged her. Smiling she turned to Davey. "You need something, sir? Water?" She could sense his nervousness and general unease.

"Water, please," he said pulling up a seat next to Aubrey. He looked at one of the monitors and saw the lines starting to move. "Here comes a contraction."

Aubrey closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. A sharp cry fell from her lips as she felt wetness spilling onto the mattress as the contraction peaked. "Oh God," she whimpered, the contraction slowly easing, her breathing along with it.

"Bad?" He asked, keeping a good hold on her hand.

She nodded, reaching for the call button next to her on the bed. A few moments later, her nurse returned. "Everything okay in here?"

"My water just broke."

Davey's eyes widened. "Wh...You’re what?"

The nurse smiled at Davey, placing her hand gently on his shoulder, "Her water broke. The fluid sack surrounding the baby ruptures when it’s time for the baby to be born. With any luck we'll have this baby in a few hours."

Davey looked at Aubrey, petting her head. "I'm gonna call Adam."

She nodded, leaning her head back against the pillow. For the moment, she didn't hurt and she took this time to breathe.

Davey reached for the hospital phone, dialing Adam's number once again.

The unfamiliar number on his caller ID confused Adam for a moment. Who could be calling him? "Hello?"

"Hey, we're here and her water just broke," Davey told him, petting her head, a nervous gesture, hoping it would comfort her.

"Her water broke?" Adam repeated, panicking slightly. That meant she was close and he still was at least an hour from the hospital if traffic kept at this pace.

"Stop petting me," Aubrey hissed, as she felt the start of another contraction building. She didn’t want anyone touching her, especially him, at the moment.

"Yes, and she is yelling at me," Davey joked lightly. He still held her hand as the contraction started, his fingers feeling slightly numb. Who would have thought she would have such a grip?

Adam chuckled nervously. From what he could hear, the two weren’t at each other’s throats. And at the moment that was more the he’d hoped for. "I'll be there as soon as I can," he reassured Davey, "I promise."

"Okay," Davey answered, wincing as she gripped his hand harder than before, screaming a bit as the contraction built.

Paling Adam reluctantly hung up his phone, praying he would make it in time. That he wouldn’t miss the birth of his little girl.

---

Aubrey hissed as the contraction passed, her breathing relaxing once again.

"Au...Aubrey, can we switch hands?" Davey whimpered, his face contorted in obvious pain

Releasing his hand, Aubrey whimpered slightly. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, she just needed something to help her work through the pain. With each minute that passed, she felt herself growing more and more worried. Where was the doctor? Where was Adam?

Davey gave her his other hand and sat beside her on the bed. "Are you excited?"

Aubrey shook her head, "Scared."

"Of what? You are going to have a beautiful baby girl that is going to love you. You are going to be an amazing mother," he told her, trying to make her feel better.

"Everything. What if I can't do this? What if I'm not cut out for this?"

"You are," he said locking eyes with her. He looked to the side at the monitor. "Another one coming."

Aubrey braced herself, knowing that if she could make it through the initial pain, it would only last a minute at most. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the clock, biting at her lip. Twenty seconds. Thirty. It would ease soon. She knew it.

The sharp peak in the pain caught her off guard, forcing a pained hiss from her lips. Throwing her concentration off. "Oh God."

Davey let her squeeze his hand as the doctor came in. "How are we doing?"

"It hurts. I want to go home? Can I please just go home? I don't want to do this anymore."

The doctor chuckled and settled at the end of the bed, checking to see how much she'd dilated. "I think you should stay. You're at nine centimeters now and it won’t be long till you can start pushing."

"I want Adam. Where's Adam?" she whimpered. She didn’t want to do this without him. She needed him there.

"Still in traffic," Davey told her calmly.

"He better get his ass here soon." Her words fell from her lips with bite. This was half his fault, he better be there to help her finish it.

"He can’t move the cars, Aubrey," he said. He knew how badly she needed him and he felt terrible for Adam, knowing that there was a huge chance he was going to miss this.

"He can't miss this. He promised me he wouldn't miss this." Her voice softened once more, uncertainty taking over.

"I know, and he hates that he is stuck."

Aubrey turned on her side, as best she could, staring at the wall before her. She closed her eyes. "I know."

Davey watched the monitor and saw another come, rather soon after the last one. "Aubrey..."

"I know," she hissed, feeling the pain and pressure building, "I can feel them coming."

"Squeeze." He shook his hand not feeling any pressure. Why wasn’t she squeezing as she’d done in the past?

Aubrey squeezed his hand, clenching her eyes closed as she rolled back over onto her back. It was time. She knew it. She could feel it. Everything within her told her to push. "I..I have to push," she whimpered.

"No, not until the doctor says to," he said to her, wiping her head with a wash cloth the nurse had provided.

The doctor shook her head, "If she feels ready to push, she can. It's her show."

Davey panicked. He didn’t have time to call Adam. He was going to have to be what she depended on. He looked at Aubrey, locking eyes, showing her that he was going to be here for her.

Closing her eyes, Aubrey positioned herself, hearing the commotion of the doctor and nurses doing the same. With a soft grunt, she pushed as her next contraction began.

Davey leaned his head against hers, holding his breath with her. She was squeezing his hand so hard he couldn’t see straight. He listened as the doctor counted to ten.

The nurse counted with the doctor, leaning in to place a warm washcloth on Aubrey's forehead. "Alright, breathe and relax. Wait until the next one then push again."

Davey relaxed with her. "Adam would be proud of you."

Aubrey half nodded, feeling another contraction building. Clenching her eyes shut again, she started to push.

Davey held her back as she sat up and pushed, letting her crush his other hand. This time he counted to, unable to believe he'd gotten himself in a delivery room.

All Aubrey wanted was for this to be over. For her little girl to be in her arms. She needed this to be over. Aubrey hissed out a sharp breath, falling back against her pillow. She barely focused on anything around her, her mind swimming.

The doctor looked up at her. "I can see a head. We are almost there, Aubrey." Raising her head, the doctor looked up at Davey. "You wanna see?"

Davey stared at him. "NO!" He didn’t need to see this. It wasn’t his place. The very thought unnerved him.

Chuckling, the doctor turned her attention back to Aubrey. "Alright, one or two more good pushes and you'll have you baby in your arms."

Davey repositioned his hand in hers and sucked in a deep breath as she started pushing with another contraction.

Aubrey pushed, silently praying that Adam would arrive soon. She needed him here. Needed him to be a part of this. He couldn’t miss this. She needed him.

"Bree," Adam panted as he leaned against the doorway, eyes wide, he’d run all the way from the parking lot and he could feel his legs shaking beneath him. But he refused to miss this. He hadn’t driven 30 over the speed limit, thankfully missing any police, just to collapse in a chair and miss the birth of his daughter.

Adam could see her eyes clenched closed, the pain her her face. And Davey's as well. He was surprised to find his lover where he stood, but the sight warmed him nonetheless. Davey was there. He was a part of this. "I'm here, sweetie. I'm here."

She looked up, relief flooded her face. "Adam," she panted. Shaking, she held her hand out as another contraction started. Once again she started to push, squeezing Adam's hand as he gripped it.

A bemused glance passed from doctor to nurse as they watched both men grimace pain. "Alright, Aubrey. One more big push."

Feeling somewhat out of place now, Davey started to pull away, to let them have this.

A cry fell from Aubrey's lips as she bore down, squeezing both men's hands tightly. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she whimpered softly. She wanted this to end. She needed it to end.

Davey was surprised that she hadn’t let him go, feeling for sure that since Adam had arrived he wasn’t needed. He leaned down. "Almost done," he whispered in her ear. She was doing this, she was making it, and he was incredibly proud of her.

"It's a girl," the doctor proclaimed, smiling. She held the baby up for the three of them too see. She was small, not tiny, but small. Her head had the characteristic cone shape and her eyes were scrunched closed. Her skin was a light purple but quickly began pinking up as she cried, taking in her first breaths of air.

The screams from the baby filled the room and all three looked on in amazement. It was all over, the baby was here. Davey looked at Adam and smiled. If he got to see nothing else, he at least go to share her birth with Adam. He looked down at Aubrey and grinned. "You did it, mama."

Exhausted, Aubrey fell back against the pillows. She'd done it. Her little girl was here. Adam had made it in time. She sighed, a few stray tears falling from her eyes. She’d done it.

Davey slowly let go of her hand and walked away from the bed, over to the window.

Adam couldn't wipe the grin from his face. "You did it, Bree," he whispered, kissing her forehead. Aubrey nodded and smiled. She turned her head and looked at Davey. He'd been there with her through all of it. And she couldn’t understand why, but she was grateful.

#afislash #Advey #Shards of Us #co-written with havoksangel #AU #sparkinside writes

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shards of Us - Chapter Six

Title: Shards of Us

Chapter: 6/9

Character/Pairing: Davey Havok/Adam Carson

Genre: Angst

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Creating a balance between what was and what is strains the ever twisted relationship between Adam, Aubrey, and Davey. Sequel to The Devil Inside. Written with Havoksangel.

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement.

SIX

The week had passed in a blur for Adam. The end of term was quickly approaching and the work seemed to pile higher and higher with each passing day. Thursday morning found him at his desk, pouring over the latest portfolio pieces his students had handed in. Many were stunning, but there were a few that had him near pulling his hair out in frustration.

Sighing, he pushed his chair back, grabbing his bag from beside his desk. He glanced briefly at his watch. 8:40, he would be able to make it to the house just in time to meet Aubrey. With one last glance at the sketches on his desk, Adam stood, making his way to the door of the room.

A girl with short red hair ran in the room. "Mr. Carson?" She said panting, holding her hand over her chest where she'd been running. "I'm glad I caught you."

Adam turned towards the voice, smiling as best he could. "Can I help you, Jenna?"

"Yes... with my nose," she said, still trying to catch her breath.

"Your nose?" Adam repeated, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. He'd heard some rather interesting answers in his day, but this certainly caught him off guard.

She laughed and pulled out her portfolio. She pointed to a picture of a woman with no nose and the picture in which she was drawing from. "I can’t do it. What am I doing wrong?"

Adam chuckled, shaking his head, "Okay. What exactly about the nose are you having trouble with?"

"I just can’t do it. Can you show me?"

Adam turned back, settling himself in his chair once more, "Why don't you show me how you are trying to go about creating the nose and we can take it from there."

She nodded and smiled, sitting down at his desk and explained her problem.

---

Davey walked into the house, stretching his arms over his head. The schedule at work had been wrong and he was actually off today. A yawn fell from his lips, but he knew he was far too awake to consider trying to fall back asleep. He tossed his coat over the couch and walked to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.

---

Aubrey found herself turning onto the street she'd spent the majority of the past nine months avoiding. Unease grew steadily within her. She didn't want to be here. But, it seemed she had little choice. Adam would be the one accompanying her to the hospital. She couldn’t avoid this street. The house. Him.

---

Davey walked to the living room and sat down on the couch, picking up the book he'd been reading for the past few days. He was going to relax today and not think on Aubrey. Besides, Adam would be home in a few hours and it would be nice to just spend the day lounging in bed, cuddling.

---

The car in the driveway looked nothing like Adam's, which alarmed Aubrey somewhat. Maybe he'd borrowed someone's car for the day. That had to be it. Adam promised her HE wouldn’t be there...Hadn’t he? Uncertainly, she pulled her car into the driveway.

Shutting off the engine, Aubrey struggled to climb from the seat before waddling back to the rear door to pull her baby bag from the backseat.

Belatedly, she realized she'd probably packed too much, but at this point in time, she found she honestly didn't care. With more than a little effort, she hobbled to the front door, ringing the bell.

---

Sighing, Davey got up, placing both the book and water to the side. Who would be here this early on a Thursday? He paused. Fuck. He knew exactly who. Hesitantly, he opened the front door, locking eyes with Aubrey.

Anger and pain flooded through Aubrey as her eyes fell on Davey's form. Why the hell was he here? He wasn't supposed to be here.

"Adam hasn’t gotten home, yet," Davey told her, trying not to sound cold, but knowing he was. He couldn’t help it.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as her eyes roamed over his form. Adam's shirt. He was wearing Adam's shirt. She knew it was irrational, but the very idea made her livid. Yet another slap in the face reminding her that this...man had taken away everything she'd held dear. "Do you know when he'll be here?" she answered, tone just as frosty as the one she'd received.

Davey raised his eyebrow. "Any minute. I can call him if you want, unless you want to. You're good at that."

"I have every right to call him, he is the father of my child, if you haven't forgotten." She didn't want to start a fight, she knew it was wrong and childish, but the very sight of him made her cross beyond words.

"Oh I am very aware, a child that I can’t see. One I am not fit for," he spat. God, he hated the sight of her. She was the reason he and Adam argued all the time and she knew it. She had to. She wanted it that way.

"Forgive me for not wanting another person I love more than life itself to be taken from me," she bit back, anger and raw pain clinging to her words. This child was all she had left of Adam. She refused to let Davey steal that from her as well.

"I wouldn’t steal your daughter," he said softly.

"You stole the man I loved for as long as I can remember. You lied to my face. Forgive me if I don't believe a word you say."

Davey looked down and stepped to the side. He had no argument for her. She had a valid point. "You wanna come in and sit? I know your ankles have to be sore."

Aubrey was fully ready to protest, not wanting to be anywhere near the man that had stolen her fiancé for longer than was absolutely necessary, but her body could not refuse the invitation to sit and allow her ankles to rest. She nodded begrudgingly.

"Can I get you anything?" He asked, standing as far away as possible.

Aubrey shook her head, wobbling into the living room before settling on the couch. She leaned her head back, closing her eyes. Tired. She was simply exhausted. With a sigh, she hoped Adam would arrive soon. The sooner she could leave for her mother's, the better.

Davey walked over to the phone and dialed Adam's number. He wanted her gone. Wanted Adam home so she could leave her bag and leave them be.

"Adam, get your ass home," he whispered sternly, huddled in the corner of the kitchen, as Adam answered his phone.

"Baby? What's wrong? Where are you? Why are you whispering?"

"I am home, Adam, and Aubrey is here," he continued.

Adam's blood ran cold. "Why are you home? I thought you worked today." Oh God.

Davey sighed. "The schedule got screwed up and they didn’t need me," he whispered. He peeked around the corner at her. "When are you going to be here?"

Adam rested his head against the steering wheel, an exasperated sigh falling from his lips. This was exactly the thing he'd feared. "I'm stuck in traffic. Nothing’s moving."

Davey's eyes widened. "Fuck! You mean I'm stuck with her?" He whispered.

"There's nothing I can do, Davey," Adam stressed, leaning back against his seat, his hand falling over his eyes. This wasn't happening. "Maybe," he started, trying to think of a logical solution to the mess, "Maybe she could just leave the bag there."

Davey took a deep breath. "I'll ask her," he said with a sigh. "I'll call you back when she leaves. I love you."

"I love you, too," Adam echoed, "And I'm sorry."

"It’s not your fault," he said hanging up and walking towards the living room. "Bree?" The name slipped out easily.

Aubrey's head shot up, her eyes narrowing, "Don't you EVER call me that," she hissed.

Davey jumped back. "It’s a lot nicer than what I want to call you," he spat back.

Her eyes narrowed further, "So what? You can steal my fiancé from behind my back but you can't say something to my face?" she challenged, angered beyond words that he'd addressed her by the nickname only Adam had ever addressed her by. Another thing he tried to steal from her.

Davey glared at her. He knew and fully understood why she was angry with him, but he couldn’t stand her attitude towards him anymore. "I know I hurt you and I'm sorry. I fell in love with Adam and you of all people should know how easy that is. I am just sick of you using that baby to manipulate him and make him feel as if he has to choose sides."

Aubrey flew to her feet. "So this is my fault? I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask to be a single mother! I didn't ask for all my hopes and my dreams to be ripped out from under me! You've won! Are you happy now?! You've got everything! I just wanted my life back. I wanted my world back," she finished softly, hating herself for being so weak. For letting herself fall apart in front of him. She wrapped her arms around herself as she fell back on the couch.

Davey sighed and walked over to her. He knew what he'd done to her and he would always feel the guilt from it. "Aubrey, you don’t have to do this alone."

She shook her head violently. She did. The fact that Adam wasn’t there only cemented that reality in her mind.

He gently placed his hand on her knee. "Aubrey..."

She pulled her leg back. She couldn't allow herself to trust him. Not after he'd made such a fool of her. She wouldn't let herself. Not again.

Davey looked down. "Adam is stuck in traffic. He said you can leave the bags here if you want," he whispered.

Aubrey nodded. She didn't to be in this house any longer. She didn't know if she could handle it. Pushing herself to her feet, Aubrey hobbled past Davey to the bag she'd left by the door. "I can just take it to my parents. I don't need to be any more of a bother."

He grabbed her hand. "Aubrey, you aren’t..."

"Don't. I've fucked things up enough. I should just learn to keep my nose out of business I haven't the right to know anymore." She just wanted to leave. To forget. Being here. Seeing him. It only made things worse.

"Aubrey, leave the goddamn bag here," he told her, taking it out of her hand.

She stared at him, unsure of what to say or do. She just wanted to leave. Tend to her wounds in private. She'd lost Adam and that reality was quickly becoming too much for her to bear. Closing her eyes, she turned towards the door.

"Drive safe, Aubrey," Davey said softly, opening the door.

Aubrey merely nodded as she made her way to the car. As she walked, she felt a bit of pressure in her lower back, slowly traveling across her abdomen. She grimaced, passing them off as only false contractions, her body's way of preparing itself for the inevitable. It couldn't be anything else she wasn't due for another two weeks.

Davey watched her to the car, making sure she was alright. Despite himself, he actually did care about her still.

With each step she took, the contractions only seemed to worsen. No, she screamed to herself, not now. Please not now.

Davey cocked his head to the side, watching her. Something wasn’t right. "Aubrey?"

"No. Not now, please not now," she murmured, leaning against the side of her car.

He walked out to her and placed his hand on her back. "Aubrey, what is it?"

Aubrey clinched her eyes shut, focusing on trying to breathe properly. "I...I need to sit down," she whispered.

Davey took her hand and led her back to the house. "Lean on me."

She nodded, gripping Davey’s arm tightly as he slowly led her back into the house. She just needed to rest. Maybe if she sat down the contractions would lessen.

He walked her inside and laid her down on the couch, propping a pillow underneath her head. "Is that better?"

She nodded slightly. "A little." The pressure wasn't nearly as bad now.

"Can I get you anything?"

"Water."

Davey walked into the kitchen and got a bottle of water, bringing it to her and then kneeling by the couch. "Here." He watched her, unsure what was wrong or if something even was. Did he need to call Adam?

"Thank you," she murmured, taking the bottle from him and taking a sip. She closed her eyes, knowing that if this was what she feared, she would have a few hours before she needed to get to the hospital, a grimace spreading across her face.

Davey watched her. "What can I do?"

"Nothing." There really wasn't much anyone could do at the moment but sit and wait.

Davey bit his lip. "You want me to call Adam?"

She nodded. Needing him here.

He paused for a moment, blinking. "Are you going into labor?"

Aubrey nodded once again, keeping her eyes closed and trying her best to focus on her breathing, though that task grew more and more difficult as the time wore on.

Panic flooded through him. "Please tell me you're kidding!" He didn’t know what to do and this woman hated him. "Can’t you not do that right now?"

Raising her head and locking her eyes with his, Aubrey glared. "You think that if I had a say in this at all that I would choose here and NOW to go into labor?"

He looked down. "Shouldn’t we be going to the hospital then instead of being on my couch?"

She shook her head, "Not rea ready yet."

"What was that?" He asked her, eyes wide.

"What's what?"

"You hesitated when you spoke."

"Contraction."

Davey scanned her. "Do they hurt?"

"No," she snapped, another contraction, slowly building in strength and duration, erupting through her, "they tickle."

Davey looked at her and slid his hand in hers. "Squeeze when they hurt, okay?" He picked up the phone and started to dial Adam's number.

Hesitantly, she took his hand, squeezing as the contraction she felt reached its peak.

"Ow, ow, ow," he shouted as Adam answered the phone.

"Dave?" Adam started, puzzled at his lover's words. "Davey, are you okay? What's wrong?"

Davey took a couple of deep breaths. "I'm fine, but Aubrey is in labor."

Had traffic not been at a standstill already, Adam would have certainly slammed on his brakes. "She's what?" The color slowly drained from his face. Why was this happening now?

"She went into labor leaving the house."

"God, is she okay? Where are you? How is she? What's going on?"

Davey shook his head. "She's fine. We're home and she is just have some slight contractions."

"Fuck," he hissed, glancing around at the traffic around him. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"If I have to take her to the hospital I will call you, okay?"

Adam ran his fingers through his hair, “Okay."

"See you soon," he said instead of his normal 'I love you'. He figured he didn’t need to add insult to injury. Aubrey was already having to depend on him, she didn’t need his and Adam's relationship thrown in her face

Adam slammed his head back against the head rest, a frustrated sigh falling from his lips. The traffic around and ahead of him still showed little sign of being cleared. Great, just fucking great. His eyes slipped closed and he found himself praying that the traffic would clear in enough time for him to witness the birth of his daughter.

#afislash #Advey #Shards of Us #co-written with havoksangel #AU #sparkinside writes

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sparkinsidewrites · 4 years

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Shards of Us - Chapter Five

Title: Shards of Us

Chapter: 5/9

Character/Pairing: Davey Havok/Adam Carson

Genre: Angst

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Creating a balance between what was and what is strains the ever twisted relationship between Adam, Aubrey, and Davey. Sequel to The Devil Inside. Written with Havoksangel.

Authors Notes/Warnings: Nothing in this piece ever happened. I claim no ownership nor do I make any sort of profit from this, other than pride and a sense of amusement.

FIVE

Adam glared at his reflection in the mirror. The broken man he saw before him served only as a reminder of how truly foolish and stupid he had been. Davey was right, he’d allowed Aubrey to twist him around her finger. Allowed her to bend him whichever way she'd wanted. He was so stupid to think he could please everyone. To fix everything. That he could find a way to be there for both of them the way he knew they deserved. He was a fool.

Sighing, he turned from the mirror, padding back into the silent motel room, pulling his wrinkled t shirt from the bed and over his head. It had been three days since he'd last seen Davey. Three days since he'd made the biggest mistake of his life in walking away. He should have fought harder. Should have let Davey know that he mattered, that he’d become Adam's world. He never should have just left.

For the hundredth time, Adam found himself gazing at his phone laying on the bedside table, willing it to ring. It was a foolish hope. He’d messed things up far too badly for Davey to risk reaching out to him again. If he wanted to fix this. If he had any hope of fixing this, Adam knew he would have to make the first move. Swallowing thickly, Adam grabbed both the phone and keys from the small wooden table, making his way from the room. He needed to fix this. To try.

---

Davey laid on the couch, his face covered in a three day old beard and free of any make up. His eyes were red from crying and his body was tired from wishing, hoping, Adam would just come home. He couldn’t help but wonder if he'd pushed too hard, or maybe if he'd have just been a bit more patient would things have turned out differently. He scolded himself for being a hard ass. For letting it had cost him the only person he'd ever cared about.

---

Adam’s hands shook as he turned onto the familiar street. Countless fears flooded his thoughts. Would Davey forgive him? Talk to him? Or would he simply slam the door in his face, telling him to go to hell and stay there? The nervousness and uncertainty only built as the house slowly came into view.

Davey's car sat in the driveway, which was lined with several days’ worth of papers. Adam thought this odd. Davey hated having the paper strewn across the driveway. Many a morning he'd woken up to the frustrated cursing of the paper boy by his lover. The smile that memory brought to his face quickly vanished as the implications sank in. Davey hadn't bothered to leave the house. That fact was only confirmed by the stack of mail hanging out of the overfilled mailbox. Adam's heart leapt in his throat. What had he done?

---

Davey never heard the car pull in, too lost in his own thoughts to pay much attention to the world around him. He pulled himself up from the couch, heading upstairs, having been alternating between the couch and the bed for three days, only stopping in between for the bathroom.

---

Shoving his shaking hands into his pockets, Adam slowly made his way to the front door. He paused for a moment, wondering if he should just let himself in. How would Davey react to that? Did he even have that right anymore? Adam hesitantly raised his hand and pressed the doorbell.

---

Davey paused at the stairs and took a deep breath. He really didn’t want company, but he didn’t have the energy to yell at them to go away. Slowly he made his way to the door and opened it, locking eyes with Adam.

Adam jumped as the door pulled open slowly. The sight before him broke his heart. "Davey," he whispered. The man standing before him was a shell of the man he'd fallen in love with. His eyes were broken and red from tears. It was nearly enough to bring Adam to tears himself.

Davey looked at him and then down. "Why are you here?" He whispered, hurt.

"I just...I...Can I come in, please?" he finished meekly.

Davey looked up at him and nodded, stepping back to let him in the door. The last person he expected was Adam and he knew he looked like hell, how could he not? "You want some water?"

Adam nodded, "That would be nice, thank you." Awkward. Everything felt so awkward between them now. And it was his fault, he knew it.

Silently, he followed Davey into the kitchen, wanting nothing more than to pull the man into his arms and hold him. But he didn't dare. He wouldn't risk hurting him further. Wouldn't do anything until he knew where he stood with Davey.

Davey reached into the cabinet and grabbed a glass. He paused before turning on the faucet, mustering up the energy to do so. He was just so tired. Taking a deep breath he turned around to hand Adam his water. "Did you come for your other things?" He asked quietly, a broken whisper.

"No...I just...I needed to talk to you," Adam whispered, talking the glass, forcing himself to meet Davey's gaze, though the pain he saw in his lover's Were they even that anymore? eyes tore him apart.

Davey looked at him, tears welling up. "What about?"

Adam fought the urge to pull Davey against him. He swallowed thickly, trying to find the words, as tears threatened to form in his eyes. "How fucking stupid I am."

Davey looked at him, confusion on his face. What was he talking about? Was he actually here to fix this? "What do you want, Adam?"

"You," he finally managed to whisper, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. "Us. To not be so scared. To take back every stupid thing I said and did...To...To..."His voice trailed off, eyes slipping closed as he fought to gather himself. He had no right to fall apart.

"To what?" Davey asked softly, stepping into him.

Adam raised his eyes to Davey's face, swallowing softly, "Have you not hate me for everything I've done." The words came in a low whisper. It was a silly hope. He couldn’t forgive himself for what he’d done, how could he ask Davey to do so?

Davey brought his hand up to Adam's cheek, stroking it gently. "I could never hate you. I wish I could, but I can’t. I love you so much," he whispered, closing his eyes to block tears.

Eyes slipping closed involuntarily at the touch, Adam sighed, a soft sob forcing its way from his throat. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"So am I. I should have been more understanding," he said.

"But Aubrey..." Davey protested.

"I shouldn't have let myself get so pulled in. I just...I fucked things up so badly with her...I just...I wanted to make things right...I didn't think..."

"That she would manipulate you?"

"I didn't think she would try anything. She's never been that kind of a person...Never...I just...I did that to her...I just...And then I turn around and fuck things up with you...I just..."

"Adam, say what you want to me. Tell me what you want," Davey told him.

Adam closed his eyes, "I just...I want everything to work. I want to be with you. I want to love you. But I also want to be a father. To share that part of my life with you. To fix things with Aubrey, to have her not hate me for what I've done. I want to fix everything...and I can't...I know I can't and I don't know how to deal with that. I just...I don't know..."

Davey stepped into him and pressed his mouth to Adam's. He whimpered softly and wrapped his arms around Adam’s neck.

Sighing softly, Adam allowed himself to melt into the kiss. The feel of Davey's warm arms around his neck sent shivers down his spine. He'd missed this. Missed his lover's warmth. The feel of Davey's body pressed against his own.

Davey pulled back, placing once last short kiss on his mouth. "Please come home," he whispered over his lips. "I miss you and I need you home."

Adam nodded, nuzzling his face into Davey's neck. Davey wanted him back. Wanted him home. Warmth flooded through Adam, leaving him calmer than he'd felt in longer than he cared to remember.

Davey buried his head in Adam's shoulder. "I look like shit, don’t I?" His voice was muffled by the shirt.

"I'll love you regardless of how you look," Adam assured him, a soft smile spreading across his face at Davey's words.

Davey looked up at him. "I look like a guy." He sniffled and wiped the tears from his eyes.

Adam raised his hand, cupping Davey's jaw lightly, "I love you like this. I love you in make up. I love you in whatever you chose to do, wear, or feel. I love you." His eyes locked on Davey's, his love reflecting in them.

Davey smiled, genuinely. "I never want you to stop saying that. I love you too, so much, and we can and will make this work."

"I love you," he repeated once more, leaning in to kiss Davey softly. Adam closed his eyes, wanting to commit this moment to memory.

Adam's cell phone rang, Aubrey's tone filling the kitchen. Davey sighed and pressed his head against his lover's shoulder. He reached in Adam's pocket and picked it out. "Here," he said, pressing send for him.

Hesitantly, Adam took the phone, placing it up to his ear. "Hello?"

"Adam, I have been trying to reach you for two days?" Aubrey told him. Davey rolled his eyes, hearing her and then smirked before sinking to his knees. He looked up at Adam and mouthed, "We have to make up."

Adam's eyes widened as he watched Davey sink to his knees before him. His mind raced with the very idea of what that position could entail. What Davey was playing at? The words Davey mouthed barely registered in his mind. "I uh...Things have been hectic Aubrey..." he managed to choke out, distractedly.

Davey hummed softly as he undid Adam's belt and opened his jeans. Leaning in, he unzipped them with his teeth, still able to hear her rattling things off about the baby.

Sweat beaded across Adam's brow. Davey was going to...His eyes slipped closed at the thought. "Aubrey..I...I'm going to have to call you back."

Davey looked up at him and shook his head no. "Keep talking," he whispered, taking Adam out of his jeans and licking the head of his cock.

"Adam, I need you to listen. These are the directions for when my water breaks," Aubrey started, knowing the event would be hectic and wanting things to go as smoothly as possible. There wouldn’t be time to stop and breathe once her water broke, she knew this.

Adam violently shook his head "No" as a shiver ran through him. He couldn't do this. Not with Aubrey on the phone.

"Adam Carson, are you listening to me?" She yelled as Davey slowly took him in his mouth.

"Bree..I...I..um...I'll call you back," he managed to choke out before slamming the phone shut. "Fuck," he breathed, his hands falling to Davey's head. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Davey shook his head with Adam still in his mouth and then cut his eyes up. The phone rang again and Davey pulled back, rasing his eyes to Adam’s. "Answer it or I stop."

"You can't be fucking serious."

Davey sat back on his feet leaving Adam out and very hard. With a raised eyebrow he looked at the phone.

"You can't ask me to talk to her while you're doing this...I...That's just cruel," Adam panted, eyeing Davey. It took everything in him not to beg Davey to finish him right there and then, Aubrey be damned.

Davey started to push himself to his feet. "Well then you don’t get it," he smirked, holding the phone up to him.

"No." The word fell from Adam's lips without his permission. He didn't want Davey to leave him like this. But having Davey take him like that with Aubrey able to hear everything...He couldn't do that. No matter what she'd done, that was simply too cruel. But his baser desires still ravaged in his mind.

"It’s not to get at her," Davey whispered, sincerely, seeing the panic in his lover’s eyes, "It’s to punish you for being so bad, now answer the phone," he said playfully.

"She'll hear..."

"Not if you're quiet and can cover well, besides, I plan on having that baby here at some point and you are gonna have to learn to be quiet," he said hitting the button and handing the phone back to Adam. He positioned himself back and took Adam into his mouth again, smirking as he did so.

"Hey Aubrey," he answered, praying his voice didn't sound as strained as he felt.

"What the hell did you hang up for? Nothing you’re doing can be more important," she said as Davey descended down on his cock completely.

"I was in the middle of something that I needed...to..fo focus on." His eyes slipped closed as his free hand rested lightly on Davey's head. This felt wrong, dirty, cruel even, but he couldn't push Davey away if he tried.

Davey circled his tongue around the head of Adam’s cock as he listened to Aubrey once again rattle off the directions for when she went into labor. He tuned her out and concentrated on tasting his lover, making him come. Something he feared he’d lost for good.

Adam tried desperately to focus on Aubrey's words but they may as well have been ancient Greek. His hand traveled slowly down the back of Davey's head as he bit his lip to keep from moaning. God, he would surely go to Hell for this. But he was hard-pressed to care.

Davey lightly hummed around him, quiet enough so that Aubrey didn’t hear him. He cut his eyes up and locked them with Adam's, winking as he started to circle him again.

"Adam, do you hear me?" She asked. "This is important."

"Mhm," he mumbled in reply. He could feel Davey's eyes on him. Taking in everything. Every expression. Every shudder. Every tremble.

Davey moved back to concentrate on just the head, wrapping his hand around the base. "So, you'll be ready when I call you," she asked.

"Mhm," he mumbled once more, his hips bucking involuntarily. Davey would be the death of him.

Davey unzipped his own pants and started stroking his own length, whimpering around Adam. He was so hard he could barely stand it and he knew Adam wasn’t far off.

Adam's eyes widened as he watched Davey's graceful movements. He was a beautifully sensuous creature by nature, and his actions now served only to prove that. Adam bit his lip harder, feeling his body tense. He was close.

"I guess I can let you go then. Are you doing okay?" She asked him. Davey panted around Adam's cock, his own orgasm getting closer. He wasn’t going to last very long and he prayed he was quiet. He was never quiet.

"Yeah...I...I'll talk to you later then," he choked out, barely suppressing a moan. God, this was going to kill him.

"That's fine. Bye, Adam," she whispered, hanging up. Davey smirked and took Adam completely in his mouth.

"Fuck," Adam hissed as the dial tone sounded in his ear.

Davey whimpered loudly, stroking himself harder and moving his head faster on Adam. He needed to taste him, to feel him come. It had been too long and he craved it.

Adam inhaled sharply, his body tensing and relaxing rapidly. Davey's name fell from his lips between shuddering breaths as the phone fell with a thud against the counter.

Davey screamed around him, the vibrations of his mouth going straight through him. His hands stroked both himself and Adam, rhythmically and simultaneously. He wanted them to release at the same time.

With a shuddering sigh, Adam whimpered Davey's name, pleasure ripping through him.

Davey whimpered and started to spill over his hand, his body shivering with each movement his hand continued to make. He clenched his eyes shut and took Adam in completely one last time.

A cry fell from Adam's lips as he pulsed helplessly inside Davey's mouth, his lover's name falling from his lips. His hands dug in Davey's hair as his hips bucked shamelessly. Adam's eyes slowly fluttered open as he finished, falling upon Davey's panting form. He smiled softly, falling back against the counter, his breathing slowing considerably.

Davey grinned, wiping his mouth with his finger and reaching for the dish towel to clean up. He stood as he tucked Adam back in his pants and smiled at him. "So did we make up?"

Adam struggled to catch his breath, "I think I should be the one asking that question."

Davey leaned in and kisses him softly, letting his tongue run over Adam's top lip. "Don’t hurt me again," he whispered.

Pressing Davey tighter against him, Adam rested his forehead against Davey's. "I don't want to hurt you."

Davey looked up at him and smiled. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. And I'm so sorry."

Bringing his hands up, he tangled them in the longer strands of Adam's hair. "I don’t like fighting with you. We are a team and we get through these things together."

Adam's eyes slipped slowly closed, taking in the feel of Davey's warmth against him. The comfort and love he felt from the man in his arms. "I just wish I could share my daughter with you," he whispered softly.

Davey sighed and laid his head on Adam's shoulder, lightly rubbing his back. "I know. So do I. I love her already just because she is a part of you, you know?"

"I love you," Adam murmured into Davey's hair.

"I love you, too, and we will figure something out."

Nodding, Adam sighed. He knew things weren't perfectly settled between them, but he was grateful to have this. To have Davey trust him enough to let him back in. It was more than he deserved, and Adam fully knew this.

Davey lightly pressed another kiss. "Maybe its time me and Aubrey had a little talk."

Adam tensed slightly at his words. Things between the three of them were tentative at best and he feared that a confrontation of any kind between Aubrey and Davey would end disastrously.

"Adam, she needs to accept me here, and if she doesn’t want me to see your daughter, fine, but she can’t but into our relationship," he told him.

"I know. I do...It's just...I'm scared I'll lose my daughter," Adam breathed, trying with little success to remain calm and in control of himself.

Davey hung his head. He knew he had no choice but to be the silent lover. He nodded and buried his head in Adam's chest. She was still winning and she probably always would. She had Adam by the heart where his daughter was concerned and there wasn’t a damn thing Davey could do about it.

He could feel the disappointment radiating off of Davey acutely. Adam hated himself for that. For hurting him once again. "I don't want you to have to hide, I just...I don't know what she'll do and I just..I'm scared."

"I know," he said softly. "But I do have to hide. I'm your dirty little secret."

Davey's words stung. Adam swallowed thickly, unsure what to do, what to say to that. The small voice in the back of his head kept screaming Davey deserved more, better than him. Better than this. And that hurt more than he cared to think on.

Turning, he walked towards the bathroom, feeling manlier than he wanted to. He needed to shave and now that Adam was here, he wanted to be pretty again.

Adam watched Davey head slowly to the bathroom. A shuddering breath fell from his lips and he sank down on one of the kitchen chairs. He felt like he was right back where he'd started. He couldn't fix this. Couldn't make things right. Not without hurting someone, risking his heart or his child.

The phone rang again, Aubrey's ringtone echoing through the house. Davey rolled his eyes hearing it from the bathroom. The woman is a fucking leech, Davey thought.

Adam jumped, reaching for his phone. His heart raced and he laughed nervously at himself for reacting that way. "Aubrey."

"Adam, I was thinking. I am going to my mother's on Thursday and I have to go right by your house. I think I will just bring my bags there, that way they are already in the SUV when we go. Davey works mornings, right?"

Adam's brow furrowed, "We're going to your mother's?" he asked, unsure if he'd fully understood what she'd told him.

She sighed. "No. I am going to my mothers. I am bringing my hospital bag to you. Does Davey work in the mornings still?"

"Sorry, okay...Yeah, he does. Wh what time were you planning on stopping by?"

"Is nine okay?"

"I have a free hour then, so I should be able to make it back by nine."

She smiled. "Great. I'll see you then," she said before hanging up.

Davey walked around the corner, hearing everything. "Do I have to spray the house with holy water before she comes over?"

Adam shot Davey a stern look, "That's a bit much."

Davey looked at him and opened his mouth to speak before retreating to the bedroom. He had to keep quiet always and the only way to keep himself from going insane was to let it out in tiny comments. When was Adam going stop defending her and start standing up for him?

A frustrated sigh fell from Adam's lips, "Davey..."

Davey stopped in the hallway and turned slightly to him. "Yea?"

"I didn't mean it like that...I just...I hate having to hear things like that, from both of you. I just...I'm sorry..."

Davey nodded and turned to go back to the bedroom. They were back to neutral corners.

Leaning his head down against the counter, Adam sighed. Part of him wanted to follow Davey to the bedroom and hold the man in his arms. Another simply wished everything would just stop. Just let him breathe and think for a moment. He hated being pulled in two drastically different directions. Hated being forced to choose between them. Hated being stuck.

#afislash #Advey #Shards of Us #co-written with havoksangel #AU #sparkinside writes

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