Broken Wings(Tech)(Mature?)

[Brandon (Tech)]

"This building used to be an apartment complex" Relic answered in response to Kelsie's first question. "Some of the rooms upstairs are still empty enouhg that you can live there. I'm sure we have a matress or two lying around" At her second question Relic chuckled, it was true they nearly all had one, Jonathan being th only exception and Ace as well, to a degree. "I guess you could say that it serves many purposes. First, it's easier to make yourself known when you don't share a name with a thousand other people. It's also away of rejecting our parents, disowning the name the gave us without our approval" He chuckled at this. "Yes, I guess it is a stupid, childish form of denial, but it's how we do it"



But when she spoke of Ace and amnesia Johnathan froze. He was the one with amnesia, he could only remember a few years back. He had no idea who or what he was, and it tormented him. "I'm the guy with amnesia" He said, almsot sounding as though he were in shock. "And I'd love to find out who I was"

The look on his face had changed, he now looked like someone stuck on a desolate island who finally saw a chance for escape after years of waiting. "Sometimes I get flashbacks, but they make no sense! I'm dressed in leater armor and fighting things I haven't sen anywhere else. Minotaurs, demons and people woth armors and insignias that don't appear in any era!" He calmed himself down, taking a few breaths "I'm sorry about that, but it just gets on my nerves. None of what I see matches anything I've seen in the real world. It just... sucks"

Brandon nodded sadly, he had tried everything to find something on Jonathan's past, but even with Corrosive's help he'd come up onyl with dead ends. Jonathan was of a kind that Brandon had never seen anywhere else, he was unique. His looks had changed, that was certain, so the picture scan had come up empty. At first Brandon hgad thought he was biologically engineered, but no human could create such a master peace, it seemed to be a work of millions of years of natural evolution. And yet nearly every physical flaw was stripped from him, an almost certain sign of manipulation.

"All I remeber for sure is some guy who looks like me, 'cept he's shorter and I respect him for some reason, when I see him I know I'll kill and die to defend him. He's wearing some sort of wizard robes unlike any I've ever seen, and he's teaching me how to fight, to recognize the weaknesses of my foes and how to resist magic and shit like that. That saved my life once" He felt empty, hollow and in pain. He needed a drink

[Kelsie]

"Well then I say more than ever I need a nickname too. Brandon might not have told you and I'll leave him to tell you for it isn't a story I wish to delve into once more. But I do not love, like, respect, nor enjoy my family." she said firmly with a nod and left it at that to a few raised eyebrows.

Her attention was soon caught by Jonathan telling her that he was the one that had amnesia and he desperatly wished to know who he was. She smiled softly and rose fluidly. She didn't mind using her powers she had gotten rid of the scars on Brandon's chest so he no longer had to be stiff in the mornings she was able to heal him no matter what happened despite some of the accidents he had in the lab he knew that he could come to her and she would heal him. So risen, Kelsie walked over to Jonathan who had suddenly gone on a rant about things he remembered but weren't sure what was going on and he was getting paniced so Kelsie quickly placed her index finger on his moving lips expertly placed.

"Please.. calm yourself. Close your eyes and take deep breaths." she whispered. "Concentrate on breathing alone, think of nothing else. Just breathe." she told him.

Taking her finger from his lips she moved around behind the chair he sat in. His hair was wet and cold but she didn't mind as she slid her fingers into the pitch black hair unaware of the contrast of her pale skin to his dark hair. Kelsie closed her eyes and she began to search his mind, it was the only time she could see and then it was all just in spurts of nameless colors. They represented the different parts of the brain but what was most important where the parts where there was a lack of color. A black void there. That was where the blockage against his memories lay and she found it stopping her search, though close at hand was his alcoholism and she fully intended to work on that while in his mind.

Kelsie began to work, unaware of the blue and white light that surrounded her body and mostly her hands almost blindingly around her hands as she began to heal the damage. There were scars in his mind from others that had tried to force through the barrier and had failed she worked to heal those and smoothe them out colors began to show starting with a deep green and working it's way up, the memory center usually was white so she had some distance to go. She continued working it was slow and very draining work as he was blocked from Millenia ago and she had never healed that far back. But she worked hard at it the light having to get brighter the further back she went in his mind her eyes moved behind her eyelids as if she was dreaming. She stood there healing a man that was older than earth and she knew that she wasn't going to be standing at the end of this. She was still new to all her magic and this was taking her mana.

It was twenty long minutes later when her hands broke from his mind. The light around the girl flickered and faltered dying out as she let her powers go dormant. She swayed for a moment before collapsing to the floor her eyes never opened and her breathing was deep. She had completely spent her magic to heal Jonathan but it had been worth it. Because she had unlocked his very first memory way back when he was a child before she had fainted. She had lessened the alcoholism but she couldn't stop it all together she didn't have enough power left to heal that. And now Kelsie lay on the floor in a crumpled heap unless someone had caught her.

[Brandon (Tech)]

Jonathan did as Kelsie asked, and soon he felt the serenity of Kelsie's healing gift cleanse his mind. Relic and the shop employees watched in awe as the bluish-white light surrounded Kelsie and Jonathan, and Brandon smiled with happiness and pride. What she was doing now could change Jonathan's life, and most likely for the better.

Jonathna gave in to the rush that surged throuhg his mind, feeling as though he was on a rollercoaster, pictures he didn't understand flying past him too fast to comprehend them. Then it stopped. He was back in his armor, apparantly coordinating an attack with some of weirdest creatures he had ever seen. One had what mildly resembled the head of an octopus, small tendriles on the humane wrists that seemed to twitch when you looked at them. Jonathan remembered that they were dangerous, but not why and as he didn't feel threatened he decided not to delve on it. There were other beings around them, more or less alien from Jonathan, but he knew they wouldn't dream of hurting him. They all feared his anger.

Another vision, he was standing in front of a beast, the biggest minotaur he could could remember. He had had this flashback before, but after disposing of the beast as thouhg it was nothing but a minor nuisance the vision continued, where he decimated hordes of enemies with a power he didn't possess in his current situation. He felt purpose, a drive to slay these as thouhg their very existence were a blemish on his honor. He revelled in their fear and pain, slaying without a second thought

Another vision, he was standing in front of someone whose name didn't remember, but he felt rage, a kind of hatred he couldn't remeber feeling in the present. The figure was as tall as him, and bore some resemblance, tall, pale and with distinctive markings of nobility, a long red robe flowing around the guy's body, his chest covered by platemail. The fight ensued was brief, The last thing he saw being flames enveloping him and reducing him to ash in moments.

Jonathan lived through a hundred of these visions inthe time Kelsie healed his ancient mind, bits and peices of memories appearing and knotting together, granting him clues of what he had been. Then he felt the healing presence leave his mind, and opened his eyes just in time to see Brandon dive for the falling girl, crying her name out in shock. Jonathan buried his face in his hands, fighting the sobs that began to work thier way through his system. What had he done?

"Kelsie? Love? Please, don't be hurt, don't leave me" Brandon was in shock and fear, things had changed so quickly. He didn't know what had happened to her. "Relax, she's ok" Relic said, trying to calm Brandon down. He had been frightened too, watching her aura steadily vane as Jonathan's grew stronger and darker than ever. It was as thouhg she had opened up a whole new level in Jonathan's mind, some unearthly power. "She just needs to rest"

Relic lead Brandon, who carried Kelsie in his arms, up to one of the empty rooms and soon after Relic had found a matress and some blankets for them. Brandon lay her down on the matress carefully, as though he might hurt her if he didn't take special care not to do so. He then lay donw next to her and puleld the blankets over them both and held her tightly, listening to her sleeping breath.

She was alright, he knew that, but seeing her drop like that had scared him. He didn't want her to get hurt or suffer in any way, she had been throguh too much of that already, far too much. "Sleep well my love" He whispered, even though he knew she couldn't hear him "Don't leave me, I couldn't live with you gone from my life again" Then he began to drift off as well. He had fought it, but teleportations took a lot of him, maybe because they leeched all the energy from his circuits

Relic left the two of them there, making a mental note to send one of his employees up the next morning with some breakfast. "Yo, John" His tone was a little darker than usual, not threatening but there was an unspoken warning against lies in it. "What the hell just happened?" "I know who I was, or part of who I was" Was Jonathan's answer, his face dark and brooding as he stared at the wall opposite from him "And you know what? I don't like who I was"

He got up, took off the blanket and grabbed his trenchcoat from were Kelsie had thrown it. He was about to make his way to the door whne Relic stepped in front of him. "No, you will not be drowning yourself in booze this time. You're gonna sit your pale ass down and tell me what you saw" Jonathan looked as thouhg he might hit Relic, his eyes wide with anger, but instead he sat back down on the couch "Siddown" Jonathan said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it "This is gonna take a while"

[Kelsie]

Kelsie barely felt the soft arms of Brandon catch her. She heard her name screamed loud and clear but she couldn't find the energy to open her eyes or move her mouth to say anything. He lifted her up after Relic calmed him down and she leaned against him listening to his heartbeat and was soon asleep in his loving arms. The next thing she knew she was been laid down gently on a matress and Brandon was talking to her asking her and pleading her not to leave him. She summoned up enough energy to turn over in the bed and cuddle up to his chest.

"Bran.." she whispered softly. "I love you.. I won't leave you."

**the next morning**

Kelsie woke early her eyes opened and she smiled feeling the familiar arms of Brandon holding her tightly. She loved being here in his arms it was lovely here, so warm and she felt safe and loved. She sat up and rubbed her eyes noticing they were low to the ground. That was when it all came back where they were and what they were doing. She smiled softly careful not to wake Brandon she changed into jeans and a soft fuzzy white sweater pulling her hair up in a pony tail with a pink ribbon, though she had no idea what color it was, but it was pink. She opened the door quietly and stepped out in the hall whistling softly for Harley.

It was only moments later she heard his claws on the stairs. She said good morning to him and asked him to help her find a grocery store. And so together they left the stor and went down the street just one block til they found a store where she could buy things to make breakfast for everyone. She bought quite a bit knowing that men tended to have large appetites and she wanted to make sure they were all fed especially if others would show up later and might be hungry. One the way back she picked up some flowers from a flower shop and then entered the store again locking the door behind her laden with bags Harley led her to the break room again.

There she began to cook. Making a huge batch of eggs that had small peppers and cheese cut and mixed in with them. She hummed softly as she cooked making at least twenty sausages both flat and round. She mixed up batter for making pancakes and made sure there was a wealth of pancakes and she put the syrup in the microwave to heat up for those that wanted it. She hadn't heard anyone in the break room so as far as she knew it was empty. She worked on opening the biscuits and putting them in the oven the scents rose through out the place sure to wake anyone. She had bought a nice hazzelnut coffee liking the smell she dumped out the old grinds and set the coffee pot up to make a new batch of better coffee. She got out paper plates and forks that were disposable and continued humming. Anyone that saw her would see that she was no blind girl that needed help every step of the way she was good at living on her own she had done it for some time.

"Go wake up Brandon if he isn't already up." she said to Harley who had just finished his own breakfast. Harley went to the foot of the stairs and barked up them waking anyone that wasn't already awake from the fresh and pungent scents of Kelsie's cooking. As her boys as she was now calling them shuffled into the room she smiled.

"Morning Boys!" she said with a bright smile. "Hope your hungry I made a lot." she said as she had all the serving plates piled high with food all warm and steaming. Pepper, salt, syrup, butter, cream, sugar, you name it it was out there ready to be used among the plates. Orange juice, coffee, and hot tea were all out and ready too with plastic cups sitting next to it.

[Brandon (Tech)]

"Hmmmm. Hmmm? Hmm uhmmm?" Brandon grudingly awoke from his sleep, his hand searching the warm spot next to him for something, or rather someone. He heard something in the far distance, but it was a closer and more familiar sound that made him wake up. "Go to hell, Johnny boy" Brandon yawned before turning over, facing away from him. Jonathan sheathed his handgun, the one Brandon knew he had pulled, still grinning. "You aren't as sharp onwith yer reflexes as you used to be, you've spent too much time among the softies" Brandon yawned again and sat up on the matress.

"Where's Kel?" "She's downstairs, putting the last touch on our breakfast. Is she always up that early?" "Pretty much, yeah" Jonathan snickered "I'm suprised that you two ever met, considerign the fact that you're practically nocturnal" Brandon had never been good at getting up in the morning. "Fuck off" Brandon laughed, donning his lab-coat. "You didn't pull that stunt on her, right?" " 'Course not" "Good, let's go get something to eat then"

Meanwhile, Relic had come back from his jogging run, refreshed and happy. "Morning Kel, what's cooking? Uuuuuhm hmmm, smells lovely" Breathing slightly hard Relic walked over to the sink and splashed some cold water in his face. "You really didn't have to, you know?" But he was happy that she had. Relic was a vegetarian, and most of the stuff she had cooked looked fine to him. "Here, lemme set the table. The rest of teh guys should be along soon, those who work here anyway"

Back in the improvised bedroom, Jonathan had just stopped Branond from leaving by putting his gloved hand on Brandon's shoulder. "What Kelsie said last night, about hating her family, what was that about" Brandon swallowed something, the unpleasant memory coming back to him. "Her family disowned her, publicly. After all she'd try and be for them and they just tossed her out. Here" Brandon pulled out the letter that Kelsie had brought home with her, the contract or whatever it was. Jonathan quickly read throuhg it, and Brandon felt the air around him grow heavy and thick. "Tell the guys that I'll be right down, I need some air" Brandon nodded, long ago having decided that this was not a good time to ask what he had seen last night, when Keslie healed him.

A few minutes later Brandon came down the stairs, lovingly embracing Kelsie even as she was cooking "How'd you sleep love?" He asked her with a whisper in her ear. He was a little hungry, but right now he jsut wanted to hold Kelsie close. He had never been so afraid, so frightened as the night before when she had suddenly collapsed, Brandon only barely catching her in his arms. He didn't want to loose her, not matter what the price. He couldn't loose her again. "Are you feeling alright honey?" He asked her, holding her daerly and feeling her warmth

[Kelsie]

Kelsie smiled as she finished getting everything on the different plates so the boys would be able to take care of getting their plates set with food. She smiled because she loved cooking and she rarely had this many people before and she liked everyone she had met earlier and she was happy to be of assistance. She wanted to share something she was good at and she wanted them to get a very good meal there was nothing wrong with getting a good meal. Relic entered the room and she looked up and pointed her face towards him.

"Morning Relic." she said happily. "I know I didn't have to, but I love to cook and you guys probably need to eat something a tad better for you than poptarts." she joked.

Truth was most guys tended to eat that kind of stuff. Something you could just pop in the microwave or the toaster and eat that instead of having a real breakfast. Relic began to set the table and Kelsie began to put all the food in the center of it. So that way everyone could sit down and serve themselves. She put the juice and coffee there too and smiled.

"Thanks for your help Rel." she said with a smile. She moved back to the kitchen to get napkins and that was when she heard steps close by and the heavy limbs of Brandon. She smiled as his arms wrapped around her and she stopped what she was doing putting the napkins down and hugging him tightly back nuzzling into him. He was the most important thing in her life. She closed her eyes forgetting everyone else and just embracing the love of her life.

"I slept wonderfully." she whispered back to him. He asked how she was and she smiled softly pulling back enough to kiss him. And it was no little kiss it had it's passion and love in it just like they always shared. Her body was pressed against his and she let the kiss last for several moments her hand stroked the metal side of his face making sure that not only did he know but everyone knew she loved him metal and all. Breaking the kiss she blushed deeply and giggled nervously.

"I feel just fine." she whispered to him Brandon and Kelsie were in their own little world again. It was easier for Kel because being blind she didn't really have to worry about the looks she was getting from others. "How are you my love? I made breakfast for everyone because I thought they might like good food." she said happily.

When she had gotten her answer from Brandon she kissed him several times softly and quickly three kisses together at once her eyes closed and breaking it she went back into the tight hug and nuzzled into him.

"Did my healing work?" she asked curiously still hugging herself into Brandon's arms as tightly as she could.

[Brandon (Tech)]

Brandon had been worried, but now he was assured that she was allright. She had just overused herself the other day, whatever was in Jonathan's mind had to be some heavy stuff. Kelsie was not a particularly experienced healer, but she was a good one. She kissed him and he felt his worry wwashed away by the love and passion she gave him throguh that one kiss. He kissed her back, not caring that his friends were watching, he was all but ashamed of what he and Kelsie shared. He felt her hand on his metal cheek and smiled, knowing that he was one worried about his prosthtics, not her. She loved him regardless.

She broke the kiss and asked him how he was. He smiled as he answered "A lot better just now, and it's really sweet of you to make us all breakfast." Then she kissed him again, small kisses that met his lips and reached his heart. He closed his eyes and let the kisses land, feeling bliss spread throughout his mind and soul. He loved her, he loved her so much that it would have been unbearable if she didn't love him back. But she did, and that was the thing completed his life.

But her question, he didn't know the answer to that, at least not for sure. She had definitly opened something in Jonathan, something dark. Brandon didn't know what it was, those readings were unique. Relic was the one to answer the question "Yeah, it worked great. He's got a huge chunk of memory back, and he's even startig to get an idea of what, when and who he was. He's a little disgruntled now, he saw some things he didn't like, but he'll be fine. Actually, where is he? Haven't seen him around all day?" "He said he needed some air, and that he wouldn't be too long. I reckon he'll be back about noon"

Brandon would rather not relinquish his embrace of Kelsie, but he saw himself forced to as, if he didn't, he wouldn't get to enjoy any of the delicious breakfast she had prepeared for them all. Instead putting his arm around her waist he sat down on the couch in front of the table. A few of the employees had turned up and happily began dining on the unexpected breakfast, thanking Kelsie for the delicious meal. Brandon ate in silence, but every now and then his hand would wander to Kelsie, cupping her cheek or running across her thigh. He loved her so much, that was another reason he had come here. She didn't know yet, but he would tell her soon. He hoped that she would be happy

[Kelsie]

Kelsie felt his arms around her and she let him hold her because the truth was that was all she wanted right now. Was to be held by the man that loved her. He didn't care that she was blind and that she wasn't perfect. Because in his eyes she was perfect and she loved knowing that he loved her just for who she was she didn't have to try to be different for anyone. He held her tightly and she stayed in his arms until Relic spoke about Jonathan and remembering a lot about himself. She pulled back from Brandon when he told her that Jonathan wouldn't be back til noon and she furrowed her brow a bit wishing that he would have joined them for breakfast.

"He'll miss breakfast. That just means I'm making him lunch." Kelsie said with a bright smile.

Brandon's arm fell to her waist and he led her to the couch. She trusted him enough to get her there without harming her because he was good and leading her. They sat on the couch again like they had last night and Kelsie grabbed a plate using her senses she placed on it what she wanted before placing it in her lap and beginning to eat. So many people thanked her for the meal and she blushed and smiled to each of them. "It's not a problem, I love to cook." she would answer to them all as they got their own plates and went about their business in the store setting up to open for the new day.

Kelsie felt the soft touches of Brandon from time to time and she would return them with kisses to his cheek or his shoulder a bit closer by. She was already planning to heal him, she loved him so much but she knew that he hated his prostetics. She was certain she could heal his face tonight if he wanted. But it would take a little longer to work his arms and legs but eventually she would get them as well. She wanted the love of her life to be happy again, and to not feel so much like an outsider. She knew what that felt like and she didn't want to be a part of it in the least. Kelsie reached up and turned Brandon's face to her before kissing it again lovingly this time more soft and caring than the passionate kiss in the kitchen area. She couldn't care less who saw them kissing they were in love and she wasn't afraid to show that to anyone.

"I love you." she whispered to him and blushed once again. "What are we going to do today?" she asked curiously as she finished her breakfast and was just sipping on her orange juice not a big fan of coffee.

[Brandon (Tech)]

Brandon was so happy, nothing had really gone wrong and they all seemed to get along. The only problem he faced was the usual one, giving in to his urges to caress Kelsie or actually eat something, but he had learned to balance even that. At least that was the situation until gently took hold of his head and kissed him again, the two of them sharing such gentle love through that kiss. He kissed her back for as long as the kiss lasted, feeling that he lived to experience few more things than what they shared.

He smiled brightly at her words, bringing his hand to her cheek and cupping it gently. He hoped that she would like his gift to her, she deserved a lot more but it was the best he could find for her, presuming that Ace would help him out. He didn't think he could do it safely without the right instructions.

She asked him what they would be doing that day and Brandon considered the possibilities. She probably wouldn't have any fun from the raiding scrap yards, and the fact that there was a chance that she could get hurt by tripping and/or falling made Brandon toss that idea away. They couldn't go out, sadly, the AA forbade him to show his face, and especially his prosthetics, in public. "I suppose we could all go shopping? Relic could take a day off from watching the store, we could get Demo and Corrosive to come along and we'd tell clerks to tell John where we gone"

Brandon had turned around when he heard the voice and saw Ace standing behind him, the ever-smiling handsome young man looking back at him. Ace was as tall as Brandon and shared his taste in dark clothes. He wore an open leather jacket with a T-shirt underneath that portrayed a burning skull. He called himself Ace for more than one reason, but that mattered little to Brandon right now. The two young men hugged each other as the friends they were, they hadn't seen each other in what felt like ages. Ace was another leading figure within the gang, he and Jonathan sharing supreme authority, but they both tended to be very democratic in their approach to most situations.

"How're you doing, the crazy church people still hunting you" "Of course" Ace laughed, his voice ringing with both vibrant youth and seasoned experience. "It takes more than common sense to stop fanatics, you know that. And this is Kelsie then?" He asked, looking at Kelsie with approval written in his smile. "How'd you...?" "I stopped by yesterday, after the two of you had retreated from waking life" Ace quickly interrupted. "Relic and Jonathan told me everything"

"Where would you suggest we go then?" Brandon asked, not at all sure himself. "Hmmm, how about the green market? The tracers left them be when it turned out that they hadn't been selling guns and 'splosives to humans, so I think it's reopened now. There're also more girly sections for the lady" The green market th gangs common reference to a large bazaar hosted mainly by orks, although those who lived with them also set their shops up on occasion. These orks had skin as green a lawn on a perfect summer day, hence the name for the bazaar.

The orks were, despite apparent stupidity and foolhardy aggression, actually very smart, albeit in a different way than most other species. Where others relied on teachings from others and the power of thought,t he orks worked by instinct, opening wholly new paths of creation, destruction and crafting to them. Brandon used to love going there, there was almost always something that he could use, and he had even befriended one of the permanent shopkeepers there, a huge ork going by the name of Arguush. He was the one who had suggested Mek's name in the first place, and Brandon had simply stuck with it.

"So what's the public opinion?" Ace asked, looking at each person in the room in turn. "I sure as hell can't think of anything else to do" Ace grinned.

[Kelsie]

It was then Kelsie heard the most fantastic voice she had ever heard in her life. Granted she loved Brandon with all her heart but a girl without eyes tended to take other things than looks into consideration. She couldnt' check out some guys butt or his face she had to rely on other things and the moment that the other voice entered the room Kelsie blushed and smiled. Brandon would think it was her shyness coming up again that she had around other people but that voice sent shivers down her spine for a moment though luckily Brandon was at the point hugging the man that had been behind them. The man seemed nice enough.

He seemed to know her as kelsie and they soon learned that Jonathan and Relic had told him of her yesterday. She smiled as he told her they could go to some kind of market that would not only have things for them but for her as well and they could get the other two guys to go with them. She smiled brightly at thinking they could actually go somewhere and shopping was something almost every girl could enjoy and Kelsie was not excluded from this group. The moment Brandon sat next to her again she cuddled up once more she was comfortable here with him and she loved spending every moment she could touching him and feeling his hand on her, even if it was just to cup her cheek or to run his hand through her hair any of the small touches were completely amazing and she loved every one of them he gave her.

"I think shopping sounds like fun. It seems like there would be something for all of us, and I have no problems shopping." she chuckled happily as she nuzzled into Brandon even more than before she needed him for some reason this morning. she loved being around him but this morning she was needing him even more than normal she needed his touch and reassurance constantly it could be mental fatigue from yesterday's healing or just that she wanted him to know that she loved him, or perhaps she was worried about losing him.

"And please.. umm.. I.. don't know your name, but please have some breakfast. It's still warm I assure you and there should be plenty left I was intending to feed Jonathan too but he disappeared." she said with a shrug. Kelsie shifted into Brandon's lap no longer sitting beside him she decided to sit right in his lap and lean against him nuzzling her face into his neck.

"Sorry.." she whispered to him so only he could hear. "I just .. need to be close to you right now."

[Brandon (Tech)]

Ace had been one of Brandon's closer friends in his gang, as he knew what it meant to be torn out of a normal existance. His human name had been Ronald Smith, and he had been a highschool student, like Brandon, when his life changed forever. He jsut didn't have the outward deformities that Brandon had, rather it was his soul that had been torn and broken, although he had managed to heal quite a bit of it by now. But every moment of temptation that he lived throuhg was a battle for control over the instincts that he so loathed. Ace didn't see Kelsie's blush as he sensed it, his kind had always had a special talent for that. And Ace hated it.

Kelsie seemed to like the idea of going shopping, and everybody else seemed to agree as well. The green market was a great palce to go, if you needed anything there were few better places to look. Once one of Brandon's arms had short circuited after a fight with another supernatural creature, and the only place he could find the material to repair it had been there. That had also been his first time there, and he had loved going there ever since. Demo got his explosives there and Corrosive got his computer hardware as well, it held a multitude of top-notch, if unorthodox and strange looking, equipment and so far it was the best place Brandon had ever gone shopping.

Brandon felt Kelsie lean against him when he sat down next t oher again, and smiled. He loved her so much. He ran his hand across her cheek and through her hair to show her that, wishing that he could really feel it, instead of the weakened, imitated sense of touch he had. Kelsie psoke to Ace again, telling him about the breakfast. "Thank you, I could really use some. If were bringing the two of you as well as Core and Demo to the market I think we're gong to be there all day" Core was short for Corrosive that people used often, but for some reason Corrosive was more sensitive about what people called him than Demo was.

Brandon was taken aback when Kelsie moved into his lap, but loved her too much to worry about it. He loved feeling her this close, smelling her hair and feeling her beautiful body so very close to his own. He loved the sound of her whispers, and closed his eyes at the sound of them. He put his arms around her waist and let her lean against him, enjoying the feeling and hearing her every little breath, so very close to him. "I wouldn't want you to be anywhere else" He whispered back as he let his lips run adross her ear. For that moment it was just the two of them, the only people in the world.

A few people turned around when the door to the outside opened, but relaxed again when a young man who was earing a red shirt similar to Relic's and what looked like a pair of dark swimming goggles entered. Demo, who had just entered the building, was facing something he hated, a dillemma, and he was trying to figure out which one of the two paths would be the less impolite one. He could either simply watch, a thing that he was reluctant to do since even he considered it immoral to oogle one of his best friends' girlfriend as it seemed they were having a somewhat intimate moment, or he could shout "Get a room!", the more impolite of the two, but seemed more fitting somehow.

Being one of the people who believed that there was always a third option, Demo turned around and looked everywhere but the two, knowing that Corrosive would almost certainly break up the magic atmosphere in the room. And as always Demo was right when it came to the behavior of Corrosive. "Wow! Was the first the next young man to enter the door said. He was a few inches shorter than Demo and didn't wear the same kind of glasses, but apart from that they looked so much alike that people had been known to mistake them for brothers. They wore the same red shirt, a show of respect for Relic whom they still considered their leader and they were both slimly built, even though Demo had noticebly more muscle.

"She's haw..." As always, Corrosive, or Maximillian Brown, was speaking way louder than he had to, ensuring that everybody had heard what he had said right up until the point where Demo's hand had clamped down over his mouth. "Thank you, brother, for your" He cleared his throat "Psyological analisys. I'm sure that nobody else in this room had noticed that amazing truth you just unveiled to us all". He was being a little mean, but he believed that both parties deserved it. That was just the way he was.

Ace had finished sating what little appetite he had, and rinsed it down with a good cup of coffee. It was rare that he got to eat this well for breakfast and he was surely savoring this time. He had decided to ignore Demo's and Core's little act for now, but he would have to speak with them later. There was no reason fro such behavior. "Oh how rude of me" He said, remembering that he had yet to introduce himself to Kelsie. "They call me Ace" He said, elegantly taking Kelsie's hand and kissing it. When he lifte dhis hand from her head he looked right into the shocked eyes of Brandon. Oh no, Ace thought, realizing what had happened. The devil had gotten the better of him again.

He didn't know what to do, so he simply let go of Kelsie's hand. "Sorry" He muttered, unable to face Brandon now. This was what happened when he wasn't constantly on guard, things like this happened. His name, Ace, was far more than the reference to the fact that he drew power from cards, it was a short for his real name. He was Asmodeus, former duke of hell who had been betrayed and fled t oearth along with two of his brothers. When he had possessed the body of the dying Ronald the two of them had merged, becoming one. The irges were not as much Asmodeus trying to regain control as it was a reminder of what he had been. "I didn't mean it like that" All of a sudden the room was silent as a grave

[Kelsie]

Kelsie smiled softly as Brandon's arms encircled her waist and she closed her eyes letting her pale eyelashes lay on her pale cheeks. His hands held her tightly and she loved the way he held her their bodies seemed molded to fit together the way that in his lap she never felt uncomfortable but contrary to that she felt the most comfortable here and she loved more than anything to hear his heart beat inside his chest. It was so wonderful knowing that his heart beat for her just as hers did for him. It was then that Brandon whispered to her his lips brushing her ear sending shivers down her spine ones he would actually feel because she was in his lap this time and she didn't mind seeing as he was the one giving her shivers this time.

The door soon opened and she didn't move she figured she was safe here. Brandon had his arms around her, Ace, Relic, and others were in the room she couldn't have been safer even back at the academy and so she just enjoyed the beat of Brandon's heart and relaxed there. No one said anything as someone entered Kelsie could hear their footsteps on the tile just inside the door. But then another soon came in much more noisy than anyone she had met thus far as he suddenly called out 'wow' and 'she's hot'. Kelsie blushed and chuckled quietly. As the comedic scene ensued but it was obvious where her loyalties lay. Of all the more normal looking people in the room Kelsie was one hundred percent head over heals in love with the one that looked the worst. but she didn't care about his looks she loved him for things no one could see and that was what mattered most to her in the long run.

Then Ace came back over and his soothing voice washed over Kelsie as he took her hand gently. She felt lightning run up through her body at his touch there was something special about him she just couldn't place it. He kissed the back of her hand and Kelsie blushed a deep deep red as his lips carressed the back of her hand and then when he pulled away he quickly dropped it whispering his appologies. She felt Brandon tensed underneath her and gently her hand went to Brandon's face and her lips to his. She could calm him down, it wasn't anyone's fault that was how some people greeted others. Once she felt him relax she would break the kiss and lay her forehead against his.

"I love you." she would whisper so that only he could hear to the others it would simply look like she was only moving her lips. Then she slid out of his lap and smoothed down her skirt she found Ace and kissed him on the cheek.

"it's just a greeting no need to be worried." she said with a smile as she did the same to Relic, Core, and Demo. She wanted to make sure that Brandon didn't get upset because she only did it to one person and so she did it to everyone.

"It is nice to meet you all. I'm Kelsie." she said to the two newcomers and held out her hand blindly her eyes looking past them just to the left of their shoulders.

[Brandon (Tech)]

Brandon had felt just as confused as Ace for a while, he had not expected that to happen. It wasn't really such a bad thing, but it was just so unexpected. Brandon felt as uncomfortalbe as Ace did, neither of them really wanted to be in that situation. But then Brandon felt Kelsie's hand slide on his cheek and closed his eyes as she kissed him, washing all the awkwardness away. He had been afraid to loose her again, a foolish fear as he deep insdie knew that it would never happen, not like that. Brandon practically melted there, feeling her so close to him and sharing such a beautiful kiss with her. There was bliss in her every touch, her eyes held the purest heaven and her kisses were worlds of beauty, passion and the purest love.

She broke the kiss and let her forehead rest on his, whispering her love for him. He smiled, feeling so much more calm. "You always knew what to say" He whispered back, cupping her cheek until she moved out of his lap. Thsoe shivers that had goen down her spine while she sat in his lap, they alone should have been enough to assure him what was between them and there had been so much more. Ace smiled when Kelsie kissed his cheek, he could see why she and Brandon had gotten together, they were a perfect match. He dusted off his jacket out of habit and threw a look that was supposed t obe casual, but was everything but that, in Brandon's direction. Their eyes met and Brandon nodded and smiled, Ace returning the smile. They were in the clear again.

The others reciewed the kisses on their cheeks with apprecitating silence, most smiling even though Corrosive seemed somewhat more eager than the rest. Demo caught Relic's gesture after he had recieved his, and acted upon it by beginning the introductions. "I don't believe that we've been properly introduced. I am Demo, and this is Core" "My name is Corrosive!" "And you'd be Kelsie I presume?" Demo continued, the only hitn of him having noticed Corrosive's interruption being a slight tone of amusement to his voice.

"Should we get going then?" Ace asked after confirming that everybody had finished their breakfast. Too bad for Demo and Core that they had missed it, but knowing them right they had probably had a pizza before coming over. They would have to experience Kelsie's cooking some other time. Brandon got up from the couch and walked up behind Kelsie and hugged her from behind, nuzzling his face into her neck as his arms wrapped around her waist. "Are you ready to go hon?" He whispered to her, loving thefeeling of her body so close to his own. How he loved her, body and soul. But her soul, the beautiful person she was on the inside, had always been what he loved the most. "I love you too" He whispered into her ear, responding to what she had whispered to him on the couch.

The portal in the back of their shop had multiple uses and destinations, something Brandon and Corrosive had cooked up a few years back. One of the settings, heavily encrypted because otherwise it got the tracers nervous, led to a location near the green market, the tavern right next to it. Ace had made himself good friends with the inkeeper and had arranged for spot in the cellar to be for their portal space. "Hell, I'm ready" Relic said, knowing that the workers could handle the shop on their own "Yeah, so am I" ""Me too!" "I was born ready" Ace joked in the end, placing his plate by the sink. "How about you love?" Brandon asked Kelsie again, after planting three kisses on her beautiful neck. He was ready to go, but he would prefer if he didn't have to remove his arms from her

[Kelsie]

Kelsie chucked as Demo and Corrosive introduced themselves they seemed to play so well off each other she knew if she hung around them long enough she would laugh a lot. They were really nice and Corosive seemed a bit hyper but it was sweet either way. They all seemed ready to go shopping and she was about to voice her opinion when the arms of the man she would do anything for came around her waist and everything else in the world disappeared. She loved the way he felt laying against her like this. Holding her like she was the most precious thing in his world and that nothing could take them apart. She was asked the question in her ear but she was so lost in the feel of Brandon's arms around her she didn't answer becuase she really didn't comprehend the question at all.

When she had told Brandon moments ago that she needed him she hadn't been kidding. she needed him to be close, she wasn't sure why but she didn't feel quite right today unless they were touching. As if a sense of forbodding or perhaps it was just that she was still tired from the whole healing thing yesterday. She heard the question again followed by three kisses to her long curving neck her eyes slid closed during the second kiss and she was completely lost to the world. It was great being blind she didn't know if anyone was watching her and she was able to lose herself in Brandon much more easily than he might be able to lose himself in her with his friends around.

"Yes, I suppose I am." she said softly but made no move to pull away from Brandon or stop leaning against him she lay her head against his gently they were cuddling just like always only this time they were standing up. She snapped her fingers of her right hand and Harley came into her. She tapped her hip and he jumped up letting his paws lay on just her hip as Kelsie moved her hand down over her dogs harness and found her cane. If anyone had any doubts they were all put away as she was indeed blind. Harley went and lay down on the couch knowing she was going out and not taking him he would take a nap.

"Please.." she whispered softly in Brandon's ear letting her hair fall so no one could see or hear what she was going to say. "Don't let go of me. I need you my love, I need your touch."

With that she would kiss his lips softly and lovingly letting it last since they were hidden behind her hair and to the guys it would look like she was still talking to him. Then she broke the kiss and smiled softly as she ran her nose up the length of his. She knew if she asked he wouldn't let go and that was important to her. She needed him now more than ever he really was all she had in life, at least he had his friends she had no one.

"Let's go." she said suddenly as she lifted her face and pointed it back towards the door, the cane in one hand but she didn't move she was waiting for Brandon to decide how he wanted to hold her before they would move on.

[Brandon (Tech)]

She said she was, but it seemed she wanted to move as little as he did. He held her as close as he could, for some reason being even more reluctant to leaving her side than he usually was, but he figured that the shock from the day before had done the trick. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so scared. He gave her a little squezee at that thought.

She summoned Harley to her side with a snap of her fingers and Brandon prepared for the inevitable fact that he would have to let go of her, if only with his arms. But then she whispered to him, telling him that she didn't want him to let go either, saying that she needed his touch, and a happy tear ran down Brandon's face. She didn't want him to let go either. The kiss, hidden beneath a veil of her golden hair, it held so much with it. Such sweet bliss flooded Brandon's mind, their shared love touching the deepest levels of their beings. A world of love and care opened to them through that kiss, making Brandon loose almost every sense of the physical world.

After what seemed an eternity, and yet not long enough, the kiss broke and Brandon looked at the beautiful smile on her face. He closed his eyes as he felt her nose run along his own, and kept them closed as he kissed her nose ever so gently, touching it for the first time that day. "I won't let go" He whispered, looking into her unseeing eyes and smiling at their beauty "I wouldn't want to" As she turned towards the door Brandon settled for having just one arm around her waist, walking by her side where he felt he belonged "Yeah, let's go"

The odd bunch walked into the storage room used as the portal, and Corrosive pressed in a 12-digit code on the phone that had a sign that said 'out of order' taped to it, without even looking at the phone. They all felt the familair sensation of condesing magic, the feeling of static electricity as energy concentrated. Before long they all felt the sensation of weightlesness, and as they materialized Brandon dropped to his knees, trying to catch his breath. Teleporting twice within two days was not directly dangerous, but it held a lot of unpleasant side effects.

"Still having that teleporting sickness, eh bro? Here, let me help you out" Ace withdrew a stack of cards from his pocket and shuffled through them until he found the 4 of hearts. He then placed it against Brandon's forehead and mumbled some words in a language that was not of earth. Brandon felt energy surging through his system and soon the nausea vanished. "Thanks man, I thought I was gonna puke there" "No probs" Ace smiled as he put the card back in the stack, shuffled it once, and put it back in his pocket. Ace was not a healer, he could do nothing against even the slightest of wounds with his magic. But he could take the pain away, and that had won him many souls of the living in the past.

Something short, green, with a head almost two-thirds the size of its own body and with ears the size of Brandon's forearm stuck it's head around the corner of the wall, and squealed with joy as it saw Brandon. It ran as fast as it could on its short, stubby legs and hurled itself into Brandon's arms, that had unwillingly slipped off Kelsie during Brandon's bout of nausea. "Tek's here, Tek's back!" It sqealed, nuzzling itself into him like a playful cat. Brandon stood up, holding the happy goblin and shifting so that he was only holding it with one arm, and put the other back where it belonged, around Kelsie's waist. "Here Kel" He smiled "Meet Zleet, another friend of mine. Zleet, this is Kelsie, the love of my life"

Zleet shifted in the same way a kitten who had discovered something new and uninspected would. He lay on all four on Brandon's arm, observing Kelsie with his big, yellow eyes. She didn't look like any of the others, maybe she was some other species? She looked a little like th eelves, but she didn't have the pointy ears. Zleet knew what dwarves looked like, and she was definitly not one of them. He sniffed at her with his huge, green nose. she smelt better than the others, what was it the others had said about that. Was she perhaps a female human? That could be why Tek spoke of her like that. But not all humans said that about the females, Relik had said that about a male too.

Zleet gave up the hard thinking, his head was beginning to hurt. Instead he decided to try and do what mean ol' Grobrutz had tried to teach him"Hello, my name's Zleet, whut'z yours?" He asked her, offering her his left hand. He didn't know that she was blind and even if he had, he would probably have offered the hand anyway,m and the fact that he already knew her name didn't bother him either. Most goblins were funny like that. Brandon was about to tell Zleet that she was blind, which would probably only have lead to mroe confusion, when someone with a considerably deeper voice, and further away, shouted: "Whut'z goin' un down dere?! Whut'z wit all da shouten'?!" Hey Grobrutz! It's cool, it's me, Ace!" Ace shouted back, knowing how easy it was to get the big ork in a foul mood.

There was moment of silence, then some heavy thuds followed by some heavy footsteps on the stonefloor. From around the same corner that Zleet had come, a hulking green humanoid emerged, wearing a red shirt and a peice of cloth over his shoulder. Unlike goblins, orks were big, mean and strong, better sutied for war than most other creatures. Their ears were about the same size as a human's only pointy and most of then had claws too. Half their face was a huge maw of tusks that could chew almost anything, and the gut could digest anything the teeth could chew. And that was a lot

"Ace, mehboy!" The huge ork laughed, clapping Ace on his back with a force that would have dislogded the shoulder of a lesser man "How'ze ye been? An you brot your boyz along too! I hasn't seen you boyz in too muts time." brandon could have sworn he saw a tear play in the ork's eye. Orks were a lot more 'human' thna most expected, they too could feel sympathy, friendship and be sentimental "Kome on up, de drinks are on deh house for you boyz" Grobrutz turned around and let the little gang upstairs, out of the cellar.

"Look, Groby" Ace began, using one of his almosteverpresent nicknames "We'd really love to come and drink here sometime, but right now we're out here on a shopping run. Oh, by the way, meet Tech's, whose real name is Brandon, girfriend" Ace introduced as elegantly as he could. Grobutz looked at Kelsie in a way similar to the way Zleet had, but instead his hand, or rather his index finger, shot forward immeditaly. "Welkom 'ere, friendz o' ma friendz iz my friendz. I'm Grobutz, deh biggest, meanest barkeep 'ere. What'z your name?" He offered his finger rather than his hand after a few unfortunate incidents he had had in similar situations, and they almost always involded broken or sprained wrists or hands, a thing he now tried to avoid.