April 13th - dockside

A ship came cruising up to one of the docks, a small freight hauler. And who should be perched upon the bow of the boat but the figure of the young cambion, poised to jump, which he did as soon as the side of the boat bumped gently into the dock, an easy, graceful motion, his back to the prow cruising right at him. Turning, he put his hands out, catching the hull on his palms to stop the ship, his lean body absorbing the weight and pushing back. As the boat came to rest, another figure appeared at the bow, tossing a line to the young cambion, which he tied off quickly before exchanging a quick wave with the sailor before he turned to start down the pier at a casual stroll.

Why was it in the 50s? Why was snow still showing up here and there? Goddamn Rhydin weather messing with her! It was suppose to be spring and warm enough for her to sit at the waterside at her house without freezing. Home was a twelve hour walk though and the docks were much closer so that is where she would find herself soon after lunch. Arms drawn close for warmth she huffed her way along with intentions of getting some paperwork done for a weekend getaway. Or rather renting out a houseboat for the weekend and getting the heck out of dodge. She had barely made it onto the wood when she noticed a boat bumping into port and someone jumping off. Someone that was awfully familiar. Slowing to a stop she watched, right up until she saw the young man strolling from the boat he just helped dock. Shuffling in place she mumbled to herself. Yes she was talking to herself.

His footsteps faltered, then stopped as he paused. He knew without turning who he would see - he didn't even need to hear her voice to know. Blood links were like that. He'd never experienced it for himself, only heard about it from others, a long time ago, when he had been an agent of evil himself. To say it was disconcerting was something of an understatement. Not uncomfortable, just...strange."Y'know, Ah heard some'ne say dat talkin' t'yerself is a way of seekin' expert advice."

She huffed her cheeks a bit. Even from this distance she heard him clear as if he were standing next to her. "Har har har." She inhaled slowly and released it soon after. "Are we done running? Because I am. I have questions, Kaleb. Questions that only you can answer. I need to know." Because him leaving her hanging the way he did left her going crazy! She needed the answers. Needed to know why he left her at the hospital. Needed to know why she was there in the first place. Course there was some really popular opinions on that one. "You promised me answers then disappeared without giving them. What the hell, man?" All she could think was that he was the reason she was in the hospital and he was running from that but at the same time it felt wrong. Or was she wrong? Ugh! She wanted answers!

He sighed, his head bowing slightly, still standing just as he was, not turning around. How to explain that? Sorry, I went a little crazy for a while and left because I wasn't sure if I would go on a kill-crazy rampage after what I did to that guy that... He halted the thought there, shaking his head and finally turning to face her, hands in the pockets of his jacket as he approached. "Ya sure ya wanna know, petit? Ya may not like what ya hear."

"If I didn't want to know I wouldn't of spent the last year looking for you." She wasn't going to turn back just because he said that though she realized what she said might of seemed a bit stalkerish. Scratching her left arm she glanced to the water. "You promised me answers, Kaleb. You promised them then disappeared on me. I've been worried about you. I mean I know you kind of disappear for periods at a time but you were suppose to meet me and give me answers. Not nice to leave a gal hanging
like that."

He halted, the golden eyes glimmering in the light as he looked at her, coming to a halt a short distance away. "Yeah, well...Ah don' know what t'say, 'cept Ah'm sorry. Ah kinda...needed t'get some answers m'self." Which was true. Not just about what she wanted to know, but about himself. Fortunately, the time had done at least some good. A faint smirk touched his lips for a moment as he looked at her. "A whole year, huh? Ya didn' have anyt'in' better to do?"

She scowled at him when he looked at her like that or maybe it was the smirk. Damn that smirk! "I really need answers and I- I was worried about you. I mean come on." Even he had to know the disappearance was questionable at best. "Answers for yourself. Oh good grief. Kaleb you didn't hospitalize me because of some really kinky sex did you?" Popular opinion given voice. Granted she was pretty damn sure she'd remember breaking that pony in. Ahem!

Of all the things about being human, his least favorite was automatic reactions. The red was apparent in his cheeks in a heartbeat after she said that, although the expression on his face - shock mixed with confusion - was almost comic as he stared at her. "Ah...umm...well...wait. Ya really don' r'member what happened dat night...?"

His face screamed that didn't happen so she at least had a little of her answers. A tiny smidge. Shaking her head she watched his face as if that would spur on more answers. "No I don't. Hell I barely know you were involved and that is only because of a nurse was very good at describing you when you dropped me off." Her brows furrowed a bit as she bit her tongue on whatever else it was that was suppose to chase that.

He stared at her. Had she blocked it out? He was sure she had. It was the only thing that made sense. But the speculation about him being the cause...and then what she had asked...? He didn't know whether to be flattered or mortified. But that was something for later consideration. "Dat night, I dropped ya off at de hospital...Ah came by yer place t'talk a bit...but Ah got dere t'find ya 'bout ten seconds from bleedin' t'deat'."

She didn't shy under the staring. If anything she stared back with determination. His words caused a blink of colorless eyes. Ten seconds from bleeding to death. "So-" So he couldn't provide all the answers only a part. "So I was already bad off when you found me. I- I'm sorry about that." Not that she knew how or why. Now she had more questions and it caused her expression to twist a bit.

His expression turned fierce for a moment, and without thinking his hands came up to rest at her shoulders as his eyes burned molten gold as he stared into hers. "No. Dere's no apology you owe me...Ah owe it t'you. 'Cause ya ain't heard de worst of it." His hands fell back again, as though he realized suddenly where they were. "Ya'd been attacked...a man dat'd...he'd..." His face turned bright red again, though his expression turned dark, loathing. "He'd...paralyzed ya...an' den..." He paused again, his eyes closing, his voice quieter, huskier...full of disgust and anger as he spoke. "He used ya fer his own pleasure...den tried t'make it look like ya killed yerself."

The change in his expression, his gaze, startled her a bit but still she didn't shy away. Not even when his hands found her shoulders. She listened and tried to listen calmly but the more he spoke the more she felt her heart beat quicken. The type of quickening that was caused from fear. The more he spoke the wider her gaze seemed to go until suddenly she winced and closed her eyes, chin tilted down. The ping in her head wasn't pleasant and his words clawed at her mind. "A-And that is when you took me to the hospital?" The words strained from her lips but she managed them none the less.

He nodded, glad to be diverted from that subject for at least a moment. "Yeah. After Ah...got de bleedin' stopped..." He paused, The blood link was a complicated subject, and one he still hadn't gotten all the answers for, though he had some at least. "...Ah left ya wi't de staff...Ah wen't back t'yer place t'see what Ah could find out..." He stopped again, unsure of how to continue.

Her head tilted faintly as she struggled with the sensation of the memory trying to scratch its way to being remembered. Slowly her eyes opened and she looked up to him. He had stopped the bleeding and brought her to the hospital. "You saved my life, Kaleb." The words were soft but riddled with confusion. Why would he run if that were the case. "Why would you do that? Why would you go back. W-Why didn't you stay with me?" The real question came last, "Kaleb. Y-You didn't go after the guy did you?" The concern was not for the guy but for Kaleb.

His gaze fell slightly, his hair falling slightly over his features a moment as he nodded. "Yeah...Ah...went after him...didn' really take long t'find 'im." His voice fell quieter until near a whisper on the last word. "Ya...um...ya don' gotta worry 'bout him comin' back or anyt'in'..." He didn't sound proud as he spoke...quite the opposite, in fact, there was a deep note of guilt and shame in his voice.

The way he reacted, along with his words, left her with a clear conclusion on what had happened. He had killed whoever it was. Whoever she was trying hard to remember but her mind simply refused. From little that she had witnessed of his power, that dark demon of his, she knew he did not like killing. "Is that why you disappeared?" While she questioned she moved closer to him, both hands raising up to gently flick her fingertips against his hair and threatening to touch at his cheeks.

He almost flinched at her touch, but didn't back away from it. "Ah couldn'...Ah had t'get away from here for a while. Ah didn' jus' kill him, Serah...Ah started de job, sure...but Ah coulda jus' left it at dat. But...den Ah let de demon have 'im..." His voice fell to a whisper, almost barely audible. "...an...part o'me enjoyed it."

Her fingers stopped short of actually touching his face. It sounded more brutal than just a killing but hearing him say part of him enjoyed it. That was surprising. "Is there a reason you enjoyed it past the bloodshed?" She wanted to make sure he was listening to her as she finally touched his cheeks. "Not out of revenge for what had been done to me?" Perspective was the key here. While she didn't like the idea of him killing she knew damn well if someone had hurt her family she probably would killed.

He was still, though it was possible he leaned slightly into her fingers as he nodded. "Most o'it...Ah mean...t'ings he did...Ah mighta hurt anyone for doin' it t'some'ne else, but t'you...Ah just...snapped..."

She wasn't quite so sure what made her special to him that he would snap like that. Sure she was trying to be there for him and be a good friend. She knew that he may of have liked her. Liked her enough to show her that part of him. To steal not one but two kisses. But she knew men or at least the imprint that the last year had placed on her to leave her questioning what stood her out from others. Sighing she reached her fingers past his cheeks and to the back of his neck, attempting to draw him to her level for a hug. "Did you find your peace in the time you were gone? Your own answers?" See she listened!

Long habit made him flinch as she pulled him in, that fear of contact, something he'd never fully gotten over, something he might never. He returned the embrace, though, allowing himself to feel comfortable, if only for a moment. "Well...wasn' jus' my answers Ah was lookin' for, ya know. T'ought ya still had some questions of yer own, too, so Ah went lookin' fer dem too, once Ah got my head back straight."

"For me?" That was a little confusing as it was he that had the answers so why search for them? "I don't understand, Kaleb." She made him endure the hug a little longer, mostly because he had no idea how she was really thinking she was seeing a ghost. It was comforting to know she wasn't. He was real and well. She did, reluctantly, released him so he could straighten

He straightened as he was let go from her hug, though it was with a little reluctance of his own. Comfort was a thing he didn't come across very often, and foreign as it was to him he rather thought he could get used to it. Maybe. His golden eyes opened, fixed on her, regarding her closely. "Yeah...'bout de...de link. Ya been...experiencin' anyt'in' odd lately?"

"Odd lately?" Was he being serious? "Wait. What link, Kaleb?" And what did that have to do with her? There was so much that be missed during his absence. Some she wasn't even sure she should tell him. Some was a little obvious because he was looking right at her.

He frowned slightly, confusion on his features. Did she really not know...? Well, of course not. Blood links weren't exactly obvious, unless you knew how and where to look. "Ah...well...Ah guess dere's more ya need t'know, den...'bout dat night." He paused for a moment, considering. "But ya might wanna have a drink an' a seat when Ah do."

Answers. It was all that she wanted. "Does it have something to do with me disappearing and reappearing random places? What did he do to me?" She couldn't hide the sudden panic in her voice. Did the man who attacked her do some weird spell on her? Was she cursed. "Just tell me, Kaleb."

Disappearing and reappearing in random places? That sounded pretty familiar, all right. "Dat...wasn' somet'i'n' he did t'ya, chere. Ya see...when Ah found ya, you were damn near dead...bleedin' out. Dere wasn' enough time t'get help for ya, or t'get ya dere norm'ly, so...Ah had t'teleport wit' ya to de hospital. Trouble is...de way Ah do it's imposs'ble unless ya got demon blood in ya...wit'out it, it can seriously hurt someone...e'en kill 'em..." He trailed off a moment, remembering the wreckage of the man he'd dragged along with him that night into the other-dimensional plane he moved through to teleport. "...so...Ah had t'bond ya to de demon half of me...s'why ya been blippin' 'round de way ya are, yer usin' one of de demon's powers...prob'ly wit'out even realizin' it."

The longer she listened the more her expression seemed to change. First there was confusion but as time went by it melted down in an expression that was likely unreadable due to being a mix. Brows dipped low she started to say something but her lips ended up closing. She didn't know what to say at first or even where to begin. "Why?" the question had spilled from her before she even realized it but once she did she realized there was no turning back. "Why would you do that? Why would your demon half even allow that? I mean-" she didn't know what she meant entirely. Wouldn't a demon be disgusted by being linked to someone like her? Her eyes darted across his face like there was answers there. "Wh-What does that mean now though? I am apart of you or something?" Servant? Oh Etro her sister would have a field day with that number. But then something clicked and her brows arched high. She didn't speak on it quite yet but you'd swear there was a lightbulb above her head.

He sighed, shaking his head, his gaze dipping from hers. "It don' make ya anyt'in' 'cept what ya already are...wit' a little bit extra." His eyes opened as he looked at her again. "Ah did it 'cause if Ah didn't, ya'd be dead. As fer de demon..." His expression took on a caste that was unreadable, his voice almost toneless. "...he'd allow it 'cause it means dat now, Ah can't get rid of 'im. Not while ye're alive."

And that confirmed what she was thinking with a little added in there. She did have to tell him, if he wasn't already aware somehow through this link. "Tell me about this link. What does it mean for me? For us? I mean aside from what you have already said." She was trying to remain calm but the answers filled pieces that she had been searching for. It was both exciting and terrifying all in one. "If you do not want to that is alright." She offered lightly realizing he was probably already feeling bad enough. "I- I'm not mad. I'm thankful to you, Kaleb. Surprised, but thankful. You went to great lengths to save my life. Not only once-" She'd explain that soon, she swore to herself she would.

That brought his attention back to her. Not only once? Was she referring to making sure that guy wasn't coming back...? "Fer us? Hell, Ah don' know...means whate'er ya want it t'mean, Ah guess...Ah didn't do it t'make ya feel...obligated or anyt'in'...jus'...Ah couldn' let ya die. As fer you...well, dat Ah know a bit more about, t'ough s'far's Ah know dis sorta t'ing don't occur very often 'tween a demon and a human. Whate'er de demon feels, ye'll get a taste of, an' vice-versa, least
When it's somet'in' intense. Ya might be able to access one or two of his powers, too...like de teleportin' t'ing. Yer...our...lives're connected now." He managed a smirk and a lighter tone. "Till deat' do us part, 'cept wit'out de need fer commitment, Ah guess."

Couldn't let her die. Oh now she was so curious if he knew about what had happened. Did the demon link or whatever it was he was telling her about let him know even from a distance? How far did that link go? What did he know? There was so many questions and she felt like her head was about to pop. Raising her hand she rubbed at her temples. Which stopped when he said the last part. Her face could not be any redder. "I think you misunderstood my question, Kaleb. I didn't mean us like a pairing I mean as people. Does that make me some weirdly way your slave?" Shut up demon, she wasn't asking you! "Your partner? Your um-" She didn't look up, "I mean I know you use to like me," she wasn't sure if he still did. Okay she could skip that for now. "No commitment, you guess?" Did he really not hear how weird that sounded?

It was supposed to be a joke, and for a moment he froze, turning red himself, his mouth working silently. Finally he seemed to sigh, his expression almost one of resignation as he shook his head, his gaze turning away as he spoke softly. "S'like Ah said, Serah, it don' make ya anyt'in', jus'...yer alive. Dat was all Ah wanted. Ya don' b'long t'me...ya don' b'long to nobody. Ah jus'...like my life a lot more wit' you in it."

Him turning red made it so much easier to blurt out what came next, "Ohhh so you aren't hoping I'd take you home to rock your world multiple times over." Ha! He deserved that so much! Arms folding at her waist she tilted her head to look up at him. "Kaleb? Did you feel- I mean did you know? That I-" She inhaled slowly and exhaled just as slowly. "Died." There. She said it. "Your link must of been what kept me alive so my sister could move me to my new body." Which yes, was just different. Oh, so, different. "That is what I meant by you saving me twice." Unfolding her arms she reached out to touch his arm. "You should of stayed, Kaleb. You should of stayed and talked with me about this instead of running away. You need to stop running."

The word echoed in his head, dulling what she said next slightly. Died. It was strange, but thinking back, a lot of things made snese. "Dat woulda been almost a year ago..." He said it softly, mostly to himself, as though remembering, realizing something. "Ah...Ah didn' know...but...Ah t'ink de demon did..." He didn't know how, but he knew he was right. Too much had changed in that short space of time that had not made much sense to him...as she touched his arm he looked up at her, his expression almost sadly cynical. "S'what Ah do best, t'ough. Ah stay too long...get too close...people get hurt 'round me, eit'er by me or 'cause o'me or jus'...cause. S'like Ah'm bad luck. Jus' look what happened t'you since ya've known me...same t'ing's been followin' me 'round all my life. Runnin's been de only t'ing dat keep e'eryone safe 'round me...Ah only stay here 'cause..." He trailed off, blushing again.

"Because?" She wasn't letting him get off the hook that easy. "Kaleb. I have my own brand of bad luck and have been since I was born. My visions, that man, none of that was you. None of that was caused by you." Her fingers curled around his arm as she stepped closer. "You haven't brought me anything bad. If anything you've brought me good. I am here, right now, because of you." And her sister basically rebirthing her into Odin but that was a totally different story right there. Yeah, Demon. Meet Odin reborn and hell if she knew she had that power going on.

"B'cause of you." He said it softly. "Ah mean, c'mon...after seein' what Ah got locked 'way inside o'me, Ah can't t'ink of anyone dat wouldn' run screamin' at de sight o'me, let alone still wanna be friends. You...yer eit'er de bravest or de craziest girl Ah've ever met." He chuckled, rather ruefully. "Pers'nally, Ah'm t'inkin' de latter. Attractive, but nuts."

She scoffed at him and lowered her hands. "Oh pff don't think sweet talk is going to get you any special treatment." Though she was smiling, no matter how hard she tried not to! "Your demon kind of reminds me of something I have seen on my world. I have seen things, Kaleb. Besides," she smiled to him, "I'd brave your demon to be here for you. That is what a true friend does right? Braves anything for someone they care for. I mean look what you've done for me." She reminded him while reaching out to grab his hand. "I'm glad you stayed or rather came back. You were missed."

He grinned at her, a hint of the old Bayou rogue's charm showing itself for a moment. He wasn't all innocent, after all. "Ya can't blame a guy for tryin' can ya?" He blushed as she spoke, but when she grabbed his hand he didn't pull away, instead folding her hand in his. "Well...Ah'm glad Ah came back. Ah missed ya too, Serah."

His face was always so cute when he blushed. She waited until he was done speaking. "Really? Well-" She thumped his arm with her other hand. "That is for ditching me you big meanie!" She huffed her cheeks at him. "Are you going to stick around now? If so I can offer you a place to stay. It is really out of the way but at the same time it is magically warded." He may not want to ask why it is magically warded. Or maybe he did for a good old laugh. "I want you to be able to trust me, Kaleb. To talk to me and know you don't have to run away. If anything you can always run to me. Let me be someone who is there for you." She made a face, almost pleading.

If he felt her thumping his arm, he didn't seem to show it, though he had to smile. She really was cute when she got huffy like that. Though he wouldn't say so. Not right now anyway! He blinked at her offer, though, arching an eyebrow at her. "Magic'ly warded? Ya expectin' trouble?" Not that he minded trouble, and his expression went from one of teasing humor to something softer, though he smirked all the same. "Ya know yer playin' dirty now...like Ah could resist dat."

Oh her face went brilliant red when he asked. Aww crap! She scratched at her cheek and looked off to the side. Her other hand remained in his for now. "No more like um- well- you see the new place I have is wood and I kinda can't cook. And apparently can cause a washer machine to burst into flames soooo my sister kind of fireproofed the place." She mumbled and tried to look at- oh look water!

And suddenly he burst out laughing, shaking his head, for a long moment. When he was tapering off, he shook his head. "Ah guess Ah could tell ya Ah'm a pretty fair cook...not fancy or anyt'in', but decent. Oh...an Ah'm perty much fireproof, so dat's not gonna be a problem."

"I've kind of burnt water. Hell you should of seen the inn when I tried to make tomato sauce. It looked like I had murdered someone in the kitchen." Was she lying? Hell no! But still it was nice to hear him laughing. Holding onto his arm she started dragging him along. She was hungry, he had to be hungry, so they were getting food!