| 1 x 1 | A Prince And His Rebel

[Caffeinated Nova]

Summer swung her legs hard enough to pull her off the table, and landed on her feet on the floor. "Jeez, this place is full of mysteries, huh? It must be some kind of magnet for bad guys, or something like that..." She examined her nails again, and then looked up at Jori, cocking her head.

"Oh, I should probably escort you to your room. Gotta start guarding now, right? You don't know who's gonna try and grab you-" She grabbed Jori's shoulders, then laughed, "in this place, huh? Come on, let's go." She started towards the exit.

Dariian was silent as Ambrosia left, somehow feeling that he was failing just by leaving somebody else to guard her. What if someone came for her, right now? Well, they wouldn't, surely. Riotano was dead, according to Sigma - but that didn't necessarily mean they didn't have someone else with shadows working for them - could they teleport here? - Maybe someone like Jori, or-

He was caught off guard when Sigma said they had to talk. Unfocused eyes widening slightly, he clenched his fingers tight around the material he was gripping, and tilted his head in a questioning way. What was Sigma doing?

When they appeared again, Dariian felt torn. He always wanted to do as Sigma asked him, but he'd respected Neeve's wishes that he didn't want to see him, caring about both of them. And now he didn't know what to do. One wanted to talk, the other wanted to run - Dariian wanted to run, too. But he forced himself to stay, brow furrowed in confusion.

"If... Neeve does not wish to talk, then we shouldn't force him...?" He suggested to Sigma, his whole body tensing as he did. He hated going against what Sigma said, now. The only time he'd done it without thinking was in the fight, and he'd raced after Sigma, terrified he was going to lose him.

[Dunyazade]

"I guess it kind of is. We've made a lot of enemies over the years, and they don't hesitate to come and collect," Jori said with a shrug. "Even still, as long as we stick together we seemed to come out of it all right."

She yelped at Summer's abrupt grabbing of her shoulders, then laughed herself, a little embarrassed. "Okay, sounds good. Honestly I'm kind of lazy--usually I just 'port over, but I could use the exercise." She followed Summer out the door, sliding her hands in her pockets.



Sigma shook his head. "No, we're going to have this out now. The two of you would avoid each other until the end of time. We can't present a united front to our enemies if we're letting s**t come between us like this."

He looked directly at Neeve. "Why have you been holed up in your room the last two weeks?"

Neeve flinched, and looked away. "I...I do not see...why that is relevant..." he said faintly.

"For the gods' sake, Neeve, stop stalling and just talk to us!" Sigma snapped. "Is this because you wanted to be with Paeyn? You think we don't like you anymore because of it?"

"W-Well, I...I..." Neeve looked at the window, biting his lip.

Sigma sighed. "Neeve...look, you don't have to be afraid to tell us how you really feel. The three of us have been ******** each other's brains out for too long to be scared to share secrets. If you don't want to be in a threesome anymore...just tell us."

[Caffeinated Nova]

"But then why don't you all go out and kick their asses? Why do you just wait for them to bring the fight to you?" Summer questioned, hair bouncing with each step as they walked. Even in her tight shorts and vest-top, she looked like she had come out of a salon, not a fight.

"Oh! Right, I forgot about that. But if you teleport I'll have to come with you to make sure no-one evil is hiding out in your room. Right?" She smirked, her eyes glinting.

As much as Dariian disliked it, Sigma was right. They needed to stand together no matter what, and put whatever this was behind them. They needed to, but could they? Neeve still seemed not to want to talk.

Dariian hesitated, and then let go of Sigma's shirt. "Neeve," he said softly, "I'm sorry for... whatever has gone wrong between us. But we are here for you to talk to. I told you that, didn't I? We're... I want to be your friend, if I can't be anything else."

[Dunyazade]

"t's a bit more complicated than that. What little we do know about where our enemies are tends to change, a lot. Wui's probably the first stationary, obvious enemy we've had, at least in a while. Some of the others..." Jori shuddered. "Let's just say that some of them are the stuff of nightmares. It's hard to actively take on someone who embodies your deepest fears, and has devastated your life time and time again."

But maybe Summer had a point. Maybe they needed to stop waiting around for their enemies to come find them, and just get these things over with. But Jori wasn't in charge, so she couldn't make it happen. She glanced up at Summer's next words, though, and laughed. "I'm fine with walking if you are. It'd probably throw anyone off, anyway."



Neeve crossed his arms defensively, an upset look on his face. "No, it is not...you, it is not either of you. I just..."

Sigma stuck his hands in his pockets, not saying anything, waiting for Neeve to work up the nerve.

"...I...believe...that I love you. Both of you," he began slowly. "You have afforded me so much more than I deserve. Even my previous masters...some of them were charitable or had positive attributes, but not like you. I am very grateful to you both, for what you have shown me, and taught me...but..."

"But...?" Sigma prompted.

Neeve looked away again, his entire stance awkward and uncomfortable. "But...I...am...not like you. I cannot be. Despite your various attempts to...to prove my humanity, I cannot claim that for myself. I am not human. Not built to function in that manner. Perhaps I have...grown, acquired attributes beyond my default personality, but I am still not human..."

"So you don't think you're good enough for us," Sigma guessed.

"It is a blunt way to put it...but...yes." Neeve's voice got quieter. "I know that you might deny it, but I cannot change the fundamental aspect of my nature that requires me to be beneath you, to serve you. That part of me will always feel unworthy of you, feel a need to prove myself to you, prevent me from being as close to you as you would like, or...as I would like..." He swallowed hard, seeming almost on the verge of tears.

[Caffeinated Nova]

"Hmm," Summer gave Jori a slow grin, "Sounds to me like you need a tracker on your team permanently. I'm the one that found Amby in the first place. Even though all of those stupid tracker teams you guys hired were supposed to be the best," she sang, skipping ahead of Jori with a satisfied smirk on her face. Then she paused, and turned around to face Jori, walking backwards, "I could find whoever you wanted me to. Just tell me who they are, and I'll do it!"

Dariian was silent as he listened, shoulders growing more and more tense as the words went on. His mind was at war again; half of him wanted to protest and tell Neeve that he was wrong, that he was human, or that they weren't even human anyway which made them all fit perfectly together - but the other half of him was quiet, accepting, didn't want to cause a fuss and make anyone unhappy. Because that was the whole point, wasn't it? Allowing Neeve to be happy, even after everything that had happened to him.

Nervously, instead of tugging on Sigma's shirt, he tugged at the sleeve of his own, wings shivering with emotion. He knew Neeve was upset, and everything in him wanted to help, but... He just had no idea how. His mind was so full of help-Sigma and the god wasn't giving any indication what he wanted Dariian to do.

Finally, he worked up the courage to speak again. "None of that means that we can't still be friends... right?"

[Dunyazade]

Jori looked at Summer contemplatively for a moment, hazel eyes thoughtful. "...You're really that good? Then maybe...well, I might need to run it past Sigma and the others, but if..."

Seeming to make up her mind, she squared her shoulders. "Well, there's a guy. All we really know about him is that his name is Desmond. We're not even sure what he looks like, because he has the ability to possess people, like a bodysnatcher I guess. Anyway, he's a crazy dangerous guy, the source of a lot of our problems, and we never really know when he'll strike because he's so sneaky. If you could find something on him, some way to get us the upper hand..."

As quickly as the fire appeared, it dimmed. "Actually, I'm being crazy. The guy's a loose cannon, it'd be way too dangerous," Jori backpedaled with a little laugh.



Slowly, almost shyly, Neeve looked up at them. "Well, I...would not wish to cause an unpleasant atmosphere..."

"Come off it, Neeve. We're all adults here. If you don't want to be with us anymore, fine. If you want to be with Paeyn instead, fine. Yeah, we'll miss the crazy threesome sex--but what's more important than that is you being happy, you deciding for yourself what you want out of life, not just what we want from you." Sigma took a step forward. "The most important thing about humanity that we wanted you to adopt was free will, making your own choices. If this is your choice, then we can't ask for anything else."

Neeve seemed stunned. "You...you are certain?"

"Yes, you idiot," Sigma said, with a good-natured sigh.

As if unable to believe it, Neeve glanced down, hands clenching and unclenching around each other. He looked up again at Dariian. "...Dariian?" he said, voice tiny. "You...approve?"

[Caffeinated Nova]

Summer continued walking backwards, though the determined look in her eyes showed when she slipped into work-mode. "Does this Desmond guy have a last name?" She asked. "The ability to possess people, huh? He sounds like a creep." She clenched her fists, "I'll find him, don't you worry!" She waved her hand dismissively at the 'dangerous' comment. "Have you seen me fight? I'm dangerous, he should watch out for me!."

She cocked her head, "So this guy is some big bad guy you guys have been fighting, right? Well, if I find him the kings will have to pass me on the royal guard tests. I'll be working with you guys in no time! I'll find him, don't you worry." She grinned.

There was a tiny part of Dariian, the old him, screaming at the back of his head. He wanted to fight, protest, demand. He loved Neeve, and Neeve loved them, and Neeve had been there for him even when he and Sigma were arguing, when things had been difficult...

But it was a small part of him, and it was easily pushed away. His own voice quiet, Dariian made himself nod. "If it makes you happy, then... then yes. Of course, yes."

[Dunyazade]

Jori spread her hands. "If he does, we don't know it. In fact, 'Desmond' might be an alias, too. We used to think he was L...well, someone else." She didn't know if it was all right for her to go into all the gory details with someone that they weren't well acquainted with.

"Anyway, if you could find something on him, it'd be amazing. Seriously, we'd all be in your debt. This guy's been tormenting us for years," she said emphatically.



Neeve just stared at Dariian for a moment, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Slowly, he started to move, hands parting his hair, looking around a bit, as if he wasn't sure what to do with himself. His breath hitched a bit, and he realized that he might be about to cry.

Wiping his face, even though nothing was there, Neeve nodded stiffly. He moved forward then, eyes searching Sigma's as if for permission. And when the god didn't stop him, he proceeded, moving to Dariian, and pulled the man into his arms. His hands shook a little, but he hugged Dariian tightly. "T-Thank you," he managed. "Thank you so much."

Sigma couldn't help but smile, albeit a bit sadly. Neeve seemed almost afraid to try and make his own decisions, like he'd expected the two of them to deny his right to choose something else--or someone else. Maybe the idiot would finally realize that he wasn't a slave after all.

[Caffeinated Nova]

Summer paused, putting her hands on her hips. "Trust me, I'll be able to find him. Whether he's got one body or ten. No one can find people like I can. But," she put up her finger with a stern expression, "I need to know everything. As much information as you have on him. When did he first show up? Who as?"

Dariian wasn't sure what was happening, only that he could hear Neeve shuffling around - and then suddenly there were arms wrapping tightly around him. Gasping, Dariian immediately wrapped his arms around Neeve, too, clinging to him. The genie's familiar scent washed over him, and he gripped him tighter. His wings flared out, and draped around Neeve's shoulders, enveloping him in warmth.

"There's nothing to say thank you for," he said quietly, "I just wanted you to be happy. I- I love you, too."

[Dunyazade]

"See...that's the thing," Jori said, sighing a little. "Desmond is so deeply entangled in the lives of a lot of people here. Telling you everything I know about him means revealing some real trade secrets. And I don't know if I should. Sigma, and Dariian most of all, would probably need to okay that first, because they're the ones he's messed with the most..."



Neeve clung to Dariian tightly, holding the man in his arms as if to shield him from the world. Even though his true protector was right there, and--almost ironically--it was Dariian's wings that were doing the most shielding. He'd been running away this whole time, afraid of what would happen, when in reality he should have faced this head-on, whatever the consequences.

He pulled back after a few moments, hands sliding up to cup Dariian's face. "I...will never be able to repay all you have done for me," he said quietly. "But I will honor your request, and stay at your side as your...your friend." "Servant" had almost come out of his mouth. Even at this point, seeing beyond that was difficult. But he would try. Dariian was sacrificing so much for him, so he could at least attempt to do the same.

"Forgive me..." he murmured, partly concerned about this move complicating things. But he still found himself leaning forward, to press his lips to Dariian's.

[Caffeinated Nova]

"Oh," Summer grimaced. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm the most trustworthy person 'cause I'm the biggest ditz ever. I'd probably forget I was supposed to be keeping something secret." She put a finger to her bottom lip thoughtfully, looking up at the ceiling. "But I swear, if you guys did tell me everything, I'd be able to find him. There's no one I can't find."

Dariian reluctantly let Neeve go when he seemed to want to pull away, but then warm hands were cupping his face and he smiled slightly, tilting his head up. He wished he could see Neeve, just for a few seconds. He missed the lemon-yellow of his eyes, and the stupid serious expressions on his face. He moved a hand up to cover Neeve's hand, and smiled, though it became a little confused at the genie's apology.

"Wh-?" He broke off as lips pressed against his. They were soft and warm, and he moved automatically to kiss the genie back. For a split second, his heart felt lighter, and warmth filled him. He was still surrounded by the people he loved, even after everything he had done.

But then something in him snapped. This wasn't Sigma, it was Neeve, why was he kissing him, why did he want to, he couldn't, couldn't-

Stop stop stop stop stop...

A distressed noise came out of his mouth, but he didn't pull away, as if he was incapable of stopping himself. His wings flared out suddenly, in panic, and then began to flap hard, the force of them shoving Neeve and Dariian apart.

Dariian landed on the floor with a bump, and hunched over, breathing raggedly, and much too fast. His wings curled over him protectively, like a bubble, completely hiding him as he fought to draw in breath, little mumbles and pleas escaping his lips. "Sigma... Sorry, sorry - d-didn't mean to - wouldn't... Don't leave me," he buried his head in his arms, entire body shaking with fear.

[Dunyazade]

Jori bit her lip. Maybe if she just...no, she couldn't make the decision to divulge those sorts of secrets on her own. She should at least say something to Sigma and Dariian first, before just going ahead full steam.

"We'll talk to them about, maybe first thing tomorrow morning," she said firmly. "Since you did so awesome with finding Amby, that should put you in a pretty favorable light at least, right?" she grinned sheepishly.

By this point, they'd made it to her room. Jori pushed the door open, then glanced at Summer, feeling a sudden bit of awkwardness. "Thanks for, er, walking me to my room, I guess," she said, with another laugh to cover up her embarrassment. "Have you already been assigned a room here? I mean, there's about eight million to pick from, so they should have found you at least one..."



Sigma had a feeling something was up, but naturally he couldn't see around Dariian's giant wings. It became a bit more clear when Dariian's wings suddenly started acting up, flapping wildly and shoving him and Neeve away from each other. Dammit, Neeve must have made a move--a kiss, or something--and Dariian was in new-personality mode...

"s**t," Sigma muttered, springing into action. Dariian had already closed himself away, and he knelt in front of the little wing cocoon. "Dariian," he said urgently.

Neeve landed with a thump on his rear, stunned into immobility. He stared at the mass of feathers that housed Dariian, uncomprehending. Was this...because of the kiss? He'd overstepped his bounds, hadn't he? And just when things had started to turn for the better, he'd ruined it all. Once again his selfishness had destroyed a working relationship...

He stood, stiffly, like a robot. "Forgive me," he said tightly, face turned away enough that his bangs hid his expression. Only his rigid posture and tight fists betrayed him. "I overstepped my bounds. It will not happen again. I must attend to my previous duties." Shadows pooled abruptly under his feet.

"Neeve--" Sigma turned to look at him. Double dammit. Neeve didn't know much about Dariian's condition because he'd been hidden away since their return. "Don't be like that, he's only--" Neeve dropped down into the shadows before his could finish. "--Dammit!" Sigma swore, one hand tightening into a frustrated fist. Just great. Yet another moment wrecked by a small misunderstanding.

He sighed heavily. They would have to sort this out, but later--when Dariian was in a better frame of mind. He turned back to the wing cocoon. "Dariian, let me in."

[Caffeinated Nova]

"Oh, yeah," Summer waved her hand dismissively. "I was out the past few nights getting more information, so I didn't get to stay here. But I'm off to go speak to the prince and princess now, anyway. Hopefully they'll give me a room to crash in. Royal guards get to stay here anyway, don't they?"

She glanced at Jori's door, and then smiled. "Guess I'll see you around then, huh? Let me know if you want to spar sometime soon. I could use a decent sparring partner." She flashed Jori a grin, and started skipping backwards away from her.

Dariian's head was filled with no and sorry and please don't leave me, so much so that he couldn't barely hear what was going on outside of his little cocoon. But he did manage to hear Sigma's voice, even though he didn't know what he said, and his wings automatically opened.

He reached out to grab Sigma, pulling him in, and clinging to him. Tears ran freely down his face, and he shook hard, entire body trembling. "Please, please... d-don't lea-leave me," he hiccuped, frantic, "I'm sorry, I'm so-sorry, I won't d-do it again... I promise." He buried his head in Sigma's shoulder, hands clinging to his shirt, "I w-won't cheat on you... I wo-won't - it's y-you, only you, n-not even with Omi - I c-can't... jus-just you, on-only you...!"

[Dunyazade]

"There's a whole wing for the royal guard to bunk in here," Jori said. Her nose wrinkled. "Usually new recruits get a room in there, but...it's all guys. That might be kind of weird. I guess you can just talk it out with the twins and get something set up.

"I'd love to spar sometime! See you!" Jori waved until Summer had skipped backwards a ways, then pulled herself fully into her room and closed the door behind her.




Dariian was on him in a second, and Sigma quickly moved in, wrapping both arms around the redhead and sitting down crosslegged in order to pull him into his lap. He tucked Dariian's head under his chin with a heavy sigh. They'd been making progress, and now this...it was enough to drive a person crazy.

"It's okay," he said gently, rubbing Dariian's back between the wings. "I told you, I wouldn't leave your side again. I don't just say things, you know that." Sigma paused, though, brow furrowed, as Dariian went on. Maybe he was just spitting out anything to keep Sigma from leaving, but had he just said...?

Hearing Omi's name made him think of two things: the white-haired demon breaking into the bakery after Dariian, and the light going out of his eyes as he died by Sigma's hand. Both memories tore at his chest. He'd pushed the first aside, though, willing to forget about the feelings of pain and betrayal when he'd believed Dariian had replaced him. And all that he entailed, he'd just assumed. But had Dariian and Omi really never...?

Shaking his head, Sigma held Dariian closer. Now wasn't the time to work that out. Dariian needed him. "It's okay," he said again, moving to rock the redhead slowly. "Calm down, all right? Nobody's leaving anyone."

[Caffeinated Nova]

Dariian continued to babble and sniffle under his breath, but having Sigma holding him, and so obviously not mad at him, allowed him to calm down just a little bit. Still, it was difficult for him to stop the tears, and they slid down his cheeks, wetting the shoulder of Sigma's shirt.

After a few minutes, the mumbles had quietened, until Dariian was only repeating how much he loved Sigma against the god's neck. His wings were trembling with all the emotion, but at least they weren't flaring out and shoving people backwards anymore. He didn't need them to protect him, not when he had Sigma here.

"I'm sorry," he said again, though this time he sounded like he'd finished panicking. He pulled back just a little bit, fingers smoothing over the god's shirt. "I don't know why I- I keep doing this..." He ducked his head, leftover tears stinging his eyes. "I j-just love you so much, I can't... can't lose you..."