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Luca kept quiet and waited for Nathan to answer.

Nathan did answer. His hair was a little out-of-place from leaning against the wall on his bed. The book on the bed verified that he was reading. "What are we going to talk about?" Nathan asked. As if he didn't already know.

Luca looked at Nathan, fiddling with his fingers. "Nathan... I know that you're mad at me. But I do everything I can to make you at home here. I own your soul but that doesn't make you a prisoner. If you wanted anything, anything at ALL you just need to ask me."

"I want to go home."

"You KNOW I can't do that Nathan, because what would your father think if he saw you coming home when he went to your funeral. He saw your body. Nathan, you're dead to them. You're supposed to be dead. So many things will get in danger if you were ever found out to be undead."

"So WHY then, Luca? Why DID you un-dead me? Why am I on this damn Earth if I'm such an abomination? Was it because I am a symbol as to how 'in' you are with the guardian of the afterlife? Is it because you really wanted someone to cook and clean for you for free? Or was it because I'm a pretty boy you can ******** isn't any of those things, Nathan!" Luca cried out in shock and horror.

"Then why am I here?" Nathan asked, his eyes showing a loneliness and despair he never dared to show before.

"I... It's because... Well, um..."

"I thought so," Nathan replied, "I'm nothing but a toy to you."

"But that isn't true-"

"Oh no?" Nathan looked at Jin. It was as if he was desperate for someone to have it make sense to him. "I lived in HELL. The literal, real, painful Hell. He comes to me, ecstatic that he bought my soul for a season's worth of designer clothing. If it isn't for status, slavery, or prostitution, then what could be the possible explanation."

"Just company, Nathan," Luca replied.

"Then why not get a dog?" Nathan replied. "It can do all the tricks I can."

"Jin," Luca went over to Jin and wrapped his arms around the man. "Oh Jin~ Its quite alright. We need you, Jin. Don't fade from us."

Nathan, when he felt Jin sinking, tried to keep him held up. He held Jin close until he left to go sit down. He looked at Luca, then shook his head. "Thats all a lie."

Luca looked over at Nathan. "No, it's-"

"Tyler and Jack have both told me about your past, Luca. You grew up with parents that supported you, accepted you, you made friends wherever you go, clients love you, and you bring men for 'company' here all the time! How am I any different?! There's something you're not telling me! Either that, or you're more cynical than I thought."

Luca looked at Jin, and it did seem that he was hiding something, but he didn't want to say. "It'll hurt him if I say, Jin... Please, can we drop this? I don't want to..."

Nathan was too far to hear what Luca said.

Luca needed to be near Jin. It was hard to admit this to Nathan, and Luca was so scared Nathan would hate him. He was so scared... "Nathan... I chose to take you with me, above all else because... I thought you were beautiful. Your soul revealed it all; your beautiful soul, but it was tortured, like all the others. I asked Miguel about you... He told me about Ban."

"You... You knew this whole time? And you still..."

Luca closed his eyes, then with a ragged inhale, explained. "I know what Ban did to you. I know how he made you fall in love, and how he promised he would be with you forever, and that you were safe as long as you trusted him... He used to call you his 'bunny.'"

"Stop, I'm through with this," Nathan said, turning to leave.

"No, stay here and listen to me Nathan!" Luca demanded, and Nathan couldn't move his legs. His soul wouldn't let him leave. He had to listen.

"Ban not only alienated you from your family and friends, but he took you far away, and he... He murdered you. He took you to Hell. You didn't really belong there, but you gave your soul to Hell to spite your father, right? So you were bound there, and Ban killed you... When Miguel told me the story, I... Nathan, I wanted to help you. It wasn't your time yet. You didn't belong there. I bought you because I felt... I felt sorry for you. But then you came, and I learned to know you and oh Nathan, you have no idea how much I love you," Luca kept trying to fight back tears, "And those times we get along, and when you smile... I just want to see that all the time. I've grown sort of self-centered, I know, but... I just want you to be here with me forever, okay? Where people like Ban can't hurt you."

"So that's what I am? Another project?"

"At first, Nathan at first you were but that changed!"

"You lied to me... This whole time, you never once mentioned that you knew-"

"I know," Luca sniffed, "I know, I did a horrible thing. Just please, Nathan, everything I do is so that I can protect you. Just trust me-"

"How can I trust you?! You LIED to me! And you should know full well, if you knew about..." Nathan wrapped his arms around himself. His legs shook, and his face resembled a mix between fear and anger. "How can I trust anyone at this point? I don't..." Nathan fell to his knees. "I have no freedom. How can I trust someone who took that away from me?"

Luca looked at Jin, then he bowed his head, trying to stop the tears, then he closed his eyes, inhaled, and said, "Just give me one chance, Nathan. For my sake, for Jin's sake, AND for your sake. Just one chance, and I promise that I'll do whatever I can to make you happy. If I can't, then Jin and Miguel as my witness Nathan, if you give me this chance and I fail to make you happy, then your soul goes back to you and you are free to do whatever you wish. You can leave and I will never pursue you again."

Nathan looked over at Luca. Then at Jin. He seemed so weak... None of this was Jin's fault, if Jin got hurt... "One chance. But that's it. And... Only the three of us will know. I don't want anyone else to know... Just us. The reason I was in Hell, me being gay, ALL of it. Secret."

"I understand," Luca agreed, and looked at Jin. Nathan looked at Jin, too. Jin knew now... He knew about Ban. Nathan was nervous as to what Jin thought of him.

Luca kissed Jin back and held onto the two of them as if they were the two most precious things to him in his whole life. Nathan was uncomfortable and quiet, but compliant. He felt cornered and worried, but maybe things would get better... He really hoped so. He looked down and was the first to break the hug.

"Nathan," Luca asked in a quiet, not-like-him sort of way.

Nathan looked up at Luca.

"Do you think... Maybe... Could you play a song? On the piano... I've always wanted to hear you play."

Nathan looked over at Jin. He was hesitant, but finally gave the two a nod. "Fine. Okay, I will."

Luca clapped and smiled with excitement. "I have no appointments today, so we can spend the whole day together! We'll dedicate this day to us! What do you think, Jin?"

Luca took Jin by the hand and eventually they were at the piano. Nathan looked down at it, and he ran his fingers lightly on the keys. He sat down.

"Come on, come here, we can sit and listen on this couch." Luca led Jin to the couch and he curled up to Jin. Luca loved being close. He loved affection. He never hid any love he felt. He was pretty opposite to Nathan, who was quiet, reserved, and not very affectionate. Still, he said he would try. Nathan didn't do well showing his affection physically though; his emotion was only raw and passionate in his music, cooking, cleaning and gardening. It was those moments where his thoughts were truly expressed. Nathan began to play.

Nathan played and focused on the sheet music. He had played this piece only one other time, but after a while, it was like a song he knew from the heart. After a minute, the song became more bold, and he felt lighter. His fingers ran along the keys as if they were a memory he hadn't quite forgotten. He thought about his dad and how much he missed his life before all of this happened. Then he thought about how great it would be if things could just be simple again. If the world would somehow fix everything that had gone wrong. Maybe... Maybe he'd even have a place in this perfect time to keep Luca and Jin with him. Someday when he would never have to hide again. No more hiding.

The song ended, and Luca was quiet. He sighed, feeling tears well up to his eyes. The first time Nathan ever played for him... It was thanks to Jin. Luca was so happy, he couldn't put it into words. So he was quiet, unwilling to break the spell that the song cast on the room.

After the long silence, Nathan looked over at the two men and he felt a flush come onto his cheeks. "Well? Don't just look at me like that."

"Nathan," Luca whispered with a brilliant smile, "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I'm just... I'm so glad that you played for me. For us. I'm just so happy."

Nathan's defense melted a little at Luca's praise, and he started running his fingers across the keys again. "Well... We had a deal, after all. And I do feel a little better now. Hungry, but better."

"Ooh~ I'll order out! That way you don't have to cook today, Nathan. We can sit together and eat and maybe watch a movie or talk or something. Then... Maybe after dinner..."

Nathan looked a bit confused, then nervous. After dinner? Luca wasn't talking about... But Nathan was just getting used to all this. He seemed unsure, but willing... Though he wouldn't admit it. To try to express a LITTLE affection. Its been quite some years for him, after all. And now that they knew... Well he couldn't just pretend anymore.

The man put up his hands defensively, resisting the urge to put his hand near his gun, as it's natural instinct for him. His fear was apparent, but he seemed capable of speaking normally.

“I'm just lookin' for my daughter Sir. Have you seen her in here? Messy red hair? Overalls? Possibly totin' around a red crayon...?” He asked, attempting to keep a calm tone, though he did sound rather defensive.


Clone smiled and blushed, fiddling with her hair a bit.

"Hehe, thank you. You ah, look nice too." She said happily with a slight giggle, trying to return the compliment.

"What should we do next?" Clone then asked. She wouldn't mind if he wanted to head back though.

Necro was soon walking further into the Academy, relaxing a bit now that he was out of the presence of the oddly frightening man. He took in a deep breath and let it out as he ran a hand through his hair and adjusted his tie. So, either this Pheobe, or Dr. Hughes. Where could he find such people? Was there a desk or office he could check into? He should have gotten some kind of map of the building before entering...