Welcome to Gaia! ::

He woke with a start, eyes gaped wide as he looked for anything, something to cling to. With darkness the only entity to great him the lead frei shoved his covers to the side, slipping out of bed and floating as best he could in the dark. He bumped into walls, a few objects along the way as he made his desperate journey to safety. The door was thankfully open and without much thought Domo jumped into the waiting bed clinging to the figure that rest there.

Woken with Domo's sudden weight Thanatos groaned trying to adjust his position. Normally he was attacked by his lover at odd hours of the night but the weight that greeted him was far too heavy for any of his housemates. Opening sleep filled eyes he gazed upon the ashen head of his new charge. Chuckling lightly he brushed some of that ashen hair from the child-like eyes. "Domevlo what are you doing here?" He asked, but had a guess it was either bad dreams or shadows on the wall.

The lead frei quickly buried his face in the crook of Xan's shoulder wrapping cool lead arms around his mid-section. "See face... Domo try sleep but face wake Domo!" He explained.

Xan figured as much, a bad dream. Trying not to chuckle at this he brushed at the frei's head once more. Soothing away his worried thoughts. "It's a bad dream Domo. When we sleep we have pleasant thoughts they are called dreams but sometimes we dream of unpleasant things. These are bad dreams. Nightmares." Thanatos explained shifting to pull Domo closer so he could rub his back. "You had a bad dream."

"Bad dream?" He repeated thinking it over before nodding vigorously and once more burying his face. "Domo have bad dream then! Face is bad no want see face! Stay with cow-thing. Sleep here is okay?" He pleaded.

Xan continued to pet the child-like frei giving him a soft kiss to his cheek. "Okay. You can sleep here but once the bad face is gone you'll have to return to your room okay?"

Domo nodded unable to speak past the choking sob in his throat. He didn't want to go back to his room and see that face again. It was ... it wasn't right. It looked just like him but it wasn't him. Why was he seeing faces? What was it?

Watching the frei Xan wondered how bad the dream was. Domevlo was shivering uncontrollably. "Domo tell me about the dream. What was the face you saw?" He had his guesses but he had to be sure. Was he seeing things that he shouldn't know about? If so... then...

"Face! Look like Domo face but not Domo face! It say weird things Domo not know. Say Domo stole face..." He wailed into the pillows his voice muffled by the fabric and batting.

As Xan had thought. He was dreaming of a past life he didn't remember. Alex had told him Domevlo wouldn't remember much of his previous self if at all but for him to have dreams of a face like his own. Was this a reaction to the soul he possessed? Trying to sooth the frei he continued to rub his back, watching him carefully for any signs that he'd been harmed. Though all he got was a soft glow of his run, in an eerie green glow. If flickered for only a moment before returning to its usual soft gray blue tone. This got an arched brow but nothing more. "It will be okay Domo, stay here for the night. We'll talk about it in the morning okay?"

Domo nodded into the pillow not bothering with an answer. Anything was better then being alone to deal with that bad dream. Even so, Domo wanted answers! Who was the face? Why say such bad things to him? Domo wasn't a thief he didn't take what wasn't his. So why was there a face in his dreams telling him otherwise?

"Go to sleep kiddo. Don't worry over it so much. I'm here." Xan's calming voice soothed the frei to relax. He nuzzled into his father and the pillow allowing his thoughts to ebb and his body to relax. The rune dwindling to a soft glow despite that eerie green light flickering ever so slightly. What did it all mean?

♠ Comfort Food ♠
META Journal :: Xan's POV

I spent the better part of the night cleaning up the mess that was left behind after the animal rescue team came through. They wanted to know details to Atreyu and Pantera's burns but there was just no way. They didn't need to know that Domevlo was involved with this mess. Not a chance. Somehow the information they received was enough to write in their clipboard for future use. The thanked me for my cooperation and quickly strapped the dogs into the emergency vehicle, handing me a card with a number to call in the morning for updates. The worried look on my face must have alerted them to the unspoken question because they informed me both of them were stable. This was good. This was really good.

With the dogs taken care of there was another situation that followed: Domevlo. He was so shaken by the incident that he remained hovered over the blood stains. With a rag in his hand he hovered low to the ground scrubbing at the stains. Somehow this was his way to make amends perhaps to punish himself for being so careless. Whatever the reason this wasn't productive, he didn't need to be reminded of the incident. Reaching out to take his hand the rag tossed aside I ushered him abruptly to the door. "No. Leave that." That was the end of that argument. He didn't need to be reminded... he just didn't. "Come on lets get ya inside." He needed a shower, something to help relax him a bit.

"No!" His protest was weak, barely audible, even standing right next to him I could barely hear it. His cheeks shown with the remnants of his tears, toxic tears that had caused such strange events in my home. Against all better judgment my hand reached out toward his face, wanting to feel for myself how dangerous those tears truly were. They never made it to his face, Domo had moved like a ghost toward the door, his downcast eyes dull of light but that ever present rune it glowed again, a strange eerie green.

Sighing there was nothing more to do here. Following after him I took one look back at the stains on the floor. It would be a constant reminder to myself and Domelvo. Tomorrow it would be cleaned up no matter what, even if I had to call a contractor in here to redo the concrete flooring. Domo didn't need to be reminded, better to shut those bad memories away. Once inside I noticed Domelvo seemed to be floating on autopilot; his swaying movements worried me as we moved down the hall. That familiar green glow seeped into his rune once more, bringing back thoughts of the soul within him. Who was this Raevan and why was he haunting Domevlo in such ways. How strong was the soul that Dr. Kyou used?

There were a lot of questions yet unanswered. Maybe it was time to find these things out. Domevlo would want to know I had imagined. He was adamant about learning things he didn't understand. Surely he'd want to know about the person he used to be... though I can't bring myself to believe that his former self and who he is now were remotely the same. I wanted to believe that Domevlo was truly himself nothing more. They said he wouldn't have memories that he would be a completely different person from who he had been. So why now was his rune seeping out colors that didn't make any sense. Reading the files from the lab the most I'd gathered was the former soul was that of a Raevan called Gage, he had radioactive goo as an essence and the soul of a unicorn. Hmm? Pondering these things my mind was stretched in too many directions.

"Let's clean ya up and then ya can rest." Shaking my mind from those far away thoughts, it was time to focus on Domevlo as a whole. Steering him toward the bathroom, I quickly turned on the shower, stepping aside for him to enter. He didn't protest thankfully, more on autopilot then before, though it helped just a bit. Swaying back and forth the water drizzled over him washing away the evidence of his dangerous tears.

Scrubbing his hands and arms, he didn't protest, only turning and moving as instructed. His wings dropped so helplessly against his back it took everything I had not to lift him from the shower and just hug him. Part of me wondered if he'd protest like so many times before. Screaming that he wasn't a baby and stop treating him like one. It made me smile inside how eager he was to be grown up, to be like the older Raevans but he had a long way to go before that happened, still it wasn't against the rules to encourage him.

Watching him in this listless state, almost void of any emotion, those vacant eyes staring straight ahead. My heart jumped at the thought of him becoming depressed. Was that possible? Well of course it was but could he ... no no! Those were not thoughts I wanted to dwell on. Shaking from them I quickly grabbed a towel and placed it over his ashen head. Drying off his hair and then his neck, shoulders back and wings. He took the towel from me and looked up with those vacant orbs, they didn't even see me, more like through me. "Domo rest now?" He asked.

"Yes. Domo rest now."

Turning for the door my movements were halted by a hand reaching out to tug my shirt. "Domo sleep with cow-thing?"

Blinking my mind raced, was he back to normal. Watching him for a moment I searched his eyes for any sign of life. It took a moment but that spark bled back into his eyes, the eerie green of his rune dwindled away returning him to his true self. With a geniune smile on my face I nodded. "Domo sleep with cow-thing."

He smiled back at me, even with that mask I saw it in his eyes. The window to his soul. "Welcome back."

"Domo no leave." He protested a frown creasing those features. Yep, he was back but it would take a lot of hard work to keep it that way. Tomorrow was another day and more unpleasant things were bound to upset him. For now I could at least shelter him as best as I could. After all it was his second chance at life.

"Time for bed kiddo."

"Bed. Hokay!"

♠ Pick Pocket ♠
META RP:: Complete

♠ Beautiful Nightmare ♠
META Journal

That evening Domevlo had little to say. He had asked to go home, leaving the beautiful rose to her own devices. The strange events that had taken place were playing over in his mind like a silent movie. He didn't understand all too well but she seemed comforted in his arms... or rather the arms of someone she once cared for. He truly wanted to be friendly with her but soon realized he would not be considered a friend in the slightest. Perhaps in time?

Sighing for the umpteenth time that night he lay on the couch flipping through channels for something to watch. Thanatos had done his best to keep free of the moody frei but it wasn't like him to ignore someone in need, least of all his own charge. "Ya okay kiddo?" He asked coming to sit on the arm rest of the couch. Reaching slender fingers to brush at ashen hair he wondered if it were a good idea for Domo to have met with the rose frei on private terms like that. Ever since then Domo had gotten more moody.

"Leave alone." He snorted turning over on his side, the television ignored. He didn't want company, least of all the cow-thing. All these strange feelings and thoughts were making his head hurt. His body began to ache in strange places too... "Want rest." He announced adamantly. "Go way!"

"Well that's not very nice..." Xan protested. He wished he could do something to help Domo but it seemed being alone was the best he could offer. "Alright, I'll be upstairs, just let me know if you need anything." Slipping away silently he sighed to himself hoping this thing with the virus would be resolved soon. Having a moody Domevlo was all fine and dandy but being yelled at for the littlest of offenses wasn't going to fly for very long.

With the cow-thing gone, Domevlo could relax a little more. He didn't like Thanatos seeing him in such a state. Grumpy and all. He really did like the guy but when he got too nosy it was annoying, more so then usual. Flipping on his back he rested with his arm draped over his eyes. It wouldn't be long before he'd fall asleep, content to just rest and try to take his mind off of Vyn...

....... When he woke he found himself in a strange place. "Where?"

"Welcome."

Whirling around, Domevlo was greeted by a shadow figure who held a close resemblance to himself. He couldn't be sure by the shadows that played across his features. "You..."

"Me?" Seeming to think of what to offer the frei for an answer, the figure only shrugged and sat near a garden. It was filled with roses, much like the rose raevan herself. "They are lovely aren't they?"

Tilting his head to the side, Domevlo wasn't sure if he could trust this person but something in the way the figure acted didn't give him any reason to put up his guard. Slowly he floated over sitting next to his likeness. "Yes." He replied curiously looking over the form before him. So similar and yet their speech and personality seemed so different. "What name?"

Chuckling the figure poked Domo's masked covered nose. "You are innocent." He announced changing the subject. "Very special."

"Huh... special. Why?"

"Because you have a special soul." The figure admitted smiling warmly in the strange shadows. "I won't be here much longer." He continued to smile looking out across a meadow that suddenly grew in the darkness. Blossoming at their ribbons it fluttered across the endless darkness lighting it up with flowers, grass and the sweet scent of spring. "I must go now."

"Why? Stay with Domo. We be friends?"

Chuckling softly the figure ran a gentle hand along the frei's masked cheek. "Friends?" The chuckle seemed to take on that of a cackle, filling the meadow with an eerie chill. "We can never be friends. You have taken something from me... why would I be friends with a thief?"

Frowning, Domevlo quickly rose, floating dangerously close to the figure. "Domo not thief! Not steal!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Floating a short distance away, the figure whirled on Domo, the flowers around him withering. "But of course you are. You don't think they will see you as you? Ha! You'll always be compared to that person. Always! No one will be you friend. No one...hahahaha..." The cackle rose the young frei's hackles. Frowning with every word that escaped the strange figure's lips. How could he be so mean? He had only just met. "Don't worry. I can help you..."

"Help?" Why did he need help? Domo didn't care if they didn't like him for him. He had friends. Xiu liked him, Zul, and he could make friends with the rest in time. So... so he didn't need help.

"All you have to do is end it all right here..." And without another word the figure moved swiftly, wrapping slender hands around the frei's neck, using much force so as to grip him past the mask and cloth. He would end this frei's existence completely.

.............. "Domo! Domo wake up!" Slapping his poor charge, Thanatos worked to get the kid to breath. On his way to get some water he had found Domevlo thrashing about, gasping for air. The idea that he could have died while he was upstairs unaware sent a cold fear through the cowboy. "Wake the hell up, damnit! Get up!" Lifting him off the couch he shook the frei violently, patting him on the back and getting him to respond.

After a few harsh pats on the back, Domo finally woke, gasping for air. Clinging to the cowboy he heaved in a breath of air, tears stinging his eyes but they did not spill. "He try kill Domo... why?" He hacked out, clinging for all it was worth. "Domo try make friends but he try kill... no want die! No want be gone!"

"Calm down, kiddo. It was a bad dream. You're safe now. I'm here... " Whatever kind of dream he'd had it must have been real enough for Domo to stop breathing. "Shhh.. just take a deep breath. That's it. Breath nice and slow for me." Thanatos frowned to himself this was getting out of hand. Wasn't there a cure yet? He watched Domo closely, running the back of his hand against the frei's forehead he was coming down with a fever. "Crap."

♠ Lead Astray ♠
META Journal

Thanatos was surprised to say the least, he hadn't expected Domevlo to listen to his words after slapping him across the face. And ooh how the cowboy would pay for that, both in pain physically and psychologically. He so hated being mean to others but it was not a time to be soft. Domo was hellbent on impaling that woman through with that sword, there would be no way to explain to Kyou or the others why a guardian had been killed.

The whole ride home they spent in silence. Xan's mind reeling with various scenarios of how to end this fiasco of a virus. Word had gotten out that there was a possible cure but he couldn't know for sure. He'd have to call Alex and find out. She knew a lot about these things; she seemed to always be his solution -- some how he felt guilty for this. Mint eyes viewed the frei from his rear view mirror, watching Domo carefully. For all he knew the fight wasn't over, perhaps he was bidding his time, waiting for the moment to strike. Doing so while riding on his bike didn't seem favorable for either of them... Xan could only wonder.

They pulled up in the drive after a while. The house a modest well lived in place, walls that had shown support and love for the frei would soon play as his prison. Xan had already decided. Domevlo would be put on ice. Today!

Once they entered he closed the door and locked it, watching the exposed back of his charge. He didn't look dangerous at all but from the happenings at the museum, Xan knew better. "Domo..." He began moving to place a warm hand on the frei's shoulder. "We need to talk."

"No want." Was the simple reply. He still wanted to play, to watch that woman struggle against the sword he'd made for Tari. To watch that guard wiggle like a puppet on strings as he tried sliding from his spikes. He just wanted to play...

Xan watched with bated breath, the rune was glowing, a sickening green. It was duller then usual, sickly, like sewage. This was bad. "Domo listen to me, you need help. I know someone who ca--" Before he could say much else the cowboy found himself flung against the wall, cracking his head quite soundly. "Argh. What the?"

"Want play! Domo was having fun.. why Cow-thing bring woman? Why stop fun!" He demanded to know these things, with remnants of the lead spheres before he glared. "Why can't Domo play with Tari!?"

This was all to strange. Thanatos had hoped to cure Domo long before he got to a violent point. He wasn't sure about the virus how it progressed or what time was given to him, but at this point, it appeared violence was Domo's next progression stage. "s**t." he breathed. No, he wouldn't let this happen not now. Standing to his feet he gave the kid a soft smile rubbing at his head. "Alright we can play then." He offered. Better to trick him then fight against him. Whatever those orbs were he wasn't about to test them. "Lets just go in the room here... I got some pretty interestin' toys."

Arching a suspicious brow, the Raevan wasn't so sure. He peered at Xan curiously, watching him enter the guest room. "Hm?" When did he buy toys for that room, Domo had wondered. Inching near the spheres had fallen closer to his body, dissolving instead into his skin to feed the frei rather than go to waste. Peeking into the room he didn't see Xan at first nor any toys. About to protest he was quickly held in a bear hug and dumped into a single chair. With as much speed as Xan could muster he tied Domo up, wrapping his arms securely against the side of the chair. "No fair! Domo not like this game! Let out!"

"Sorry kiddo its' for your own good. I'll be back soon ..." Deciding not to stick around he quickly left the room closing the door behind him. His next stop was the kitchen and a quick bee-line to the phone. Alex was his only hope now...

♠ Return (Epilogue) ♠
META Journal

With a heavy sigh the cowboy sat quietly at Domevlo's bedside. Alex had come by an hour ago to take a blood sample and check up on the lead frei. She gave him a clean bill of health and told Xan to let him continue resting.

A gentle smile spread across Xan's lips as he watched his estranged son. Brushing ashen hair from his face, he hoped Domo would wake soon. No amount of worrying if the cure had done a little more than was necessary helped his runaway thoughts. "C'mon kiddo. Don't worry me any more..." he breathed leaning to give the other a kiss to his forehead.

In that instant gray hands reached out to push the cowboy away from him. "Ick! No kissy face... no like!" The protest was weak at first but grew stronger with the push against the cowboy's shoulder. "No kissy!"

Chuckling lightly, Xan sat up brushing those ashen tresses once more. "Alrighty. No kissy." He smiled. "How ya fellin' kiddo?"

"Cold." The frei pouted with eyes wide. They were looking around the unfamiliar room then back at Xan with a glare. "Not room. Why?"

"Ah yes. I couldn't take you upstairs in your state."

"State?"

"Yes. Domelvo was sick." He touched the frei's forehead gently. "Don't ya remember?"

Sitting up slowly, Domo rubbed at his head, a throbbing headache the only reminder that things were normal and he was very much alive. "Head hurt. R'member little. Was not well yes?" He commented half slapping, half punching his head. "Hurt. Make stop."

"Hey easy kiddo... just lay back down. You'll be a little weak for a while." Xan quickly pushed him back to the bed to rest. Smiling warmly at his charge, he helped massage his head, realizing that the other couldn't take a pill to be rid of the pain, not just yet. "This feel good?"

Domo nodded, allowing his eyes to flutter shut. "Tired." He announced and within moments was back to sleeping. The after effects of the cure taking their toll.

Alex had said he'd be fairly tired but for the most part he'd be just fine. Smiling at his charge, Xan continued to massage his head for a bit longer before drawing the blanket up to his chin and making a silent exit from the room. A bit more rest and the frei would be just fine. "Good to have ya back, kiddo. Sleep well."