Welcome to Gaia! ::

While the others were distracted with their shouting match Roux had managed to make his way quietly over toward his destination. He reached forward, tugging open both the freezer and refrigerator door. Cold was radiating out from both doors - energy giving cold.

Roux placed a hand in both areas, slowly drinking in the chilly air. The bottom half became room temperature the fastest, and Roux focused on drawing what -really- mattered from the freezer. Ice lay thick along the top and bottom of the freezer and he rested his hand upon it.

With a small shiver of pleasure he absorbed the ice, watching as it simply vanished at his touch. The glow of the rune beneath him brightened visibly, casting a cold blue sheen over everything. Roux flexed his fingers, bringing his hand up as he slowly turned his gaze toward Cody, eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.


Immediatly the temperature of the room plummeted. Cody gave a jolt of surprise as his breath puffed out before him, goosbumps rising up along his arms. With a slight exhale he realized that his last trump had been called. He tilted his head to the side, giving a painful smile toward his sister. "Chloe... I'm sorry."

For a moment... it truely sounded as though he might be.

Cody lifted the gun away from Aphismet's head, raising his arm up to point it directly at his sister. He sighed, shaking his head a little bit as though to say 'what a waste' before pulling the trigger.

Chloe's scream was covered by the loud bang of the gun.


Light flashed brilliantly for a brief second. When the dazzle cleared from everyone's eyes they were greeted with the sight of Roux, arms wrapped protectivly around Chloe. He was half curled around her, holding her tightly to his chest as he glared back with peircing blue eyes over his shoulder.

A strange, cloudy 'bubble' flickered for a second longer. The strange pendant Kyou had given him floated of it's own accord over his shoulder. It glittered for a moment before falling limp once more, the chain lightly tinkling.

Roux pushed Chloe away, back toward the wall where it was safe as he turned. The temperature around his was painful to breath in it was so cold. He floated forward more quickly than Chloe could call out to him.

He reached down, grasping Cody's throat and stopping the shrill cry that the man had given as Aphismet broke his arm. He lifted him up, reaching out with his other hand so he could have a double grip on the human's neck. Roux pressed his thumbs against the man's adam apple, teeth grit together as he shook Cody slightly.

He would kill him. Kill him! For what he'd done... for stabbing him with that needle and for taking Chloe... for changing everything, everything even if some of it was for the better. This was the source of his anguish over the past year.

"Pay..." His words were muffled as he spoke through gritted teeth, beginning to press down. He savoured the desperate widening of Cody's eyes as he realized he was going to die, the way the man scrabbled at Roux's hands, he scratched him a little in his desperation.

What he hadn't expected was...

"NO!"

Chloe was beside him, grabbing hold of his wrist and trying to pull him off of Cody. The Ice Raeven looked over toward her coldly. She was too kind, too soft. He'd have to protect her.

"Roux, let g-go! Let GO! S-S-Stop it!"

With an annoyed sigh Roux threw Cody away from him, making sure that the man's head collided with a satisfying sound against the floor. He coughed desperatly for air. Roux turned cold eyes to Chloe and demanded, "Why."

The receptionist was crying, sniffling loudly even as she tried to wipe them from her face. "B-B-Because... I-If you kill him, y-you'll g-g-go to jail. P-Please..." She let her hands drop down in front of her. Everything was going so fast. Just minutes ago she'd been resigned to her fate and now... now Roux and Aphismet were here and Cody was incapitated on the floor. "C-Can we just go home?"

"Because-"

Chloe winced back as Aphismet shouted, her hands coming up in alarm to press over her mouth. She shook her head, voice choaking as she took a hesitant step towards Aphi. She stopped just short, not wanting to get closer to Cody. "I.. I kn-know he tried to ... to hurt me. He did hurt me." Tears dripped down her cheeks as she spoke, letting her head bow forward. "But I s-still don't want to see h-him get hurt.. or die. Please Aphi..." She sniffed, wiping at her face again. "W-We can c-call the police from here."

She walked towards the far wall, closest to the doorway to the hall, where a phone hung. Picking it up she dialed slowly, as though still surprised that this was all happening.

9-1-1

There was a pause as she turned to look up at Aphismet, with one hand reaching out towards him, as though she wanted him to come closer. She gave a small start as someone picked up on the other end.

"Hello... yes. M-My name is Chloe Star... C-Could someone p-please come to..."

She turned away as she spoke with the operator, giving informtion, confirming any questions she was asked.


Roux floated closer to Aphismet until he was beside the other man. He glanced towards him, his expression hard, before looking down at Cody. A soft smile spread across his lips and he lifted a hand to lightly touch Aphi's shoulder, floating lower so that he was nearly at level with Cody.

"Stay away from her. Forever."

It was the most comprehendable string of words Roux had ever said, not that Cody would catch onto that.

Very lightly Roux reached forward, slender fingers stroking over Cody's chest. He smiled gently, as he slipped his hand beneath his sihrt, watching as Cody gave a gasp of surprise, trying to move back and away from this strange creature but finding himself unable to because of the hold Aphi had on him.

"Forever."


Cody tried to take in a sharp breath as he felt something very -wrong-. Those graceful hands suddenly grew cold, a stabbing pain erupting in his chest. His breath stilled in his throat and suddenly he was struggling for air. He couldn't...

Just as quickly as the pain had come, intense and crippling, it left as the strange being's hand left his chest. He took in a deep breath, something catching within his lungs.

Cody let out a sharp ragged cough. It started out slowly until he was forced to take deep, wet breaths, his whole body shuddering as he hacked and coughed.


Roux straightened, narrowed eyes sliding over to glance at Aphismet. A small smile quirked one corner of his mouth upward as he brought a finger to his lips, making the 'shhh' motion.

The Frei turned, floating back over to where Chloe stood just as she hung up the phone.

"Th-They'll b-be here suh-soon."

Roux floated beside Chloe, watching mutely as Aphismet scooped Chloe up in a large hug. He was still for a moment before moving closer, reaching out to very carefully wrap his arms around Chloe's shoulders from behind, leaning his forehead against the back of her head.

He squeezed lightly, closing his eyes as he realized finally... how much he'd missed her.


Chloe didn't have much time to turn before both Aphi and Roux were hugging her. She fought against the rise of emotions for a few moments, reaching up to place one hand over Roux's crossed wrists, her other arm wrapping around Aphismet's back as she leaned her face against his chest. Her body shivered as the tears just wouldn't stop.

She was safe... she was really safe...