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Cody curled into a ball in the corner of the cold, harsh prison cell, wings wrapped around him like a cocoon. He had spent the last half hour or so being interrogated by the police. Of course, in his sudden change of mental state they hadn't gotten anything out of him. Thankfully, one of the officers recognized him and managed to provide the others with enough information to at least get them off his back. Not too long ago, he was given the telephone to call his mother.

And in his fear-striken state, he had called Edes instead, whispering the location of the jail to him and asking, no, PLEADING for the spawn to come. Now he had to wait... and hope the curly haired spawn wasn't too mad at him.

Oh god, what if Edes hated him and didn't show up? What if he just took one look at him and left? Those thoughts alone hurt him more than any blow Ary had dealt in the past and pierced deeper than any wound. If that happened... Cody wasn't sure what he would do. Life certainly wouldn't be the same and he doubted he would be either...

Cody moved his wings and looked out. There, on the other side of the cold and unforgiving metal bars sat a much older Edes. "E-edes? Oh thank god," he whispered, slowly unwrapping himself and sliding towards the bars. He slipped his hand through, taking hold of his friends.

"I... Th-they said I tried robbing a store. I don't remember anything though... I'm scared. S-said I'd have t-to sp-spend the night here," he muttered, looking close to tears. His usual bad-a**, I don't give a damned about you attitude gone and replaced by sheer terror.

"I don't want to be here alone. Reminds me of place," Cody continued, biting his lip. He had to stay strong and not cry. He couldn't let Edes see him so scared and fearful. He couldn't!

~~

Shadai merely groaned as she saw Noel's car pull into the driveway after seeing Cody's room empty. She was so STUPID for not nailing his windows shut like Ary had told her to. She was completely silent the entire drive over to the prison, trying hard to organize herself.

Upon getting there, she just barely managed to stop herself from intruding on the little moment Edes and Cody were having and instead positioned herself next to Noel to wait for a police officer to question her. "You are so lucky you don't have to deal with this. Twice in a week I've had to deal with the police because of him, and for the same crime!" she whispered, sighing sadly.

Cody looked away as Edes spoke, not even realizing he COULD do it... But apparently he could and quite well. He flinched as Edes got up and moved away, wishing he would have stayed, but a little longer.

Moments later, the barred door open and Edes slipped through, causing his terror-filled heart to soar. "Thank you... You're the best Edes," he murmured, snuggling close to the sloth spawn. Through all the emotions he felt, a small part of him was overjoyed at being so close to him. The spawn wrapping his arms around him, holding him close and comforting him more than mere words could.

Shifting a bit, Cody sat up a little to allow his wings to spread and wrap around the two a bit. "I see you've grown as well..." he murmured, squeezing Edes a little, as if reassuring himself his friend was still there and holding him.

Shadai bit her lip, suddenly fearing for Edes as well. "Perhaps... Perhaps it is a phase of sorts? There has to be something we can do that doesn't entail putting them on house arrest. Even with Cody locked up in his room, he managed to escape and rob a place and you mention Edes just randomly falling asleep. Maybe an energy drink of sorts could keep him awake while traveling?" she suggested, hoping to at least help the male a little bit with his problem.

~~

Cody sighed softly, leaning into the petting a bit. It felt so soothing and comforting, he temporarily forgot what had happened and where he was. That is, till Edes questioned him on it.

Slowly, his blue-green eyes locked with Edes's pink ones. "If I knew, I would tell you. All I remember is sitting around in my room one moment, and being shoved into the back of a police car the next. I swear! They said I broke into this store and was trying to take their stuff... I'd never-well... Maybe a small item, but I'd never try and rob a place!" he whispered, only a moment later realizing what Edes had said.

A soft pink blush rose to his cheeks, frozen briefly in time. Edes thought he was the most important friend he had? Cody was flattered, to say the least. "I wish the same; you look really good. I consider you to be my best friend as well. Heh, kind of obvious since you were the first one I called," he continued, blushing even more. He was so STUPID some days. Course, he had really wanted to say how cute Edes looked and not what he had said. If he had, he was positive the spawn might have left. Hell, he hadn't a clue as to Edes's true feelings anyways.

Shadai sighed and nodded, looking extremely exhausted as a police officer moved over and began to ask her questions. It was definitely going to be a long night.

~~~

Cody shook his head, wishing his mind hadn't decided to dwell there. Now Edes would be worried about him even more, or perhaps make him suspicious. Oh god, that would be bad.

And, of course, not moments later the same slight blush returned as Edes offered to stay with him till he could go home. "R-r-really? You would? Thank you," he whispered, hugging the boy tightly for a moment. For the briefest moment, Cody thought about all Edes had done for him and how such a person didn't deserve a screw-up like himself. Then again, did he really care so long as Edes was happy and with him? Not really.

"You have no idea how much you staying means to me," he added, smiling softly.

Cody blushed, holding Edes tighter as he moved closer after moving away for a few seconds. "Edes... I don't want you to leave either," he murmured, gently breathing in the scent of shampoo that lingered around the spawn's hair. It was so intoxicating, he wished he could breathe it in the rest of his life.

"I... I got something for you," he added, hesitating for a moment before removing his one arm from where it was around his friend up to his neck. After a moment of fiddling, he pulled out a small silver chain with two feathers made of colored glass from around his neck. Ever since the day Lironax had gotten it for him in payment for helping her shop, he had worn it around his neck in hopes of running into the curly-haired spawn that now sat in his lap.

"Here," he muttered, gently handing it to the boy. Along the veins of the feathers themselves was gold leafing, making the brilliant colors of the glass stand out even more. Of course, it also matched the bright red blush that was spreading rapidly across Cody's face.

It was hardly a surprise when the pale arms that rested around Edes suddenly tightened, wings closing and protecting the little spawn from the sight of where they truly were.

"Edes..." Cody muttered, blushing darkly as his hair fell into his eyes, obscuring them from view. Edes actually wanted to be his! And here he was beginning to think his claim of the boy as his was just nonsense and silly.

"It does makes sense. You are forever and always mine. You know... this floor isn't all that comfortable..," he finished, easily picking the boy up, cradling him in his arms and moving over to the cot of sorts in the corner. Settling onto it, the spawn rested Edes back into his lap with his arms wrapped protectively around him and wings forming a sort of cocoon around them. Nothing was going to touch his Edes.

Nothing.

Cody held Edes a little tighter, resting his chin on top of the spawn's curly haired head. "Y-you... You have n-no idea h-h-how much I've wanted t-t-to hear those words," he muttered, trembling slightly but not from the cold. No, far from that. Happiness surged through the poor little boy, his heart pounding frantically out of sheer joy at how the one person he cared about most having similar feelings for him.

"Does th-th-that mean I-I-I can ask you out?" he joked, smiling warmly at him and trying hard to ignore the bright red blush that flooded his face and the heat that emanated from him. Who cared though? The one he cared about was resting in HIS arms claiming to have similar feelings. Besides, he could kick their asses later.

~~~

Shadai blinked and glanced over at the pair, giggling softly at the sight. "My-my. I would hope later rather than sooner," she replied softly, relaxing a bit. Well, at least Cody wasn't entirely messed up like she had previously thought.