It was the day after Santana had come home with the news that he'd lost his job. Lit had of course not reacted well, and stormed out...splintering the door when he slammed it behind him. No one could blame the boy, but it certainly hadn't helped Auryn's mood about the whole situation to know that her brother-figure was so devastated. However, when Lit returned that morning and explained he'd been with Dane most of the night, it got Auryn to thinking about who she needed to say good-bye to. And really, Pepper was the first and only person to come to mind. Other than Lit, the *other* red skinned spawn was the closest thing she had to a best friend. So she asked Santana to take her to the Facility in order to visit the boy, not exactly sure what she expected to happen...but just knowing that she wanted to see him one last time before she left. "You don't have to stay," she said as she slipped out of the Jeep, waiting as Santana came around from the other side to walk with her. "I don't trust these people if I leave you here alone," the wolfish man said, his voice dark. Auryn understood his worry...but still, she felt guilty that he could have been home packing instead of babysitting her.
They entered SoS and were met with the interesting problem...how exactly would they find Pepper? Last time they came here, he barreled on scene and into their kneecaps. Right now...well, who knew where he was.~~
The red skinned pre-teen was of course not quite as rambuncous as he had been when younger. Sure he still ran around like an idiot at times, and most undoubtedly a lot of the staff at the facility probably wished he'd just go up and dissapear.
Still Pepper had been outside, playing in his favorite tree when he had spotted the pair. He perked at the sight of Auryn, though not at her gaurdian. Stupid parents...why did they always have to come? It didn't make sense to him, perhaps only because he didn't really have a parent to harass him.
Slipping down the tree he was soon up to the door of the facility and was peering inside. They seemed to be looking for something...
Opening the door a crack he sideled up to the pair and then tried to wedge himself inbetween them.
Santana and Auryn turned at the same time when they noticed the door was being opened behind them, and Auryn let out a squeal of glee when she recognized the strange swirling aura that was Pepper as he slipped up at her side. "Pepper!" she nearly shouted, throwing her arms around his shape and hugging him tightly (for a moment, forgetting the unsavory reason that they were there in the first place). It had been a while, she realized, since she'd ohysically seen him. The last time it was in her dream scape, but at least now she knew exactly what her friend looked like these days. Nuzzling her face into her hair, her little wings fluttered happily as she clung to him affectionately. "I've missed you!"
Santana had long ago given them a wide birth. While he still felt...uneasy, about the wild child...if Auryn trusted him, he really couldn't be all that bad. He just worried that the boy wouldn't realize his size of strength when around his little songbird. "Nice to see you, Pepper," he offered. It was honest, at least. "You've grown."~~
Pepper gave a wide toothy smile, enjoying the hug as it was and he wrapped his hands around her tightly and swung her around lightly. He was careful about his claws as he didn't want to hurt her. As usually he was ignoring Santana completely, "Your just as pretty as you always were! Even more so now!" He chimed as he then went to nibble on an ear of hers to show how he felt. He did it with everyone he liked after all.
Auryn giggled and cheered as she was picked up and swung around. She almost tried to crawl up into his arms, but would be content with just standing next to him. Why did he have to be so tall? She wished she was tall. "You're so sweet, Pepper!" she said before dissolving into another fit of giggles as her ear was nibbled. "S-stoooop!" she finally pleaded (though only half-heartedly), swatting playfully at his shoulders and pushing her cheek against his, "attempting" to push him away. Really, she liked it. Santana tickled and tossed her around all the time, so the affection was well appreciated.
Santana sighed, shaking his head as he found a seat somewhere to stay out of the way. He really should know better by now that Pepper...was just a strong person. Like Lit had been; however, Pepper wasn't his child, and as long as he wasn't hurting Auryn, Santana couldn't correct nor stop his rude behavior.
As she tried to push him away, he was of course trying even harder to continue chewing on her. It was just the way he was, he couldn't help it .
"But your sooo taaastey lil'Ryn." He stated as he continued to try and wrestle with her.
"I dunno if i can stop myself from gobbling you all up!" he proclaimed as he sat down heavily onto the floor pulling Auryn with him so she sat in his lap, his arms wrapped around her still.
Auryn slipped comfortably into his lap, playfully kicking and waving her arms and protesting all the while. Well, not protesting...playing. "I'll bite you back!" she finally stated, snapping at him and making her teeth click together sharply near the skin of his face and shoulder. "Grrrr!" she growled between "bites".
Santana chuckled, finding their playfulness endearing (if a little strange...how old was Pepper again?), but he saw quickly that they were way off topic. However...he didn't want to be the one to break too much of their happy mood. "Auryn," he called softly, standing up. Hey...while I'm here, why not inform SoS of his change of address? "I'm gonna go fill out some paperwork, ok?"
"Oh...ok, Ana!" she said, peering at him from over Pepper's shoulder, watching as he left the room. Yes, yes...that's right. She had important things to tell Pepper. She'd almost forgotten...honestly, she wished she could forget.
Pepper looked quite amused she was threatening to bite him back, he stuck his tongue out at her as she groweled and snapped her teeth at him. "Don't want you to break your teeth," He stated with a snicker, as it was true he didn't want her to try and bite the rock bits on his skin.
Hands still wrapped around her he rocked back and forth, "Ryn, I want to show you more things in your dreams, I think it would be fun." He started completely unaware of the sad events about to unfold. He was just glad Santana had left them alone for awhile.
"Where is your annoying brother?" He asked looking around as if expecting the other red skinned spawn to suddenly be looming.
Her nickname should be Giggle Monster...because really, that's all she did. She swayed with him as he rocked with her, laughing at the mention of Lit. "Silly PepPer...Lit's not my brother." Was it strange? While Ana and Lit were indeed her family, they'd never referred to each other in those terms. It was just Ana...and Lit'ral. That's who they were. "He's at home..." And that's when her attitude...changed. Her shoulders slumped a bit, her face darkened. She patted his shoulders, feeling the rough texture of the rock bits. It was like she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar...and while she knew she had to admit it, she really didn't want to say it.
"He's home...packing." And when the next part came out of her lips, it was a barest whisper. "We're moving."~~
Pepper didn't argue when it came to what Lit was to her. Really he was just happy the annoying guy wasn't here. Trying to tell him he was dangerous and tell him he'd hurt Ryn...he knew abunch of names he could call Lit..but it would only end up making Ryn unhappy so he kept those names to himself.
He felt her change in posture instantly and he peered to look at her, before suddenly being hit dumbstruck at the news.
"Moving? Where? Why?" he demanded suddenly.
She cringed when he raised his voice. Yeah, she knew this wouldn't have gone over well. He really was a lot like Lit...maybe that's why they didn't get along? "Ana lost his job...and we can't live here if he doesn't have a job," she explained, her hands sliding dejectedly down his arms into her lap, folding her hands together in a meek and apologetic manner...even if it wasn't her fault, she felt bad. "We have to go live with his family."
So...they had to move because Ana lost his job? Well he supposed that made a lot of sense, but at the same time he wrapped his arms possesively around Ryn. He really didn't want to see her go, something tugged painfully in his chest.
"Will you be moving far?" He inquired slowly trying to clam himself down, he knew she didn't like loud voices.
Auryn leaned into him, wrapping her stubby arms around his middle as best as she could. Her head was on the upper part of his chest, since she didn't quite reach his shoulders right now, and she listened to the beating of his heart and felt the strange textures of his skin against her cheeks. "Yes...too far to visit," she mumbled, nuzzling into him. Her wings fluttered once, and were still...almost drooping. She just seemed...soggy. So sad. And the like a switch, water pooled in her eyes and she shut them, trying to force the tears away. Of course she had cried when Ana told them, and had continued to cry after Lit stormed out, but she hadn't wanted to cry in front of Pepper. "I'll m-miss you...P-pepp-per..." ohgod, how her voice trembled.~
Pepper had not come across someone before who was so visible upset, he was unsure on how to respond to it, he knew that his normal behavoir probably wouldn't be suitable but what else could he do? He moved to lift her up , so she was situated better in his lap and he buried his face into her hair, as he did with most people he liked he nuzzeled it. Like a puppy may he nuzzeled and moved to the side of her face to nibble on her ear, he wanted her to stop cryin but he had no words to be able to give her without fear of making her more upset.
The poor child felt her heart breaking, having to leave her best friend...and her familiar home...and while she knew things would be safe, and they would be ok, it still *hurt* so bad. And as he pulled her close and nuzzled her, she just couldn't help herself and began to cry more. She clung to him like he'd done to her guardian just a day before, quietly crying at first but then she started to sob. "It's-s n-not....fair!" she blubbered into his shoulder. "I d-d-on-n't w-wann-naa goooo!" Most people were impressed with Auryn's maturity and grace for her age...right now? That was all crashing down and she was reduced to the young child that she still was. Angry, sad, hurt...she just couldn't help herself.
It wouldn't last long, though. She'd been holding it in since the other day, and once the anger was gone so did the sobs stop. A bit more sniffly than before, she rubbed her face into his shoulder and across her sleeve, tears and snot everywhere on her face and now her clothes. And Pepper...sorry, Pepper. Once that was done, she just sat against him again...shaking, but quiet.~
Pepper stroked her hair and he didn't seem grossed out by the tears and snot combined on her face. He used a thumb to carefully wipe a glob away with little hesitation. He gave her a large grin, "I can come visit you know.." He tapped her head slightly with a claw.
"Remeber? I can visit in your dreams. So you'll never really be alone." Pepper explained as best as he was able to. He wanted to make her happy, and he'd do anything he could to help her out.
"And maybe you'll be able to move back. You never know."
Auryn set back a bit, staring at him...like he was a genius. He was...he wouldn't be more than just a good night's sleep away. She wouldn't have to miss out on her best friend being...who knows how far away. She glomped him - because, really, there is no better word for that forceful, knocking-the-air-out-of-you, rib cracking type of embrace - nuzzling her face into his hair and almost laughing. "Pepper! That's right! Heheh, you can come see me in my dreams!" She'd almost forgotten. "It'll be like pen-pals, but we can actually hang out together!"~
Pepper was use to the being the one who glomped people but he only buried his face into her and hugged her back laughing against her.
"Yes so don't be sad, you won't be gone forever, and I'll keep tabs on you." He stated with a smile, "No more crying okay?" He asked prying her off of him so he could see her face.
Prying is a good word. So would be peeling. But she did ease back, smiling. Beaming, really, though there was still something sad in her face just from the emotional roller coaster of the past few days. "I promise. No more crying."
Santana...well, he had missed the part about the dream visits, but he knew there had been tears and at least some sort of promise to keep in touch. Sighing, rubbing his head, he called Auryn's name so as not to startle the pair before coming around the corner. "Songbird? It's...time to go." He sounded to apologetic...though really it wasn't his fault, but how could he not feel guilty?
Auryn glanced up when Santana entered, and her face drooped again. She nodded, and when she looked back to Pepper she just hugged him around the neck again. "I'll still miss you," she confessed.~
Pepper tried not to growl at the man who was taking Ryn away. After all it wasn't his faullt...though he could still blame him. Recieving the hug he managed to squeeze her tightly back mock gasping for breath from her grip.
"I...c...can't b..breath!" He pretended trying to lighten her mood before laughing and ruffling her hair. "I'll see you in your dreams," He murmrued softly poking her on her nose.
