"Beeeccaaaa~ Leeeeex~" Without giving the two a chance to even turn their heads, the mist trainee leaped towards them, tackling both to the ground.

"Man you two. Late again?" He gave them both a 'tsk' like noise, before he sat up. To be fair, it had been the two of them who had been waiting on him. As per usual, he was the one who was late and blaming it on them.

:If I were you I'd move your hand.:

Huh?

Cody looked down, only to realize that, not only was his hand on Becca, it was pressed directly against her budding chest.

"Oh! Damn! Sorry Becca," He started to apologize, removing his hand instantly. "they're so small I hadn't even noticed. What are you an A-cup?"

Turns out this was the worst possible apology for a growing girl, because it seemed to have the exact opposite effect he had been hoping for.

Becca's eyes narrowed, her face turning red.

"A lady does not tell her cup size, thank you." She answered, with as much dignity as she could manage in this situation.

Cody only snorted.

"That's okay, you don't need to. I can totally tell just by looking." It was lucky for Becca that he hadn't added any flat board comments. Still, this did little to cool the female trainees temper.

"A-cups can be exciting too!" She snapped, glaring back at Cody, who had already moved on to wrestling with Lex. The later who had now successfully managed to pin the black haired boy to the ground and was currently using him as a seat.

"Oh yeah?" He looked back up at her, amused by this. Again, Becca seemed to be the opposite.

Her face stiffened, before she lifted her chin.

"You may not find them exciting, because you're nothing more then a perverted boy with no sense of...of--never mind! You're just a pervert and I hope you get punched in the face. Better yet!" She raised her arm, aiming to strike the still very much pinned boy in the face.

:Now is the perfect time to practice your evasive skills.:

BUT I CAN'T MOVE! Cody practically whined at the werewolf.

:Don't whine! Just move!: He snapped back.

Cody obeyed; squirming under the weight of his friend, just enough to move and shove Lex's face into the oncoming attack.

It worked.

There was a long moment of silence, before it was broken by a hasty apology from Becca.

"Oh God, Lex! I am really sorry!" She started, only to have Lex raise a hand to silence her.

"Just a second." Lex interrupted, and proceeded to shove Cody's head into the dirt. The result of which had Cody tasting grit for the remainder of the day.





The memories seemed so fresh. Like they had only happened just yesterday.

His trainee days, despite how tough and unfair they might have seemed at times and how he complained about them, were probably the happiest days of his life. Deus Ex was the first and only place he truly felt that he could belong and it was because of that place, that he was able to meet both Becca and Lex--even Dimitri. It was his home and there was nothing he wouldn't give to go back to it.

But he couldn't. Not anymore.

He could feel the pain of his body slowly being torn apart. Slowly being drawn into the darkness. He knew he was dying, and there was little time left.

It was the first time he truly felt despair.

He didn't want to die! There was still so many things he wanted to do. Things he regretted not doing. Like not getting the chance to return Becca's feelings, when she had finally worked up the courage to tell him... But most of all... Most of all, Cody regretted not being able to stay and protect his friends--his family, when they needed him most.

:CODY!:

Dimitri yelled into his mind. Which, was not all that unfamiliar to the hunter by now. He had been yelled at by him at least five times a day since the two of them had started working together. However, for maybe the first time since then, Cody heard actual fear in the werewolf's voice.

The first and last time.

The sword, slipped from the now limp hand before it disappeared completely into the black abyss. Dimitri hit the ground with a loud clatter, his blue runes flaring to life, once more. One final time, before they burned themselves out completely.