Kaleido
Matador's eyes had a glint in them like Covet had never seen. He stood at the end of the bar, seething and glaring at her. After all their time together, she decided to insult his care and protection by inviting that cretin into his establishment. His arms were crossed tightly against his taught chest as his shadow loomed over Covet. What she did was ludicrous and disrespectful. She played with fire again, and this time she would be burned. Matador knew what he said to her was cruel but it was not only what he felt, but the truth. Disappointment and fury boiled in his mouth. After several minutes of silence, he spoke, "Are you satisfied, Covet? Is that the sort of pleasure you desired?"


Ceeda
The silence that followed Mecca pressed down on her. Sniffing, she wiped at the tears that had started to fall, mixing with the blood on her cheek. She could feel Matador seething as he stood stiffly next to her, refusing to even look at her. Picking up the last feather she slowly rose to her feet. She couldn't look at him. She was too ashamed. Not even when he finally spoke, did she look at him. "What difference does it make to you, Matador?" she asked just above a whisper, the lump of tears threatening to choke her.


Kaleido
"It matters to me when it takes place in my place of business, Covet!" Matador said, slamming his fist on the bar and smashing an ashtray in the process. Pieces of glass scattered across the bar covered in Matador's blood. It was deep red, but not nearly as fiery has his ruby hair. Stalking around the bar, Matador pulled Covet up by her arm, pinning her back against the bar. His glare burned as he squeezed her arm tightly. His body was dangerously close to hers and he breathed heavily. "I run a bar, not a bordello," Matador hissed, his eyes flashing in the light. "I raised you better than that!"


Ceeda
Covet jumped as his fist slammed into the bar, and her bright, watery eyes finally looked up at him. When he grabbed her and pinned her against the bar, her pulse began to race in fear. She had never seen him angry. Why did he have to be so angry? His fingers dug into her arm and she could feel his ragged breath just inches from her lips. "Did you Matador? It seems to me that I remember you teaching me to give the customer what they want. You never seem to have a problem with that when a pretty little hourglass figure bats her eyes at you. Just because Mecca's idea is different doesn't give you the right to be angry with me," she said, an odd calm settling over her. It hurt that he was angry, that he said mean things, that he dug his finely manicured fingers into her skin... but it hurt more that he accused her of things he so blindly did as well.


Kaleido
Matador let go of Covet's arms and stepped back. Pulling the pieces of glass from his hand, he threw the bits into the trash can piece by piece. "I never had any indiscretions with any customers, Covet. I never touched them nor did they touch me," Matador said, wincing as he pulled another shard from the heel of his hand. "Entertaining clients with conversation, providing their food and drink as requested or creating events for them to enjoy is all I have ever done." Her words, rolled off him like water on a duck's back. It made him wonder what her point actually was. "Think for a minute, what would happen if a customer walked in on what I saw?" Matador said, pulling another piece free. Blood ran down his hand and into the trash can. "What sort of image would that give? Do you want a questionable reputation?" His tone became increasingly parental and professional, but his eyes were still furious. "Don't attack my personality, Covet. That's hitting below the belt and you know it."


Ceeda
His tone irritated her. She didn't want a father or an employer. She just wanted Matador. She stared coolly at him, her usually warm eyes as cold as ice. "I don't care," she said as a universal answer to his questions. She turned slightly and reached under the bar for one of the linens she used to clean the tables with. Gently, she reached out and took his injured hand in hers and began to wipe the blood from his arm. Why did a broken heart have to cause so much pain, she wondered, refusing to look up at him again.


Kaleido
"That's an unacceptable answer, Covet," Matador said, shaking his head. "You may not care what people think of you or what kind of establishment I run, but both are of equally high importance to me." His eyes softened as he watched Covet tend to wound. He didn't like the tone she had taken with him, and it made him wonder if she was trying to get him to play into her hand like she did when she was a child. He gritted his teeth and swallowed hard, as she rubbed the cloth over a piece of glass still in his hand. Eyes watering, Matador tried blinking the tears off.


Ceeda
As the linen dragged across the piece of glass, a small childish satisfaction danced through her at causing him pain. But she quickly banished it away and paused in cleaning the blood to peer closer at it. She immediately found the shard of glass and using her nails, pulled it out. His blood smeared on her finger tips, mixing with her own and she was held captive by the sight for a mere moment, before she dropped the glass into the garbage. "Why should it matter if you care how others see me Matador? I'm just some kid you picked up off the street. If you don't like the way I live my life, I can just as easily leave," she said softly, resuming wiping away the blood from his skin.


Kaleido
"Is that how highly you think of our relationship," Matador asked, lifting her chin to look Covet square in her bright eyes. "After all this time, do you honestly think I feel you are nothing but some stray I took in?" His eyes searched hers imploringly. The small girl he once knew had vanished, but he couldn't tell when. Had he failed her completely? Her touch felt gentle, like the feathers which littered the floor. "You can live your life as you see fit," Matador said, calmly. "Leave if you want. Stay if you want. I just don't want to see Mecca anywhere near here." Matador hated being the villain in this situation, but he needed to consider the reputation of his bar and his personal safety as well as that of the people he cared about.


Ceeda
Tears immediately filled her eyes as her brave facade crumbled. She couldn't hold onto her anger. It wasn't meant for him, but for herself. She was angry that she had allowed herself to fall victim to her curiosity and angry at herself for soiling her relationship with Matty. Still... she wanted to know how he truly felt about her and steeled her nerves to ask the question. "Then what am I to you Matador. What have I become for you?" she asked, slowly reaching up to grab fistfuls of his jacket with her hands.


Kaleido
Matador felt himself jerk forward, as Covet grabbed his jacket. His eyes widened with confusion. One moment she wanted to hit him, but now it looked like she wanted to kiss him. "What do you mean?" Matador said, raising an eyebrow at Covet. "When you were little, I worried about you like a parent, but as you grew you've become like a little sister to me, Covet. Why do you think I was so angry?" He didn't know what to do, seeing Covet cry always broke his heart even when he was resolved not to permit it.


Ceeda
Those weren't the words her heart longed to hear. A daughter first, a sister second. She knew she shouldn't have expected anything else, but hearing him say it was the final blow. She collapsed against him as her tears began to flood down her face. "I'm sorry Matty. Please... forgive me," she begged through her sobs. "I'm so sorry."


Kaleido
Matador wrapped his arms tightly around Covet, giving her the biggest bear hug that he could. He carefully ran his fingers over her hair and gently on her wings, trying to calm her down. Things were certainly different now, as Matador caught on to what she really intended by her question. He wouldn't embarrass her by making her say it, that would make him cruel and it wasn't his style. Resting his cheek atop her head, Matador gently sung the song he sang to her all those times she cried when she was a child. He knew she'd probably hate him for it, but it all he could think of. His mind was racing, and a few tears slipped past his long lashes. "Don't apologize, Covet." He said kissing the top of her head gently. "You’re already forgiven.


Ceeda
Covet clung to him, welcoming his arms around her and his gentle, soothing touch. She suddenly was that child he had not so long ago scooped up from the bar floor and hugged away her tears. As he started to sing, her sobs became silent, but try as she might she couldn't get them to stop. She felt his lips atop her head and heard his soft words, and she cried harder. After a few moments, she was finally able to calm down enough into hiccupping and she pulled away. She looked up into his own teary violet eyes and suddenly felt very numb. Slowly she turned away from him and started to clean up the mess on the bar.


Kaleido
Matador felt Covet pull away from him. She wasn't a little girl anymore, and he felt guilty for using childish means for comforting her. Since she had grown, they had never fought and he never had to comfort her. As she resumed cleaning up, Matador took the medical kit out from under the bar and continued to patch his hand. The medicine stung and the lotion burned, but he redressed the wound and cleaned up the shattered bits of glass. "Please don't bring him around here, Covet," Matador said, after a few minutes. "What you do with him is your own business. I can't tell you how to live your life, but please understand where I am coming from."


Ceeda
"That's fine Matador. I understand," she replied with a bit of flatness in her voice as she finished cleaning the bar top. She turned and dumped everything, including the rag she had been cleaning with into the garbage. "How was your evening?" she asked feigning interest as she grabbed Mecca's glass and walked into the kitchen to wash it out.


Kaleido
"Nothing out of the usual," Matador smiled, as he wiped the bar down. "Just dinner and dancing." Now that Covet was no longer a child, he was certain she didn't want to hear stories of him romancing Enoch, especially after he humiliated and kicked out her visitor earlier. Reaching into the garbage, Matador shook the towel, letting the feathers and glass shake free. Leaning over the sink he rinsed it out and pitched it into the laundry basket underneath the bar with the other used linens. Taking off his jacket, Matador hung it on a peg behind the bar. He wore a black, fitted midriff tank top, revealing his strong shoulders, arms, abs and back. Braiding his hair quickly, Matador turned on the faucet and filled up a bucket. Tying his apron on, he set about mopping the floor.


Ceeda
Covet took her time rinsing the glass out, trying to regain her composure. Drying it, she took it back out to place back under the bar. As she slowly rose from bending over, her eyes fell on Matador. He had promised her that he would always take care of her. That even if he were stern with her, that he was doing it because he cared for her. But why couldn't he love her? She watched as he methodically mopped the floor, his muscles working and rippling smoothly, his bright red hair danced in its braid. She longed to have him hold her in his arms like he did Enoch. But he wouldn't. Glancing down at the bar she traced circles on the top with her finger. "That's it? Only dinner and dancing? Are you losing your touch? Or is she losing her interest?" she asked idly.


Kaleido
Matador nearly knocked the bucket over when Covet challenged his masculinity. She had never made such a bold comment at him before. "No, Covie, I haven't lost my touch," Matador said, leaning on the mop in the bucket. "However, a true gentleman doesn't disclose his private affairs." Matador found her line of questioning puzzling, but he couldn't understand why. "I certainly hope she isn't losing interest," Matador said under his breath, resuming mopping. "That would leave me a broken man."


Ceeda
"Broken? Over her, when there's so many more women out there?" she asked lifting her eyes briefly, then dropping them back down to the bar. She bit her tongue at that. She didn't want to sound so catty, but the thought of losing Matador to Enoch scared her so much that she tended not to think straight. "When are you going to see her again?" she asked flexing out her right wing to inspect the damage Mecca had inflicted on it. It still stung where he had pulled the feathers out.


Kaleido
"You know once, I thought that same exact way," Matador said, smiling wistfully. "Maybe I'm just an old coot with a crush now." Looking over at Covet, he wondered what she could possibly be thinking. "Enoch? Oh I don't know. It depends on when I have a night off and she's not busy." Seeing Covet examining her wing, he put down the mop and walked over. "Let me put something on it. It'll help with the tenderness."


Ceeda
"You're not old," she replied automatically. He always said that and she always argued with him about it. As he started to walk towards her, she quickly retracted her wing tightly against her back. "No... I'm alright," she refused, turning her back away from him. She knew exactly what he was going to put on them and she hated the stuff. "Besides... I did this to myself right? I deserve the pain... don't I?" she said softly, glancing down and noticing the blood on her chest and blouse. She really had let Mecca do a number on her. What the hell had she been thinking?


Kaleido
"It'll only get worse if it's not taken care of," Matador said gently, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Then I would be the villain for making you suffer further." Lifting her chin up to look into her bright, clear eyes, Matador smiled. "Go take a shower and get your pajamas on. I'll patch you up after and make you some tea."


Ceeda
Covet gave him a weak smile and threw her arms around him, just feel his warmth and strength against her for a moment. Then she quickly released him and brushed past him to head up the stairs. A shower would be just what she needed. She needed some time to get her head straight again. She was still angry with herself for everything that had happened and was still taking it out needlessly on Matador. Once in her room she quickly took off her soiled clothes and hopped into the shower. She gently rubbed the areas that Mecca had cut then sank down to her knees and leaned against the wall to let the warm water just fall on her. She closed her eyes and allowed the steam to relax her until she eventually began to doze.


Kaleido
Matador shook his head after Covet cleared the stairs. Mecca had truly crossed the line. Finishing up the floor, Matador locked up the shop and shut off most of the lights. Carrying the kit and his jacket thrown carelessly over his shoulder, he went up the stairs, he entered his own room. Closing his door, Matador stripped down and hopped in the shower himself. Taking a quick shower, he winked at the old ladies across the way that were peeping into his bathroom window. "This one's one the house," Matador winked, blowing kisses to them. They squealed and cackled loudly. Shutting the window, Matador wrapped a towel around his lower half and walked out into his bedroom.


Ceeda
It was the sudden shock of cold water that woke her up. One moment she was dozing happily in her steamy shower and the next she covered in ice. She jumped up, slipping a little before catching herself. Sighing she reached out and turned the water off. Looked like Matty had decided to take a shower as well. He always takes all my hot water, she thought huffily reaching for her towel. Shivering she wrapped the large fluffy towel around her and hopped out. She didn't bother with her hair and let it fly free and wet as she walked out into her room. She quickly grabbed her pajamas and slipped into them, tossing her towel off into a corner. Sighing she flopped down into her cushy bed and curled herself up into a little ball in the middle of it.


Kaleido
Matador shimmied around his room in his towel, pulling out a pair of purple striped pajama bottoms. Hopping into them nimbly, he toweled off his long red hair. Combing it straight, he tied it in a low ponytail. Pulling on a fitted white t-shirt and his favorite fluffy slippers and his glasses, Matador took the med kit to Covet's room. Knocking gently on the door, he waited. "Are you ready, Covet?"


Ceeda
"No," she muttered under her breath. "Yes," she called out to him, tucking wings as close to her body as was physically possible. She pulled up into herself more and kept a bright glaring green eye on the door. Oh how she hated this part.


Kaleido
Opening the door, Matador excused himself and entered, for it was poor manners to enter a woman's boudoir and not do so. His long hair fell into his face, obscuring his glasses. Trying to cheer Covet up, he sang the familiar tune of a shark horror film as he approached, snaking the box in front of him. "Now, there's no need for that," Matador pouted at Covet. "You know I am always as gentle as possible."


Ceeda
Covet smiled in spite of herself at Matador's antics. Slowly she uncurled herself and stretched out on her stomach, flexing her wings out for easier access. "Do we really have to do this?" she asked in a bit of a childlike whine. She buried her face down into her fluffy comforter and shielded her face with her long purple hair. She really hoped he would hurry. Her wings were starting to ache the way she was extending them.


Kaleido
Matador sat beside her, smiling in relief that his tactics made her smile. "Yes, it's the only time I ever rush things," he said, carefully, brushing her hair off her back, Matador pressed a hand at the base of her wings. "Don't strain them, it'll only hurt more," he whispered. "Relax." His fingers parted her feathers slowly, wiping the tender spots with ointment. Taping bandages carefully, Matador finished as quickly as he possibly could. Patting her on the shoulder gently, he smiled. "You'll probably have sleep on your stomach tonight," Matador winked, "It'll be the most comfortable. Did I miss anything?"


Ceeda
At Matador's gentle touch, Covet relaxed and let her wings droop down by her sides. She focused on his gentle fingers as he took care of each spot with great tenderness and speed. When he finished, she turned her face out from the comforter to look at him through her long hair. "Yes," she smiled and sat up to kneel on her knees next to him. "My kiss," she said turning her unscratched cheek towards him with a playful smile.


Kaleido
Lifting her chin up, Matador examined her other cheek. Mecca really did a number on her. "Only after we're finished," he said, looking at the scratches carefully. "Is there anywhere else that needs tending to?" Opening the case again, Matador removed the disinfectant, ointment, and a cotton square. Turning her cheek to the light, he shook his own bangs from his eyes and looked at it clearly. "This one might sting," he stated firmly. "But we should take care of it, so it doesn't scar."


Ceeda
Sighing heavily, Covet gave him full access to her wounded cheek, holding in her whimpers as he followed the cut down the length of her face with the ointment. When he was done with her face she gave him a long look, then started to unbutton the top button to her pajama top. "I guess we ought to take care of these too. And the ones down by my hip," she said, keeping her eyes on his as she unbuttoned the second button and pulled the top of her pajama shirt apart to expose the top part of her chest, just under her collarbone and shoulder where Mecca had dug in and scratched her.


Kaleido
Matador suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable. Though he was babying Covet like he always did, seeing the locations of her scratches unnerved him. Shaking his head, Matador leaned forward and wiped the disinfectant over them, applying slight pressure on the deeper parts of the cut. "This will be the last time I do this, Covet," Matador said, looking up from her chest scrapes to her eyes. "You’re an adult now. You're old enough to make your own decisions," He said, returning his focus back to his work. "And old enough to handle the consequences. I can't protect you any more." Taping another bandage in place, he pitched the dirty cotton dressings in the trash. "Let's get that last one, too."


Ceeda
Covet forced herself to breathe evenly as Matador leaned closer to see better and watched the top of his ruby head with soft eyes. When he looked up she started to smile, but it quickly disappeared at his words. She nodded slightly as she listened to him, but stopped when he turned his eyes back down to what he was doing. At his final words of his speech, she felt as though her heart had stopped beating. 'Can't protect you anymore,' she repeated in her mind. But he had promised he would always be by her side, that he would always take care of her. Slowly she re-buttoned her top and lifted up the hem of her shirt to expose the spot where Mecca had dug his nails in to hold her in place. "But Matty.... you promised me..." she said softly with worry in her eyes.


Kaleido
Matador was relieved that Covet buttoned up her shirt again. He hadn't really seen Covet's body up close since she grew up and started wearing clothes. Had he been his old self, he might have flirted with her a little, but thoughts of earlier kept that part of his mind firmly in check. "Lean back a little," he said, moving the waist band of her bottoms out of the way just a few centimeters. His eyes narrowed at seeing how deep the claw marks went. Matador swore vengeance under his breath if his path crossed with Mecca’s again. "What I mean is, you have to take some initiative, too," he continued, holding her hip with his long fingers, pushing down slightly with the heel of his hand. "You have to protect yourself, too. Like I said earlier, if you are going to involve yourself in dangerous situations, it's a bit unfair to expect someone else to rescue you." Rubbing the bandage into place, Matador looked up and searched her eyes; praying she would understand what he was telling her. His hands lingered on her waist as he waited for her to respond.


Ceeda
Covet leaned back slightly, putting her weight on her free hand. She shivered lightly as his fingers brushed her bare skin and watched him intently as he examined and then administered ointment to the cuts. She took in a sharp breath when he pushed down firmly and tried to focus solely on the hand that was holding her still. A wave of relief washed through her at his words. So he wasn't trying to abandon her. When he finished speaking she looked deep into his amethyst eyes and was painfully aware of his hands resting lightly on her waist. She gave him a small smile as she pushed herself up and slipped her arms loosely around his neck. "I understand Matty. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. I don't think I could bear it," she said softly, looking deep into his eyes. She then leaned forward as if to kiss him, but shifted slightly so that only their cheeks brushed lightly and rested her head down on his shoulder as she tightened her arms in an embrace. "I promise I'll be more careful Matty," she promised, her breath lightly brushing the bare skin of his neck as she cradled her face against the warm comfortable spot at his neck and shoulder.


Kaleido
In some respects, Covet was still very innocent and childlike. It wasn't until she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, that he was once again reminded that she was very much a beautiful, curvaceous young woman. Matador raised an eyebrow in surprise as she closed in on him and turned slightly at the last moment. 'She couldn't possibly...' he thought, tensing slightly until she rested against him. Wrapping his arms around her, Matador gave her a firm, but brief hug. Becoming very aware of their surroundings: Covet's bedroom. Alone. Just the two of them. In each other's arms. On her bed. He wasn't reading bedtime stories and tucking a child into bed anymore. Covet was now a woman, and he was still very much a man. "I'll go make that tea, now," Matador said, pulling back slightly, and sitting Covet up.


Ceeda
Covet smiled in contentment when she felt his arms wrap around her. She closed her eyes and breathed him in, never wanting to move again. But then she felt him pull away, pushing her up gently. She fought every nerve in her body to not pout and smiled brightly instead. "Would you like some help Matty?" she asked, reaching up to pull her damp hair back over her shoulders to rest between her wings. She wasn't going to let him push her away that easily.


Kaleido
"Sure thing," Matador said, sliding out of Covet's arms. Rising up, he put everything back in the case and snapped it shut. "I'll meet you down stairs," he said walking to the door. "Dry off your hair, so you don't catch a cold." Excusing himself again, he shuffled down the hallway to his room in his fuzzy slippers. Entering his room, he put the medical case on his dresser and looked into the mirror. "That was more difficult than I thought," he said to himself, shaking his head.


Ceeda
Covet smiled to herself as she watched him walk out of her room. She uncurled her legs out from under her and got up to dry her hair. Smiling at her reflection, she ran a comb through her long locks, taking care to go over the tender spot carefully. Once dry, she left her thick hair freely spilling down her back and shoulders. She examined the cut on her face carefully for a moment, then backed away and hopped over to her bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, she stopped skipping and walked gracefully out into the hall and made her way to the stairs.


Kaleido
Matador went back down to the bar, turning on one-fourth of the lights. Reaching up, he plucked their mugs from the shelf. They were worn from constant usage, but they still shined beautifully. Filling up the kettle, he turned the power on and went into the kitchen.


~Paused~