Freezing from surprise, Zaire watched as Asha stepped toward him. Or did he freeze from a heart-stopping, painfully dizzying rush of hope that almost left him staggering back. He wavered a second, the hesitant and soft look stealing onto his face again. And then Asha stepped past him and fumbled with the door lock. He said nothing and Zaire blinked in confusion at the way the other boy trembled. Why? Was he cold? He didn't understand that fear drove it, fear of him. "Does..." he started as he slipped through the door after a second of hesitation. "Does this mean that you're giving me a chance?" he asked, the hope inside him almost too much to keep contained. It threatened to burst out of him at lightning speed. Zaire stood there just past the doorway, trembling slightly with it, only a foot away from Asha.

Asha firmly closed the door as his heart hammered hard and fast in his chest. his eye's momentarily went into his feline Eyes then back to normal human as he forced himself to calm. or at least calm as much as he could. "I..I don't..I don't know. I..I can try." he whispered hating himself for saying the words. but he did still love the other. even if a part of him snapped that he should tell him heck no and go away. he had Gage.. but well. he wasn't sure where he and gage where. it was hard to figure. he knew he should tell the other no. after all, he was still a shifter. he couldn't change that any more then he could change the sky to purple or some other color.

The dizziness in his head increased tenfold. Zaire didn't notice Asha's eyes change, just the words he said. A relieved smile crossed over his face, leaving muscles relaxing all the way for the first time that night. In a flash, he threw both arms around Asha in a tight hug, burying his face against the other boy's shoulder. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" he gasped as he squeezed Asha before relaxing into a gentle hug. "I won't let you down. You'll see..." He trailed off, letting out a yawn he must have been holding in for hours, but was too on edge to notice. He'd started to relax now though and hope made him drowsy. "I don't really have anywhere to stay. Do you think I can sleep here?"

Alarm bells went off in Asha's head and he swallowed. "I..I.. h..have a gu..g..guest r..r..room." he forced out in a stuttering voice. trying not to show how tense he was with the other holding him. some responses where hard to ignore. but he also knew ticking the other off would just lead to pain so he was trying really hard not to. which meant even though he wanted to shove the other away, BADLY, he forced himself not to. though he didn't hug the other back.

Zaire didn't mind that Asha didn't hug him back. To him, he'd been accepted and that was enough. Finally, after a span of five seconds, he pulled away. He wouldn't mind sleeping on a couch or the floor considering it was the best option he found in some time. This last week he'd spent mostly sleeping outside, being confused for a mentally unstable homeless person, though his clothing was far too nice for it. He couldn't understand why anyone would confuse him for a madman. "Thank you," he said again, a soft smile on his face. He suppressed another yawn. "...I promise I won't let you down this time..." Sleep tugged on him though and he couldn't think of a way to prove that so he just dragged a hand through his hair and waited for Asha to show him to the guest room.

Asha backed away from him warily, and then lead him to the Guest room, pointing out where the door tot he bathroom in the hall was. he was once again Greatful he'd put locks on his bedroom door. he'd felt silly do ing so in every new place he'd moved. but he'd done so. on every new apartment he'd taken on his travels there he'd put up the best locks money could buy on his bedroom doors. Once he got theother settled he retreated to his own room where he threw the bolts home on not one but four locks, two dead bolts, and three sliding locks, one before one dead bolt, one after the first dead bolt and before the second one and one after the second dead bolt. then he sat down on his bed and rubbed at his face. what the hell was he thinking letting the other inside his home?

Happy thoughts still swirling in his head, Zaire fell onto the guest bed without bothering to loosen his clothes. As an afterthought, he kicked off his shoes, then lay there with his face in the pillow. It smelled glorious--fresh and with the faint scent of Asha that he imagined permeated the entire home. With that thought in mind, he drifted off into his peaceful sleep.

The next morning, Gage slipped from his bed to go through his usual routine of breakfast and a change of clothes. Pleasant conversation with his parents, then an hour of warm up on the piano--soft and easy music that just started the day right. He couldn't explain it, but his mood felt lighter than it had in years. Was it Asha's fault? He didn't think the other boy got under his skin to that degree. He wasn't ready to acknowledge it, let alone tell Asha that, but it came out in his music nonetheless. It was about an hour before noon when the coffee scent started to dissipated in his home that Gage called the other's number, still feeling very much at ease.

Asha Picked his phone up on the first ring. the easy tone in his voice was gone, stress and uncertainty laced it as well as a good dose of fear. "H..h..hello?" Asha flicked a glance towards the guest room, hoping that Zaire hadn't been woken up. the other hated being woken up before he got up on his own and asha really did not need the man in a bad mood. he hadn't really gotten any sleep. to stressed, not to mention the nightmares that had dissapeared since moving there where back ..so that he actually had faint marks under his eyes stating to the world at large tha the hadn't slept very well. of course when he heard Gage's voice some of the stress in his face melted away. even his voice warmed up. "Gage? Good morning.." Asha wasn't even aware that his voice had warmed up or even relaxed. even sitting at the kitchen table as he'd been his position relaxed from the wary and tense form it had been to something a lot more comfortable and relaxed.

Gage paused, reading the inflections in Asha's greeting. Afraid? Or just plain stressed? It was an unusual sound to hear though Asha expressed uncertainty before. This was different, far more pause worthy. After a second, he cleared his own throat and responded. "Yes, it's Gage, and good morning," he murmured, voice soft, but a little less carefree than a second before. Something seemed off even if the other boy sat nowhere near him, only connected by digital sound waves. "I thought I would call just...." He struggled for words, knowing he called for no reason at all and that was out of character, but he already came this far. "...I just wanted to call. Is something wrong though?" Even if he hesitated to ask, he knew that he had to, just in case. Always just in case.

Asha swallowed and kept a wary eye on the door to the guest room. "I.." should he tell him. tell him that his nightmare found him. 'do I want to burden Gage with that..' gage who made him feel free? but the other had asked.. the other seemed to realize something was wrong..he rose to his feet and quietly moved out towards the front porch leaving the front door open so he could hear if Zaire came out of the guest room. "I..I was..hiding from something here and it's found me.." his voice was a tangled of conflicting emotions. fear and guilt for putting this on gage.. didn't the boy have enough to deal with? but gage made him feel safe and important and..centered.. made him feel as if everything would turn out alright..

Gage felt the silence that followed Asha's words like something physical in his body. He couldn't understand why it fell so silent until second later when he realized his breath stilled. Forcing it out, he managed to respond. "What..." He cleared his throat again. "What were you running from?" What was this strange emotion stealing into him? It made his heartbeat too loud to hear the running water in the kitchen sink or Maria's footsteps above him as she got ready for school. He wanted to run outside just to be away from them, lest they hear his trembling voice and worry, but he couldn't hear his voice himself, so his body just stayed frozen on the piano bench. "Are you okay?"

Asha swallowed hard. his emotions feeling like tangled violin strings. but he forced his voice out shakily. "I..I had..had a boyfriend. he..didn't react well when he found out I wasn't human. it..it went very badly and I ran..H..he's found me here.. and I don't..don't know what to do." could he even admit he no longer felt that warmth or love towards the man who'd hurt him? sure he felt SOMETHING for him but it was mostly overshadowed by fear now. he desperately wanted to run change forms and disappear into the woods as he had back in the city they'd lived in. but that never worked now did it look where he was now. for a moment he didn't' even realize he was shaking he was that mixed up. it took the phone threatening to fall form his hands for him to notice. "I..I know you didn't want your family knowing about me b..b..but could I..I come over?" just for a little bit. just to center himself. the other made him feel safe and centered and he desperately needed that right then.

Gage was silent for a minute, just processing that information. Asha has a boyfriend? That meant...but he should have already known he had that kind of interest considering what was developing between them. Somehow it hit him though, perhaps because of how sweet and innocent the other boy seemed. And yet he already had a bad breakup in his past. Gage fought the urge to bite his lip, forgetting for a second that most people couldn't hear that over the phone. "I-I'm sorry..." he murmured, voice tense with the emotions between them. "That's fine. It's not that I wanted to hide you. Just..." He trailed off, not wanting to admit he only wanted to keep Asha to himself. His parents were nosy. Once the secret got out, things would inverably change and he hated change. Still, he couldn't stand hearing this sort of trembling voice from a person he liked. "....yeah. I'll text you my address and let my parents know."

Asha closed his eyes as relief washed through him. along wit hope, because for the first time in his life he didn't want to run. he had a life here. GAGE was here and he refused to give the other boy up. he didn't know where their friendship was going..but he wanted to see. he wanted to hear the other play music and talk to him.. wanted to explore the forest with the other's bat form over head. a quite companion.. and he refused to give up those possibilities. for the first time he had something to fight for and he wasn't giving it up. "T..t..thank you.." he also hadn't wanted to burden the other with his past. but he hadn't expected it to catch up. He murmured a soft good bye, and wondered if the other'd be okay with him climbing up to his window so he could avoid the other's family for a bit? right then he didn't think he could handle dealing with anyone who wasn't gage.

Feeling strange to hear the words 'thank you,' Gage said a brief word in parting as well before they hung up. It was strange, having a friend like this. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so emotional over another person, even if he managed to keep it off his face after a few breaths. Emotional was bad for him, but he didn't want to pull away either. No, he definitely did not want to do that. After a second, he sent his address, then slipped away to his room. He needed to cool his head. Perhaps, he could cool it enough to face Asha without revealing in one second just how much he cared. Because that, he just wasn't quite ready for yet.

Asha slipped out of his house, glancing back several times as he moved through the city fighting hte need to shift to his feline form so he could reach higher ground, move faster. it was how he'd traveled, sure there wasn't much but he'd traveled a lot of his way there through the wilderness between cities. all though more and more of that was sh rinking. heart hammering he reached Gages house and froze before going to the door toren. he turely di dnot want to see more people. having the thought that they'd just take on elook at him and KNOW. know everything he'd let be done to him.. shaking his head heard he carefully moved around the hous euntil he caught an area that held Gages scent thickly. jumping up onto the roof that overhung the porch he made his way to the window to knock quitely. making up his mind that no he could NOT deal with even more people knowing..

The sound of the door shutting woke Zaire from his slumber. He grunted, turning over on the unfamiliar bed. Something clung to his memory, like he just woke up from the most terrible dream. Sweat slicked back his hair, adding to the wild feeling. A name pulled from his lips, almost unbidden, before he woke fully to his senses. "....Asha...?" He startled, struggling up in the bed as the door sound finally struck him. He was here, with Asha again, away from the nightmares. But the door closed. Asha? Did Asha just leave him? Again. Zaire stumbled out of the room, rushing through the apartment in a desperate attempt to find the person who was so obviously not there anymore. A part of him wanted to just collapse in the middle of the floor, but a part of him thought that if he ran, he might catch up. Asha just left right? If he caught the other, he could convince him to stay this time. With that thought, he dashed out the door despite looking crazed and more more than a little terrified.

Hearing the knock on his window, Gage turned from where he perched at his desk, more tense that waiting warrenred. For his credit, he didn't jump though, in a way half expecting this. Shifting the chair aside, he moved to open the window. "Asha?" he murmured, taking in the scent of morning dew and fresh cut crash in the yard behind his, and then, the undeniable, slightly catish familiar scent. He hoped his voice didn't tremble, but he had no idea what kind of face he made as he shifted to the side to give the other boy entrance to his room. "Are you okay?"

And he'd run smack into someone as he hit the sidewalk proper sending Maya to the ground with a pained grunt. Maya laid there for a few moments trying to get his wits about him then got a look at the face above him. something had to be wrong for the man to look that terrified. "Are you okay?" Maya stood at five foot even, though in his boots he was a good five foot three inches. the boots climbed his legs and over the leather pants he wore beneath them, the boots black the pants red, he had a button up shirt over that that was also black. Concerned Husky blue eye's stared up at Zaire as Maya reached out with a hand to steady the other male.

Asha slide into the room, swallowing as he instinctively moved in against Gage, hiding his face against the other's chest as he wrapped around him. a fine trembling going through him now that he felt safe. all the fear that had been mounting starting to fade away. "I..I..I'm n..n..no ..n..not physically hurt." not yet anyways. he breathed in Gage's scent a mix of bat and night air, and let it wrap around him. reassure him he was safe. and if a few frustrated tears slide free, well maybe Gage wouldn't say anything.

Zaire crashed into something, sending his breath right out of his lungs so he couldn't get enough breath to gasp in surprise. Startled eyes looked up at him, blue and so, so similar that couldn't help but confuse them. "Asha?" he breathed, still struggling for air. But no. As he pulled back just the slightest bit, he realized he ran into someone else with the same husky eyes. The hopeful and soft look that had colored his face disappeared as he cleared his face of all emotion. Pulling to his feet, he turned away without offering a hand to help the other boy up. "Why wouldn't I be fine?" he snapped, a hand coming up to hide the portion of his cheek with the scar. This situation was dangerous. He didn't intend to be confronted by anyone. "A-anyway, it's none of your business!"

Gage hesitated, feeling tense, but trying not to show it as Asha wrapped around him. What was this situation? How should he react? He never stood this close with another and he knew his heart beat faster for it. Could Asha feel it pressed as close as he was? Gage could feel the other tremble, even just the slightest so he lifted a hand, but hesitated with what to do with it. "Can..." He swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "C-can I touched your face...?" He wasn't sure if he just wanted to verify Asha's words or if he just wanted to 'see' him in this moment. He only knew it was the first time in years he asked it of someone.

Maya raised an eyebrow as he sat up. "Because you look terrified..did something happen to this Asha person? I could help you look if you wanted.." he didn't like seeing that desperation on anyone..and if the man was missing this person.. well there was no telling what had happened to them.. what if they'd been kidnapped?

Asha swallowed as he nodded into the other's chest. then figured a verbal confirmation would be best. "Y..y..yes.." he got out voice a bit thick. not by choice mind. his own hand, or one of them anyways untangled from around the other boy to lift and carefully lead the other's fingers to his face, and if he cupped the hand there on his cheek with his own for a moment..well he firmly ignored the emotions that had him doing so. and here was hoping Gage didn't hear his own heart beat racing at the innocent touch because it felt like he'd gone from running to bolting for miles never mind he was standing still.

Zaire's heart stammered, not trusting and yet unable to completely rebuke this stranger. Perhaps it was the eyes. For half a minute, he hesitated to speak. This person really knew nothing, nothing at all about him and Asha and this world that hated him so much, so why offer to help? "....If you helped me find him, you would grow to hate me." Because that was how this story always ended. He knew it better than anyone else.

Gage felt all the hairs on his arms standing on end, so electrified by a single word and a touch. He let Asha move his hand until the tips of his fingers touched the other's face. He jolted before pressing more firmly, though his touched was still gentle. He let his fingers ghost across Asha's face, taking in the features with a slow exploration. He paused at the feel of wetness against his cheeks, swallowing hard, but not saying anything about them. "You're beautiful," he managed in a hoarse whisper, fingers never quite leaving Asha's face. He didn't know where the words came from, but in the otherwise silent room, no other word felt the least bit right. Beautiful.

Maya snorted. "I highly doubt that. now let's start looking for your asha you said the name was? which way do you think they could of gone?" he glanced along the street. checkign for signs of someones passage in the last few minutes. and his memory as well, try ing to remember if he'd seen anyone rush past. "What do they look like?"

Asha flinched ducking his head. "No..no I'm not.." now Gage.. gage was beautiful. and he'd dare anyone to try and tell him different. but after everything he'd gone through. being called beautiful hurt. like something to be locked up and kept only to a persons self. or to be hurt when you didn't respond to something fast enough.

Zaire didn't believe that for a second. This guy could only say he didn't hate him because he knew nothing. Did Asha also turn to hate him despite saying he would give them a chance. He couldn't understand why he would just leave without saying a word like that....unless he was running away again. "I don't know," he sighed. "I didn't see him leave, but the door shut and I woke up alone. I hate that. I hate that so much and he knows it." Zaire shook his head, knowing his voice was getting heated again and he didn't want to be angry now. He was changing that about himself for Asha. "Why did he leave me even though we were in love?"

Gage ducked his head as well, not sure how he thought Asha was beautiful without being able to see him. It was strange. There was a smoothness to his face though and the teardrops pulled at his heart. That was the only way to explain it. "Well....I don't see like most people but you're beautiful to me," he managed after a second, finally letting his hand drop back to his side.

Maya flicked a look at the other. to him it sounded like pain and worrie not anger. but then h e'd never been on the receiving end of the others anger. "Maybe he just needed some fresh air. sometimes when we're feeling to much we need a safe space to sort through it all that just might be what he's doing.." and something he had a feeling this guy should do as well.

Asha swallowed as the other spoke and blushed. why was it when the other called him beautiful it didn't feel threatening.. ? it felt..nice actually. and the other knew what he was. knew he was a shifter. Gathering his courage, Asha did something he'd never thought he'd do, He told the other of why he'd been running. if his voice was halting and grew hesitant in some areas. well, who could really blame him? of course he also wanted to tell Gage how he felt about him but he didn't want to scare the other away so held his peace on that.

Zaire flinched visibly at the word 'safe' as it reminded him all too clearly why Asha left him the first time. But he swore he wouldn't be like that anymore. He also knew what it felt like to need to run away to a safe place. Turning away again so this other person couldn't read his eyes, he took a second to respond. "It doesn't matter anyway. At least not to anyone but me." He half growled, wanting Maya to go away, though he sounded less threatening than he should. His anger was starting to deflate. "I don't even know your name. Why should I take advice from you?"

Gage listened as Asha spoke, not wanting to interrupt, not sure that he even could. Asha struggled hard enough to speak so he just stood there, eyes half closed, listening. What was this feeling welling up in him again even stronger than before? "I'm..." he finally started after the other boy finished speaking, but he couldn't finish the thought. "I'm sorry," he finally sighed, not sure there was any other kind of response for what Asha went through. "Why did you date that guy in the first place?"