Hezza stood at the balcony, watching the early morning sun slowly peeking over the waves at the horizon. The gold and pink and orange hues of the early morning painted the golden Third City in pituresque way that was famous world-wide. Each year, artist swarmed towards the city to catch a glimpse of inspiration. It truly was a glorious place. And Hezza had part in making it into its beautiful state. With help of her companions.

Hezza was the heart of the city, or so one of the officials of the city had once told her. Her companions, the official said, were the spine and brain of the city. The city was the body and its citizens the blood. Since then, that is how Hezza had viewed the city. It was the perfect way to describe it.

Turning away from the railing of the balcony, wrapping her shawl tightly around her shoulders, Hezza smiled. The world was perfect. Nothing could disturb her here. She headed back inside, towards the dining room.

Rion placed a loving palm on the head of a child, stopping the young boy in his tracks. With a nod of his head and a flash of his oddly-colored eyes, Rion silently told the boy to play nice. As his grasp loosened, the child skipped along merrily, chasing one of his many peers. The chimes of a many a child's laughter rang through Third City, and merged with the chirping of early morning song birds. With his wispy, long hair anchored behind his ears, Rion dove into the pile of playing children. All of them giggled happily, rolling down hills of soft, green grass.

As he and the children played, Rion caught glimpses of his beautiful house. He spotted Hezza, peering thoughtfully, as she always seemed to, down at their city. Rion wasn't one to think too deeply into her stoic gazes, but Slade had questioned him once or twice. 'Do you think Hezza's alright?' 'Is she acting weird to you?' Rion would usually laugh, slap Slade's shoulder, and tell him he was being too paranoid.

Rion stopped a moment, the children running around him in a circle, and stared up at Hezza. She almost looked like an angel, the way the breeze caught her hair, the way the newly-birthed sunlight glistened on her skin. Rion scratched his head, felt the heat of a blush on his cheeks, and turned his attention toward the children, who were now impatiently tugging on his pant legs.

~~

Gurgling beneath his sheets, hissing at the rays that peeked from the curtains, a pale-skinned Slade White writhed in his bed. He sprawled about- rather ungracefully- and groaned audibly. Slowly, the man's long arm freed itself from the confines of the bed sheets, and slowly peeled them back. Slade kept his eyes shut; the sun had a tendency to cause them to ache. He sighed. And sighed again. This was his morning routine. He had to bitch and moan, or his day wouldn't unfurl the same way that it always did. Slade didn't like change.

Finally, Slade, with a sudden burst of energy, shot out of his bed. Standing (mostly) upright, the tall man lumbered across his room, threw some clothes over his shoulder, and headed for the bathroom. It was about that time that he heard light footsteps trekking across the home.
'Hezza,' he thought simply, noting that he should move faster to avoid the awkward situation of the girl seeing him in his underwear.
Slade started and finished his restroom routine, and emerged, his once unkempt hair now slick, straight, and clean. He was fully clothed, dark jeans and a casual tee, and his breath was fresh. He checked himself in the mirror once, and left the room.

"Hey, Hezza," he barked as he passed her in the hall. He found his way to 'his spot' in the living room, flopped down in the impression made by his body in the cushions, and flung his left leg over the back of the sofa. He removed a book from beneath the couch, plucked a bookmark from the pages (that Hezza had made for him when they met), and stuck his nose in the pages, breathing in the story, and exhaling his contentment.

Dressed in his Military uniform was, alone, enough to make Kai stand out in this city as a foreigner. And it wasn't even in good condition. In fact, Kai was in an awful state. He was dirty, covered head to toe in soot and dirt and mud and blood. An infected gash above his left eye was oozing down his face, mixed with sweat. To a passerby, Kai probably smelled of death. It was for this reason that Kai had entered the city at night but he had chosen to enter the main streets out of desperation. He was a proud man, but Kai needed help.

Now, Kai glared up at the mansion at the center of the city with such contempt it felt as if hatred boiled within him. He wasn't sure how he would be able to succeed in what he had come to do, but he knew he had to. His family was depending on it. But, in the state he was in, he'd never be able to get into the mansion... or maybe, he could use his state to his advantage... Out of the corner of his eye, Kai saw a man playing on the grounds with several children, and knew it was then or never.

"Help me! Help me!" Kai screamed, stumbling towards the man, up the steep lawns of the estate. He half walked, half crawled towards them, crying out as he went. "Oh God, please! Please help me! Help!"

---

Hezza stood outside the living room door, peeking in through the crack as Slade entered the room and sat on the couch, beginning to read. It wasn't right to have a favorite. It was wrong to love one person more than another, especially since neither of these men were her family, but Hezza couldn't help how she felt. Slade had won her heart and he would always be the one that was most beloved to her. She could never speak this out loud, but sometimes she suspected that it was obvious in her actions.

Oblivious to the commotion outside the mansion, Hezza finally decided to move into the living room. She made she to do so quickly, so not to give away that she'd been standing outside the doors for a few minutes. She carried a tray piled with pastries that were still steaming and a pitcher of sweet juice into the living room. "Good morning, Slade," she said sweetly as she set the tray down at the coffee table. "Did you sleep well?"

Rion had sensed an eerie presence long before he'd seen the man stumble into his city. When his face grew serious, it was as if the children could feel what he felt. Their laughter grew silent, and it seemed the songbirds had, too. Rion wiped the sweat from his brow and stood slowly, peering down the hill at a man clad in some type of military uniform. The man's stomach tied in knots at the foreigner drew nearer; he was bloody and beaten. Rion could smell his stench from leaps and bounds away. With a flick of his wrist, Rion silently ordered the children back to their mothers' awaiting embraces.

Rion, now alone in the field, wondered if he should bound his way up to the mansion and grab his friends. He was never the one that made final decisions, hell, he didn't know if he could. He stood up straight, looked back to see if Hezza was still on the balcony, and shook his head. His eyes shot open when the man begun bellowing.

Snapping around as if he was slapped, Rion trotted over to the wailing man. The citizens of Third City darted into their homes, afraid of what was to come. Their existence here had been nothing but peaceful, and they did not want to see that end. Rion's eyes darted from home to home as blinds were drawn, and he was standing, dumbfounded, in front of the stranger.
"Sir! Sir!" he said finally, realizing he must do something. "Come, I've got you."
Rion extended his arms for support, and clasped the injured veteran to hold him up.
"Where are you from? What has happened to you?"

Rion, without much thought, started the man up the hill to his mansion. Surely, Hezza would know what to do...

~~

Slade peered over his book, inhaling deeply through his nostrils for a different scent this time: food! Placing the marker back in his novel, he closed the pages, and gingerly slid the book beneath his seat. Hezza's voice rang in his ears, and he cocked his head back to look at her. He slid back in his seat, staying relatively quiet, his rumbling stomach distracting him from her words. As Hezza placed the platter down before him, he moved to let her sit beside him.

"I slept," he said simply, reaching for a warm pastry. He nodded to her. "And you? You seem to be going to sleep rather late-" he took a sip of the juice. "And seem to be waking up fairly early."
Slade's mouth opened, invited the pastry in, and his taste buds soared as the flavors melted to his tongue. Slade generally only ate relatively salty or savory foods, but he just so happened to be a sucker for any of Hezza's treats. He chewed happily on his bite as he looked to her. She hadn't answered him yet. He eyed her thoughtfully.

However, before Hezza could reply; even before Slade could swallow his food, the tall, slender man shot to his feet.
"Did you hear that?" he shot at his companion. "Hezza, was someone screaming?"
Slade ran to the balcony that was left open, the nice breeze fluttering in the doorway. He pushed the obstacles out of his path, peering down at their peaceful little town.

Slade immediately noted the barren city, and his friend, Rion, supporting a man at his side. "What in the-"
Motioning for Hezza to stay upstairs, Slade rushed to his friend's aid.

Kai clung to the man's arm, almost falling to his knees as they moved towards the mansion, as if he were clinging to life itself. "Oh, thank you, sir," he cried, real tears of pain and exhaustion streaming down his face. "The wars to the west are terrible, just terrible. The battles are getting worse and the enemy is sure to overcome us any time now. I'm the last of my platoon and I barely escaped..." Kai bowed his head, hiding his face. "I'm a deserter."

---

Hezza jumped, following Slade to the balcony. Leaning over the railing, she saw Rion and the man; her heart stopped at the sight. Two things about him sent a chill down her spine. One, he was wearing a tattered uniform. He was bringing the war to her city and she had worked so hard to keep peace here. The people did not need to know of the threat of war. Two, he was someone she knew... someone dangerous.

"Slade, wait!" she cried as he rushed to assist Rion. She ignored his instructions to stay put and was chasing after him, towards the front lawns in a moment. "No, Slade. It's not safe!"

Rion, with a bloody and bruised stranger attached to his side, furrowed his brow as the man beside him spoke. His head begun hurting at the thought of a brutal war that was close enough for an injured soldier to stumble into their city. Why hadn't he even heard of it? Was there something that they could do? He couldn't help but worry for his fellow humans that were only a walking distance away. To think of it, Rion had never ventured out of Third City since its birth. He audibly sighed, confused and worried.
"So.." Rion gulped, glancing down at the man. "What... what is the war about?"
He didn't want to sound ignorant; like he didn't care enough to know about the rest of the world. Hezza was the one that dealt with the minor amount of imports they had, and she was the one that kept ties to the surrounding establishments. Did she know about this?

'No, no. Hezza wouldn't keep things like this from people.'

Rion looked up as he heard footsteps. With Slade in the lead, he saw his companions running toward them. Rion heaved a sigh of relief.
"Never mind, about that question I asked. We'll worry about that later. We'll get you better and then you can talk to us."
Lowering the injured man to the ground, he gestured to his friends. Slade could help him carry the man up to the mansion, and Hezza could patch him up. Then, he could figure out what all this nonsense was about.

~~

Slade was galloping down the stairs and was in the main entrance of the home before he realized that he was being followed. When he turned to make sure Hezza stayed behind, he heard her through all of his racing thoughts. Not safe?
"Well, you're probably right, Hez', but we have to help this guy. We, at least, have to help Rion."
He looked back to the front door, then turned to his friend once more.
"Why do you look like you already know something?"
Slade shook his head. Rion was right; he was paranoid, but was there good reason to be? He started out the front door, seeing Rion slowly drag the man up the hill. When Rion and Slade caught each others' glances, Slade sighed when he saw Rion place the man down in the grass.

It was then that he smelled the death and saw the injuries.
"Hezza, what is going on?"

As the man lowed Kai to the ground, it was all the injured man could do to keep from passing out. Oh! How heavenly it felt to be laying down in the cool grass. He wanted nothing more than to just close his eyes and... His eyes shot wide open, remembering what he'd come here to do. He attempted to sit up, grabbing the man's shirt in his fists.

"It's not safe, not safe at all," Kai moaned. "Why are people still here? You should have evacuated months ago."

Kai tipped his head back slightly, hearing foot steps approaching. Another man and... there she was! Finally, he'd found her. However, he was far too tired and hurt to do anything now. He'd have to wait.

---

Hezza was at Slade's side as they neared Rion and Kai. At the smell of Kai, Hezza held back a gag. This wasn't right. He wasn't supposed to be here. Well, technically neither was she. It took all her strength to keep from screaming at Slade and Rion to get back inside and leave the man.

She grabbed Rion's shoulders, attempting to pull him away from the man, much like a mother pulling a small child away from danger. "We can't trust him," Hezza said quickly. "Perhaps he's a criminal. A deserter... we must be careful in helping him."

Realizing that Rion and Slade were looking to her for answers, Hezza gave a sigh. "I had heard rumors of war to the west, but why he is here, I don't know. He's stumbled a long way from the front, which makes me very concerned... I--" she paused, unsure of exactly how to phrase this without upsetting them, "--I did not think a war so far away would reach us here, so I did not think it was important to tell you..."

Rion gulped a ball of nerves down his dry throat, feeling dehydrated and light-headed. He wasn't injured, but it sure as hell felt like it. As the man beside him lay in the grass, grasping his shirt, Rion's head spun. Evacuated? Their civilians were in danger? His eyes darted around in their sockets, red and worried, looking at the drawn blinds behind each of the windows of the city. Were they placing them in harm's way by distancing them from the rest of the world? The people came here to be safe. Rion couldn't stomach the thought of being responsible for putting them in harm's way.

Rion thought twice about telling his friends in the city to pack their goods, but decided against it. He didn't know who this wanderer was, or if he was even telling the truth. He knew he would have to consult with his friends.

As the stranger looked up, Rion did the same. His friends were coming. Finally. He looked back down to the soldier, and noticed a glimmer in his eye. He wondered about it, feeling as panicky as Slade was. Why were his eyes lighting up at the sight of Hezza? Was it the idea of safety? Did he want to make a move on her? That's how soldiers are, right?
'I'm thinking too much into this,' Rion thought, looking up once more as his friends arrived.

No one had a chance to say anything before Hezza pulled him away. It was so sudden, Rion almost gasped. As Hezza spoke, he felt as though he were being reprimanded. Rion frowned, looking away. He knew of the dangers. He just wanted to help. Hezza had helped Slade in a worse condition than this man was in; he was a complete stranger! He remembered the day! He remembered that same glimmer in her eye that had been in this soldier's. He grimaced.

Rion was going to assert himself; tell Hezza that she shouldn't boss him around and yank him where ever she wanted. Before he could, Hezza told them she knew about the war. He took a step away from her, and toward the wounded.
"Let's get him some help. He's hurt."

~~

Slade watched as Hezza seemed to run past him, which was a rarity in itself, and grab Rion by the shoulders. He could tell she was uneasy. That made Slade uneasy. He trusted all of Hezza's judgments and most of her calls as a leader. She had done a wonderful job thus far, and that was good enough for him. It was risky to get in with this man and the affairs of a deserter, but it was completely unusual of Hezza to be so finicky and mistrusting. She seemed shaken. He huffed, looking at Rion's face turn from apologetic to angry. He wondered what was going on in the man's head.

As Rion took a step away from their friend, Slade knelt down to the soldier. He tilted his head, examining his wounds. They were bad. He glanced up at Rion, who looked like he was forcing words back. Slade readied himself to lift the wounded man, but was caught off-gaurd by Hezza's admission. She knew. Rumors or not, she knew.

"Didn't think it was important!" Slade barked, looking at Rion, who said something about helping the man. Slade was infuriated. Did she think that Rion and himself would spread the rumors? Before replying to Rion, Slade shot a look at his friend. "We could have made the call of importance together. That's what we do, right? We made this city together, Hezza. It's a war! Wars are important!"

He shook his head in disbelief, finally taking the injured man in his arms. Slade was gentle, but the anger he felt made him tense. He and Rion begun carrying the man up the hill, to their beautiful home.

Kai could not help but smirk as the man who just arrived snapped at Hezza. He done nothing but collapse in their lawn and already there was a wedge forming between the traitor and her companions. Already, Kai felt confident that he would succeed. As the two men lifted him up, he lost consciousness.

---

"Slade, Rion," she huffed, trying to keep up with their much longer strides, "you have to believe me. I did the right thing here. I was trying to protect you. I swear, I meant no harm."

As Slade and Rion carried the man inside, Hezza hurried at their sides, wanting only to rip Kai from their arms and bring them inside, away from him. She knew, though, that that wasn't an option. It would only cause more trouble; they were already upset about her not saying anything about the war. But really, it was so far away!

She bit her lip, trying hard to fight off the guilt of keeping her friends in the dark. Hezza had done the right thing; she knew she had. It was her job, not only to protect the city, but protect them.

Slade didn't pay an ounce of attention to Hezza. He said nothing, he didn't even grumble as he usually did when frustrated. His blue eyes were cold as ice; their gaze was stuck on the mansion. He couldn't wait to get inside, get this cowardly soldier out of his arms, and read his book. He could feel the stares of his companions burning into him, but did his best to ignore them. He had nothing to say, and, apparently, neither did they.

As the soldier slipped from consciousness, Slade gripped him tighter, and picked up the pace. They needed to hurry up and help him. Slade thought of all of the internal injuries this man could have, not to mention, the longer he was here, the more he'd probably want to stay. Slade was the one who sighed this time. He looked down at the gash on the man's forehead. Infected. How long had he been out there? How long did it take him to get to Third City? His city? Slade was confused.

His thoughts interrupted by Rion shoving the man's entire weight onto him, Slade's eyes opened wide. Following behind his friend, Slade placed the man down on his spot on his couch in the way of his novel. Slade shook his head in slight dismay, and stayed silent. He was sure someone else would have the first word, and didn't want it, anyway.

~~

Rion felt the man lose consciousness in his arms. He shifted the man's weight around, thrown off by the sudden dead weight. Rion glanced over at Slade, whose eyes were affixed on the destination, and sighed at the awkward, tense silence. He didn't understand what was going on. Rion was hurt. He was confused. He just didn't understand why Slade was so angry. He didn't understand why Hezza wouldn't just tell them about the war. He, also, didn't understand how this man found his way to their peaceful city. With his brows sloped downward, Rion kept his eyes forward, as Slade's were, and focused on the doors.

When the men made it to the home, Rion shifted the man into Slade's arms to open the door and in order to grab a few sheets they rarely used to spread on the couch. When Slade placed the soldier on the couch, and Rion watched as his friend grimaced. Rion, in spite of the situation, almost laughed at his weird companion. What a strange guy Slade had the tendency to be. Rion couldn't help but wonder why Hezza paid so much attention to that peculiar man.

Rion turned to Hezza, who still seemed full of worry. He tried to send her a reassuring smile, but kind of failed, and crossed his arms.
"Hezza," Rion started, his breath catching, hindering his words. "Um, Hezza, what... what should we do, then?"
Rion felt Slade's stare singe into him. He didn't care. He couldn't help it. He wanted Hezza's attention and her opinion. Despite having felt belittled by her earlier, Rion was too blindy devoted, and too obsessed with the princess of his castle.



(seeing as how I felt that Rion's character was a little bit of a strange guy in the original, I kind of want to keep that in here~ maybe it will serve as an interesting conflict later. heh)

Hezza, despite hating having to care for Kai, jumped into action. She called to James, their butler and asked him to have one of the cooks boil some water. She sent word into the city by a servant boy to fetch a doctor. Not having it in her to make eye contact with her beloved ones, Hezza sternly ordered them to do certain tasks without looking at them.

"Rion," she said, kneeling down beside the couch and unbuttoning the man's uniform coat, "please go get a change of fresh clothes, if you have some to spare, and some towels."

"Slade, help me hold him up," Hezza said, standing and trying to work the coat away from Kai's shoulders. Her nose wrinkled; he smelled of war, and suddenly, she worried that the very smell of him would bring the war to their home. "And Lily," Hezza addressed one of the servant girls who'd brought the hot water up, "please open the windows."

Rion snapped into action, helping Hezza as much as he could. He watched the woman unbutton the man's shirt, and his nose wrinkled as hers did. The man did smell. It was a unique stench that was given only to people of war, and Rion had smelled it before. He found himself getting hung in his thoughts, and shook his head to free himself. When Hezza asked him for some clothes and towels, Rion silently nodded, and left to retrieve the items she had requested.

The man pushed the door to his room open. His clean, pristine room made it easy to locate desired items, and he did so very quickly. Gathering the clothes, he placed them under his arm, and quickly found the restroom to grab the towels. Slade's boxers were on the ground, and Rion kicked them aside.
"What a child," Rion whispered harshly, opening the door to the bathroom's closet. "I bet his bed's unmade too."
Rion threw his arms around the towels on the middle shelf, unsure of how many Hezza would need, and made his way back to his friends.

~~

Slade watched as everyone banded together to help the man. All he could think about was his precious couch being trapped underneath the sweaty, bloody soldier - not to mention his book. He only stood there, watching time pass through him, watching Rion scramble around the room, watching Hezza dish out orders. Slade's arms were still crossed. He had no idea where to sit or how to leave without seeming like a complete asshole. Uncomfortably shifting from one foot to the other, Slade leaned forward to see Hezza unbuttoning the man's shirt. He could see droplets of sweat forming on her furrowed brow. She seemed incredibly uncomfortable.

Slowly, Slade made his way to Hezza. Apparently, she hadn't realized he was behind her, because she asked him to hold the man up. Slade stayed quiet, removing a ribbon from his wrist. He tilted his head, contemplating, and then knelt down behind her. He swept Hezza's long hair from her shoulders and back, dragged his fingers gently through the hair on her scalp, and tied the silky locks back, away from her face. He blushed and immediately pulled away from her, cleared his throat, and did as she asked him to.

As he lifted the man and was in view of the woman, his blush had dissolved, and his eyes were locked on the stranger. He refused to look up at Hezza, and was very good at keeping a straight face.
"I am sorry," he said, still staring at the man. His apology was directed at Hezza, but he still would not look up, nor would he elaborate.

She froze as he touched her. No, Hezza hadn't known he was behind her. As his fingers brushed her neck and pulled her hair ever so gently, a shiver that she was sure was noticeable ran down her spine. Her face grew red and hot and Hezza felt as if her head was going numb; a fuzzy, tingling sensation ran through her temples. And then, all too soon, it was over. She let out a sigh, trying hard not to show her disappointment that he'd pulled away. "Slade..." she whispered, as if trying to call him back.

Shaking her head and clearing her throat, though her face still remained red, Hezza thanked him. "I should have pulled my hair back myself before doing this," she said, almost seeming flustered. "Thank you. Sorry to have troubled you with that." Hezza wanted to add that it had felt wonderful, but she thought that might seem a bit too bold.

Hezza turned her attention back to helping Kai, beginning to clean his chest with a washcloth and the hot water.

Rion had arrived in the living room as Hezza begun cleaning the wounds and blood on the man's chest. He dropped the items she had requested next to her, and leaned in to watch her.
"I'm sure the doctor is close by now."
He walked around to where Slade was, gestured slightly, and placed pillows beneath the man, so his friend wouldn't have to hold him up. That was when he noticed the slight blush that painted Hezza's cheeks, and questioned it only momentarily. He was sure it was due to mild fatigue and stress. With that revelation, Rion walked to the kitchen to help the servants.

Soon, he emerged with a small container with things like hydrogen peroxide, bandages, and the like; things one could find in a remedial first aid kit. Rion placed the container on the table behind Hezza, and stood back, completely unsure of what to do from there. All they could do was wait.

~~

Slade stayed quiet and attentive. He was unsure of Hezza's reaction to his gentle touch. He was unsure of what had overcome him. The man finally looked up as Rion entered the room and placed the supplies at Hezza's side. He nodded to his friend when he relieved him of his duty.

"I'm going to go outside," he said. When Rion looked at him strangely, he clarified: "The doctor should have been here. I'm going to check for him."

Hezza gave a short nod to Rion as he handed her the supplies. The rest of the evening seemed to pass in a bit of a daze. All she could think of was the way Slade had touched her and how she longed to speak with him. But she didn't know what to say. What could she say? And what would Rion do if he knew? She shuddered at the thought. She loved Slade, and she loved Rion... would Rion leave if he knew how much she cared for Slade? No, she would never let him leave. She'd never let any of them leave.

She was not a doctor, so Hezza did all she could do for Kai. When the doctor finally arrived, Hezza gratefully gave up the position as caretaker and silently wandered out into the yard. It was now growing later in the day, the sun was now beginning to sink towards the west... towards where the war was...

"Slade," she called, looking around the yard for him, hoping he was near.

Rion was nosily and curiously looking over the doctor's shoulder. He was intrigued and somehow felt as though this soldier was an important man, although he couldn't figure out why he felt this way. Rion became somewhat of a nurse for the called-in doctor: running about, fetching goods and supplies. He loved feeling helpful, and couldn't wait for the stranger to awake. He had many questions for him.

~~

Slade smirked when he heard Hezza's voice. As she looked around the yard for him, he gazed down upon her. He'd found another book and had disappeared with it when the doctor showed up. Slade was a man that valued peace and quiet over all else, which is why he loved Third City so much. Almost subconsciously, Slade memorized the page number that he would be leaving for the night. He tucked the small book into the back of his jeans, still looking on Hezza from above. Her hair was still tied back, the little strands that escaped his grasp framing her face so well.

Slade swiveled around on the branch he was in, his legs now dangling over the side. He plucked a small flower from the branch, and released it, making sure it was aimed for his friend that stood below. As his pink lips pulled back to reveal a full smile, Slade slid down the tree. His face was serious and straight when he landed behind the woman.

"Yes?" he cooed.

Hezza gave a small yelp and whirled around to see him standing behind her. She suddenly felt self-conscious. Her face reddened again and she lowered her gaze to the ground. She wasn't sure now, what she would say to him now. How to explain what had happened. And she desperately wanted to ask him about why he'd tied her hair back, but Hezza didn't want to read too far into it only to find he meant nothing by it. She wasn't she'd be able to face the pain of that.

"I-- just wanted to say, I'm sorry... about not telling you," Hezza finally said, rubbing her hands together.

Slade was joyous on the inside when Hezza peeped, but, as always, kept a relatively straight face, aside from a coy smirk. His hands snaked their way into his pockets, and he watched as she nervously thought to herself. He was confused. Usually she looked him directly in the eye, her eyes twinkling, her lips always twisted into a smile. Had he done something wrong? He allowed her to stew in her thoughts, stayed quiet, and looked at her thoughtfully. When she spoke, his smirk faded, and his eyebrows raised.

He almost asked 'Sorry for what?', but remembered what had happened instantly. His anger had long since left him. He could not even force himself to be upset with Hezza. He nodded at her, but also remembered how strangely she had been acting. She seemed much less of herself, much less carefree.
"Hezza," he said, placing a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Hezza, what else are you hiding from me?"

Slade had originally planned to say 'us', as in he and Rion. However, when he was in front of her, he completely forgot that Rion was also in the situation. He quickly jerked his hand back from her, afraid to cross the boundaries they had silently set. His heart used to race around her, but with the strange situation and the lack of alone time, not to mention the triangle, Slade had hushed his longing heart. Hezza, he had decided, must love him like a brother.

However, Slade knew nothing of Hezza, just as Hezza knew nothing of Slade.

Her heart fluttered when he placed his finger under her chin. As he pulled back quickly, she gently reached out to take his hand in hers and smiled.

When he asked her what she was hiding from him, she nearly told him everything. About her past, who she really was, who Kai was, about what she knew of the war... but she didn't dare to. At least, not now. She couldn't risk loosing him, or Rion... although, it was him she feared loosing more. So, instead, she gripped his hand and sighed. "I... wouldn't hide anything from you" Hezza decided to say, even though it was a blatant lie. Her eyes searched his, hoping he would understand what she really was trying to say, I can't tell you, Slade!

Slade tensed up as Hezza drew forward and took his hand in hers. He did not reciprocate the grasp. He didn't know what to do. Her secrets seemed to flow through her and into him through their electric grasp, but he felt her hesitation on top of it all. She was hiding so much from him. Her pulse beat in his head, he melted in her gaze. Slade pushed his nerves back down his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing from the tension. It seemed as though the sun went down the moment he blinked; he and Hezza were surrounded in a sea of orange and purple light. Slade ran his thumb over the back of Hezza's small hand, and released her. A part of him almost felt as if she were trying to distract him from the truth with how much he desired her.

Finally, she spoke. The pain of mistrust washed over him, pounded him like a waterfall. Slade suddenly felt exhausted. He could read the clashing of worlds in her eyes, but he couldn't understand why she would lie. Reasons or not, it was a lie, just like keeping the war from him. Slade sighed rather quietly, and lowered his head.
"Who are you, Hezza?"

Before she had the chance to tell him, and because he knew that she wouldn't, Slade started toward their home. He was having a hard time prying himself away from her, but he forced himself. He felt as though he weighed a ton; like his legs were made of lead. As he opened the door, the doctor was leaving, and said something to him. Slade didn't hear him. He didn't even try to listen, nor did he ask the man to repeat himself. Slade was disappointed.

Entering the home, Slade ascended the stairs and planted himself in his room. He shut the door, turned off the lights, and laid in bed. It was hardly sundown, but he was ready for the night to consume him.

~~

Rion watched as Slade walked into the house and up the stairs, blank eyed and like his legs were made out of tree trunks. Rion didn't say a word, he just stared at his friend; even watched until the lights went out in his bedroom. Strange. The man stood, looking back at the stranger that was still out cold on the sofa, and walked to the front door. He looked out, first amazed by the beautiful sunset, then down at Hezza. The doctor was talking to her, but he could see the disappointment in her face.

What had Slade done?

It felt as if her heart had dropped inside her, when he asked that question. There was so much packed into such a small sentence, a simple question. There was so much more to those words than it seemed; so much more explaining needed and so much explaining that Hezza couldn't possibly give. Yet, she knew she might have to gain his trust again. As he walked away, towards their home, it felt as if she was loosing a part of him. Her heart even heavier and her stomach churned.

Oh, please, Hezza wanted to cry, come back. I'll tell you everything. So you'll understand. So you'll see why I am trying to protect you.

Instead, she stood still and did not speak; she watched him disappear into the house and still she did not move. There was nothing Hezza could do, except hide her bitter tears as she spoke to the doctor about Kai's condition.

"He's in pretty bad shape," he said, "not sure what sort of trouble he got himself into. But, perhaps you should have the police speak with him, madame."

Hezza forced a smile. "You're probably right, Doctor Stewart. Thank you."

"Don't hesitate to call on me again," Doctor Stewart said, and with that he was off.

Hezza did not leave the yard, though, for a while longer. She would have preferred to stay there all night, but as the sun dipped behind the horizon and the world went dark, Hezza began to shiver. After fifteen minutes of shivering, Hezza had enough and slowly wandered back into the mansion.

Rion only stood at the door, looking at Hezza, for a moment or two. He wanted to wait around for her, but was exhausted. The man turned on his heel as the last of the sun hid from their quiet little city. As he passed through the living room, he gave one last glance to the stranger on his couch. The doctor had told Rion the same thing he told Hezza; call an authority figure as soon as possible. Rion was so caught up in being a hero that he neglected to realize that this stranger could be a danger to him, to Hezza; to the entire Third City. He remembered the faces of the inhabitants. They were petrified. Rion only hoped that they didn't have reason to be. Plus, the guy was severely injured. He couldn't hurt a fly. Right?

Rion rubbed his eyes with the backs of his fists, sighed, and started up the stairs to the restroom. He needed a good, long shower. He just hoped the warm water and relaxation wouldn't make him faint. Rion peeled the sticky, sweaty, bloody clothes from his tight figure, folded them, and placed them on the ground beside the bathroom door. He was a very neat, meticulous man, with very strict routines. He examined his body in the mirror, noting minor bruises and scratches, but that was usual. He tilted his head, wondering what tomorrow had in store. He turned on the hot water, and let himself melt in the water's embrace.

~~

Slade sat upright and awake in his dark bedroom. He heard the shower sputter and fully flow; he knew the doctor left because Rion was too far up his ass to have left his side. He shifted uncomfortably on his bed, and decided to stand and stretch. He was still exhausted; his body almost refused to move. He pushed himself off of the bed, and teetered across the room to look out his window. Hezza was still standing there, alone. It was as if she sensed his presence, because, not long after, she departed for the home. He heard the door open and close.

He thought about rushing down the stairs to her with a blanket, but that would only muddy the waters even further. He didn't want to be affectionate with her; she didn't trust him, and he, sure as hell, did not trust her any longer. Slade pouted and returned to his bed.

Surprisingly, he fell directly to sleep.

Hezza would not be sleeping tonight. Which, in itself, wasn't saying much really. She didn't sleep well most nights; her dreams were always disturbing and it always took her hours to drift off to sleep after waking from a nightmare. With Kai in the house, though, she would not be laying in bed all night, either. She couldn't trust that Kai would stay asleep, although it was obvious that he had truly been hurt. Still, she had to be sure that he would stay out of Slade and Rion's bedrooms.

Dressed in a light night gown that came down just above her knees with long loose sleeves, Hezza tip toed silently back and forth between Rion and Slade's bedrooms. Though they no longer trusted her after the events that had taken place that day, it was still her duty to protect them.

Rion was up and out of his bedroom first thing in the morning, eager to speak with the stranger. A piece of him sided with Hezza's distrust, but he mostly looked forward to stories of war. Rion sent a servant to fetch the proper authorities, since that was what the doctor had suggested. Rion paced around upstairs for a moment, back and forth, unsure of whether to go see the man before his friends were up. It was then that Rion noticed little divots in the carpet in front of he and Slade's room.

Tilting his head to the side, Rion lowered himself to his knees. It seemed as though someone had walked back and forth, just as he was, in front of their rooms, their feet landing in almost identical spots each time. He didn't think a servant would have done so; nor would have the soldier, due to his heavy-footedness. Hezza was the only person left in line to have done something like that. Why? Rion's lips tightened in confusion as he stood, his finger on his chin.

~~

Slade didn't sleep well. He slept heavily through the night, but, upon awakening, he felt like he hadn't slept at all. His nerves were still shot. He didn't groan or sigh; he stayed relatively silent, and placed himself on the ground. He got dressed, didn't bother looking in the mirror, and exited his room. He was startled at the sudden sight of Rion, standing directly in front of his bedroom door.

"What in the hell are you doing?" he said, his voice hoarse and equally harsh.

"Look," Rion replied, casting the finger on his chin to the floor.

"Told you she's acting strange," Slade huffed, descending the stairs. He heard Rion's footsteps mirroring his.

Hezza had not slept a wink that night. When the sun began to lighten the sky, she'd return to her bedroom and dressed for the day. She wore simply a sweater and a pair of jeans. After dressing she'd gone down to the living room, sitting in a large arm chair and watched Kai like a hawk. By the time he awoke, there were dark circles around her eyes.

He sat up, his injuries almost entirely healed. His eyes scanned the room and slid to meet hers. Kai smiled. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," he grinned, almost maliciously.

"What do you want, Kai?" she said, her tone low but stern.

"To bring you home."