Shadow smiled at him, a mischievous glint in his eyes. One just had to wonder if that had been his intention in the first place when he offered to return the favor and give him a massage. He was, after all, a sneaky bastard when it came to getting what he wanted. He was by no means innocent, and for someone who had once been an angel he was rather conniving and manipulative sexually...

"...If we what?" he asked, to purposely goad the other into asking.

((Sure, if you'd like. I'll pop on Yahoo.))

Hebs gave Shadow a look and despite his face turning red with embarrassment. With his skin color, it just made his cheeks brown. "Just do it," he said, his voice clipped as he let go of the fallen angel's hand and had the pads of his hand rest on the others' thigh.

[[ -pulls 'em both out- ]]

((*tugs 'em back in*))

"I did a quick scan of that man's mind. He will send him out so that he'll arrive around nine. We should wake up a half hour beforehand so we can all eat...and I can locate that contract. Ah...be warned that I don't know if he's going to come with his lawyer or not. That part he was undecided on when he left..." Shadow seemed very concerned, mostly because he feared for their merman's mental state of being more than anything else. He cuddled up close with Hebs and reached overhead to fiddle with his alarm clock, to set it for about eight-fifteen.

There was a look of worry on Hebs' face. Will tomorrow be all right, he wondered? The man seemed like he wanted to fight and he honestly didn't want to get any of the freaks in trouble. "Will Léan be all right?" he asked in a quiet tone as he cuddled up against Shadow. Oddly enough, he didn't feel at all embarrassed being naked under the sheets with the other. In fact, he'd even pressed a light kiss on his neck before he'd stroked the fallen angel's back.

"Léan will be fine. He has Kratos to protect him. And I believe Léan knows just as well as I do that he can't keep showing fear towards that man, especially when he has people who want to protect him around him. If he keeps showing fear, that will only egg the man on," Shadow murmured, closing his eyes. "Let's get some rest."

He was concerned, but he was putting his trust in Kratos to keep the siren calm...

That was true. Léan will have to learn to not be afraid. But, that was easier said than done. Nodding at the others' words, he slid his eyes shut and relaxed in the fallen angel's arms. Even his own arms had wrapped around him halfway the time.

The next morning, Kratos awoke unusually early. He had the common cold but he didn't seem at all affected. He'd sneezed a couple of times right after he'd woken up but that was about it. Managing to get out from the siren's hold, he went to take a hot bath and returned with a towel being vigorously rubbing his hair.

Hebs, on the other hand, woke up fifteen minutes earlier than the alarm and had gotten out from Shadow's hold to go and prepare breakfast. They had a long day ahead of them and they had a particular time to get ready for. Of course, he had to wear clothes so he'd gotten to his room to get changed first. Gian was still snuggled up against Hebs, unaware of what was going to happen and still completely taken on by sleep.

Léan woke a few minutes after Kratos headed into the bathroom to take his bath, disturbed by the loss of a warm heat curled up next to him. He sniffed slightly and sat up, rubbing at his eyes and waiting for the human to return. When he did, he yawned softly and glanced off into the distance. Yesterday's events seemed to be long gone from his mind--a good thing...

His stomach grumbled all of a sudden, and he cleared his throat softly.

Shadow woke with a start when his alarm went off, and he lumbered out of bed, nabbing a few simple clothing items--a black turtleneck and an old pair of beige dress pants. He wasn't going to wear glasses or a mask, in an attempt to frazzle the visitor or visitors. He wasn't sure whether or not the man himself was going to come.

Alfie, like Gian, was fast asleep, still. He most likely wasn't going to get up unless he was physically shaken awake

Kratos blinked when he'd heard what sounded a hungry stomach. It had him turning to look at Léan and smiling slightly in amusement. Coming over to where the merman was after he got changed in a simple black, v-necked shirt and pants, he picked up the other and went out of his room to head to the kitchen. He was pleasantly surprised to already see plates on the table with food. Wasn't it only eight-thirty in the morning?

Hebs saw the two and he smiled at them. "Let's eat," he told them, "I'll go wake the others up." Taking the towel hanging about his apron, he wiped his hands and made his way to Shadow's room. "Hey, it's time to eat," he started before he'd blinked at the sight of him not wearing any mask. Somehow, it made him grin. Luckily for him, too, Shadow wasn't looking his way so he wouldn't be enchanted by his looks.

The snake teen quickly moved over to Gian's room and he knocked lightly on the door before peeking in. The two seemed contentedly asleep. He idly wondered if he should wake them up. "Gian? Alfie?" he tried, "It's time to eat."

Léan clung to Kratos when he picked him up, looking embarrassed by his stomach's noisy actions. He was indeed hungry, but why did his innards have to go broadcasting it like that? It wasn't necessary at all. He sniffed once they were out of Kratos' room, immediately smelling the food from that distance. He was starving...

Shadow ambled out into the hallway, yawning, and headed in the direction of the food he smelled. He was vaguely aware that he should be looking his best, but then he thought...why bother? So, he didn't bother doing anything more to his hair than brushing his hands through it and washing them thoroughly in the kitchen sink before sitting down to eat.

Alfie groaned, not awake at all. "Five more minutes," he complained. "I don't want to get up yet, mama..."

Hebs raised his eyebrows a little and looked greatly amused. Putting his hands on his waist, he stood by the bed and watched the two. Gian had only stretched out and buried his face on Alfie's chest while he groaned quietly as well. "Come on, you two," Hebs said as he reached out to gently shake Alfie and Gian. Gian shifted a little to get out from Alfie's hold and from that hand shaking him awake. When he saw Hebs, he stretched out on the bed with his arms going over his head and let out a delicious moan.

It had Hebs snickering as he pulled the blankets off of them. The cold air on his chest made his little buds harden and he frowned as he grunted. "Damn it, Hebs," he mumbled before he'd rubbed his chest a little and let his hand slide down to his stomach. He still looked sleepy and he shut his eyes for a few minutes, waiting for Alfie to get out of bed first.

Kratos, on the other hand, had seated himself and Léan on his lap. The male started eating after he'd downed some water and silently chewed. Everyone seemed to be waking up early today. "Is there something happening today?" Kratos asked as he turned to look up at Shadow's way.

Shadow was already eating by this point, and he flashed Kratos and Léan a pointed stare. "...Do you not remember what happened yesterday?" he asked, pointedly. "That man is sending his lawyer here today. I'd like us all to be present, in case something goes awry. Once I've finished eating, I have to go and fetch that contract...unless someone wants to grab it for me?"

Alfie cuddled closer to Gian, not really wanting to get up despite the temptation of food. He was far too comfortable, and for some reason, he had a sinking feeling in his stomach that told him staying in bed was a better idea today than getting up. He didn't know why...he just got these little feelings all the time.

Léan stiffened a little when he heard Shadow's words, but he didn't pause in eating the food that Hebs had laid out for him. He looked frightened, but now that he'd been expecting it, the reaction wasn't as severe.

Kratos paused for a second or two. He didn't think the man would be sending his lawyer today, right this day. After all, this wasn't exactly their home. It'd definitely be better if they didn't exactly have a place to call home. A moving vehicle, getting from one place to the other...

"Get it yourself," he told Shadow with a grunt before he'd resumed eating. Hebs, on the other hand, had just arrived then and had taken a seat beside Shadow to start eating. Gian, 'til now, was in bed. "You're not hungry, Alfie?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse from the lack of use as he nudged the others' head with the side of his own. Nipping lightly at his lower lip, he shifted to close the distance between them again and lightly ran his big toe along those scales of his.

Gian really didn't know why but it felt good having to run his toes along those scales.

"Mind your mouth," Shadow retorted pointedly as he continued eating. Kratos and Léan were the only two freaks who ever gave him attitude, Léan mostly seeing as he acted like such a diva sometimes, and he was happy to retort with attitude of his own. Once he finished eating, he sighed and leaned back in his chair slightly, looking pleased.

"I am...just don't feel like getting up..." Alfie cuddled closely with Gian, accepting the close proximity between them. He wasn't going to outwardly admit that he felt like something tumultuous was going to happen. No, he didn't want to scare anyone...especially their merman. Léan didn't need any more fright than he'd had in the past two days...

Léan was not fond of the idea of constantly moving around. For one, he didn't like being transported in near-plain sight. Cars unnerved him. Planes were even worse. Boats were just...the worst possible thing in the world--now that was just siren instinct ringing true, because on land there was no need for him to fear boats.

Kratos didn't see the point in holding himself back. At least, not with Shadow. If he were talking with Léan, he'd probably apologize even before he could give the merman a minute to speak. By the time he had finished eating, he, too, had leaned back in the chair and had pulled Léan close to him - almost protectively. Apparently, he had become too used to having the merman close to him and had pretty much carried him wherever he needed to go.

Gian had to agree with Alfie. "Neither do It," he mumbled as he shivered slightly. The cold air was getting to him and he tightened his hold around the naga while he grunted. He hated Hebs with passion. For pulling the blanket down.

Shadow budged up after a long moment to head back down the bedroom hallway and into his room, where he spent a few minutes digging around his belongings. He always brought his trunk of valuables with him, wherever he went...and inside that trunk, which he found shoved in the back of the closet where he'd first stowed it when they came here, was the contract.

He returned to the table with the long contract, which he had sealed off in a plastic bag to protect it from injuries, and sat down, setting it on the table. "There we are."

Alfie nipped playfully at Gian's neck, and then he unwillingly sat up, stretching himself out even more. "...I really want food," he complained, quietly. "Let's go nab some and then come back to bed..." He didn't want to be out there any longer than he had to be, with this weird feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Léan didn't seem to mind the close proximity between the two of them, not at all. He laid his head against Kratos' chest, letting those arctic blue eyes drift away behind pale eyelids. He would not be so calm once that man's lawyer arrived. He would be even less calm if the man accompanied his lawyer, which he had a feeling he would...

Kratos had finished just as Shadow had left the table and he turned to look at Hebs who only blinked his way. "Please," he started as he smiled, "I didn't know it either until Shadow told me last night." The man only nodded as he turned to look back up to see Shadow with the contract.

"Why does that look... long?" Hebs asked as he leaned back in his seat as well once he'd finished. Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked at the said contract warily. He never did like legal matters.

Gian grunted again at the playful nip on his neck and he only let go of Alfie when he had moved to sit up and stretch out. "Sound good to me," he replied with a nod as he yawned out widely and stretched again on the bed before rolling off of bed. Quickly donning a pair of pants and a white t-shirt, he ran his fingers through his hair, rubbed his neck and went on ahead to go to the dining table where everyone seemed to be at.

Shadow didn't like dealing with legal things, either. He preferred to just talk things out with people, but a contract like this was the only way to ensure that that terrible owner wouldn't come back for Léan. He didn't want the siren to have to go back to an abusive owner... "...Well. It's technically the 'deed' to Léan. It's rather long and convoluted, but it was worth it to sign it, and it should guarantee my technical ownership of him..." he hummed, glancing towards the door absently.

Alfie slithered his way out towards the dining table behind Gian. Now that he was closer to the food and could smell it, his mouth was watering and he didn't regret getting up. He sat down at the seat where his plate, packed full of meat, was and began to devour it without a care in the world.

Léan seemed content to just rest against Kratos while he finished off the very last piece of food on his plate, his eyes closed. When he did finish, he opened his eyes again to study what was going on around him.

Gian had also joined everyone on the table and was eating his food. Halfway through his meal, though, someone had rudely opened their front door. Of course, it was the man they had feared would come and with him was his lawyer. The fifty-year old man with graying hair and a much younger man who looked like he was in his late twenties stood by his side in a proper attire, though much less formal than the older man's.

"I've come to-" The hand on his shoulder made him stop and he turned to look at his lawyer who'd only politely smiled his way. Grunting, he stepped aside for the redhead to come in. Said redhead adjusted his glasses and stepped in to start the deliberation - or whatever this is called. Seriously, this was a waste of his time but he wasn't one to complain not when he was being paid a big amount of money.

"I'm here in behalf of Mr. McCain. I'm Johnny Red. I believe he wanted me to see a legal document pertaining to the possession of a certain merman named Léan?" Gian's eyes widened when he'd seen the said lawyer. Wasn't that... It seemed Johnny had even recognized him but paid him no attention and only smiled. This was in no way a time to show he knew anyone - at least not with an angry man standing behind him.

Shadow popped open the little plastic bag and began to carefully remove the long document. He'd snatched Léan away from that man a long time ago, when he'd been much younger...and it appeared he'd done a good job of preserving the document. "I warn you, it's long. If you don't want to waste your time, signatures and confidential information are on the first, third, eighth, and last--tenth--pages..." He held out the papers, flashing a charming smile in the lawyer's direction. "Voila. Please be careful with it. It's a delicate document. And if it's destroyed, whoever destroys it obviously has to pay for it...legally, at least. I believe you're aware of that much. So, I'd kindly recommend keeping it away from your angry client, if you know what I'm implying."

He didn't miss that Gian recognized this lawyer. He would have to talk to him about it later.

Alfie watched Gian's reaction with concern, and his long tail swished back and forth under the table. He was not fooled by how genial Shadow was acting. He was not being polite just for the sake of being polite, after all.

Léan curled up at once in Kratos' arm, a very strange, fierce-sounding but soft growl making its way forth from his throat. He bared his sharp teeth in the man's direction, almost as if daring him to come any closer. When he was imprisoned, he would fight back as much as he could...but being weak and emotionally drained, it wasn't often. Now, he wouldn't hesitate to bite, and it was likely he would bite to kill, not to injure.

Red nodded at the man's warning and he gave his client a sharp look that had him freezing on the spot. He grumbled under his breath and turned to see the merman in a redhead's arms. Even though those teeth were bared at him, there was a look of longing in his eyes as he stepped out. It was what Johnny had requested of him and as Red came closer to the table to put the fragile document down, he only smiled. "I'm sure I'll be able to read through it all. Just give me about thirty minutes."

And, indeed, by thirty minutes, he had finished reading all the sections of the long document. It could pass off as a law, too, if need me. Whoever wrote this document certainly can become a law maker. "This will sound as bad news for my client." The handsome man's lips pursed just a little as he adjusted his glasses. Turning to look at Gian, he shot him a short nod of greeting before he went out to inform McCain.

It didn't end too well.

Obviously, McCain was in rage when he'd heard about the documents and he decided to take the merman by force even if he had to. Pushing the lawyer aside and not caring at all that he'd knocked him out, he sauntered into the place and started screaming bloody hell. "You!" he scowled at Shadow and went to tackle him onto the ground. Holding up his shirt, he snarled, "I'll just have to kill you and I can have the document be void of its rightful ownership to you." He had remembered, of course, that fateful night where he, in his drunken state, had signed such a document and had lost his one and only precious gift.

Kratos, on the other hand, stood up and got far away from them while holding the merman close to him. There was no way he was going to give him to McCain. Hell, if he had to, he'd kill him and he wouldn't know what had touched him or what had happened to him. Gian was surprised and Hebs was quick to get to Shadow's aid. The man had managed to knock him aside, though, much like the lawyer. Hebs found himself knocked out of air from his lungs and he grunted at the pain from that collision to his back and the wall.

Alfie, in shock, suddenly scooped up his plate and reached over to tug on Gian's shirt. He looked frightened...foreboding...like he wanted to get out of the dining area, and fast. Alfie usually only got this frightened when...when...

Léan seemed to be having the same feelings as Alfie, but he didn't want to leave just yet. He attempted to lunge forward, though he was protected by Kratos' arm, and attack with sharp teeth bared, in an attempt to help Shadow out. But he knew, deep down, that the fallen angel would not need his help. He had pissed the man off before, and they had fought in the past...quite honestly, he wanted to be nowhere near Shadow when his temper burst.

And goodness, it did.

It took a while, and he appeared calm even as he was tackled over and first screamed at. But when his shirt was held up and the man began to speak, in snarling tones, there was a slight change going on in his expression. His normally calm, serene expression was twisting, ever so slowly, into one of the darkest possible expressions that seemed possible for him. His beauty became a thing of unimportance...perhaps this is what it felt like to have a heavenly sort of plague upon you, just looking at his face.

His inactivity abruptly ended. Shadow suddenly cocked his arm back and brought it forward in a bone-crushing right hook--clearly aiming to break bones, or at the very least dislocate his jaw. He didn't let McCain fall--no, he, much like McCain had, grabbed a hold of the man by the collar of his shirt. Since the human was a little shorter than him, Shadow seemed to have no problem lifting the somewhat bulkier, heavier man up off the ground to face him, directly. He brought him very close to his face, golden eyes burning with an incomparable kind of rage.

He seemed to want to blurt out a million different things at once, for there were so many choice words he could say to this man. Instead, his feral eyes narrowed--he looked wildly ferocious. "I should kill you," he growled--the very sound of his voice made Alfie cringe and attempt to hide underneath the table. "I should rip you apart limb from limb, and make you suffer like you've made him suffer. I should rip out all of your organs slowly, one by one, and feed them to you. But I won't. I am a better man than you are. If you know what's good for you..."

He raised the arm that was holding McCain up and he flung him forward with great force, so that he slammed into the wall like a sack of puppies. "...you will get out of my house."

Gian and Hebs were in shock when they saw the transformation on Shadow's face. Suddenly, Hebs felt pity for the old human and he brought up a hand to rub lightly on his chest. His lungs still hurt but at least now he knew very well that there was no need for him to help the fallen angel. He did try to prevent the fight from happening, though, but it happened nonetheless much to his dismay.

The man cried out when he'd felt that impact of a hard fist against his jaw. Though he was hard-headed and temperamental, he was growing fragile. After all, old age did that to humans. Grunting when he was held by the collar of his shirt, he did try to get to his feet and held onto Shadow's wrists to try and pry that hold off of him. It was hard to breathe and he had to tilt his head back and to the side just a bit. The fear he had on a while ago intensified when those feral eyes narrowed at him. The man didn't look any more angelic at all.

McCain would've had retorted at the others' words but his breath was knocked out the instant he was flung aside. The slam into the wall wasn't gentle at all. Hell, Hebs had to move out of the way and look down at McCain in both worry and digust. The movement had hurt his back but he was sure it wouldn't be as bad as what McCain would feel once he'd get up. Hebs tried to help the man up but he was, as he'd expected, pushed aside. This time, he caught his balance. McCain shakily ignored Shadow's look and went to take Léan's gaze. It looked like he wouldn't be able to get him again.

This obviously dismayed him as he walked out the door with a little twitch every now and then from the damage done on him.

Gian was the first one to move from his place. He had quickly moved to shut the door only to stop when he saw Johnny still laying on the ground outcold. It had him blinking and he looked around outside for a moment to see if that McCain was still around before he'd moved to his side. "Johnny?" he asked as he tapped his cheek lightly, "You okay?"

"His temper's... really..." Johnny groaned and managed to get up with Gian's help. He let himself be led to lean by the wall and grunted. He hated that look of pity on Gian's face. Putting his hand on his face and shoving him aside, he made a face. "Seriously, Gian. Stop doing that. You haven't changed at all."

Alfie was hiding under the table. He had his arms up over his head, the plate of food setting almost forgotten on the table. He wasn't ready to get up yet, not until he was sure that their Ringleader had calmed down some. He was terrified of Shadow when he was angry...more so than maybe anyone else in their family.

Léan didn't miss that parting glance the man threw him, and he returned it with a disgusted, furious look of his own before he moved to cuddle against Kratos' chest, peering up at him with uncertain, hesitant eyes. He didn't say anything...he couldn't think of anything to say, really. He just wanted comfort.

Shadow stood where he was for the longest time, not even stirring when Gian brought the dizzy lawyer into the room. His hands were clenching and unclenching into and out of fists, and his shoulders had raised up to his chin. His long hair was blocking out his face, creating an azure curtain that temporarily blocked him off from the rest of the world. He remained like that for many long, arduous minutes before slowly, those shoulders dropped back down to their normal height and the muscles in his hands relaxed. He lifted his head slightly, turning to glance around at everyone that was in the room. His expression was blank for a while, but then he bowed his head slightly, a look of half-amused remorse on his face.

"...I'm sorry for losing my temper," he apologized, politely. He could be a real gentleman when he wanted to be. "But I didn't see any other way that that man would give up. I..." He trailed off, glancing over at Léan. The merman fixed him with a soft, silent smile, indicating that he didn't have to say anything if he didn't want to. Shadow chuckled softly, running his fingers through his hair, and glanced underneath the table.

"Alfie. Alfie, come out. I'm better, now," he cajoled, gently.

The naga peeked out from underneath the table, looking cautious. But, he eventually slithered out from beneath the table, immediately going to Gian's side.

Johnny turned to look at Shadow's way and he blinked at the sight of him. He was oddly different. At least, the aura he gave when he had been the one to handle things a while ago was different compared to what it is now. What did McCain do? A frown touched his handsome features and the glasses he wore slid down a little from the bridge of his nose. He also didn't miss the fact that he'd seen the transformation, the apology and the slithering.

Surprise was first apparent on the lawyer's face before it had turned to one of curiosity and then amusement. The grin he saw on Gian's face, though, had him losing his smile only to grunt and look off elsewhere. "There's no need to be shy, Johnny," Gian said with a bright grin as he reached out to take the naga's hand and looked over at him, "I had the same reaction as you the first time I saw them. Really. They're amazing freaks."

Johnny looked back at Gian and made another face as he looked from one freak to the other. They, indeed, were different from each other. Perhaps, the only most normal he could see - at least physically - were Shadow, Gian and Kratos. The other three had scales. "You wouldn't have had put up a walk-in show if they weren't." Smirking slightly and reaching out to ruffle up Gian's hair, he turned to look at Shadow after he'd managed to gather up his composure. "My sincerest apologies about what had happened earlier. It seems my client has gone out of hand, hasn't he?" With the way Johnny was asking the statement meant that this wasn't the first time. Even he had to endure those man's punches sometimes that he'd often knock him out with the nearest blunt object.

No one knew about his powers and he made sure of it that way. Not even Gian. "He hasn't done any damages here either, has he?"

Kratos didn't need words to be told that Léan wanted nothing but to be held. Shifting the other in his arms so he'd be half hugging and half holding him, he pressed a light kiss on the side of his head and gave a glare at Johnny who had turned to look his way. No matter how handsome he was, he never liked anyone else to accompany him. The freak family, of course, seemed to be an exception. That, and he wasn't at all bothered by Shadow's anger. Perhaps, compared to the other freaks, he was more of the brave one.

Hebs had moved to Shadow's side and reached out to put a hand on his back when he'd heard him apologize for what had happened and reassured the naga he was all right. The snake teen smiled slightly and he hoped to soothe the other by running his hand up and down the others' back. "He hasn't broken anything at least," he told Johnny who gave him a quirk of that brow, "Mr. Lawyer." Hebs was rather amused to see a twitch on Johnny's eyebrow. Apparently, the lawyer didn't like to be called as Mr. Lawyer.

Alfie clung to Gian's arm at once, nuzzling it and purring softly. He seemed to have regained his overall cheer now that Shadow was not angry anymore. He peered over Gian's shoulder uncertainly at the lawyer. He liked people, sure...but he was always wary when meeting new people. He wasn't received well, normally anyway, by 'normal' people.

Léan graced Kratos with a soft purr and the tightening of his arms. He, now that he had eaten and the tense situation had been dealt with, looked like he just wanted to relax. He didn't say this, of course, but he implied it. He curled up in the human's arms, glancing up at him again with weary, half-open eyes. The fact that there was a strange human in the room with all of them was not making the merman any happier. He was happy that McCain was gone, at the very least--he was terrified of the man, and he never wanted to see him ever again.

Shadow, now that he was calmer, accepted Hebs' comforting touch with ease. He turned so he could tug Hebs closer for a warm embrace. He decided, once Johnny spoke, to take a closer look at him. A quick scan of his thoughts proved fruitful, for he managed to catch him thinking about the times he had to fend off the older man...and that he had strange powers. A sort of flare began to burn in his golden eyes. Anyone who had been formally recognized and asked to join the show because of their being a 'freak' and having strange powers would recognize that look on his face...of course, that meant everyone but Gian and Léan.

He decided not to formally say anything. He would try to talk to the young man in private.

"...It's quite fine. I just...I couldn't stand to even think of sending Léan back with him," he murmured, quietly. "I know what that man has done to him...all of it. Everything. Not even an inanimate object should have to go through the abuse that he did. He is safe and happy here."

Léan spared a glance over in the Ringleader's direction before returning his full attention to Kratos.