Kai smiled as he knealed down to pat the beast on the head before he went over to the door and opened it. He let himself out and held it for the animal to come trotting after him. Once outside he inhaled deeply smelling the scent from the forest. The flowers, the trees. Walking down the main steps he began making his way around the house across the path. At the back of the house he stopped as he looked at the forest the sprawled to his left. Turning to face it he focused on calling out to some of the birds. Two, one red and one white, came flying towards him. Holding his hand out he let them perch on his outstretched arm. Walking over to the back porch he sat down on the white washed steps and began humming a little bit. This is what he truly wanted. To be outside, to be in nature. The song that he sang was a song of longing, that immediately turned into a song of happiness when he noticed how he was singing. He wanted to be free, but he wanted to be with Merik as well. Not once did he mention Sage.

Merik finished up rather quickly, and paused as he moved through the house to go upstairs. Kai was outside, his mouth moving. It was obvious he was singing to the birds, and that mutt of his was laying at the boy's feet. Quietly, so he wouldn't disturb the boy, he opened the window, hoping to hear the male singing. He settled into a chair close to the window.

Kai, with his back turned from the house faltered a little when he heard the sound of the window being opened. He figured that the other just wanted some fresh air, so he continued to sing after that. He sang of his homeland. Of sunset evenings, and cloudless skies. Flying free. He looked forlornly up towards the Heavens both wanting to join his friends and colleagues there, but also wanting to stay rooted to the Earth as well. He lifted his hand up letting the birds fly away back to their forest home as he went to lay down on the wood of the porch. Bringing his knees up to his chest he let his wings wrap around him in a turquoise colored cocoon. The more and more he thought about Earth, the more and more he thought about the other male, and that brought more thoughts to his head. Bad thoughts, at least that was what Sage would have said had he known. Getting up suddenly he began walking rather quickly around the house. With each slap of his foot on the ground he was trying to stamp out the thoughts of the other male.

After a bit, Kai stopped, and Merik sighed unhappily. He stood, closing the window, only to see his angel covering himself with his wings on the ground. Once again, he began to contemplate freeing the boy. He scoffed, and headed upstairs, drawing a bath for himself.

Beast thought Kai was playing a game, and lapped at his face when he laid down, and happily gave chase once the angel began stomping around the house.

Kai continued to walk around the house as he began thinking not only of home, but also the other male that was in the house. He stopped suddenly feeling a bit bad about himself. He was free, while his lover, no Sage, was still being held against his will in the basement. He knew that if he were to escape from this place he would need the help of the other angel. He then suddenly felt very bad with himself, and continued to walk, stamping the ground with each slap of his foot. Merek hadn't treated him poorly. He had given him food, and shelter in this harsh world. Sure he was a prisoner, and they had done terrible, horrible things, but at least he wasn't dead or being constantly abused. Comparatively to what could of happened to him this was freedom. It dawned on him that he needed to go and thank the other one.

Walking quickly into the house he took the stairs 2 at a time as he strode across the carpeted floor. Standing outside the bathroom door, he knocked because he knew that the other one was occupied in there. "Merek," said Kai softly. "Can I talk to you?"

The male had just sunk into the water when a knock startled him. He jumped slightly, then nodded to the door. Right away, he felt like a fool, knowing the angel couldn't see. "Yeah, Kai...come on in." He called out, reaching for the soap.

Merik was rather puzzled, not quite sure why the other boy would want to speak with him. But, naturally he wouldn't deny the boy. He'd already made up his mind on a few things, and needed to let Kai know what he'd decided anyway.

Kai hesitated as he heard the slosh of the water. How could he have forgotten the other was taking a bath? Imaged of the other's unclothed self assaulted him, and he shook his head to rid himself of the images. Turning the knob he walked into the room, and immediately looked at anything besides the other male sitting in the tub of water. Turning to the side a little bit he said,"Merek, I just wanted to say thank you I guess." He knew that the other would probably most likely be a bit, if not completely, puzzled with what to say so he began making a reason up in his head that would sound coherent.

Kai's guess had been right, and Merik's eyebrow knit together as he tried to figure out what he'd been thanked for. "I...you...are....welcome?" He finally ventured, eying Kai. "What brought that on? Here..." There was the sound of water swirling as Merik sat up, and turned around, holding a sponge out. "Wash my back while you explain." He commanded, before adding, "Please?" To make it a nice request.

Kai nodded as he took the sponge from the other, and began washing the other's back. "Well you know," he said as he continued with his task. "I mean you could have been a lot meaner. You could have sold me off to someone for profit since I was an oddity. You could have kept me changed and caged in the basement, but you didn't." As he continued to think he blurted out," not to mention that it wasn't all that bad when we were together that one night."[/B] He dropped the sponge now realizing what he had just said. Pushing himself back on his knees he looked at the ground wanting to evaporate on the spot.

(Hullo, Death to the Reaper! I love lurkers!)

Merik let his eyes fall shut slowly, enjoying the boy's hands scrubbing his back. He listened absently as the male spoke, his eyes opening in surprise when Kai finished speaking. He glanced back. "Don't stop...that felt good..." He muttered, facing forward again. How to go about this?

"Kai...I've decided to free you...I'd...I'd like you to stay in my bed...for one more night, but then you are free to go." He couldn't believe he was saying this, but, to be honest, he'd developed such a soft spot for the angel, and when the boy had spoken of his freedom earlier, his eyes had filled with longing. Merik would give it to him.

((Ya, she lurks. Lol. She is a college buddy of mine. She's super cool though ^^)).

Kai glanced up when he heard the other speak. Emotions were running rampant through his head. Thoughts of freedom, mixed with self loathing, and was that lust he was feeling as well. Freedom? The word, though said by him, was so foreign to him right now. "Really?" he said as he continued to look at the other. One more night with the other he could do that. Right? One last hurdle before he could leave. Then again, since the other had clipped his wings it would take a while for them to grow back. Right now his safest place was in fact here, with Sage. He figured that the other angel could contact the other angels in Heaven, and together they would be able to get back.

That brought on a other bout of emotions and thoughts. What if they punished him for leaving Heaven. That would be a small infraction considering that he had "sinned" with the human. What would happen to the human. He knew that they probably wouldn't punish the other, he was one of God's creations after all. Swallowing he looked at the other and nodded his head"Very well," he said as he let a smile trace his face.

(Oh...you know her IRL? Awesome. ^u^ I like lurkers. Calling them out, at least.)

Merik nodded. It stung, Kai's easy acceptance. But...what had he expected? "Pegasi are easy to catch...Since I clipped your wings, I figured I'd give you one of them to get home on..." He licked his lips, lowering his head a bit. "Why don't you go out to the barn and pick one really quick?"

Truthfully, Merik needed a moment alone, and so was sending him away.

Kai nodded his head as he retreated out of the room. He wanted to be away from the other. Not because he was scared or embarrassed, but because he was sad. It was a sadness that started from the heart, and then went to the limbs making them feel like he was empty, hollow inside. He left the house walking aimlessly to the stables where he saw the winged horses there. Walking over he held his hand out, but then pulled it back. Sinking to the hay and dust covered floor. He began to cry. The sobs raked through his entire body as it shook. He didn't want to leave the other. He wanted to stay with him. Share meals, experiences, a bed, yet he was a tad bit too proud to admit that last one. In Heaven, he would be constantly monitored, and he would never have freedom again. If he stayed with Merek he would have that and more. He pounded the ground a few times with his fists as he yelled out in frustration. This wasn't fair. Why couldn't he have just said what he had wanted to in the first place. That he wanted to share his life with the other?

As soon as the door clicked shut behind the angel. He scrubbed his face, then smacked the water angrily. It would kill him, to give up the angel, but at the same time, there was the strange irrational desire to free him. Besides. He'd still have Sage, and after Kai was released, he'd just take his anger out on the black winged angel.

Merik stood, draining the water and drying himself off, glaring at everything. Soon he was under his covers, his hands tucked behind his towel dried hair, scowling at the ceiling. He shouldn't have let himself become attached. He should have locked Kai in the basement like Sage. He...he still could, though....

After Kai seemed to be done with his crying fits he stood up on shaky legs as he looked at the pegasus in front of him. It had large pearly white wings, and he found himself leaning forward to see if they were as soft as he thought they looked. "What should I do?" he asked the winged horse. The horse looked at him quizzically then motioned with his head towards the manor home. "What?" asked Kai more in a challenging voice than one of curiosity. The horse motioned towards the house again. "You crazy thing." The pegasus gave him a knowing look, and the emotion behind its eyes held laughter. "Stop it!" Kai yelled as he ruffled his feather's a little in agitation. The pegasus neighed at him. "You're just impossible you know that!" he continued to yell. Stalking out of the barn he walked back to the house wondering where the other male had gone to..

Merik still laid under his covers, chewing his lip gently. He didn't want to let the angel go. Not at all. But, he was a man of his words, for the most part. And he cared for the angel. His freedom was what little Kai desired. So Merik's back was against the wall. He sighed, flipping over unto his side. Such a problem.

Walking in through the front doors he patted the large dog on the head as he made his way around the first floor. Not finding the other male he figured that he would try the second floor. Traversing the stairs he saw that the other was no longer in the bathroom. The door was closed to the other's room though so he figured that Merek was there. He had been running around an awful lot, and if he was to spend the night with Merek he at least wanted to wash the dirt and sweat off of him. Walking into the bathroom he closed the door behind him, but didn't lock it. The room smelled of the other's shampoo and body wash, and it made him feel calm and relaxed. Turning the water on he let it run for a bit as he stripped down. He then went and settled into the water letting the warm water work out the kinks in his muscles.

Merik flipped over a bit, hearing the water running through the pipes. Kai had to be washing himself, then. The dark haired hunter smiled, shaking his head. The boy certainly loved to be clean.

He hesitated, before tugging on pants, and heading to the basement, stopping in front of Sage's cage. "I'm letting your friend go." Merik stated after a few long minutes.

Kai continued to soak in the water as he lathered up a little bit. He had his wings outside of the tub since getting water out of feathers would take a while, and was sometimes darn near impossible as well. Kai stopped though and turned the water off when he thought he heard the door at the end of the hallway open. He craned his neck around and listened intently, but didn't hear anything. Turning the water back on he continued to soak.

Sage who was rather down on his luck right now turned to face the door when he heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. He watched as his captor came striding over to him, and he was mentally preparing himself to defend himself. However, what the other male said made him falter a little bit."You're releasing Kai? Why would you do such a thing?" asked Sage as he eyed the other curiously. Sure he was happy that the other was being released, but did that also mean that he was to be released as well?

"I don't really know." Merik admitted, leaning against the wall and peering at the ceiling. He wasn't sure why he was talking to this angel, either. "I'm keeping you, of course...but I'm sending him back. How long have you known him?" The male questioned, finally lowering his gaze to Sage.

Sage narrowed his eyes as he heard this. Of course he was glad that the other was to be released, but not to be able to go home with his lover was torture. "What?" he said before he could stop himself. Sage glared at the other. This was an outrage. How dare he. Kicking the ground he tried to settle his breathing to the best of his ability. "I've known him for about 50 years or so. We were paired though about 10 years ago."

"This pairing...You are both boys...I thought the bible was against a man laying with another man." Merik questioned, still not sure why he was speaking to the angel. Maybe he just needed to clear his head or something? And he was hoping Sage could help. "He's...very unique. But, who knows, maybe I'll catch more little friends to stay with you in the green house?"

Sage snorted as he heard the other man utter the idea about the Bible saying that it was a sin for two men to be together. Maybe so, but humans had twisted the words of the Bible to meet their own needs and demands. Sage didn't need to be told that it was a sin. However, the counsel had told him that he was to pair with Kai. Their word was law in his eyes, and in the eyes of the other angels. "I am well aware," he spat as he glared at the other. Who was this human to judge him on such matters? "The counsel told us to do it and we did. Besides, we're also fighting partners as well. You saw how fast Kai heals." His eye twitched a little bit when he heard the other say that he would possibly be catching more of his friends. He really didn't have that many friends to begin with not to mention that a lot of the angels weren't as adventurous as him or as rebellious as Kai.

Merik shrugged and smiled. "So this council...nevermind...Ill find out from Kai...he'll be joining me tonight by the way." Merik smirked, unable to help rub it in Sage's face. "Completely willingly, too. I gave him a choice...wanna join us?" He offer, his tone polite, yet still mocking.

Sage looked at the other. Was Kai more willing to talk to the other male about the council members? Wait, joining him tonight? Willingly? Now he really want to ask the other what was going on through his head. He licked his lips. He didn't want to take advantage of the situation, but if what the human was saying was true he would never be seeing Kai again. He would be trapped here, until the other felt fit that he would be released, or if the human died. Pacing back and forth he finally stopped and looked at the other. Swallowing he looked at the other. "I," he paused. "I would like to join." He felt utterly retched with himself for doing this or thinking this way, but right now he wanted, no needed to talk to the other.