Mouse
Fafnir sighed as he headed downstairs again in the hours of early morning. This whole thing about staying with humans was as annoying as hell. He wanted to hunt. And then the covert glances Mouse kept sending that pup...it was enough to make any self-respecting wolf howl. Humans! Or aliens, actually...but that wasn't the bloody point! Two leggers in general! Annoying as hell. Sidhe scittered out of the kitchen, chasing Nevyn. Fafnir put a heavy paw on her, stopping her. Quit that.
Canid! Dirty canid, leggo! Sidhe squirmed.
Thank you, wolf.
Any time, rat. Nevyn clambered to the top of the couch and Fafnir swung his head to meet the rat's eyes. We have a problem.
I do know what you mean. Mouse is unhappy.
Well, she's sorta happy and sorta not. She's pining. If she was a wolf, she'd find it much easier.
Yes. The question is, what are we going to do about it?
Let me up! Fafnir moved his paw, and Sidhe shot away before calmly settling down to clean herself. He thinks like a cat, that one. I like him.
So, how do we fix this? Nevyn tensed as Sidhe's eyes swung onto him.
I like the way you think, rat. I will not look on you as prey anymore. So...if they were Folk, this would be so much simpler! The kitten pouted.
Yes, well, we havta work with what we've got.
So. What we can do is this... The Folk settled down to plan.
~*~*~*~
Mouse woke up to see Fafnir hanging over her. "Ok, I'm up." She pushed him off the bed and got up and stretched before rapidly changing into her clothes. She glanced at the wolf uneasily. He was up to something...self-satisfaction radiated off him in waves. "Right, what have you done now?"
Nothing. Let's go have breakfast. He gripped the tail of her flannelette shirt and pulled her towards the door.
"I'm coming! Quit it!" Mouse stumbled down the stairs, yawning widely. "What is *with* you?"
Mouse! Sidhe scampered ahead. I won, I won!
"Won what?"
Won Nevyn's game. He hid, I found him!
She did at that. Quicker then I thought she would. Nevyn climbed to Mouse's shoulder. And then she managed to sneak into the odd two- legger's room and steal something.
Uh huh. I won! And cat two legger moved nary an inch. Sidhe said proudly. Mouse covered her eyes.
What did you steal? She decided it may be better if she did not speak out loud right then.
Ummm, this! Sidhe ran off, and then returned with her head held high and a piece of metal glinting between her teeth. Mouse frowned in confusion, until she dropped to a knee and held her hand out. A diamond ring. Mouse felt like crying. She'd learnt a bit of Ike's history, and if this had come from Ike's room...Oh, *crap*. Small, and pretty shiny thing! Mine! Sidhe leapt for Mouse's hand and knocked the ring to send it sliding along the floor.
"Sidhe!" Mouse hissed between her teeth and shot after the kitten, who was batting the ring across the floor. She finally swept the cat into her arms and grabbed the ring off her. "We're putting this back, right now! Before they wake up! Oh, I could so kill you for this." Sidhe just smiled, and licked Mouse's face. Mouse headed upstairs quickly, and stood in front of Ike's door, trying to clamp down on her nervousness. Last thing she needed was Diana waking up. And then the door opened, revealing Taylor. Mouse could have just fainted in shock and shame. Oh, smegging 'ell.
Taylor
Taylor's eyes were barely open when he opened the door and saw Mouse standing there.
"Been standing there all night?" he grinned, before attempting to get past her.
Then he heard something metal fall to the floor, as he'd bumped it from her hand. His eyes flashed toward the ring as it rolled across the ground.
"HOLY...!" he cut himself off as he lunged for it.
He caught it before it could fall down a crack, then stared at it in his hand. It was Myra's ring. If Ike saw him with it...
He looked up at Mouse.
"How... Where did you get this?" he frowned slightly.
Mouse
"Oh, crap." Mouse closed her eyes, and then opened them. "It's not what you think. Well, it kinda is, but I swear it didn't have anything to do with me. I would *never* have taken it."
Mine! Sidhe swiped at Taylor's hand. Mouse grabbed the kitten's paw.
"Haven't you caused enough trouble?" Mouse hissed miserably. Oh god. This was so beyond bad. "She took it. I was going to put it back, before you guys woke up. Nevyn put her up to stealing something. I am so sorry, you have no idea." Mouse willed the tears back down.
Taylor
Taylor stood up slowly, still staring at the ring in his hand. It was absolutely beautiful, but he wouldn't admit that.
Looking up at her, he closed his hand over it.
"We'd better wash it first. A bit of cat spit on it."
He looked down at Sidhe, before going into the bathroom. He ran the water and began to try and wipe it clean. He didn't expect mouse to follow him or anything. She'd probably go back to the animals again.
Grabbing a nearby towel, he carefully began to dry it. Then he grabbed a flannel to carry it with. There'd been no prints or anything on it - it was that well kept.
Mouse
Mouse leant her head against the cool wall and sighed. Damn, but her life sucked. She trailed Taylor to the bathroom and watched him clean the ring carefully. He was so nice, about everything. "I am so sorry. This whole thing is kind of a carryover. I told Nevyn no stealing while we were here, but noooo. Gotta bring the cat into it. Should I tell him, or not? He's your bro and all. Kinda guessing if I do, I had best start running for New Mexico." Fafnir came up behind her, and she scratched his ears.
Taylor
Taylor jumped at the sound of her voice. He looked up at Fafnir, but not at Mouse. Fafnir seemed... to be hiding something, to put lightly. He may not have empathy, but he'd been communicating with animals long enough to know when they were up to something.
"I... don't think it'd be a good idea to tell him," he chuckled lightly, "I don't think even getting to New Mexico could keep you safe. Sorry."
Taking one last look at the ring to make sure it looked perfect, he began to quietly make his way back to his brother's room. The door was still open. Surprisingly, the noise he'd made when lunging for the ring hadn't woken him up.
Quietly, he crept into the room to replace it in it's rightful place. He sighed thankfully, glanced at his brother, put the flannel in his pocket and left the room. Closing the door quietly behind him, he looked up at the two standing before him.
"So... what's up/ Good morning by the way."
Mouse
"Well, except for the hating my life thing, not much." Mouse smiled weakly. Fafnir grinned, and his tail started to wag slightly. Mouse shot him a wary glance. What was with him today? Her mouth dropped open in shock as the wolf headbutted the back of her knees, sending her straight into Taylor's arms.
We run now, right?
Agreed. The wolf and the cat hightailed it down the stairs.
Taylor
"Fafnir!" Taylor exclaimed, almost falling backwards but catching Mouse all the same.
"Uh, sorry," he blushed a little as he stood her back up.
Damn his cheeks. He always blushed so easily, and half the world already knew.
Fafnir was up to something alright.
"What is with them this morning?" Taylor frowned slightly.
Mouse
Mouse blushed a deep vibrant red. Oh god. She knew exactly what was with them. Oh, she hated them so much. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I seem to be saying that a lot lately, sorry. And can I just mention how much they're in trouble? Cos they are. Much trouble. This is just the icing on the cake of their badness. Not that the situation is bad, just, you know, general shock all round, and very in the spotlight..." Mouse babbled desperatley, trying to ignore the fact that his hands were on her waist and he was looking so cute and all. She was going to kill the wolf. Slowly. Painfully. Was nothing in her life normal?
Taylor
Taylor grinned at the sight of her face going red.
So he wasn't the only one.
"I believe he will be in trouble," he agreed, taking his hands off her.
"Ah... do you want some breakfast or something? My treat, since Ike's not up," he smiled at her.
Mouse
"Breakfast would be good." Mouse cleared her throat. "Yes. Food. And then major wolf behind kicking." They headed downstairs.
Well, I thought that would take longer. Fafnir said cheerfully. What with the way you two leggers always take too long about the important things in life.
Aw, no happy smiley faces. Fafnir, I don't think it worked. Sidhe sniffed. What with general lack of contentment, and rather more in the whole kill the Folk now vibes.
What? How daft can you bloody get? I do not get two leggers, at all. He likes you, you like him, what's the big, bloody deal?
Though Mouse had thought it was not possible to blush deeper, she proved herself wrong.
Taylor
Taylor's eyebrows rose as he heard their conversation.
He knew a dog's instincts were usually right, but... what the hell? He glanced at Mouse.
"Fafnir," he began calmly, "I think you're in for it."
He grinned, then left Mouse to it as he went into the kitchen. He began looking for something to make breakfast with. What should they have... cereal? Toast? Eggs? Had to be something easy. He hadn't cooked for ages because Isaac was always around. Toast it was.
He grabbed the bread from the cupboard and set up the toaster, then grabbed the juice from the fridge. All the while trying to forget what Fafnir had implied. Mouse didn't want a relationship or anything, she wasn't comfortable enough around other people yet. Why would he be an exception?
Shaking his head to himself, he wondered why he was thinking it. But Fafnir and Sidhe certainly had him questioning his feelings.
Mouse
"You are without a doubt the most unprincipled scoundrel and alround generally annoying wolf I have ever met. Don't give me that look," Mouse said crossly as he cocked his head to one side and grinned at her. "You are, there are no words for what you are. And leading that poor little kitten astray as well. Bad puppy." Fafnir's hackles went up and he growled at her. "*Very* bad puppy."
Don't you call me puppy, Mouse. And what's the big bloody deal, ey? We know, we can sense it and god, you two leggers are so bloody daft! If you were a wolf-
But I'm not. Stop matchmaking, or I'll rip your throat out.
Now, that was wolfly, bitch. Mouse's eyebrows went up. He must be proud of something she'd done. Probably the physical threat. Man, but wolves were odd. So, go get your male.Be the wolf, sugar. See, want, take. It works for me.
I hate you. I hate you so much. Did you ever try asking? Like I'd ever have half a chance anyway. Mouse said quietly and miserably.
Now, he's daft but not that stupid, I'm sure. He's too wolf to be that stupid. Go and have breakfast, sort things out. I'm going hunting. Fafnir padded over to the door and waited patiently for her to unock it and let him out. Mouse leant her head against the wall and banged it softly a few times. Damn it.
"So, what's for breakfast?" She asked Taylor, smiling slightly as she put on the 'yep, everything A-OK' mask.
Taylor
"Toast," Taylor shrugged innocently.
He was used to hiding his feelings from an empath, with trying with his mother for so long. He wasn't so good at it when he was younger, but now he at least could mask it a little.
"I'm not so used to making breakfast anymore, Ike's always doing it," he chuckled to himself, working away, "and I'm not normally the first awake. I guess Sidhe got to me."
He paused for a moment as he leant against the bench.
"Someone once told me that animals often talk quietly. I think we were mainly talking about rabbits at the time," he rubbed his nose, "but I can't tell, because I hear them in my own language. Everyone talks loud enough for me to understand."
He looked up at her for a moment as the first lot of toast popped.
"I guess what I was trying to say is that an animal could have woken me up just by talking, and no one would know for sure."
He grabbed the toast, put it on a plate, and put the next lot in. He pushed the plate toward her and indicated the toppings he'd pulled from the fridge.
"I don't know what you want, so... help yourself," he offered.
Mouse
Mouse spread butter on the toaset before taking a big bite. She swallowed. "S'good. Please excuse the wolf...he has the subtlety of a brick." She took another bite. He was trying to hide from her...something. And damn, but he was good at it. She withdrew all her senses in so she was locked up tight. She wouldn't intrude on his privacy.
Taylor
"Well that's a creative way of looking at it," he raised his eyebrows, his hand on a knife.
They stood in silence for a moment before his toast popped.
"Food. At last," he smiled slightly, grabbing it and putting it another plate.
He grabbed the smooth peanut butter and began to spread it over, then took a bite.
"So," he began once he swallowed, "not meaning to pry or anything, but I know you don't like to stay in one place for a long time... I mean, do you know when you'll leave Tulsa?"
Mouse
Mouse shrugged. "Soon, probably. I can't stay here forever, though it has been a nice rest up. Do ya know if your dad's found anything about my family, at all?"
Taylor
Taylor couldn't stop the sinking feeling in his chest.
"No, I don't know," he replied, "I don't really think it's any of my business... you finding your family, you know?"
He finished off his toast, save for a small bite-sized piece.
"I'll be back in a tick," he unknowingly forced as smile at her, before heading for the staircase.
Shaking his head to himself, he went up to his room. Even though Mouse was now sleeping in there instead of him, Flavian refused to move into Isaac's room. At least Navyn would be keeping him company.
"Hey there little guy," he cooed, going over to him as he saw him shuffle along the desktop.
He placed the piece of toast in front of him, and watched him begin to eat it. The small creature began to spit some little pieces out.
"Sorry about the peanut butter. I tried to get it off."
Flavian sneezed, and gave a silent thanks by licking Taylor's finger. Taylor smiled and sighed, watching him.
Mouse
Mouse sighed and toyed with the last bit of her toast miserably. What did she say? She had said she was going to leave soon...a smile curved her lips. Maybe the Folk weren't so far wrong after all. She cleaned up after herself and headed upstairs to Taylor's room, humming slightly. Happy Mouse. "Hey." She smiled at Taylor. "Seen Nevyn around?" And then she caught a whisper of exulatation from the rat and the wolf as the door swung shut. She leapt for it, and tried to rattle the doorknob. It was stuck. "Oh, lordie." She chuckled and covered her eyes with a hand. "They've locked us in, and I really don't think your parewnts would appreciate being woke this early. Oh, but they are dead. Dead, barbequed and spit roasted," she said clearly, knowing they could hear her.
Taylor
Taylor groaned and rubbed his forehead.
"They just don't know when to give up, do they?" he said finally, standing up.
Flavian jumped a few times, then shuffled to the edge of the desk and peered over the edge.
"No, no, no... you'll hurt yourself," Taylor warned when he saw he was about to jump.
He held out his hand for the fuzzle to climb onto, then set him on the ground.
"Just watch you don't tread on him," he warned Mouse, before going to the window.
He opened it and looked out. Fafnir was below, his tail wagging, with one of the Ka'Millens.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he exclaimed as quiet as he could.
Mouse
Oh, what we're doing, that's easy, ey? Fafnir smiled cockily up at them as Mouse joined Taylor by the window. You two are being daft...and Flavian promised to tell us when you were in the room together so Nevyn could lock you in. Mouse whirled and glared at the fuzzle. Flavian giggled. You're locked in fer a while. I'd suggest you two start talkin' about what you really think. See ya. With that, the wolf turned and loped off.
Mouse flung herself on Taylor's bed with a frustrated growl. "Wanna help me kill him after? And you, fluff ball, what are you doing working against your master this way? Hey?"
He's sad. I like happy Tay! The fuzzle bounced slightly. Happy, happy, happy Tay! Happy Mouse! All happy! Flavian relapsed into giggles. Yay! Mouse burrowed her head into the pillow and groaned..
"Damn Folk," she mumbled. "Interfering busy bodies, one and all. Even the aliens."
Taylor
Taylor grunted and looked the drainpipe up and down. He'd used it to sneak out quite often a few years ago, but now it was a bit rusty...
He looked down at the Ka'Millen. It only grinned up at him.
"Fafnir said to say if you climbed out," it chuckled.
Taylor frowned.
"And what's he gonna do about it?" he demanded.
"What would any wolf do? Bite you if you tried to come down probably."
"Oh great."
He leant further out the window to try and see if he could get to the next room. Nope.
"You guys are going to get it for this," he shook his head, before closing the window on his smiling pet and closing the curtains.
He yawned, then went over to where Flavian was on the floor. Picking him up, he glared at him sternly.
"Never again."
The fuzzle recoiled, frightened.
"I'm not going to hurt you. But never do that again, alright?"
The fuzzle jumped a couple of times silently, before Taylor put him back on the dresser. Then he went over to the door, rattled the doorknob, and tried to see if he could unlock it.
Mouse
"You won't be able to. I taught Nevyn, and I'm a *genius* when it comes to stuffing up locks or opening them," Mouse informed him as she sat up with a sigh. Frowning, she took off her long flannelette shirt, leaving her in a tighter then usual black shirt and daggy jeans. She kicked off her shoes as well. "And don't blame Flavian. My family's leading him astray." She sent a wave of reassurance to the fuzzle and he perked up visibly. "We'll probably havta stay here until someone wakes up. Hopefully an older person who won't make snide comments." She lay back down on the bed, laying her head on her folded arms as she stared up at the ceiling.
Taylor
Taylor let out a frustrated groan as he looked for something to poke through the keywhole. If all else failed, he was going to start yelling.
He soon found a knitting neddle someone had left in his room which had fallen behind the dresser. He grabbed it and tried to clear the lock.
"Damn this," he cursed.
He soon gave up, and looked around frustratedly.
"Sorry," he apologized, agitated, "I just have this thing for closed spaces."
Mouse
Mouse smiled, then she frowned. "What am I, alien or human? Alien, obviously. Why the hell am I letting a wall stop me when I can walk through it?" Mouse stood up determindly and walked towards the door. She put her hands on the wall, took a breath and started to fade through it. Then she yelped and rebounded, spat back into the room by Nevyn and Sparra's force of will. "Damn it!" She landed hard on her ass in the middle of the floor, and bared her teeth in a snarl at the door. "I am so going to kill you all!"
Taylor
Taylor gulped, staring at the door. He heated using atom manipulation, after something that had happened to him a few years ago when someone had used it against him.
He sighed. Slowly, he stepped forward, putting his hand up to the wall. Suddenly, the wall absorbed it.
"No way," Taylor shook his head, pulling hand from it.
He walked across the room, and turned back to the door. Finally, he groaned.
"I'm going to wake someone up," he declared.
Mouse
"Let me try and get the door." Mouse stood up and put her eye to the keyhole, peering through it. "Cheeky lil rat. That's my trick." She started whistling through her teeth and put her hand flat against the keyhole as she stood up. "He's put a stick in it. It jams the tumblers so you can't turn the knob. It works really well when you're running for your life from pissed off homeowners who don't wanna share the wealth. This'll be a bit tricky." Mouse concentrated on the idea of the stick, making it change and soften as she forced the atoms apart, then fall into dust. "There." She opened the door with a flourish. "Ta da! And now, they are so in for it." Mouse started down the hall determindly. "Wanna lend a hand?"
Taylor
Taylor scratched his head and glanced toward Flavian.
"Yeah, in a second," he replied.
Then he left the room and went down towards the bathroom. You don't need to know what he went for, ok? If you want to know, you are a sick individual.
When he came out, he went looking for Mouse. He thought he heard someone waking up.
Mouse
Mouse stalked through the house. An annoyed and frustrated teenage girl is *not* something you want stalking you. She swept through the living room, eyes darting around for Nevyn, and then pounced. "Ah hah!" Sidhe mewed protestingly. "Tell me what you're planning, or I'll, I'll give you a bath."
Siddhe looked stubborn. S'not our fault you're so silly. Nice cat boy, nice girl. What's the prob?
"People don't work like that. You can't just throw us together and expect instant attraction and falling in love happy ever after."
Sidhe blinked placidly at her. Why not?
"Cos, that's why!" Mouse said in frustration.
That's not a very good reason. Sidhe said indignantly.
"Ok, I'm talking to you like you make sense. You obviously don't. Scat." Mouse put Sidhe on the floor and the kitten scatted. Mouse set off to look for Nevyn and Fafnir again.
Taylor
Taylor watched from the doorway discreetly as Mouse told Sidhe off, then watched her leave the room. Biting his lip, he began to discreetly follow her.
He heard Fafnir and one of the Ka'Millens talking outside... about them. They obviously thought he and Mouse were still in the room.
Mouse
Mouse made her way outside, and grinned in trimuph. "Ok, you wanted me to embrace my wolf, Fafnir?" The wolf spun around, jaw open in shock as she advanced. "Leave. This is not your business...yet. I'll let Taylor have you." The Ka'Millian fled at her icy tone. Fafnir started to back away, tail between his legs.
Aw, c'mon Mouselet. You know you like him.
"Not the point." Mouse dove on him, fists swinging and feet kicking. He yelped in surprised pain as she bit into his neck. OWOWOW!
"You want the wolf? You got the bleeding wolf, you bastard!" Mouse spat out a heavy clump of fur and rolled him onto his back. He scrabbled at her arms with sharp claws. She felt herself falling into the wolf's mindset, and her lips curled back from her teeth in a feral snarl. Really hate you, pack of mine. You're mine, and don't you forget. You obey me. You don't sneak around on me.
OWOWOW! Fafnir scrambled to his death and fled. Mouse ran after him, wiping her mouth in disgust on her sleeve. She heard the door open, but she disregarded it. She was wolf. Hunting. She had been made a fool of, and that was not to be borne. Sorry! I'm sorry! geez, try to do a girl a favour.... fafnir sped up as she growled.
Taylor
Taylor heard the fight and cringed. Fafnir may have been in the wrong, but he didn't deserve to be hurt. No animal did, because they'd never understand humans and/or aliens.
And was it just him, or was Mouse completely comfortable in the room with him before she went after them?
He shook his head and leant against the wall. She'd hardly attempted to leave the room - she was the one that just lay down on the bed and watched while he'd tried to get out.
Was she always this confusing?
Then for apaprently no reason at all, he began to mouth the words to 'Best Days Of Our Life'...
Isaac
"Good morning Tay!" Isaac said cheerfully, spotting him in the hallway as he came out of his room.
The cheerfulness he displayed was unlike his usual level of enthusiasim this time of the morning.
"Today is going to be a great day!" he grinned. "I can't wait. Ooh, what's the time? I have to get ready! Not a moment to waste!"
And he practically bounded down the stairs to the kitchen and arranging himself some breakfast.
Taylor
Taylor just froze for a moment, then frowned. Was Ike hiding ALL the sugar in his room?
Contemplating this, he followed him.
"Ok Ike, what's up? You're scaring me already, and you've only been awake for a few seconds."
He gave him the 'raised eyebrow' 'what-are-you-up-to?' look.
Isaac
Isaac gave Taylor a look that was all smiles.
"Miette's coming to the USA today!" he beamed. "Oli's going to bring her over as soon as they pick her up at the airport. I'm finally going to meet her! I can't wait!"
NOTE!!! Michelle got some posts mixed up so this one is kinda out of sequence now, lol
Taylor
"Oh," Taylor hesitated, realizing that might have sounded rude.
"Well, I'll try to be here when she gets here," he grinned, "mainly so I can see the look on her face when she realizes you're so ugly in real life. I think I'll be going."
With that, he left the room and made his way to the garage. Turning the light on, he spotted his keyboard, sighed, and went over to it.
As he sat behind it, he tried to decide on something to play or work on.
Mouse
Mouse started back to the Hanson house, bleeding and sore, her shirt in tatters. That was why she wore the flannelete shirt. It could take Fafnir's claws and teeth far better then thin cotton. This tussle with Fafnir had gotten a lot of her frustrations out again. Trying to explain it to the Hansons however...She wasn't looking forward to it. Taylor probably thought she was some kind of freak or something. Fafnir padded along at her side, tongue lolling out of the corner of his mouth.
This was damn good fun.
Glad you think so. Mouse replied absently, frowning as she stopped and turned around in a circle. Someone was blasting the air with hate, anger and overwhelming frustration. She shrugged and continued on. None of her business. She turned into the Hanson's street. I don't know how I'm going to explain this.
Easy, don't. Fafnir's mental tone was cheerful.
Need I remind you that this was all your fault?
No? Fafnir dropped back a few paces as he made sure she wasn't about to start hitting him again. Reassured, he caught up. We go hunting, yes?
Maybe later. Mouse said as she came up to the house and faded in through the wall, heading straight up to Taylor's bedroom. She didn't want any one to see her in this state until she had time to treat the scratches and wash off the worst of the blood. It wasn't as bad as it looked, but she knew they'd go nuts. No wonder she liked being by herself so much. She clamped down on her feelings, hiding behind an easy mask of contentment.