Taylor frowned a little as he leant against the window sill, listening to the chatter of birds in a nearby tree. Taking a sip of his coffee, he hesitated as he realised the turn the conversations were taking.
And who they became centered on.
After listening intently for another good few minutes, he almost dropped the coffee mug out the window as he set it on the sill and rushed to the phone.
He held it in his hand as he found the number in a nearby address book, then furiously began dialling the numbers.
"Hello?" he began when someone picked up.
"I'd like to speak with Tanya. Ah... Telepathic Temptress, please. It's urgent. Very urgent."
Tanya
Tanya heard the beep that signaled she had a phone call. Good thing it was the end of her class.
"Okay class," she said. "That'll be all for now. Practice those exercises I told you. See you next week."
She didn't stop to watch them file out, just moved through the wall into her office and answered the phone.
"Hello," Tanya greeted. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Taylor
Taylor hesitated as he heard her voice, still trying to get his head around what he'd just heard.
"You knew," he said finally.
"You knew, all along, who Christian really was... is that why you protected him?"
He shook his head, realising what he was saying probably wasn't making any sense.
Tanya
"Taylor?" Tanya asked.
She frowned a little.
"I protected Christian... because I've known him a long time, Taylor. I had a long association with Craig - The Spider - when he had taken Christian in. Now, what do you mean by me knowing who he was?"
Taylor
Taylor gulped slightly, suddenly wondering if she did know.
"You knew that he was the Little Raider. That Guffery was after him. Master Blakesley found the scar on the back of his neck..."
Tanya
"Ahh."
Tanya nodded thoughfully to herself.
"Yes, I did know," she admitted. "And I won't deny that it was a contributing factor in my desire to take care of him either. Now does Blakesley know what the scar means?"
Taylor
"I had to tell him, and I am so, so sorry," Taylor insisted.
"But that's not what I called for. I just heard word..."
He took a deep breath and bit his bottom lip nervously.
"Guffery came for him. And I think he found him."
Tanya
Tanya let loose an expletive.
"That's... not good..."
Darn Guffery. She should have taken him down long ago.
Taylor
Taylor ran his fingers through his hair before covering his eyes.
"I feel so guilty," he almost whispered.
"He was the one person in the world that Christian was afraid of, and I feel like I've contributed to whatever's happened to him."
Tanya
Tanya frowned.
"Why would you feel that?" she asked. "Unless you called Guffery and told him where to find Christian - which I doubt - I can't see how you could have been even the slightest bit responsible. Guffery's been after Christian for years."
Taylor
"I don't know why I feel like this," Taylor shook his head.
"And considering my power being what it is, that's even more confusing. I should know."
He hesitated, then scratched his head.
"Ah... I guess you won't be coming down for the US tournament. Should I come before or after for the treatment?"
Tanya
"Hmm... after would probably be better," Tanya said thoughtfully. "There's bound to be a lot of people coming up to the station early. A couple of days after should be enough to deplete the crowds."
Taylor
"Alright, well I will see you then," Taylor insisted, "if not before."
"And ah... I'm sorry."
Tanya
"Okay," Tanya said. "And it's not your fault Taylor. Talk to you later."
And she hung up.
Taylor
Taylor ended the call as well, and just held the phone in his hand for a moment.
"I didn't mean it like that," he murmured.
Setting it on the counter, he made his way out into the livingroom to find Isaac plonked in front of the television set almost half asleep.
"Did you hear any of that?" he asked, getting his attention.
Isaac
"Huh?"
Isaac twisted his head around.
"Oh, hi Tay. Hear any of what?"
Taylor
Taylor rolled his eyes.
"I just called Tanya. I'm having the next treatment after the tournament," he said, sitting down on an opposite couch.
"I had to call to tell her about Christian," he said softer, staring at the coffee table, "Marshall Guffery has him."
Isaac
Isaac gave Taylor a startled look.
"Guffery has Christian?" he repeated. "Dude..."
Taylor
"And as if that wasn't punishment enough," Taylor raised his eyebrows.
"Ike, you have to swear you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you. Cross your heart, hope to die, swear on the Bible, everything."
Isaac
Isaac made the appropriate gestures.
"Cross my heart, hope to die, swear on the Bible, yadda yadda yadda... I won't tell anyone what Taylor is about to tell me."
Taylor
Taylor glanced up at him, then returned his gaze to the coffee table.
"I hoe you remember the Little Raider. Because it's Christian."
Isaac
"The Little Raider?" Isaac repeated, wide-eyed. "Christian is the? No way!"
He shook his head.
"Dude that... and Guffery has him?"
Taylor
Taylor just nodded.
"This is really screwed," he said finally.
"Any bet Tanya and Craig were the only ones who knew who Christian really was. Now Master Blakesley knows. He saw the scar and I had to tell him what it meant."
He hesitated, then scratched some stubble on his chin.
"I feel like I need to do something."
Isaac
Isaac nodded thoughtfully.
"Like what?" he asked.
He opted to ignore the 'Master Blaksley'. Taylor would grow out of that... right?
Taylor
"I don't know," Taylor stopped himself whining.
"But I mean he looked out for me. And not just a little. He has suffered for me a lot. The only reason he got the chip in his head was because he broke Master Blakesley's nose when he found out I'd gone into shock at one point."
He hesitated, realising he'd probably said more about what had happened than he ever had before.
"But I just feel like I owe him. And I can't do anything because* I mean it's Guffery. No one in their right mind would go against him."
Isaac
Isaac nodded, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Well, if we know Christian, he's boud to wriggle his way out of this somehow. But to help him now? You have to find Guffery first. And what do you do when you find him?"
Taylor
"But it's Guffery," Taylor shook his head, "I was talking to Christian and I could see it in his eyes*Guffery was the one person or thing he was afraid of."
He started biting his nails.
"And I don't know what I'd do. I don't even know if he's based in the country anymore."
Then he hesitated as a look of realisation crossed his face.
"Steel might though," he looked up.
Isaac
Isaac nodded.
"He might," he agreed. "Why don't you talk to him first, then? And whatever you decide, I'll give you a hand, okay?"
"Anything to keep from losing him again..."
Taylor
Taylor paused for thought, not really contemplating what he was getting himself into.
"I might do that," he nodded finally.
"He'll probably want in. He's protective as hell over Christian."
He leant his hands on his knees and stood up.
"I'll call him later. And* thanks. For wanting to help."
Isaac
"Tay, I will always want to help," then Isaac grinned. "Unless you're planning on commiting suicide or something, in which case I'll help you change your mind."
Taylor
Taylor chuckled.
"Well hopefully that phase is over and you don't need to worry," he shrugged as he stepped out from between the lounge and the coffee table.
He made his way to the kitchen and put the kettle on.
"Drink?" he called.
Isaac
"Yes thanks," Isaac replied. "Tea, please."
He smiled to himself as he turned back to the TV.
Hopefully... hopefully Christian would be all right... and Taylor wouldn't get himself hurt in the process oftrying to help him.