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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 10, 2013 15:45:07 GMT -5
Ace flinched but didn't pull away when Patrick placed his hand on her. "I-It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. You just wanted to help. I appreciate it; I really do."
She buried her face in a pillow. "It just hurts. Everything... hurts."
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Swift nodded right with the boys. "I... O-Of course. Whatever makes things better."
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2013 15:52:43 GMT -5
Patrick's heart broke upon hearing this. He suddenly founding himself frozen, unsure of what to do.
Give her some space, Patrick, Van advised him. See how she reacts. She might want comfort, she might not.
"Well..." He started to stand up. "I know you need some sleep. If you want me to go, I can."
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Kendall smiled. "Thanks, guys. If you don't mind, I think I'll stick around for a while too. She might be more comfortable having an old friend alongside her."
"Sounds like a plan," Darien agreed. "There's always room for you."
Right about then, the door was knocked on and pushed open, making way for the missing three housemates. "Hey, guys! Did we miss much?" Jen cheered before spotting their guest. "Kendall!"
"Hey, Jen! Andy, Aether!" Kendall responded.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 10, 2013 15:58:37 GMT -5
"Wait!" Without thinking, Ace thrust a hand out and grabbed Patrick by the wrist. Somehow, the thought of him leaving didn't sit well. She knew what he was trying to do, but deep down, that's not what she wanted.
She didn't want to be alone. Not now. Not ever again.
"Please... just... stay a little longer."
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"Hey, girlfriends!" Swift chimed and she sprang up and met her accomplices with her usual flair. "How was the hot spring?"
Andromeda smiled blissfully. Aether answered, "She certainly enjoyed it. I just walked around the mountains a bit. It's really beautiful up there!"
"Well, you've missed quite a bit," Swift chuckled, turning towards Kendall, hoping he'd fill them in.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2013 16:10:30 GMT -5
Patrick was caught off guard by Ace's advances. Nevertheless, he didn't object. Who was he to deny her the comfort that she needed in this dark time?
He smiled and sat back down, freeing his hand and brushing a lock of hair out of Ace's face. "Of course."
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"What's in the bag?" Jen asked.
"Bag?" It took Kendall a moment to realize what she was talking about. With the subject of Ace at hand, he had completely forgotten about the gift he got them. "Oh! Oh, it's, uh..." He reached into the gift bag and pulled out a picture frame containing a painting of a sunset-drenched, mountainous valley. "I thought it looked like you guys' home, so... here ya go!"
"Aw, Kendall!" Evan took the painting, observing every last detail with an awestruck smile. It did bear an uncanny resemblance to Summer Snow Valley. "This is perfect!"
"Not bad at all," Darien said, standing up and giving Jen a quick kiss. "So, for the time being, we have two other people staying with us."
"...What?" Jen questioned.
"Yeah..." Kendall awkwardly spoke up. "My friend, Ace... she's been though some tough times, so I brought her here hoping she could stay and recuperate."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 10, 2013 16:20:42 GMT -5
Ace relaxed at Patrick's tender touch, only tensing up again as she kicked her boots off and curled up into a more comfortable position. She placed her hand on his, holding it closer to her face.
So warm... So soft... I haven't felt this in so long...
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"Oh, of course, Kendall!" Aether replied enthusiastically. "If the others are open to this, we are too. So where is she?"
"Patrick took her to his room to lie down." Swift peeked down the hall. "In fact, he hasn't come back yet... and it's awfully quiet down there."
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2013 16:34:28 GMT -5
Patrick kept quiet, his face turning redder by the minute. He'd never done anything like this before. He'd never... felt anything like this before. The closest he'd ever gotten to this kind of contact was with Krista, but even then, it wasn't the same. His feelings for her had long vanished since he left the Straightforward. But now, sitting next to Ace, Patrick felt the butterflies in his stomach, the heat in his face... the soft, delicate features along the fallen angel's cheek.
She's so... sweet. So broken. ...Like I was.
Seeing her sleepy form made Patrick feel just as drowsy. He half-consciously lifted his legs up and laid down next to her. The sight might have been rather ridiculous, what with Ace being so much bigger than the scrawny boy, but Patrick didn't care. Ace needed someone, and right now, it seemed like he was the one she needed.
"I'm right here... for you..."
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"Yyyyyyeah, what's that kid up to?" Carter asked Evan.
Evan just blinked a few times and addressed everyone, "Alright, let's not jump to conclusions. This is Patrick we're talking about. He might be a bit of a loose cannon, but he knows when to get serious. If anyone knows how to make people feel better, it's him."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 10, 2013 16:41:45 GMT -5
Ace sunk lower into the bed and instinctively wrapped an arm around Patrick, as if she feared he would abandon her like everyone else. "Th-Thank you..."
Her eyes slipped shut, a tear squeezing out. He's so nice, like Kendall. So nice... Does he really mean it?
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"Hey, I'm not disrespectin'," Swift replied, raising her hands defensively. "I know I'd be happy to have him lift my spirits any day."
"True. Patrick is such a kind young man," Aether agreed, Andromeda nodding along with her. "I'm sure he's treating her well."
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2013 16:56:56 GMT -5
At this sudden gesture, Patrick was almost startled out of his mind. The proximity between him and Ace was somewhat terrifying, but after a while, the shock wore off. He knew she just wanted him by her side, and he couldn't blame her, so he let it slide.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before the testosterone kicked in.
Whoa... Boobs...
Bow-chicka-wow-wow... Ray crooned with him.
Patrick, Ray, be mature! Van snapped. This isn't the time to be lewd. Ace just needs to be loved.
Love... That word, that word that is sought and feared by all. To know that someone is there for you to show you kindness and affection. Yes, Ace needed that... but the more he thought about it, the more Patrick realized that he just might feel the same way.
He pulled a blanket over Ace and wrapped an arm around her. Never before had he felt so peaceful.
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"I'm sure he is," Jen commented in response to Aether's remark. "Well, no sense in putting a damper on things."
"Indeed," Darien agreed. "Now that we're all settled in, we need to start enjoying ourselves. Maybe we should consider going out and exploring more of the island."
"I'm up for that!" Evan said. "I know I'd like to hit the mountains and try out the slopes."
As the others discussed their plans, Kendall stepped closer to the hallway, a gentle smile on his face. He could sense Patrick and Ace's auras changing ever so slightly. Toby stood next to him, silent as always but understanding what was being conveyed.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 10, 2013 17:04:50 GMT -5
Ace smiled softly, settling in and finally starting to drift to sleep. Right here, next to Patrick, she was perhaps the happiest she had been in years. To feel warm, to feel welcomed, to feel loved again... she had missed it so much.
And she had to admit, Patrick was pretty cute.
Love... Is this what it's really like? I thought I felt it with Jack, but... He was so cold, so superficial. This is real. This has to be. I've... I've never felt this close to someone.
Already, the part of Ace that had been empty was starting to mend itself.
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"Oh, you'd love it up there," Aether breathed. "Personally, I would like to visit the east or the south."
Swift was about to speak, but Kendall and Toby breaking away from the group distracted her. She followed their gaze, picking up on the two heartbeats down the hall.
They were... almost in time with each other.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 10, 2013 17:14:43 GMT -5
Patrick eventually managed to settle in right next to her. Ace... This feels so good. She needs this. I... I can give it to her. I can help her.
Van was beside himself in the best way possible. Oh, Patrick... I never would've guessed.
Yeah. Lucky you, Ray chuckled.
The voices in his head didn't bother him. All that mattered was here and now... with Ace.
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"If we're doing something, shouldn't we let those two in on it?" Jen asked. "You know Patrick's been wanting to snowboard as much as you, Ev."
"I know, but..." Evan looked down the hall. "I don't think we should bother them right now."
"I agree." Kendall turned back to the others. "They'll understand. Trust me. So... Snowboarding, you say?"
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 11, 2013 9:40:40 GMT -5
"Sounds good to me!" Swift said. "I haven't skied in a while, and I'm all for a bit of normality after all that's happened in these past few days."
"I suppose going back to the mountains wouldn't hurt." Aether shrugged. "Sure. I'm in."
Andromeda smiled and nodded, happy to go along with whatever the guys wanted. It was clear that she was just glad to be in a place where her alien nature wouldn't isolate her from society, and anyone who knew Swift knew that she felt the same way.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 14, 2013 20:25:31 GMT -5
"Then it's settled!" Evan clasped his hands together and put on a wide smile. "Get your gear, every-peoples! We're hittin' the slopes!"
"Whoo!" Toby pumped a fist and dashed into his room to fetch his board and winter clothes.
Darien just sighed and smiled at his girlfriend. "Looks like we're going snowboarding."
"Looks like it." Jen smirked, took Darien's hand and started walking towards their shared bedroom. She -and everyone else- knew that Darien was not the best at snowboarding, but obviously that wasn't about to make a difference.
While everyone else prepared for their trip, Evan took the time to write a note for Patrick and Ace, telling them where they were going and to meet up with them when they got the chance. Then he turned to Kendall. "Hey... Thanks for sticking around."
"No problem, Ev..." As soon as Kendall looked up at Evan, his smile fell, his eyes widened with terror and his hand slowly reached up to cover his mouth, muffling the gasp that escaped it. Visions were flashing before his eyes. Visions of Evan.
Seeing this and recognizing these reactions, Evan moved closer to the angel with worry. "Kendall... Dude, what's wrong?"
Kendall lifted a hand and touched the right half of Evan's face. "Evan... are you feeling okay?"
"...I-I feel fine. Why?"
"Your face. It was-"
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 19:06:23 GMT -5
"Hey, uh, Kenny?" Swift cut in, squeezing between the two boys. "I trust you and all, but does being a fallen angel affect a person's moral compass? I'm just trying to ensure no one winds up unintentionally hurt by Ace's presence."
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 19:14:33 GMT -5
"Oh, uh..." Kendall shook himself and answered, "In the long run, no. Ace is still morally sound. She IS a bit of a loose cannon, but I assume that's nothing to worry about in this group." He added an awkward laugh before maneuvering around Evan and Swift.
"Okay, everyone good to go?" Jen asked, receiving confirmation all around. "Then let's get a move on!"
And so the group filed out of the apartment to began their journey to the mountains. Darien clutched Jen's hand. Toby silently strolled alongside an ever-cheery Evan. Kendall looked back briefly and smiled, satisfied by how quickly Ace had settled in and pondering just what was going on between her and Patrick.
Things looked good. Better than they had in a long time.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 19:23:12 GMT -5
As Andromeda and Aether blissfully integrated with the rest of the team, Swift hesitated at the door, looking back towards the hallway to the bedrooms. Her eyes narrowed and her ears fells back slightly.
She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was a reason she had acted so rude to Ace before, and it wasn't the reason she had given. Yes, Ace smelled weird, but at first Swift had assumed it was just the fallen angel curse looming over her. But now that she could clearly focus on the different scents hanging in the air, she discovered a new odor, an indescribably awful stench that had definitely not been in the apartment prior to Ace's arrival. The scent alone was riling Swift's senses, triggering her deep-rooted wolf instinct.
It might've been Ace's scent, but it was not the scent of an angel, fallen or otherwise.
"Swift, are you coming?" Aether called.
"Wha-?" Swift snapped out of her trance and quickly followed. "Oh, yeah! Coming!"
The door closed behind her, forcing Swift to abandoned her suspicions for the sake of not spoiling her friends' fun.
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