Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 3:23:07 GMT -5
Zeph's head twitched toward him, his heart rate picking up as he felt the warning signs as well. "I won't start anything Jason, I promise. But if he so much as fakes a swing at me, I'm taking him out."
Apollos sneered, "He's got you on a short leash, doesn't he? Hyakinthos couldn't have gotten such a promise from you."
"I was a lot younger then," Zeph replied coolly, still holding Jason's hand tightly. Hyakinthos moved over to Apollos' side finally and Zeph sighed a little. GOOD, the boy wasn't hovering over his own shoulders any more. That was a relief. The leash comment reminded him of a fight he'd had long ago... the one that had really led to him and Jason becoming boyfriends.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 11:01:59 GMT -5
Jason frowned at the memories the leash comment invoked for him as well. He took a small step away from Zeph, looking Apollos in the eye.
"We didn't come here to start a fight with you," he said calmly, if coldly. "We all have better things to do. So why don't we all just sit down and go back to our meals." He stepped back as though he meant to sit down in his chair again, but had no real intention of doing so unless and until Apollos backed off.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 11:57:57 GMT -5
Zeph took a slow breath. He promised not to start the fight... He moved to join Jason and Apollos lashed out, catching Zeph in the mouth. He staggered, green eyes snapping to gold. Wiping the blood from his lip, Zeph grabbed Apollos by the collar and dragged him outside, throwing him into a wall.
Hyakinthos squeaked, following and tugging on Zeph's arm. "Don't hurt him!"
Zeph shook him off, leveling a glare at him that made the younger boy back off so quickly he fell over. Apollos lunged for Zeph while his back was turned, wrapping his arms around Zeph's neck in a strangle-hold. Zeph's hand clawed a little at Apollos' arm, though he was cheating to keep from losing his breath too badly. Wind magic came in handy sometimes.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 12:03:19 GMT -5
A decidedly inhuman snarl arose in Jason's throat as the fight began so quickly he almost didn't register it right away. He rushed to follow Zeph outside, with the smell of Zeph's blood tainting the air around them with its sharp coppery scent.
As Apollos caught Zeph in a stranglehold, Jason lunged from behind and caught the other blond in a similar hold, squeezing with all the strength he could muster. He had to fight to keep his cold anger from bubbling into a hot rage. Things would go quickly downhill if he turned wolf.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 12:18:50 GMT -5
Zeph managed to get free as Apollos thrashed, struggling desperately for breath. "Jason, let him go. You'll hurt him."
Apollos tried to get out of Jason's hold every way he could, his lips beginning to turn blue. Zeph gently pried Jason's arm free and Apollos fell to his knees, gasping desperately. Zeph just watched him, waiting to make sure he was okay. After all, the only reason Zeph had to be angry at him was three years old and immaterial now that he had Jason. Apollos surged up the moment he'd gotten his breath back and slammed his fist into Zeph's solar plexus... hitting the ribs that were still healing.
Zeph's face turned white and he staggered back again, clutching at them as he gasped, coughing. Apollos moved the fight away from Jason, watching the werewolf from the corner of his eye as he picked Zeph up bodily and threw him into a wall. "You're lighter. Makes this a lot easier," he snarled, trying to slam Zeph into the wall again.
Zephyros squirmed free, ignoring the white-hot agony he felt with each breath. Apollos probably had no idea how close he was to causing real damage. Not that the Italian boy would care, but Zeph did. He had a few hours plane ride still ahead of him. He coughed and his lip curled as blood came to his mouth. It wasn't from his lip... it was on the back of his tongue, bitter and salty. His eyes narrowed and he forced himself straight to hide the pain. He could collapse into Jason's arms later; first he had to teach Apollos a lesson.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 12:26:15 GMT -5
Jason leapt to stand between Apollos and Zeph, looking the former icily in the eye.
"We can settle this with violence or with peace. It's your choice. We can all walk away from this and forget it ever happened. Walk away now, and no one else will be hurt." He kept his arms at his sides, showing no inclination for further violence... unless it became necessary.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 12:30:52 GMT -5
Zeph looked at him, biting the inside of his lip. Once Apollos left, then he could show how much pain he was in. But not in front of the Italian boy. His breath came in gasps, though he managed somehow to make them slow gasps. Ahh, his chest hurt.
Hyakinthos hovered awkwardly again. "Apollos, let's just go! There's no need to fight, there never was!"
Apollos snarled, "How can you forget what he did to us?"
Hyakinthos' eyes narrowed. "What he did was in retailation to what we did to him. Don't blame him. I hurt him very badly, and he reacted in a very natural way."
"He could have killed us... now I'm going to return the favor," Apollos snarled, grabbing Jason's shirt to shove him out of the way. He could see the pain in Zeph's posture; taking this kid apart was going to be enjoyable.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 12:36:15 GMT -5
Jason reacted quickly, grabbing Apollos' fist and twisting it to the side, then pressing down hard on his wrist, forcing the boy to his knees. If Apollos resisted, he risked breaking his wrist.
"Now," he said levelly, looking down at Apollos, "are you willing to listen to the voice of reason and forgiveness..." thank you, Hyakinthos, "...or are you still convinced that violence solves everything? Bear in mind," he added, "if you fight against this hold I've got you in, your pain is your own fault. I'm not going to be held responsible for your broken wrist."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 13:03:53 GMT -5
Apollos glared at Jason, then over at Zephyros. Zeph just looked at him, his eyes slowly returning to green.
Inwardly, Zeph was rather surprised. Since when had Jason known moves like that? Did he know any others, ones that Zeph might want to learn himself? He tried to take a deep breath and winced, closing his eyes and letting the breath out very slowly. Hyakinthos looked at him, "Zeph? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said shortly. Jason would hear the lie in his words... but he wasn't trying to lie to Jason anyway. Swallowing a little and wrinkling his nose at the taste of blood again (he was getting very very sick of the taste of blood), he moved a bit closer to Jason. "Apollos, I don't want to fight."
"Because you'd lose this time," Apollos snorted. Zeph's back stiffened, but he refused to rise to the bait.
"No, because I'm mature enough not to fight over something that happened three years ago. You broke my heart, you have no idea how badly, by taking Hyakinthos from me. So I broke you; it was immature, childish, and something I have always regretted. So accept my apology and let's just move on. You've wasted almost an hour of both our time, and Jason and I won't be here for much longer."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 13:16:09 GMT -5
Jason really didn't feel like letting Apollos off the hook just yet; he nodded in response to Zeph's words, still holding the other boy's gaze as well as his wrist.
"Forgiveness is a powerful thing," he told him. "It can save lives that grudges would have destroyed." He released Apollos' wrist, holding his right hand out in a gesture of peace. "Zeph has clearly forgiven you. Will you do the same for him?"
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 13:17:02 GMT -5
Once Apollos was free, he backed off. Slowly moving toward the edge of the alley, which happened to be moving around Jason, he turned as if to leave. Spinning quickly, he wrapped a hand around Zeph's neck.
Zeph's hands flew to his throat as he jerked his knee up, catching Apollos in the groin and pulling his hand away when the other boy nearly collapsed. He picked Apollos up, ignoring the flash of pain in his ribs, and threw him toward the street. Apollos stood and came at him again, trying to punch him in the ribs again. Zeph caught his hand, and swung at him with his other fist, catching the Italian on the jaw just under the ear. Apollos collapsed and Zeph let him fall, his eyes dispassionate. The only injury Apollos really got was another to his ego, and he was going to have a very bad headache when he woke up.
"I'm sorry, Hyakinthos. I really didn't want to fight," Zeph said softly. Jason would hear the pain in his voice... Hyakinthos wouldn't. The other boy was kneeling at Apollos' side, checking him over carefully.
"I know. And you didn't really hurt him, just knocked him out before he could hurt you. Go eat, Zeph. I'll get him out of the alley," Hyakinthos said, making more sense than he really had since tackling Zeph earlier. He gave Zeph a bit of a smile, tugging Apollos up so he could more easily drag him out. Zephyros smiled back a little, waiting until Hyakinthos had gotten out of the alley to start collasping, his knees giving out on him.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 13:25:25 GMT -5
Jason rushed to Zeph's side as he collapsed, catching him before he hit the street. "Are you okay? Do I need to call an ambulance or sonething?" he asked, his eyes full of worry. He held his boyfriend upright, hooking Zeph's arm around his shoulder and wrapping his own very carefully around Zeph's waist.
He was briefly reminded of how he had had to do the very same thing when Zeph had pushed himself too hard during a workout, and he had managed to get Zeph through the Dunehelden gym and into the locker room -- while wearing two-inch heels, no less. But Zeph had just been exhausted then, not injured like he was now.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 13:30:29 GMT -5
Zeph just leaned against him for a moment, breathing carefully. "No... I'm alright. If we go to the hospital we'll miss our flight. It just hurts," he said softly, coughing. The blood didn't come back, which relieved Zeph to no end. He didn't want to go back to a hospital... he'd spent long enough on his back already.
"Let's just get something to eat so I can take my medication. That will help with the pain," he said, smiling at Jason and wiping the blood that still trickled from his lip away before kissing his boyfriend on the cheek. After a moment longer, he got his feet under himself properly, straightening carefully with a hand against his ribs.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 13:46:08 GMT -5
Jason nodded, leading Zeph carefully back into the restaurant and getting re-settled at their table. He picked up his menu, reading it with one eye while keeping the other on his boyfriend. Eventually finding something that wasn't smothered in cheese or a milk-based sauce, he set down his menu and focused his full attention on Zeph.
"How are you doing?" he asked quietly. "Really?"
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 13:55:35 GMT -5
Zeph's eyes had almost closed. At Jason's voice, they opened slowly. He smiled, shrugging a little. "I still hurt. I coughed a bit of blood earlier but it's not coming up anymore so I think I'm okay there. My back feels bruised where he slammed me against the wall. But my legs and arms are fine, and I am getting to the point I can breathe deeply again. All in all... I've been a lot worse."
He looked at the menu he hadn't touched, sighing softly. "I am not really feeling hungry but I really should eat. I'll just have what you're having. Then we both know it's safe."
Smiling, he reached across the table and took one of Jason's hands, squeezing it a little. "I'm alright. We'll eat, catch our flight, and I'll probably just fall asleep on the way. By the time I wake up, I'll be as fine as I was when we got off here."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 14:48:40 GMT -5
Jason smiled, massaging the back of Zeph's hand with his thumb. "That's good."
He glanced idly around the room, waiting for a waiter to notice them. They both needed to eat, and he was getting hungry, even if Zeph wasn't. The penne primavera he had decided to order was sounding really good right about now. It was too bad he couldn't stomach dairy, or else he would be tempted to try some gelatti for dessert.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 14:55:15 GMT -5
Zeph's eyes drifted a little closed again as a waiter came over, offering to take their order. Zeph just looked at Jason a little pleadingly. He didn't want to talk; talking hurt. Sighing softly, he did his best to look alert and ignore his ribs. How had Apollos managed to hit his worst weak point?
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 15:01:42 GMT -5
Jason winced a little at the pain in Zeph's face, ordering penne primavera for both of them and thanking the waiter before turning back to Zeph. He waited until the waiter left before speaking to Zeph again.
"I'm sorry about your ribs... and kind of shocked at the odds of this happening. Who knew they would both be in this same restaurant exactly when we happened to be here?" He felt horrible about this whole thing, though he knew he wasn't at fault. It was sheer coincidence and a well-nursed grudge on Apollos' part. At least Hyakinthos had been forgiving of them.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 15:27:24 GMT -5
"It's just my luck," Zeph sighed, playing a little with his napkin with his free hand. He would reclaim his other hand when the food got there; until then it was more comfortable, and comforting, to have Jason holding it. He gave Jason a bit of a smile, "It could have been much worse. If my leg had still been messed up, we really would have been in trouble."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 15:34:38 GMT -5
"Yeah," Jason nodded, counting that among his blessings. "I hope there's nothing seriously wrong with your ribs, either," he added, remembering Zeph's comment about coughing blood. "We wouldn't want those getting worse while they're still getting better."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 15:37:09 GMT -5
Zeph nodded, raising his hand to his lip. He blinked, pulling his hand away and looking at the red smear on them.
"Oops. My lip is still bleeding." He pulled a handkerchief out of a pocket and pressed it to the cut. He squeezed Jason's hand a little, smiling. "My ribs are okay. The pain is already going away. I think he just caught them badly."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 15:42:38 GMT -5
"That's a relief," Jason smiled gratefully. "Getting hit in the solar plexus is murder. As much as getting hit in the nuts," he grinned. "You got Apollos good."
He kept holding Zeph's hand, tracing small circles on Zeph's skin with the tip of his thumb. He tactfully decided not to pursue the topic of the fight any further, and changed the subject when he spoke again.
"So what are you looking forward to about Germany? Besides spending more time with me, of course," he laughed teasingly.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 15:52:17 GMT -5
"I did, didn't I?" Zeph grinned. At Jason's next question, he paused, his expression growing thoughtful. "I'm not sure... escape, mostly."
He just smiled, holding Jason's hand a little tighter. Refusing to think of what he was trying to escape, he leaned over the table a little. "And you? Other than going home."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 12, 2009 15:58:15 GMT -5
"Escape," he echoed Zeph softly, also pushing memories away. "And seeing my family again, though that counts under looking forward to going home. Compared to Greece, though, I'm not really looking forward to the weather," he grinned. "I liked being able to walk in the sunshine almost every day rather than rain."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 12, 2009 16:03:14 GMT -5
Zeph wrinkled his nose. "Yeah... there is a definite advantage in the weather at home. But I'm not going to be smothered by your family like I am mine. And maybe I will have the same sort of triumph with your family that you had with mine. You have my mother wrapped around your finger now, you know. You could not possibly do wrong in her eyes unless you left me."
He sighed softly, looking at the ring on Jason's hand. The opal caught the light and he smiled a little. His stomach growled and he chuckled. "Okay, apparently I am hungry."
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