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Story
+ Angel Hunt ~ Streifen +
Future Effects
Thirty five years after the first...
A story collaboration between Angel Hunt and Streifen
Chapter One : Part Three
Aki smiles as he sees Sen run past the sitting room he was waiting in and backtracks once he realizes he’s found who’s he’s looking for. At least the boy looked happy, it was nice to see him genuinely smile for once.
“Dad!” The hybrid runs up and barrels his Selestarri father over as he stands. Aki laughs and hugs his son. “Dad, it was really great. I met so many people and I even made a friend. I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.”
“Come on, you can tell me all about it while we go upstairs and you get changed.” The Eclipsed escorts Sen to the main staircase and he begins rattling off his day.
“Ok, so at first I was really nervous cause I didn’t really know what to expect and the Headmaster was very straight-laced so it kinda got me worried. Then I went to my homeroom and the teacher there was a real elitist prick. He was some full-blood Angel who hates anything not Angelic and he was pretty vocal about that but I kinda showed him up and he really didn’t like me after that.” Sen grins wickedly while Aki rolls his eyes. “And I met this girl who has all my classes. I guess her parents are pretty high up on the Council and she’s like the first girl born between and Angel and a Demon. Anyway, her name is Samara and she’s the first friend I made.”
“So you met a girl your first day then…” Aki chides him as they continue to climb.
“Not like that, Dad, get your mind out of the gutter.” Sen scoffs. “So then the second class was weapons and they let me use my own and I kicked the teacher’s ass. It was awesome. She was really impressed. It was so cool to actually be the better one and not constantly get my own butt kicked. But it got really weird at the end. They all change and shower together and I’ve never really seen others naked and they just did it like it was nothing.”
“You used to bathe with your Father and me, Sen.”
“Yeah but I was like, ten, Dad. That’s completely different.”
Aki shrugs and they turn the corner as they reach the fourth floor. He opens the door to Sen’s room and stands at the door while he changes out of his uniform, continuing. The hybrid goes kind of quiet before finally getting the courage up to ask his father about going out.
“So, like, this girl and a bunch of other kids, they’re getting together after school on Friday to do something. I think they said carry-okie? I don’t know what it is, but they invited me to come and they want me there and I really want to go.” He bites his lower lip and looks up, meeting his father’s blue eyes with own crimson. “You think Father would let me go? I mean, that girl’s parents are high up on the Council so he’d know who they are, right? It’s not just some random stranger.”
The Eclipsed smirks. “Maybe. I’ll talk with your father but don’t get your hopes up. It was hard enough getting him to let you simply go to school.” Aki lies through his teeth, but he really didn’t want to give Sen any false hope should Jenova feel this was inappropriate.
Sen rolls his eyes. “Oh come on, I know how you two negotiate.” He begins pushing the Selestarri out the door and down in the direction of his own room. “Now go do that. Please?”
Aki laughs at his son’s encouragement. “Fine, fine, you go get something to eat and I’ll talk to him.” He shoos Sen away and back down the stairs.
A wide hopeful grin sweeps over the hybrid’s lips as he turns and bounds down the stairwell, more than a little excited about the prospect of his dad being able to get through to his father so he could go out.
Clear crimson stare out into the grounds below as the Demon stands motionless on the stony balcony of their shared room, unmoving even as the large, heavily carved door behind him creaks open and the Eclipsed enters. Cerulean blue eyes stare at the figure before him for a moment, the antique brass knob clicking quietly as he shuts the door behind him and begins moving into the room.
Aki joins Jenova, stepping to his side while his eyes remain on the grounds below. A few minutes of silence pass between them before soft liquid notes startle the smaller man from his thoughts in the slightest.
“I trust the boy’s first day went without incident, hm?”
“Pretty much. He had fun, made some friends. Apparently, they let him bring his weapon out in one of the classes and show off what we’ve been teaching him. He’s very excited about it all.” Aki glances over the Demon’s way with a sly smile. “He met a girl. She’s the daughter of two of the Council members. An Angel and Demon I think he said. I didn’t realize they were up to creating females yet that weren’t almost completely Demon or Human. His homeroom teacher gave him a little trouble just because of who he is, but I’m sure that’s no big deal. Sen can handle it. All in all, he can’t wait to go back and I’m glad. I was afraid he wouldn’t like it and we’d be right back to where we started with him. Well, not so much us, but the trouble of finding someone who could withstand his… level of intensity.” The Eclipsed smirks. “His friends invited him out to karaoke at the end of the week and he really wants to go. I told him I’d have to run it by you first. He told me to use my usual negotiating methods. Heh. Assuming you know who this girl’s parents are and you have no issue with them, I don’t see why he can’t go.”
A small smirk forms on pale lips, “I do indeed know of that particular girl’s parents. It does not surprise me that of an entire facility filled with all manor of person, the boy managed to make acquaintances with that child.” Jenova turns, pulling clawed fingers up and tracing along Aki’s jaw line briefly before pulling away and moving towards the room, speaking as he goes “This One’s feelings towards the parents makes little difference. You asked me to allow him out once, this I did. But I will not have him go beyond my control. It is enough that he will be attending that school. If he wishes to socialize, the boy has each day within it to do so…”
Aki sighs, he was afraid Jenova wouldn’t let Sen out. He turns and follows the Demon back into the room. “I understand your reasoning. I don’t agree with it, but I understand why you feel this way. I think him having the opportunity to socialize outside of school is very important. I know what it was like to be a kid once and while Selestarri communal learning isn’t exactly the same as a formal school setting, I know that when you are in that setting, you can’t really socialize. There is little opportunity. Sen will get restless again and I don’t want him to do something stupid like go off without your permission or knowledge and get himself into actual trouble. Unfortunately I can see that happening because he is our son and like us, will do what he feel he has to despite what others think. No matter where he is, he is somehow beyond your control because you cannot control his every thought and movement.”
Stopping near the wardrobe without a word while Aki speaks, long arms slide out to pull the intricately carved doors open. Stepping up to the pale form, slender fingers reach up and comb into long white plaits.
“I know you have no desire to imprison him.” The Eclipsed continues, blue eyes moving over the lines of muscle peeking from above the collar of the loose kimono draped over Jenova’s body while his hands continue to play in the Demon’s hair, “You know he is not weak and can probably handle any threat that comes along save your Maker. Just talk to him about it. That’s all I’ll ask of you. Let him explain how important it is”
Halting his movements in mid reach, clear crimson shift back as a sly grin moves across his mouth, “And now I suppose those negotiating skills our son carries so much confidence in come into play…?”
Aki steps closer, sliding his hand down the long line of Jenova’s back and pushing the kimono down in the process, matching the sly grin with one of his own, “Maybe…” he leans in, brushing full lips along pale skin, cerulean blue eyes never leaving the red above him.
“I think perhaps you will need to do more than say please to sway me in this… Akio.”
The Eclipsed smirks as he brings his mouth up to Jenova’s, brushing pale lips with his own. “Well, he takes stock in them for good reason. They work, don’t they?” The Demon chuckles as their lips meet. “I don’t push you for much when it comes to him, only things I feel are important, like his education... and now this. If I truly thought it a bad idea, I would never ask. I don’t come to you with everything the boy asks. You still are the final say, but it doesn’t mean I can’t… persuade you.”
Jenova lifts the Selestarri off his feet and carries him to the oversized bed…
Yep. There it is.
Sen closes the door to his room in a futile attempt to keep his parent’s… activity from filtering in. He knows he can’t possibly hope to remove that from his senses except by leaving the building. Right now, he wouldn’t dare do anything that could ruin his chances of getting to go out.
The hybrid looks at the cell phone on his dresser. It was nice knowing he had someone he could call that lived outside his home, even if he never did it, he just liked having the option. Sen really had no idea what he was even asking to go to but since his Dad didn’t seem too concerned he assumed it wasn’t anything objectionable. Maybe where they were going he could show Samara his wings since he couldn’t do that in school. Could she fly? Sen assumes she can but you never know. What’s the point of wings if you don’t know how to use them? Maybe someday they can go flying together. She could definitely do that here if he is allowed to bring her over. But that request will have to be for a later date, what he was asking for now was more than enough. Sen didn’t want to push it.
He knows Dad understands why he needs to try and have friends, but he knows Father never really grew up and never had friends or the need for them. He was mainly alone and those he associated with he never trusted. As it is, the Demon only trusts three individuals enough to sleep in the same room with.
Sen’s anxiety heightens as he feels the tension in the air finally break. Those two are like frickin’ rabbits. They could just keep going all day. Not something he wanted to be noticing. He doesn’t have much of a choice as it is.
The hybrid sighs loudly before walking over to his dresser and pulling the phone from it. He turns it in his hands a few times, still wondering why Samara had made such a big deal out it. It was small and black… maybe that’s the in thing?
He flips the lid open, crimson eyes watching as the keypad lights up neon blue and a message begins scrolling slowly across the tiny screen.
-Meiru has a serious crush on you – she thinks you’re totally hot- don’t tell her I told you though =^.^= ttyl ~Samara-
His eyes widen, an embarrassed blush washing over his cheeks as the message fades from view. He snaps the phone closed just as the presence of his Demon father fills his senses, turning around in time to see Jenova standing silently in his doorway. He hadn’t even heard the door open, one of these days he’s going to get Father to teach him how he does that. Clear crimson regard matching red for a few moments in silence before the Demon speaks, soft liquid notes carrying the usual indifference that betrayed no feeling one way or another.
“Your Father requested I speak with you about this outing you wish to attend…”
“Umm… yes.” He didn’t expect this, he was hoping Dad would have taken care of all the talking. Sen scratches the back of his head while he thinks on what to say. His Father was growing impatient, he could already tell.
“Well, I met a bunch of kids today and they seem to really like me. They are going out at the end of the week to do… something I’m not sure what it is, carry-okie? And they kept inviting me. I said that you probably wouldn’t let me go, but I really want to. There wasn’t much time to talk to anyone in class at all and some of the people going aren’t even in my actual classes, so I suppose I’d never meet them otherwise. I want to be able to go have fun with everyone else, badly. The girl I’m going with is Samara, her parents are on the Council, so you’d know them, right? You’d know if you could trust her dad so you’d know I wouldn’t get into any trouble. I hope…” Sen stumbles over his words and his Father’s expression never changes. This wasn’t good, he wasn’t going to let him go anywhere.
“I promise I won’t get into any trouble and if anything happens I’d come home immediately.” The hybrid smirks. “Considering I kicked the weapons instructor’s ass today I’m not too worried about there being something I can’t handle. I’m not gonna start anything and I just want to be like everyone else. Samara even knows how to use this stupid phone and I don’t know any of this stuff.” He looks up at his Father hopefully.
Jenova’s gaze is unyielding as Sen stands before him wearing a mixed look of nervous anxiousness and hope, “There are two things I would have you remember…” The hybrid nods, waiting for his Father to continue, “The first being that you are nothing like anyone else nor will you ever be, despite the need you seem to feel pulling you to be around these others.” Sen’s expression immediately falls when the words leave pale lips. He knew Father wouldn’t allow it, he just knew it. Clear crimson drop as Jenova continues unfazed. “The second being that aside from your other Father and I, you can trust no one.” The hybrid nods slowly with a sigh. Way to go Dad, so much for your negotiating skills… “I wish you to remember my words when you are out… The driver will take you when you go.”
The Demon turns without further word, silent footfalls against marble tile casually carrying him back towards his room.
“Ho-shi-! Thanks Father, I will I promise!” Sen calls out to the Demon from his doorway with a huge grin plastered on his face. Jenova never bothers turning around but the hybrid knows he heard him.
Awesome. He can’t believe it, he just can’t. Maybe he’ll have to encourage his Dad to spend more time with his Father… doing whatever it is they do. He doesn’t really want to know the details.
Now, how does he use this thing to call Samara? She said she was programmed to be the second number. Sen presses down on the #2 button and it starts ringing through the earpiece. “Crap…” He didn’t expect it to just start calling, he didn’t even know what to say.
“Hello? Sen?”
“H-how’d you know it was me?”
“You’re programmed in, I have caller ID. So… what’d your father say?”
“He… he said I could go… after a long speech of course. Well, long for him.”
“That’s frickin sweet! You are gonna have so much fun. Hang on…”
Sen sits in silence while Samara apparently speaks to others she’s with. A couple excited squeals reach his ears and she gets back on.
“You hear that, Sen? Everyone’s wicked happy you can come. I swear a good six or seven people from our class have crushes on you already, they’ll be thrilled.”
The hybrid blushes instantly, “Wh-what? I don’t even know any of them, I was only there one day, they couldn’t…”
Samara laughs, “They know quality when they see it. You got something to write on? I’ll give you the address to meet me at on Friday.”
“Yeah, hang on… go for it…” Sen writes down the address he’s given and smiles. He was actually getting to do this, he couldn’t believe it.
“Hey, I gotta go, but I’ll talk to you all about it tomorrow…”
“O-ok…”
“This is so gonna be great! See you at school. Bye, Sen!”
The hybrid is in the middle of saying goodbye when Samara hangs up on him. She seemed really excited to have him going. He blushes again. Crushes? People actually have crushes on him? He doesn’t really understand why, he never really talked to any of them but Samara and he doesn’t even remember who he met. He never even spoke a word to that Meiru girl, how can she possibly like him that way?
Sen flips his phone closed and lays down on his bed. He couldn’t wait till Friday…
The first week of school went by quickly. Sen got more into the routine of things and met more people every day. The highlight of his first week though was being able to actually go out and spend time with others outside of school. The hybrid can’t help his excitement as he’s driven to the place he would be meeting up with everyone.
The towncar pulls up to the address he gave the driver, opening the door before anyone could get out and do it for him. That always made him somewhat uncomfortable anyway. He had no issue opening his own doors or cleaning up after himself. But it had always been that way so he never really argued.
Shutting the door behind him, he nods to the driver who keeps the car where it is and he sighs, feeling kind of bad that the human was going to end up sitting there until his return like he always did before he turns towards the building before him. The streets are full of people of all ages moving too and fro, almond shaped eyes constantly resting on him as they pass by. Suddenly feeling a little nervous as he realizes just how out of place he is with not only his height but pale features and milky brown hair, Sen wonders briefly if it was actually a good idea for him to come out. These people were acting like they’d never seen anyone out of the norm before and he really hopes Samara shows up sometime soon because he wasn’t feeling all that comfortable at the moment.
Just as the last thought leaves his mind the excited familiar voice of Samara calls out his name and he drops his gaze in time to see the half breed running at him. Crimson eyes shift immediately to the low cut tank top draped over her form, unable to stop himself from staring as her cleavage bounces beneath the thin fabric. Wow… she’s just… aunt Megumi had nothing like that…
She reaches the hybrid, who quickly pulls his eyes away from her chest, embarrassed at himself for even looking as she grins in excitement. Samara slides slender fingers around Sen’s wrist and turns to pull him towards the building.
“You won’t believe what happened,” Samara laughs as he pulls him into the small busy juice bar, iridescent eyes shifting back while she weaves them through a crowd of teenager’s from every race imaginable towards the back where the enclosed booth rooms lie, “okay so it was Jacen’s turn to sing right? And he got this totally cheesy song about love sonnets and stuff. Well you know the boy you met at the end of homeroom your first day right? His name’s Sam, anyway – he totally crushes hard on Jacen,” she snorts, “and Jacen knows it so he gets all in his face while he’s singing and Sam’s blushing bright red through it all, it’s gotta be the cutest thing ever I swear. I don’t think Sam’s face is ever going to get back to a normal shade again,” she chuckles as they continue to move towards the back.
Sen smiles, “Yeah that kid, Sam you said, he was kind of looking at me strange that day, I don’t think he likes me very much.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Samara glances back at him rolling her eyes. “You really don’t get out, do you? Sam’s totally crushing on you too, a lot of kids are and they are gonna be so psyched to see you made it.”
“What?!” The hybrid feels his own face blush again. “Why do all these people like me? They don’t even know me. I’ve only been there a week.” They enter the booth before Samara can answer his question and the room falls silent except for the wordless music coming from the speakers. They were all giving him a strange look and he wasn’t very comfortable with it. If it was something along the lines of dislike, Samara didn’t seem to notice, in fact her face got kind of sly looking.
She elbows him and whispers back, “See? I told you, they all think you’re hot.”
Sen stands dumbfounded. He never thought of himself as ‘hot’, or anything really. He knows Father has a long list of past lovers who scrambled for his attention, but that could have been for his power. Dad told him a lot of the horror stories of what happened to those who wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. He never really looked at his parents and saw ‘attractive’. Come on, they’re his parents, that’s gross. It’s bad enough knowing what they do in their spare time. The hybrid never really thought anything on his own looks, he didn’t really get why others would.
He looks around at them all, instantly sensing what each of them was. Very few being pure-blood anything, mixes of Angel, Demon and Human. At least they wouldn’t give him shit about him being two different races.
“What, you guys gonna stand there and gawk all day. I thought we were here to have fun, Christ people,” An annoyed voice pulls their attention away from Sen, giving him slight relief. Clear crimson eyes shift up to the source. The kid was a decent mix of Demon and Human, long brown hair and flawed red and hazel eyes, similar build as he was, if not slightly taller. Now he understood what everyone meant by ‘attractive’. This guy was pretty good looking, he had to admit.
“Yeah, that blowhard is Jacen, he knows he’s pretty hot and likes to play it up, he’s a good guy though. Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Samara grabs Sen and pulls him up to the stage. “Yo Jacen, I want you to meet Sen.”
A smug look forms on Jacen’s face, he walks over to the pair and hops down. “Sup’, You the Founder’s kid, right?”
Sen nods, this guy was really pretty… hot up close, he could see why that Sam guy must like him. “Yeah…”
“That’s cool…” Jacen blows it off. “Hey, watch me make all those chicks swoon… heh.” He turns back, flipping the controls for the screen and starts singing some sappy love song. The girls in the booth scream at him loud enough that Sen needs to cover his ears.
“Are girls always like this?” He looks down at Samara who just scoffs.
“Only when Jacen plays it up. He knows they all freak over him so he does it on purpose, especially to poor Sam who he’ll never give the time of day that way.”
“What way?”
A look of disbelief washes over her features. “You really don’t know anything do you? Sam wants to get with Jacen, but Jacen isn’t interested in Sam that way but he likes all the attention so he strings him along, like he does with everyone who likes him.”
“That seems kind of… manipulative.”
“Exactly.” She rolls her eyes at the group of girls still falling over him. “He’s tried that crap on me but I could give a flying fuck. Dad would kill me if I was stupid enough to ever fall for that kind of play.”
A sly grin forms on Sen’s lips. “Hey, I bet I could get him to notice me by the end of the night.”
“Psh… I’d be surprised if he hasn’t ‘noticed’ you already, everyone has.” Sen blushes again at her words and she laughs, pulling him to sit down with the group. “So, you gonna get up and sing?”
“I’ve never seen any of this before so I wouldn’t even know what to do. That and I don’t know any of this music, I’ve never heard anything like it before.”
Samara smacks her forehead. “You’re kidding me? This song is so old, it was popular forever, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing it.” The hybrid just shrugs and looks at her blankly. “Don’t you listen to music? The radio? TV? The internet? MP3’s? Line Feed even?”
“We don’t have a TV that I know of and I’ve never listened to the radio. I think I can get to the internet somewhere in the house but I never had a reason to do so. I have no idea what an MP3 or a Line Feed is.” It was true, he didn’t really have a need for any of that. His parents never dealt with it nor did really anyone else in the house. He thinks his Father has a laptop computer but he rarely sees him use it. He’s not fond of modern things.
“What in the world did you DO this whole time?”
“Read… train… the usual.”
“UGH! Look, that phone you have, it’s an MP3 player, Feed Line and has internet access too. Tomorrow at lunch I’m going to teach you about the world and everything you’ve been missing, ok?”
Sen laughs, “Ok, I wasn’t aware I was missing anything.”
“You are totally missing out – OKAY THAT’S ENOUGH,” Samara shouts in mid sentence, jumping out of the booth and hopping up on the small platform to grab the tiny mic from Jacen’s hand and pulling a collective disappointed sound from the surrounding girls’ lips. “Attention whore. Keep going on like that and you’ll give them all heart attacks” She snorts and he laughs, leaning over to speak close to her ear
“You know I only have eyes for you Mara,” He smiles, “my offer still stands”
She turns to meet his gaze, looking annoyed, “You wish I was interested. Now get off the stage.” With that she pulls back and shoves him away, turning to flip through the songs on the player.
Laughing, Jacen turns and heads over to the seat she recently occupied, shaking his head as he slides himself down next to Sen. Flawed eyes shift slyly to meet clear crimson as the song starts up and Samara’s voice booms out into the room, pulling cheers from a few surrounding girls and boys. He pitches his voice just barely above the noise around them, fully aware that Sam and a few other of their schoolmates eyes were riveted on the pair as he talks. “She’s the only one I haven’t landed… but I’ll wear her down…”
Sen can’t help but scoff slightly, “I don’t think she’s that easy. Samara seems pretty determined to make up her own mind about things. Why do you need to ‘land’ her anyway?” This guy was really full of himself, wasn’t he? Sen’s sure Jacen wouldn’t like it if the roles were reversed. He guesses how the night plays out will prove just how confident he is. The hybrid fully expects him to crack under pressure. Maybe this guy needs a small lesson.
“You kidding? Look at her,” Jacen interrupts his thoughts, “So, which way you swing?” Sen looks at him highly confused. “You know… boys, girls, what’s your preference?”
“Oh… I dunno,” The hybrid shrugs as the question. “I guess I never really thought about it. Does it really matter?”
“It does for guys like me,” Jacen makes sure his voice continues to carry to the group now staring at them, giving Sen a knowing smile.
Now, Sen would admit he was pretty oblivious to most things, but this was blatantly obvious to even him. Jacen was doing the same things to him as he was to those girls and that Sam kid. How stupid. Maybe it was time he used some of the tricks he’s seen his Father perform countless times.
Sen reaches claw-tipped fingers up to thread onto Jacen’s hair faster than the half breed can register, taking him by surprise. Clear crimson eyes stare intently into flawed ones and he brings his face close to the other teen’s. He could instantly smell the slight twinge of fear and excitement coming from Jacen and he kind of liked it, no wonder Father did this.
Excited gasps from the small group that was watching them only made a wicked smile form on the hybrid’s lips. The boy under him nervously licks his own. Sen takes his time, pulling away from Jacen as he tries to lean forward. The half breed was trying to kiss him, wasn’t he? Things started falling into place in Sen’s mind. His Father’s behavior, how he and his Dad acted together with each other, even this guy’s obvious strutting to get everyone’s attention. He thought it was hilarious, understanding now why Father thought others incredibly weak and enjoyed playing with that fact.
The hybrid chuckles and barely brushes his own lips against Jacen’s, finding incredible amusement when the boy shudders slightly beneath him. The half-breed tries to reach up to grab Sen’s face and pull him closer, but he was much too slow. Catching the hand in time, he wrenches it behind Jacen’s back, who begins almost whimpering in desperation.
“Fuck, I want you…” The words slip out of Jacen’s mouth in barely a whisper, causing Sen to grin and brush his lips once more.
“Do you now?” He was really starting to feel like Father. It was a very powerful feeling, controlling someone else so easily. He wasn’t even trying and Jacen was already a puddle of goo in his hands. “Then I think maybe you should leave Samara alone since you seem to be so interested in me.” The boy nods the best he can and swallows hard.
“JESUS CHRIST GET A ROOM YOU TWO” Samara’s interrupting voice through the mic snaps both teen’s attentions suddenly away from each other. Flawed and clear red shift to meet highly amused iridescent silver as the surrounding kids burst out, some laughing, others giggling amongst themselves. A nearby girl steps up to take the mic from Samara as she hops down from the platform and a new song bursting out into the room soon after.
Jacen reaches up to run long, shaky fingers through dark brown hair, breathing heavily in the slightest, “I… I gotta go to the bathroom.” The half-breed stands, flashing Sen a look of longing as he moves away and heads for the door of the room and exits soon after.
The girl plops herself down next to the hybrid, flashing him a wicked smile, “Oh ho, I’ve never seen him squirm like that, you going to go after him or what?”
Sen chuckles, “That was fun. He was being such a manipulative jerk I figured he’d like a taste of his own medicine… my Father’s style. I see why Father does it though. He can make anyone fall all over themselves no matter who they are. I think my Dad is the only one who can see through it, even if he doesn’t try half the time.” He looks towards the door, “You really think I should keep going with this?” Clear crimson meet iridescent silver for a moment and his grin matches hers. Samara begins pushing him from his chair. “Ok, ok, I’ll go…” The hybrid laughs as he makes his way towards the door.
Standing outside of the bathrooms, Sen waits for Jacen to emerge. It was dark and secluded enough in the hallway, he could get away messing with him further. The hybrid is leaning against the wall opposite of the door when the half-breed exits, stopping dead in his tracts once he sees Sen.
Sen doesn’t even give him a chance to speak before he backs Jacen into a wall, using one arm to block the teen’s path. Clear crimson eyes stare apathetically into flawed red, waiting for the half-breed to do something, anything really. Just sitting there and taking it was no fun. For all the talk he seemed to be, there was no action. The two stare at each other for a minute before the hybrid sighs in boredom and pushes off the wall to walk away, “Disappointing.”
“No… wait,” Jacen’s voice is laced with desperation. He wanted Sen and Sen knew it with every sense he had. It was radiating off the other teen. The hybrid stops and turns back meeting the half-breed’s gaze once more. Jacen hesitates for a moment before grabbing onto the sides of Sen’s face and pulling him in for his first kiss.
This was not what he expected… he didn’t even know what he was expecting by coming back here, but definitely not this. He should have known better, the lust was emanating off Jacen. Sen goes with it, allowing the half-breed to meet his lips softly at first before taking on a hint of urgency and attempting to take control of the situation. The hybrid wasn’t having that, this guy needs to realize it’s not always going to be by his rules. He pushes Jacen back with his body, forcing the other teen against the wall and grabbing hold of his wrists, pulling them up above their heads and back.
He leans into the half-breed, barely touching lips before pulling back with a smile as Jacen tries to complete the kiss. Sen was simply amazed at how much of an effect what little he was actually doing was having. He leans in again and again, not giving Jacen want he wants until he fully gives in and lets Sen take total control.
The kissing was nice, it was new and interesting. He could see why people enjoy it so much. The hybrid lets himself get lost in the sensations for a moment before he realizes that Jacen is getting really serious about the whole situation. Kissing maybe, but anything beyond was something he just wasn’t ready for, especially with this idiot. Sen begins to pull away but Jacen wouldn’t have it, he kept going for more. The hybrid attempts to subtly communicate that it wasn’t happening until he finally began to get annoyed.
Pushing Jacen away rather roughly, Sen flashes him a hard look and the half-breed stills, allowing Sen to finally walk away. The hybrid returns to the booth and his seat beside Samara who was anxiously waiting for him.
“So, so, how’d it go?”
Sen looks out rather annoyed, “He really has a hard time with people not giving him what he wants, doesn’t he?”
“Duh…”
The hybrid’s expression softens turning into a playful but slightly wicked grin when Jacen rejoins the group. The half-breed fights himself to tear his eyes away from Sen, looking much like a kicked puppy.
Samara flicks her gaze between the two teens, “So what happened?”
“I called his bluff, had my first kiss and then told him in no uncertain terms to knock it off because it wasn’t happening.”
“Your first kiss? You’re serious? I would have thought someone like you would have gotten that out of that way ages ago.” Samara looks at him somewhat shocked.
Sen laughs, “I don’t get out much, remember? When would I have ever had the opportunity to kiss anyone? Until earlier this week I had never even talked to anyone my own age.”
“Damn, you work fast.”
“I picked up a few things from my Father, watching him in action.”
Samara laughs, “Well whatever he taught you worked like whoa cause that,” she motions back, clear crimson flicking momentarily towards Jacen, who meets his gaze briefly before turning his attention back to a very red faced Sam, “was totally priceless. One of these days, you can teach me all that so I can get him off my back for a change,” she snorts.
A small string of musical tones goes off just as she’s reaching up to push black streaked bangs from her eyes and she frowns, leaning forward to pull her small cell free of her skirt back pocket. Flipping it open, a sigh leaves her lips and she stands abruptly as she pulls the phone to her ear, “Hey mom, hang on.” Silvery eyes shift down and she flashes an apologetic smile, “gimme a sec.”
The girl moves towards the door and exits the room a moment later. Clear crimson turn to find Meiru and a few other girls close to her staring hard at him. Catching their gazes, they all turn abruptly away, faces turning red and loud giggling exploding out amongst themselves. Sen sighs, it’s not that he wasn’t having fun, but really – were the majority of girls just like this all the time? He wasn’t sure what to make of all the whispering and giggling and blushing they all seemed to be doing every time they looked at him…
“Sen!” He turns to see Samara peeking her head in through the door, motioning for him to come near. Finding himself slightly relieved, he pulls himself from the booth and moves to the doorway. Latching onto his wrist, she pulls him out into the hall and shuts the door to the noisy room beyond, a look of annoyance plastered on her face, “They’re going to totally kill me but I have to bail. Mom said Dad got called in early and she’s heading out with him so I have to go home.” She sighs, “But okay, I don’t want to strand you since it’s your first time being around the circle and all, so I talked to Mom and she said it was cool if you came over. I live about 10 blocks off the inner city, this wicked high rise that the corp provided- anyway you can come over if you want or just keep hanging out with everyone, it’s up to you, but either way I gotta jet soon.”
“I think I’ll go with you,” He says without hesitation. “All this socializing is wearing me down and I’d rather not be left with that,” he thumbs back to the group of whispering girls, “besides I know nothing about all this stuff and I’ve had enough of the ‘group’ for now. My driver can take us where ever you live, he has to follow me anyway.”
Samara laughs, “yeah, they can be a bit much if you’re not used to them, but you’ll get to know them all soon enough.” She gives him a sly grin, “especially since they all want to get to know you.” The hybrid rolls his eyes in response to her chiding. “But if your driver can take us that’s awesome, it’ll save me from having to ride the bus.” She looks at the time on her cell phone, “crap, we gotta go. We just have to say bye to everyone, come on.”
She pulls him back through the doors and over to the group. “Hey, guys, Sen and I have to take off, but we’ll see you at school.” After a few disappointed groans the girls say their good-byes and Jacen stands nervously and walks up to Sen.
“So… uh… I’ll see you Monday, right?”
Sen shrugs, “I guess.” Samara grabs onto the hybrid, flashing Jacen an annoyed look before dragging him off.
The two weave their way out of the juice bar and to the front of the building. Just as they exit the main doors, a towncar pulls up on the sidewalk, the driver exiting to open the door for the two of them. Samara goes wide-eyed as she enters the car, looking around at the leather and velvet interior, “Holy shit! I can’t even imagine how much this cost. Wow.”
The driver returns to the front and waits patiently for instructions. Leaning forward, the girl cites off directions to the chauffer before falling back in her seat as the car pulls out onto the main street. “You’ll get to meet my mom and dad when we get there,” Samara smiles, reaching up to shift the bangs from her eyes, “Mom’s a real sweety and pretty laid back, but my Dad’s… I dunno, he doesn’t smile that much, but don’t let it fool you, he’s a real softy inside.” She snorts mildly, leaning forward to pull a small hair tie from her back pocket. Gripping the tie with her teeth, her words are slightly muffled while she continues to speak, “they won’t be there for long so it’s not like we’ll have to stand at attention forever, but my Dad’s kinda strict about stuff, but once he’s gone we can do whatever.” Slender fingers slide up and comb through long strands, twisting them around and shifting them into one hand in order to pull the tie free, reaching back to wrap it around long locks, “there’s only a few neighbors cause only high ups get to live in the place. And on top, we have this totally sweet section that’s walled off from the norms so we can fly and stuff if we want to. Wait till you see,” she grins.
“Oh cool, cause I wanted to see your wings and show you mine and being able to fly would be nice. Yeah, I know what it’s like to have to stand at attention. I do it anytime Father’s around. He can suck the life right out of a room just by walking in. So as long as your father doesn’t have an issue with me I’ll be fine. Angels are supposed to act pretty serious all the time anyway aren’t they?” Sen watches Samara perform some complicated twisting maneuver with her hair. Girls are strange.
“Nah, you’re the Founder’s son, he can’t have a problem with you, that’d be like… having a problem with his boss… or something. It should be fine.”
The two sit in silence as they watch the buildings go by, moving deeper into the city. The high-rise was located in a pretty upscale part of the city and looked fairly modern. As they pull up to the entrance, Sen concludes that Father probably had nothing to do with that building since it wasn’t older than dirt. The car pulls away as soon as they exit and the two teens make their way into the lobby and to the elevators. Riding to the top floor, Sen tentatively steps out of the elevator car and looks around. This place was pretty sleek, different than the halls of antiques that his own home was. The hybrid swears unless something is at least two hundred years old, his Father doesn’t want it in the house.
“This way,” Samara grabs his attention and he follows her to the end of the hallway and a large pair of inlaid, hardwood doors. She swipes a keycard on the side and one door clicks open.
“Samara!” A woman’s voice filters from inside and Sen steps inside in time to see Samara hugging an older Demon. He assumes it is her mother. The Demon looks up and regards Sen for a moment, her expression betraying no emotion one way or the other. “Who is your friend?”
“Mom,” She moves to grab the hybrid, bringing him over, “this is Sen. He’s the Founder’s son.”
“Is that so?” The Demon’s expression softens as if her suspicions were confirmed. “How very nice to meet you Sen. My name is Lyrian and I’m Samara’s mother, obviously. Her father should be around here somewhere. You certainly smell pure enough to be that man’s son, but you’re not exactly full are you?”
“Mom…” Samara speaks shortly, trying to get her mother to stop embarrassing herself, “of course that’s who he is.”
Sen steps forward, bowing slightly to Lyrian in respect. “It’s nice to meet you. Yes, I’m Jenova’s son but I’m not full Demon. I’m half Selestarri as well… it’s a long story,” He half smirks.
“I see…” She looks at Sen slightly confused, trying to figure out just what a Selestarri is.
“Don’t you guys have somewhere to go?” Samara folds her arms impatiently. “Dad! I’m home!”
“Shouting does not become a lady Samara,” a soft, stern tone in Angelic causes the girl to unfold her arms immediately and stiffen. Rounding the corner into the main hall, a rather tall white haired Angel dressed in what Sen recognizes as formal wear from a few visiting Council members that have passed through the mansion over the years. White eyes never leave his daughter’s features as he moves in close to his wife, “we have talked about this on far too many an occasion, daughter. You are not commonwealth, do not act it.”
“Sorry Dad…” Samara mumbles, iridescent eyes dropping to stare at the floor beneath her.
“You are too strict Dearest, she is only a child,” Lyrian smiles, “Do not embarrass her in front of her guest.”
“And you are too lenient, my Love. Guest or no, she must learn sometime.” The Higher answers before turning his attention to Sen. White eyes meet clear crimson and Samara’s father nods in the slightest, “Ah, there is no mistaking who you share your lineage with... I see much of your Father in your eyes…”
Sen blushes a little, bowing slightly and replying in perfect Angelic, “Thank you sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Sen. From the rank of your uniform, I assume you have worked closely with my Father before?”
“Many times,” He looks towards Samara as he speaks, “It is nice to see you have learned proper manners from your Father.” Samara huffs slightly at the words, straightening as soon as her father gives her a stern look. He turns back to Sen, smiling, “I apologize for our sudden departure but we have business to attend to. You are welcome in my home at any time, it was good to meet you, Sen.” He turns to his wife, “Lyrian, it is time we were on our way.” As the couple exits the door, the Angel turns to his daughter. “Samara, you would do well to learn from Sen. We will be home later tonight.”
“Yes, Dad…” She maintains her proper demeanor until the door clicks shut in front of her. “UGH! See what I mean?”
Sen can’t help but laugh. “He’s no where near as bad as Father, I expected much worse.”
Samara wrinkles her nose at him, before sticking her tongue out. “Fine, forget you then… Take your shoes off, make yourself at home, you want something to drink?”
As thirsty as he was, Sen figured it was probably best he heeded his Father’s advice so he wouldn’t get in trouble later when he came home. Father would be able to tell instantly what kind of company he was near and anything he would have eaten. “No, thanks anyway.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugs, kicking her shoes off and bounding down the hall towards the kitchen.
Sen shifts himself out of his sneakers, leaving them sitting next to Samara’s and follows after her, taking time to look over every detail of the modern house. Everything was so new, it was like his own home was caught up in a time warp that stopped a million years ago compared to the sleek new furnishings and decorations of hers.
Stepping from the hall, he moves into the open kitchen just as Samara’s shutting the refrigerator door, glass bottle of water in her hand. “My room’s in the back.” She twists off the top and takes a long drink, “if you wanna see the upper and do some flying, I gotta go get some pants on first.” Iridescent eyes shift down to the short pleated skirt hanging low on her hips before shifting back up, “you know, so I’m not flashing my panties to the world. It’s all sectioned off from the norms like I said, but the others in the building can still see me and some of them work with my Dad. I’d be mortified if he got wind of that.” A small smirk leaves her before she takes another drink and exits, heading down another hall towards the back, “come on, I’ll show you. You sure you don’t want any?” she holds the water up as she’s walking.
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks anyway.” Sen follows Samara down the hallway and into what he assumes is her room. It was kind of small compared to his own and a closet compared to his fathers’. He never understood why they needed so much space for nothing but a bed and wardrobe.
Sen walks to the expanse of windows at the far end of her room, looking out over the city. “Wow, nice view. You can only see mountains from my room.” He turns around just in time to see Samara taking off her shirt and shedding her pleated skirt. The hybrid blushes furiously and quickly turns his attention back to the window, only to see her reflected in the glass. He just can’t get away, can he? Clear crimson eyes plaster themselves to the black carpeted floor.
“You ok, Sen?” Samara pulls herself into a t-shirt and walks back to the two-door closet to pull out a pair of loose pants.
“Y-yeah… I’m fine. I’m just not used to… you know… females… changing… or anyone.”
Samara laughs at his innocence. “Get used to it, you have to see it every day in our Weapons class, remember? It’s no big deal, everyone does it so I guess no one is phased by it. We’ve always changed in front of everyone else.” She pulls on her pants, “you can turn around now…”
Sen hesitantly looks over, relieved to see Samara fully clothed again. “Sorry…”
“For growing up in such a stuffy place with such an important father, you’re really sheltered. It’s cute,” She chuckles at him.
“Yeah, yeah, shut up. So where’s this place we can fly? I wanna see your wings.”
“Come on,” Samara smiles and grabs onto Sen’s wrist, “I’ll show you.”
The half breed winds down the hall to stop at set of large arched doors near the far end of the loft. Letting Sen’s wrist go, she reaches into her pocket, sliding another small keycard free and swiping it across the lock. The hybrid follows Samara through the doorway, stopping in his tracks almost immediately after clearing them.
Clear crimson sweep over the large rooftop garden, sectioned and leveled in several tiers. Winding ivy and hanging trees span stone pathways curving every step that overlooks the city far below. Despite the raging wind beyond, the barrier surrounding the area keeps it calm, a simple light breeze swaying leaves and budding flowers gently throughout. It was nowhere near the vast grounds he was used to, but held a new beauty Sen had never seen before. He’d never have thought the building held all this when he was on the floor level looking up.
Samara moves along a path before him, stopping at a large stone platform perched at the end of a nearby tier. She grins and turns back, “You gonna stand there all day or what?” motioning for Sen to join her, she turns and climbs small carved steps. Stopping near the edge, long layered milk white hair streaked in black blows lazily behind her as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in, the sun shining from above illuminating her slender form and pale skin. Iridescent silver eyes reopen just as wings unseal. She stretches her arms above her while, flawless snow colored feathers unfold to reveal small tufts of black near the base and a single back primary interrupting the white.
“Flying is wicked fun, I wish they’d let us do it in school…”
“They don’t?”
Samara shakes her head. “Party killers. So, let me see these silver wings of yours. I didn’t know anything could have silver.”
“Well, they aren’t completely silver, my Dad’s are…” Sen unseals his wings. Large, iridescent silver feathers fade in from the base of his shoulders all the way out to the primaries tipped in pitch. “See?” He spreads them, pulling a wing forward.
“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that before.” Samara moves to circle Sen, carefully examining the silver feathers. “These are beautiful, I didn’t even know feathers could do that. You see black, white and shades of grey all the time, but this is so different. The shine is… I’ve never seen iridescent feathers before.”
Sen shrugs, “You should see Father’s wings, they’d blow you away. They’re huge, jet black and completely iridescent. Dad’s wings are this same silver, but all over.”
“Holy crap, I have to meet your Dad. I wanna know what kind of race can have this.”
He laughs, “Yeah, you’d probably like my Dad. He gets along with everyone, even Father, so that has to say something. Those two are like night and day, you’ll be amazed when you see it. I’ll talk to Dad when I get home and see if you can come over sometime.”
“Super cool, I’m looking forward to it.” She grins, moving away and to Sen’s side. She shifts her eyes to the side, “you ready? I wanna see them in action…” Samara takes a step back before running for the edge. Bare feet push off as she leaps from the platform, folded wings flat at her back until she’s cleared the building completely. Milk hair whips up above her for the space of a few moments as she allows her body to fall, suddenly spreading matching wings to their limits and catching an updraft. He small form is yanked up in the slightest, carried up until she folds her wings once against, twisting down to begin a small dive.
Spreading white wings out once more, she catches another updraft, “WHOOO!” She yells loudly as she’s carried back up, repeating the process a few more times while clear red look on. Samara’s body dances on the updrafts over and over before she allows her self to glide out, yelling up to the hybrid as he watches from above, “come on Sen! The wind’s perfect!”
Sen grins and takes a step back himself, running and launching himself off the platform. Black-tipped silver wings spread as he lets himself ride along the breeze, catching up to Samara. He shouts out to her over the wind, “You really need to come fly at my place, there is nothing for miles.” He glides, circling around the girl before shooting straight up, riding the updrafts to get himself as high as he can before turning and folding his wings slightly behind, letting himself fall straight down. It was weird flying where there were so many people, even if they couldn’t see him. The air was thicker here, not nearly as nice as at home and practically smog compared to the Borders.
Sen wonders if they continue to be friends, if Father would let him take Samara to the Borders. Probably not. Can’t trust anyone, after all. God forbid. The hybrid streams past the other teen in a blur of silver as he heads straight for the garden below.
“Sen!” Samara closes her eyes, he was getting too close, there was no way he could pull up in time. What a way to get yourself totaled. She waits for him to hit, peaking a long moment later when she hears nothing. Sen flies past her as he climbs again, startling Samara when he flips up some of her hair on the way by. “Hey!”
She smirks, folding her wings and twisting her body around before spreading them out and flapping to climb straight up after the hybrid. Sen smiles to himself, slowing to allow her to reach him. Slender fingers stretch up as they continue to fly higher, managing to touch the other teen’s toes. She slips the first time, increasing the pace of her wings to send her higher in order to clamp down on his ankle. “Got you!” she grins, latching on tight and pulling back with everything she has in order to yank Sen down.
Samara arches back and swings out, letting the hybrid go at the last minute and sending him tumbling in mid air behind her.
Sen laughs as he lets the weak force of Samara’s throw take him. He glides out for a few seconds before his back pocket starts vibrating. Who would call him? No one knows his number except Samara and she’s right here. The hybrid dives down and lands on the nearest terraced step in the garden, pulling his phone out and flipping it open while Samara looks down at him confused.
Sen, your father is wondering why you’re not home yet. You should probably be getting home soon anyway, it’s getting late. I’ll see you when you get here. –Aki
When the hell did Dad get a cell phone? He’s never seen him ever touch one, let alone know how to use one. Sen looks up at Samara and shouts. “I gotta go, Father wants me home.” She lands next to him a moment later.
“Aww… that sucks, but at least you got to come out and meet people. You’ll be at school Monday, right?”
“Yeah, unless Father suddenly decides he doesn’t want me to go. I don’t see why he would suddenly change his mind.” He looks down at his feet, “I need my shoes first though.” They two laugh as they walk back to the arched doors that enter the building.
Sen sighs as he reaches his room and flops himself down on the bed. It had been a long day, but the most exciting one he’s had since he can remember. The hybrid was definitely looking forward to going back to school next week and spending time with the others, especially Samara, she had confidence that the others lacked. He liked it.
“So, did you have fun?” The Eclipse’s voice comes quietly from the hybrid’s doorway.
“Dad, when did you learn to use a phone?”
Aki laughs, “I was using them before you were created. I was young once too, remember? Before I met your father, I was more integrated into normal human society. I even went to college. I generally have no need for them now but it doesn’t mean I don’t know how to use one. Since you can really only be contacted that way when you’re out of the house, I got myself one.” The Selestarri reaches into his back pocket and pulls out the same phone Sen has, only in blue. “The features on this thing are insane…”
“Dad, you’re weirding me out… you shouldn’t know how to use that thing better than I can, which is not being able to at all.”
The Eclipsed smirks and puts the phone away as he walks over and sits on his son’s bed. “So… did you enjoy yourself?”
“Yeah, I really couldn’t do what they were doing because I never heard any of that music but I met a bunch more people…” He blushes, “I even kinda had my first kiss.”
Aki’s interest perks and he takes on a knowing look, “Uh huh, with that girl you were talking about earlier in the week? That was fast.”
“No!” Sen looks at his father like he was crazy, “Not her, we’re not like that, she’s just a friend. It was this guy who was being a big jerk and making all the girls and this one guy fall for him just because he could. Yeah, he was attractive but that’s no reason to lead anyone on.” He pauses for a minute wondering if he should go on, this isn’t exactly anything he’s ever done before and definitely not anything he’s ever talked with his Dad about. The hybrid watches his Selestarri father raise an eyebrow waiting for him to continue. “Ok, so the guy was going after Samara and she just wasn’t having it, I mean he could have gotten anyone else in the room to fall all over him but he’s going after her. So when she went up to sing, the guy came and sat by me, talking all big about how he’s gonna ‘land’ her and stuff and I’m telling him Samara can make up her own mind on things and he should just leave her alone. But he was acting all smug the whole time and making sure the other people there knew everything he was saying and doing. So I figure I’d give him a taste of his own medicine and I used some of Father’s tricks…”
“Oh boy…” Aki interrupts. Sen gives him a look and the Selestarri smirks, allowing his son to continue.
“So then he was all falling all over me and I was barely doing anything, but I could see why Father does it now. It’s really easy and it was kind of fun. So I told him to basically leave Samara alone and she interrupted us being herself…” He laughs, “And he left for the bathroom. Samara told me to follow him so I did and I waited, standing over him when he came out. He didn’t do anything because he was all talk so I went to walk away and he was all ‘no… wait’ and I came back and he kissed me. He was really into it though and I wasn’t about to do what I think he wanted so I told him to back off. I had to actually shove him away before he would… it was weird.”
Aki looks at his son in all seriousness. “Sen, I’ve told you the horror stories of those who would not leave your Father alone. Be extremely careful and try not to do that. I know you are more than capable because I can see him in you but that is a very powerful tool and can get you into a lot of trouble very quickly. Your Father is exceptionally careful how and when he uses his… charms. That isn’t something you can just play with and people won’t allow you to just walk away right after. It’s dangerous and I would not have you bear the consequences of that, especially in these times. You cannot just kill whoever bothers you as your Father once did. I implore you to be careful with that.”
“Y-yeah, Dad… I didn’t realize it was such a big deal.”
“It is and it can be. I know how easy it is for teenagers to get caught up in things but you have to be extra aware. That kind of power over someone can become addictive.” Aki lets his words sink in before his expression softens. “So was breaking a boy’s heart the only thing you did tonight?”
Sen smirks, “No, I went to Samara’s after and I met her parents. She thinks her Dad is strict but he’s nowhere near as bad as Father is,” He laughs. “The building she lives in is so cool. It’s like, modern, and the roof has this huge garden and it’s warded off so you can fly. I was up there flying when you called. I came home right after.”
Aki smiles at his son for a moment before rising from the bed, “I’m glad you had fun and have a friend already. I was somewhat worried that it wouldn’t work out and you’d be back here bored to tears again.”
“Yeah, I’m really happy. Thanks again, Dad, for talking to Father. Today was amazing. Hell, this whole week was amazing.” Sen thinks for a moment before speaking again. “Oh, I wanted to ask, would it be ok if Samara came over sometime? I really want to show her everything and she wants to meet you and Father.”
The Eclipsed looks back as he exits the room, “Give it some time and I’ll make sure it’s ok. You don’t want to overload your father with so many requests that he just shoots you down out of annoyance.”
“Oh yeah… sorry,” Sen waits for his dad to leave before flopping back against the bed again. He couldn’t wait for Monday.