The Siren's Song

[Nox]

The house was a mess and not just physically a mess -- mentally and emotionally everyone in the house had a bit too much fucked up in them. Maybe it was a bad idea -- maybe it was a great idea. But right now he could only deal with one thought at a time.

Nox was already tired of people worrying about him. And it was just three kids who cared for him. If everyone saw through the mask he was going to really head down to a bad place. Ashton might have the key to that.

Marta and Jackson sat on the floor of the lobby calming down and Liv was rushing back inside when he pushed open the door to leave with Lily tied to his chest underneath his big puff jacket. She gave him a wry smile, and then glanced at the kids sadly. Something had happened but she couldn't deal. He didn't blame her, she had a lot on her plate. She needed her own space.

The are was frigid -- much colder than he remembered. It felt nice to feel something different.

"Hey wait up!" Hayden shouted from behind him as he jogged to catch up. "Talk to me fast."

Nox rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. Really. I won't do anything risky or stupid. I hope." Nox added. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he couldn't feel guilt. "I'll ask What would Hayden Do?"

"God. Don't do that. You'll be jumping everyone's bones." Hayden jabbed at himself almost as often as he jabbed at everyone else -- more so. His own deflection technique. Make sure everyone knows your a player so you don't get close. He did the same thing.

"All I know is the power is gone. The horde is gone. And I remember feeling joy holding Lily but it's not the same now."

"Marta said you smelled numb."

"About sums it up. The power was life and love and glory and everything. It's gone. What kind world is that? One without love and glory and everything else? It's a sad world. I'm fine, Hayden."

Hayden stopped them, pushing Nox up against the wall his fist clutching the front of his jacket just under where Lily's tiny head poked out and she giggled with when his finger brushed her cheek. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid."

A small smile slide across Nox's lips "I promise to call if I have any big decisions to make." Nox leaned across the empty space and pressed a kiss to Hayden's lips. It was neither hungry nor passionate but Hayden let go and put his hand on Nox's hip.

Hayden broke the kiss and pressed his head against Nox's foreahead "You're a bastard you know that."

"It shut you up. Stop worrying about me. I'm fine. Why are you going to Elyse instead of trying to save me?"

Hayden frowned. Nox knew the answer to that just as much as he did. "I don't have to like it."

"We just have to live with it. Go save the one who might actually do it. I need to find Ashton."

Hayden was still close. "I hate you sometimes."

Nox chuckled. "At least one of us does. You know me better than I know myself and that's saying a lot cause I think I know myself pretty well."

Hayden growled. "Downright self aware... No urges to murder and maim?"

Nox shook his head. "It's quiet in my head for the first time."