Description

Name: Katrina Rivera “Kat”

Age: 15

From: Boston Originally

Reincarnation(?): Nope, Part-Fae

Appearance: Kat’s a bit on the short side, which she’s a bit sensitive about, but otherwise is fairly well developed for someone who should be in the 9th grade. Her complexion’s a bit darker, but it mostly looks like she has a perpetual tan, which goes well with her hazel eyes. She has long ash blonde hair that she wears in an almost choppy style, and favors clothing she’s dubbed quite cheekily “Geek Chic”. Big glasses, superhero T-shirts, and high tops tend to make up the majority of her wardrobe, and she’s not afraid to let she geek flag fly.

Personality: Kat is saucy, sarcastic, and a perpetual smartass. She has very little respect for authority, the exception being Vivienne, and even that is grudging. For the most part, Kat’s a good kid, though her hero complex and utter disregard of the law tend to get her into some bad situations. At times, Kat is unpredictable, closed off, and willing to lash out at people, but she’s also loyal as a dog to those she considers family, and has a noble streak a mile wide. Kat tends to be a person with good intentions, that sometimes does bad things to achieve good outcomes. Vigilante is her middle name.

Fun Facts: She talks to computers.

History: Katrina Rivera was born to a biracial family that was Irish catholic on her mother’s side, and Puerto Rican on her father’s. They lived in a modest working class neighborhood in Boston, where her father worked a construction job, and her mother worked part time at the local computer store. It was never anything extravagant, but it was comfortable. Life for the Rivera family was happy and peaceful until the summer after Kat turned three, and she started going with her mother to the computer store when a babysitter couldn’t be found. Kat took to technology in a way that wasn’t natural, and could get computers to do things that really shouldn’t have been possible for a three year old. Kat’s mother was somewhat bothered by this, though she herself had always had an affinity for technology too, but she never imagined what would come next. Kat’s ability to talk with and control computers, while special, was not unique. There were dozens, perhaps even hundreds of children across the world with distant Fae heritage, who were starting to develop abilities that were not human.

An organization, often referred to as “The Cult of the Mother” at the time was tracking and gathering children with such abilities to be forcibly recruited and assimilated into their ranks. Kat was one of the children they found, and was kidnapped out of her home. Members of the organization were devoted to their cause, and brutal. When Kat’s parents fought back against her kidnappers, they were murdered. Most of the children that were acquired were kept in tightly controlled facilities that their captors called “school”, and were educated about the greatness of the mother and what their new roles as her devoted children would be. Kat’s ability however, proved to be very lucrative, as she could simply walk up to and ATM and tell it to spit out absurd sums of money. She became the organization’s mobile piggy bank, and was moved around a lot, only spending a few months a year at the “school”. Kat was only a small child, and took to her role rather passively, but others at the school, particularly the older children, were not so easy to control. Many of the “teachers” at school had abilities that allowed for mental invasion or to cause physical pain, and torture was a common practice to enforce compliance among the “students”. Despite this, some of the children still resisted, their ringleader being a fourteen year old girl named Drew Harris who had been snatched by mistake, her sister being a girl with an ability the higher order within the organization wanted. Kat watched for three months as the girl was beaten, tortured, and subjected to mental violation without breaking, all the while spitting back a devil may care attitude and sarcastic defiance that Kat grew to admire and look up to. Kat’s first act of defiance was to begin purposely leaving digital breadcrumbs to try and call out for someone to help. This was tentative at first, for Kat feared the retribution of her handlers, but with time the efforts become more blatant. Eventually, it was Drew’s family, including her mother Olivia Harris who was a powerful and well respected witch in the magic community, as well as the many powerful allies who owed the witch favors, who raided the school and rescued the children inside. Most of the children were returned to their families, shaken, in need of therapy, and in some cases extremely brainwashed, but alive. Kat however, had nowhere to go. It was perhaps fate then, that a powerful and mysterious woman named Vivienne was amongst the adults the day the school was raided, and perhaps out of pity, offered the girl a home. They grew on each other, and Kat found a ready made brother in the form of Vivienne’s son Arin. Kat still has her issues after four years of brainwashing and captivity, but she found a new family in New York with Vivienne and Arin, and is deathly loyal to them. Vivienne’s mission to find, train, and protect Arthur is one that Kat has thrown herself into eagerly. She’s “home schooled”, and basically runs “The Round Tablet” with is the front tech store Vivienne owns that doubles as their base of operations in the back.

So begins...

Katrina "Kat" Rivera's Story

Seen 48 Times • Page 1 of 3 • 1, 2, 3

Setting

New York City

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Katrina "Kat" Rivera

Character Portrait: Arianna Marie Trescott

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#2013-09-22 08:57:59, as written by Kohananinja

“NO NO NO! Oh come on Lex, my grandma could kill a mountain troll better than that!” An angry voice rang out throughout The Round Tablet electronics shop. It was a slow day at the shop, but the few customers there were regulars, and didn’t seem surprised by the outburst followed by furious clicking coming from behind the counter. “GAH! No just use the flame sword Kyle, your stupid cleric staff doesn’t work for combat!” There was more clicking before an evil computerized laugh ran out from the speakers.

“Fucking noobs!” Kat growled as she yanked off her head set. How the hell was she supposed to get the scroll of Phoebus when her clansmen were complete gameplay greenhorns?! Granted this was her eighth game account, but still, gotta keep things fresh. “Dame Troll was only a level seven.” She continued to gripe, finally eliciting the attention of her boss (or legal guardian depending on who was asking for the paperwork) Vivienne, who was sipping coffee rather sedately as she flipped through a pretty ancient looking book. “Has your program yielded any results yet?” Her amber eyes flicking up to Kat’s.

“Nah, even by narrowing the search down to Manhattan residents under thirty, there’s thousands of profiles to process here and cross check with your data sheets. Even for me, that’s gonna take a few days. “Kat replied, almost sounding put out by the very idea. “Can’t your magic rock thing tell us anything else?”

“Perhaps.” Vivienne began vaguely. “It has been more active lately, so he must be close.”

“Yeah well, whenever the stupid thing decides to tell us something useful, let me know so I can narrow the search parameters. I’ve got a few leads on the knights I might check up on later though.” Kat replied looking over the other open computer with finished profile analysis.

“Hey Arin! Meet any hot chicks at work last night?!” Kat call cheekily as she saw her pseudo foster brother came down from his apartment on high.

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Twenty minutes went by, and none of Arey’s lab group had shown. That didn’t bode well for lecture either, considering that this was a Friday. That simply meant she’d be on her own when completing the homework this week, and she’d likely be hit up for notes from her absentee partners, which was just lovely thought. She was about ready to pack it up and cut her losses when a man around her own age with dark neatly kept hair and striking hazel eyes sat down abruptly at her table. It would be impossible to not notice how attractive he was, and Arey was honest enough with herself to admit she had a bit of a thing for boys with dark sexy eyes.

“Your lab partners bail on you too?” He asked with a sheepish grin. “I’m Matt by the way. I recognized you from my bio lecture with professor Keens.” He explained almost shyly, which made Arey feel compelled to talk to him.

“Ah yes, the hazards of Friday classes I suppose. I’m Arey.” She replied with a small smile. Matt seemed to grow more bold after that, grinning himself and pulling out his notebook. “British huh? I didn’t see that one coming. Mind if we go over notes together? I suck at biology.”

Arey agreed, and so they spent the next half hour going over the notes from last class before heading off to lecture together, which strictly speaking was about as boring as usual. After class they walked out together before exchanging e-mails so that they could set up a regular study time.

“Hey, if you’re not doing anything tonight, some of my buddies and I were gonna head to this cool bar right off campus called Galaxy if you wanna join.” Matt said hopefully.

“I’m already going out with some friends tonight,” Arey began. “But I suppose I could ask them if they’d like to go there tonight.” She finished as his crestfallen expression. Matt seemed like a nice guy. He was smart, funny, and overall just came off as a sweetheart, but there was sometime a little off about him that Arey couldn’t quite put her figure on. He seemed familiar, but Arey was sure she’d never seen him before.

“Well hey, no pressure. Just know you’ll be breaking my heart if you don’t show.” He said with a wink before heading off with a wave. Once he was farther away, Matt pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial option that read simply “professor”.

“Hey, found another one on your list. There should be about three of them showing up at the bar tonight. Do you need me there, or do you have it covered?” Matt asked, shy and sweet replaced with boredom in his voice.

“No, if one of them is Arthur, there’s no need for you to expose yourself further. I’ll have someone else observing tonight.” The professor replied before hanging up.

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In the end, it didn’t really matter whether or not Arey wanted to meet up with Matt or not, because Amanda had already decided their little group was going to Galaxy. Apparently it was the place for Ambrose students to be seen this semester, and Amanda wouldn’t hear of going anywhere else. Arey had decided to let her hair down tonight, both literally and figuratively, in a loose curly fashion. She also put on her favorite pair of black leather pants that never failed to make her feel sexy, and show off her bum. She finished the look with a shiny silver sleeveless top that hugged her curves and complemented the smoky silver eye shadow she wore to bring out her eyes. During soccer season, she usually was so busy with training, that she never really got a chance to go out like this, and really really enjoyed just cutting loose and primping like a girl for once.

Galaxy was already crowded when they arrived, which was good for dancing, and not so good for meeting up with people. Arey figured that if Matt was really so keen on seeing her, he’d turn up eventually, but for now, she wanted to dance. The set list was great, and so far, Arey was having a good time. Eventually, the girls decided it was time to get some drinks, and due to an unfortunate game call nose goes (which Arey had never bloody well heard of in her entire life), it was decided that Arey would go to the bar to order. Walking up to the nearest bartended, who happened to be a boy with beautiful bourbon colored eyes that seemed out of place with the brow piercing and purple tipped hair, before [placing in the order.

“Hey mate, can I get three rum and cokes, a white Russian, and a pint of whatever local spice ale you’ve got on tap.” Arey said, flashing her fake I.D. that proclaimed her name to be “Bonnie Scott” under her picture.

Setting

New York City

Characters Present

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#2014-03-12 14:54:36, as written by SkullsandSlippers

Tim left the training room. He was a bit slower going as his legs decided to give him a hard time with the stairs to Arin's apartment. By the time he got into the main living area he was winded once more. Grabbing some comfortable clothes he moved to the bathroom.

Tim couldn't remember a shower that had ever felt so good in his life. The hot water penetrated his skin, leaving his already tired muscles relaxed. When he stepped out and dried off he knew it wouldn't be long before he was asleep on the couch. Leaving his shirt off, he pulled on the sleep pants Viv had packed in his bag, brushed his teeth and ran a comb through his hair.

He took the time to stretch his legs and arms, in particular his shoulders though the couch called out invitingly. Tim knew better than to just lay down though. He wanted full range of motion for tonight. Once he was sure he was stretched out enough Tim laid out on the couch and was asleep quickly. Sleep was deep and dreamless until the end.

When he woke, Tim was refreshed but a little stiff. He stretched once more, going easy on his muscles but letting them loosen up. Tomorrow and the next day his body would hurt but for now a little stiffness was fine. He pulled his shirt on and headed down to the batcave and then the kitchen to grab a snack. The workout and nap had left him starving. The place seemed quiet so Tim figured everyone else had taken a nap as well. He smiled thinking of Arey all rested and ready to skate. Sandwich made, milk poured Tim sat and tucked into his meal.

By 7:30 that evening he was dressed and waiting for Arey in the batcave. Tim was nervous but it was the excited kind of nervous. He was dressed in jeans, a sweater and a jacket overtop that was lighter than a regular winter coat and allowed him free movement with his arms. He had a scarf draped loosely over his neck and a pair of gloves tucked into his back pocket. He checked his phone. The texts promised him that everything was in place. All he had to do was take Arey on a drive, get to the rink and see where the night took them.

After training, Arey had walked with Kat back to her room and taken a shower. The hot water felt beyond wonderful to her aching muscles, and it felt good to be clean. She'd come out of the workout alright comparatively, though Arey knew she'd still be sore tomorrow like everyone else. Tim's suggestion for a nap sounded better by the moment, and after about five minutes of stretching, laid out on the bottom bunk and was out like a light.

A few hours later, Arey felt refreshed, and the pre-date butterflies started up again as she did her makeup and tried to pick out an outfit. She settled on a red loose knit sweater over a white long sleeve shirt paired off with light colored jeans and her sneakers. Over that, she wore a light jacket and white textured infinity scarf. Arey was satisfied that she looked nice, but it was an outfit that would take ruffling well, considering she might spend a lot of the evening trying not to fall on her face.

By 7:32, Arey was heading out toward the bat cave, ready and a little nervous, but the excited kind. When she saw Tim, she smiled. She liked that he looked like he'd gotten himself all done up for their date. "You look quite dashing with your cute little scarf and everything."

Tim blushed and casually looked down. "Well..." He brought his eyes back up to her. "You look really, really pretty Arey." He reached out and fingered her scarf. "I like this. Really frames your face and makes your eyes stand out. Going to be hard to stop looking at you, you know."

"As long as you don't slack in your duties to prevent me from falling and embarrassing myself terribly, I promise not to complain." Arey joked, blushing lightly.

"Trust me I won't let you out of my sight and the closer I can be the better." Tim smiled. "Shall we? It is a bit of a drive out there."

"Yeah." Arey agreed easily. "You driving?" She asked.

"Hold up love birds." Kat said from the entry way. She held herself fairly placidly, and her eyes didn't convey much emotion. Wearing a blank mask for all intents and purposes Arey thought.

Tim panicked a little at the sound of Kat's voice. He watched her wary of what she might do and slightly bothered by how neutral she appeared. He didn't want her angry but he didn't like seeing her like this. Guilt hit him harder than he expected.

In one smooth motion, Kat tossed a pendant that looked like a round mechanical button at Tim. It was small and black, which meant it would blend in easily. "That's your panic button. None of us have a great track record leaving home base lately, so no one's leaving without one. You run into trouble, you hit that and we'll come find you."

Tim caught the button easily. He looked down at the device in his hand. "Smart. Great thinking Kat!" He looked up at her, a smile on his face.

Kat shrugged passively, not sure why Tim was putting on a show of being impressed by her. Wasn't he pissed at her or something? "It's just a converted security system with gps components. It only took me like two hours to build, no big deal."

"Only?" Arey mumbled to herself in slight awe. Technology in no way being her particular forte.

Tim shook his head, "You say that but that isn't a small bit of time. Thanks." He looked at Arey. "Ready? And I am not driving since that was Viv's car we took last time and I don't dare ask her to take it again. I called a cab. It is what every New Yorker does."

"Right. Very convenient." Arey replied in agreement. She wasn't afraid of Vivienne, but the idea of asking for her car was also unappealing.

"Cool. Don't get your faces eaten off." Kat said in parting before turning on her heal and retreating back to her Kat corner without further comment.

"Will do, thanks Kat!" Tim waved at her back. "Let's go then. It is waiting outside." He put an arm out to Arey.

"Yes, it was very thoughtful of you." Arey agreed before taking Tim's arm. "Lead the way."

Tim led Arey outside and opened the door of the waiting cab for her. He let her climb in before following and giving the driver the address. Tim closed the door and smiled at Arey.

Nervously, he took her hand. "So when we get there it will be closed, no public. I got us in after hours so you can take all the time you want and have the ice all to yourself except for me. There are loads of skates in the rental room so we will stop there first so you can find a pair that fit. Sound okay?"

"Sounds perfect. You weren't kidding about knowing some guys huh?" Arey said looking adequately impressed as she got into the cab with Tim. She liked the feel of holding his hand, the warmth of it with comforting and reassuring.

"Well you said you wanted to learn. If a guy can't call up some favours to impress a beautiful woman what else is he good for?" His thumb lightly brushed the back of her hand. "Not going to lie. Little nervous. I haven't been on a date in a long time and I really like hanging out with you. Hoping I don't mess this up." Tim gave Arey a small nervous smile.

"That makes two of us." Arey teased with an answering smile. "You're off to a pretty good start if that makes you feel better." Said said a little more seriously, though her eyes were still lit up with amusement, finding his earnest enthusiasm endearing.

Tim smiled a bit more. "It does make me feel better and more confident in my other surprises. Thank you by the way. I know you didn't know but I am actually looking forward to lacing up skates and I never thought I'd get that feeling again. I know you just wanted to learn, I just want you to know your request had a rather uplifting side effect."

"I'm happy I got to help you feel that way. I don't know much about the situation, having something you love taken away from you sounds horrible. I want you to have as much fun with this as I do." Arey said blushing, feeling humbled by the fact she was able to help Tim that way.

"I know I am going to have fun but I also want to get out there. Hard to explain but when you do something stupid you feel like you don't deserve that thing you loved anymore. I think enough time has gone by and you have given me a reason to move on from that little bit of guilt I have left. I want you to enjoy tonight. I want to make sure you love skating and ask me to take you again."

Tim squeezed her hand and then gently flipped it over so he could trace a finger along her palm. "So do you like New York? Is it better or worse than London?"

"It's different." Arey replied as he changed the subject, and Arey didn't feel like she should intrude on his personal memories. "London will always be home, but there's a lot of...baggage I left back there, and it's filled with bittersweet memories. New York's my clean break, a fresh start and new life. It seems kind of cliche to think that way, but that's how I felt when I came here." She tried to explain.

"Not cliche. Sounds like a perfect description. Sometimes a full break, new everything is needed." Tim inhaled as his eyes followed the movement of his finger on Arey's palm. Her skin is so soft.

He pulled his eyes up to her face. "So why soccer? A passion or something you had to do that it turns out you are naturally fantastic at?"

"I started playing when I was eleven. Just because some of my classmates were joining the team. I almost didn't do it actually. I was all gangly limbs and all sorts of awkward back then. I played piano and was kind of shy, so I never really pictured myself as an athlete. My mum was the one who wouldn't let me chicken out of it. I liked it when I joined, so I did it the next year too. When she died, I felt so angry and alone all the time that I just kind of...threw myself into it, I channeled everything into that because the alternative was too dark to think about. When I practised, I felt whole again, and for a little while I could pretend I was going home to our her and our tiny little apartment and not...where I was after." The conversation got insanely personal very quickly, but Arey felt strangely comfortable talking to Tim about it in ways she didn't with most people.

Tim turned her hand back over and pulled her a little closer. He wrapped her arm around his and leaned a little into her. "I didn't know your mom had passed. I mean I know you mentioned it to Viv but....You were young, that is hard on a person. You don't have to tell me but what about your dad? Sounds like you and your mom were on your own and she sounds like a pretty strong woman. Guess that is where you get it from." He leaned over and chanced a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

Arey leaned into the touches, finding them comforting in that moment of vulnerability. "My...biological father is a politician, I guess you'd equate it to something like a senator or congressman. He hasn't announced it publicly yet, but he wants to be Prime Minister one day. He's ambitious like that. It wouldn't surprise me if he announced his bid for the next election." Arey explained with a lack of warmth she had when she spoke of her mother.

"I lived with him after my mom died, and at the hospital was the first time I'd even met him. The love child of an office tryst with a secretary, I was Lord Henry Byron's great PR nightmare." Arey recalled with a kind of cynical humor and emotional detachment that comes from bitter disappointment and shattered expectations.

Tim moved to put his arm around Arey now. "Sounds like he might be a bit of an ass. He can stay over there, we'll keep you. Clearly you are better than he is anyway. So tell me why law or medicine? You know they are like the toughest subjects right? And yes we discussed this a little, so sue me for enjoying listening to you talk about yourself."

"It's his wife who's the real Ice Queen. Henry just...in the end, it's always about him. Whatever grand gesture he makes, even the small personal ones that make you begin to think he really cares, at the end of the day you'll never be more important than what you can do for him." Arey clarified. Henry wasn't intentionally unkind, but his blatant ignorance regarding his own behavior and entitled attitude was its own kind of cruelty.

"I've always liked law." Arey began, trying to explain. "Specifically though, International law. I think trying to negotiate for the expansion of universal human rights and liberties is one of the most noble jobs in the world. I've just always been fascinated by the subject."

"I thought about medicine a lot after my mom died. I guess when you're a kid and you're helpless and you watch your parent die slowly in a hospital bed, you just start to fantasize about how to save them. I used to just think that if I were just old enough, if I were the doctor, I could make her better." Arey elaborated. "It's silly really, but I just kind of stuck, the idea of being a doctor I mean."

"Not silly. Both of those careers let you help people. Different ways but you can help. It is why I want to be a lawyer to help, especially those who get taken advantage of. International though that is big. Lots of variations, lots of things that can come up. I always wanted to stick closer to home but still looking out for human rights of those in my own country. You wouldn't believe the things that people are capable of." Tim laid his head lightly on hers. The topic was heavy and he didn't want to whole date to be weighed down. "Do you like Ambrose?"

"So far yeah. I haven't really been here long enough to take off the rose colored glasses though." Arey admitted.

Tim chuckled, "Yeah after a year those go away and it is all work and books. You end up with good roommates at least? I never did the dorm thing. I moved right from home to an apartment. My first years it was with a couple of the other guys on the hockey team. After the accident, after the rehab it was with the guys I am with now. They aren't so bad."

Outside the cab the sky was a beautiful mix of blues, indigoes and bit of remaining oranges as the sun finished setting. The night was clear and the stars were starting to show.

"What happened exactly? If you don't mind me asking." Arey asked gently, giving his hand a squeeze in encouragement. Tim had been pretty cool about her opening up with the emotional baggage, she wanted to give him the chance to do the same. Sometimes talking about things made them lighter, especially when there was perceived guilt involved.

Tim looked down, eyes focusing on the top of Arey's head. "Well...I was on Ambrose's hockey team and typical jock guy. We partied, more than we should have and often. We were out late one night, driving around. I can't remember parts to be honest." His voice dropped. "I was in the passenger seat. Guy driving he...well he crashed the car. He didn't survive and I was in a coma. Guys in the back had it back too but we in the front took the worst of it. We were dumb kids and it cost us."

He squeezed her hand back. "I just I don't know....it was not a good time for me when I woke up."

"How could it have been?" Arey replied softly in sympathy. That was a lot of guilt and turmoil to try and process. She couldn't imagine how she'd react if she'd been the one in that car and someone had died. "You weren't the one driving, but I can't imagine how that must have felt. Just, don't punish yourself for it ok? You didn't force anyone in that car, and you were as much a victim of that as anyone else. You're too good a person to hold on to something like that." Arey said softly but firmly. She put her hand gently on the side of his face to make sure their eyes met as she told him that, trying to make him believe that.

Tim leaned into Arey's hand a little. "I have dealt a little with that. I know it wasn't just me but doesn't make it go away fully. I should have said something, should have made sure we were safe but I was dumb. These guys were my brothers, I played with them for two years. On the ice, off the ice...we were a family. Then one stupid decision changed everything. He died, I never played again and one of the other guys never played again. It changed everything." His voice was low and broke a little. "Look I'm sorry. I should have softened that story a little."

He tried to smile and bring things back to the more comfortable place they were before he started talking. He wasn't sure why he was so honest with her, he usually gave a shortened, less emotional version when people asked but with Arey it just flowed out. Tim reached up to put his hand on hers on his cheek. "Arey..."

Tim was going to ask her first but decided to stop talking and just leaned in to kiss her softly. It was gentle but lingering. When he finally broke the contact he took a slow deep breath in. His eyes opened slowly to look at her.

The kiss was gentle but emotional. They'd both opened up to each other about a lot of deeply personal things, and this felt like a desperate need to connect the same way on the physical level. When he pulled away, she leaned her forehead against his, trying to find the words after that to communicate how her felt to him.

"Family is a two way street. They should have been looking out for you too. It's not just your job to protect everybody all the time. You deserve to have somebody looking out and protecting you too." Arey said earnestly, closing the space between their lips and leaning in for a deeper kiss, trying to communicate that sentiment physically as well.

Tim's breath caught in his throat as Arey leaned in and kissed him. It was a deeper kiss than he had given her and it didn't take much for him to raise his hands to her hair. One hand cradled the back of her head, the other her cheek with his fingers twining with her blonde locks. His tongue grazed her lips. He could barely find the will to break the kiss in order to breathe once again. He gave her two slow gentle kisses as he struggled to slow his pounding heart. "I overcompensate now on the protection front, hazard of the past or pasts I guess...."

Tim opened his eyes to look into hers. "Your eyes are so amazing. Like the sky on a clear day. You smell good. Not sure what it is but I like it a lot." He had to talk about her, about things that were not so personal for a moment. He feared he might scare her off with how impactful that conversation and the kisses were. Slow, slow down, don't freak her out. Tim leaned in once more to softly kiss her once and then once again. His hand stroked her cheek a little and he still gently held the back of her head.

"That's kind of funny coming from you." Arey laughed lightly between kisses. "Your eyes are bluer than mine, pretty distracting actually." She admitted. "Orange blossom?" Arey thought out loud, a little disoriented by the kissing. "You smell good too. Allspice?" She asked teasingly. He smelled clean but with a sharp distinct kind of musk that was both distinctly male and comforting.

Tim pulled her in a little and kissed her once more. "Actually it is sandalwood and fig. I kind of have a thing for this all natural line of men's soaps." He chuckled lightly as he released Arey from the kiss. "And blue eyes are more intoxicating on a woman but I don't mind keeping you distracted."

"I'll politely disagree on that." Arey said lightly. "Your eyes are gorgeous too, and women go just as crazy for them. Sometimes we like being distracted too." She insisted. "Overcompensating or not, it's your turn to relax ok. Teammates. I'm gonna watch your back too. Ok?" Arey said firmly, running her fingertips gently through his hair.

Tim nodded slowly, "Teammates." He shivered a little under her touch. "Arey I coul-"

"We are here."

The cab driver's voice jarred Tim from his thoughts. He blinked and then looked at the driver. "Right, right...the rink." Very reluctantly he let Arey go, letting her hair run through his fingers as he did so. He pulled out his wallet and handed the driver some cash. "Thanks."

Tim opened the door and stepped out. He put a hand out for Arey. "Ready for this?"

"More than ready." She replied taking his hand as she stepped out of the car. The kissing had made her a little flushed, and her body was practically vibrating from the excitement of it, but she figured Ice Skating would be a good way to work some of that off. Or get back to doing that some more...

"Lead the way, this is your show." Arey smiled.

Tim looked over his shoulder at the rink. "Skating first then...maybe you will let me kiss you again." He held her hand as he led her to the rink's door. The lights were off except for the one on the sign. The place looked completely locked up but as they drew closer the door opened. "Evening. Nice to see you Tim."

"You too Uncle Joe. This is Arey. She has never skated before and I really appreciate you doing this for us." Tim held up their joined hands.

Joe chuckled. "Well sweetie I hope you enjoy it and don't fall too much." He nodded to Arey. He seemed to be in his late fifties, a ball cap on his head and flannel jacket on his torso. He completed the outfit with a pair of jeans and well worn work boots. "The place is yours Tim, you know where things are. Nothing has changed since you were here last. Does tonight mean we might see you back out there? There is a pick up league you know, they could use a few more bodies." Joe eyed Tim.

Tim smiled a little. "Not sure Uncle Joe. Right now I am only focused on Arey and teaching her how to skate. We can chat later okay?"

Joe chuckled and clapped Tim on the shoulder as the pair passed him. "Sure thing Timmy. I'd rather be paying attention to a pretty girl than talking to an old man too. Have fun you two."

Tim blushed at the nickname but kept moving, leading Arey to the left. "Let's start by getting you some skates."

"So, he's your uncle?" Arey asked curiously. Sometimes people just had the nickname uncle or were close family friends. "Didn't realize those connections were family." She mused conversationally as they headed toward the skates. He seemed like a nice man, and she hoped for both their sakes Tim would want to skate more after this. Joe looked genuinely happy to see Tim. Maybe she'd have to drag him out here skating more often.

"So Timmy huh?" She asked almost mischieviously, eyes lit with amusement and conspiratorial smile.

Tim blushed. "Not family no. His nephew is a buddy. We grew up skating here, played hockey as kids. Everyone calls him Uncle Joe." Tim rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah well only people who knew me as a kid call me that and most don't anymore. Just a few like Joe." He eyed Arey, "Don't go getting any ideas now."

He led her into a side door and behind the counter where cubbies full of skates were waiting. "So let's find your size and once we find it I'll take you to a bench and I'll do them up for you."

Tim moved through the shelves to grab a pair of skates for himself. His gear still sat in the bottom of his closet but he didn't mind using the rink's skates for tonight. "Go ahead and grab your size. They are all marked."

"I don't know, this Timmy guy sound kind of cute." Arey teased as she walked over toward the women's eights and grabbed a pair before walking back. "I might want to get to know him a little better."

"But I thought you found Tim dashing?" He joked. "Which one are you most likely to want to get close to?" Tim's eyebrow lifted slightly as he teased. "Come on." He reached out to take her hand once more.

"Oh very. Dashing and bashful and he's got these killer eyes too. Haven't met Timmy though, couldn't say." Arey teased back. "I'm betting I could find some pictures around here somewhere though if I tried..." She trailed off, taking his hand.

Tim sputtered. "Ugh well...maybe but hopefully I will keep you too occupied to snoop." His cheeks warmed as he thought about the trophy cabinet and the various pictures of the teams they used to have up there. With any luck his had been replaced by a newer generation of players and Arey wouldn't get to see little Timmy in his pee wee hockey days.

He led her to a bench and gestured for her to sit. "Take off your shoes and I will help you do the skates up. Have to make sure they are tight enough to support your ankle but loose enough that you don't cut off the circulation." Tim waited for her to sit and then knelt at her feet.

Silently, Arey vowed she was going to find those pictures. The thought of seeing Tim as an adorable eight year old in a jersey and holding a hockey stick was just too tempting. When Tim directed her to take off her shoes, Arey complied, taking off her sneakers and slipping her right foot into the skate and waited for his direction.

Tim lifted her foot from the ground and placed the blade gently on his thigh. He began pulling on the strings. "Tell me if it gets too tight okay?" He pulled and wove the strings around the small hooks. When they reached the top he began to tie it into a bow. "Next."

Arey repeated the process, quietly enjoying having Tim take care of her like this. She was normally so self reliant and stubbornly independent about these kinds of things, but it kind of felt nice to relinquish control and just let Tim take over for a while. Part of it was feeling comfortable with Tim, the other being pretty much out of her depth with the proceedings.

"Ok. Suppose I'll have to figure out how to walk in these." She commented looking over at the rink. It would no doubt be interesting to watch her try.

Tim chuckled as he did up her other skate. "Walking is easy enough but don't worry I will help you onto the ice. I will stay with you." He finished tying her skate. "Alright you sit and give me a second to get mine on. Oh..." He pointed down the bench. There sat a big flannel blanket and basket. Out of the basket sat a thermos and a bouquet of flowers. The flowers were a mix with various colours and types. "There are cups too and some treats hidden in there for later. This way you can keep in mind what you have to look forward to when you get tired of almost falling down."

Tim smiled up at Arey before slipping onto the bench beside her. He quickly removed his shoes and put his skates on. It was almost like no time had passed. They felt right on his feet and Tim smiled. He didn't realize how much he missed the feel of skates. Tim stood and held his hands out to Arey.

"You are going to spoil me. Rotten." Arey said shaking her head with a smile as she saw the flowers. It was an adorably romantic gesture, and she found it entirely endearing as she took his hand and they headed toward the rink. She paused a moment as they made it toward the ice. She wasn't afraid of it, but she was a cautious person by nature. She was just...mentally preparing as she gazed at the ice intently, forming a plan of attack. Despite her earlier joking, she had no intention of falling on her face and looking stupid in front of Tim. She'd much rather impress him with her natural athleticism. Maybe she'd be that lucky...

Tim couldn't help but smile as he helped Arey walk to the ice. The blades were odd to balance on as one walked to to watch her for the first time was a little amusing. "Okay, I am going to step out on the ice. You are going to step out after me. I am your target. You are going to feel like you are slipping and that is okay. Think glide. Slide a foot and then the other."

The rink was lit for them though the stands were completely dark. The ice had been freshly zambonied and shone smooth under the lights. Tim stepped through the open board and took two glides before turning. He held his breath for a moment at the feeling of the ice beneath his feet again. It was surprisingly emotional for him and he swallowed hard before looking up at Arey. "Okay don't try and walk. Hold the edge of the board and use one foot to cause the other to glide on the ice." It was so much easier to show and try than to explain but Tim vowed to do what he could so that Arey had a good time.

"Okay." Arey said before tentatively putting her skates to the ice. She tried to make her feet glide the way Tim had, and he was right, she did feel like she was slipping. It was bizarre and kind of terrifying, that seeming loss of control, and she twisted a bit, trying to catch her balance. The rules for how she'd do that normally though, didn't seem to apply here.

"Keep your knees bent, just a bit. If you go stiff you will fall." Tim watched as she stepped out. She seemed a bit off balance and he quickly skated towards her, scooping her around the waist.

"How about we move together and when you feel balanced you say so and I will let you go." Tim smiled at her. "Told you I won't let you fall if I can help it."

Arey smiled gratefully as he caught her before she could fall. "I trust you." She replied easily, because it was true. As the began skating together, she paid almost clinical attention to the way his body moved (though there were a few less platonic thoughts that slipped past the goalie there too) and tried to mimic that. She kept her knees bent like he instructed, and experimented a bit with how she should move her feet to get that glide.

"You have to lean a little forward, as odd as that seems. You are doing great though." Tim watched Arey as she played around with her footing. He kept a hand on her to help support her but didn't hold her too close, worried that she might not get the feel of skates and her own balance. There will be time later to get closer. "Are you enjoying this?"

Arey adjusted with Tim's advice, slowly finding her balance again, and beginning to become comfortable with her own movements. "Yeah, of course." Arey said a little breathlessly. She slid her hand into his, and allowed a bit more distance between them she they could both move a little more freely, and she continued practicing the little bits she'd learned, satisfied with her current progress. As long as she didn't fall, she considered that a win.

Tim was overjoyed that Arey was enjoying herself. He smiled more as she put more distance between them, getting more confidence the more they circled the rink. It showed evidence of their trek. The shiny surface now littered with lines from their skates. Tim could mark out where they had started, the marks close together as he kept Arey closer in. Where they gave a bit of space as she grew more steady and now were the marks ran parallel with the arm span between them.

"You are a natural. Just have to find that centre of gravity and you won't need me to hold you up. Then I just get to follow you and look at your backside as you skate." Tim chuckled and looked over at Arey.

"Well that hardly seems fair. What if I'd like to ogle your backside too? I think we'll need to switch off and take turns with that." Arey said with mock seriousness.

"But yours is a much, much nicer view." Tim pulled on her hand, forcing her into him. He wrapped his arms around her and stopped their progress. Looking down at her, he let one hand run through her hair. "You aren't too cold are you?" Tim's voice was low.

"Again with the polite disagreement." Arey grinned before Tim pulled her into his arms, and the butterflies started up again.

"Not at the moment." She said almost coyly, eyes hooded as she stared up at him. He was more than a little sexy when his voice went low and gravelly like that. "Are you?"

Tim shook his head a little, "No, not at all." His fingers brushed her temple and moved through her hair once more. "I am going to kiss you again...just fair warning." His voice was still low, his focus solely on Arey, on her eyes, the slight parting of her lips. His hand moved to the back of her head, the other to the small of her back as he held her close to stop her from possibly losing her balance. Tim kissed Arey. It was slow and deep. He let his tongue tease her lips, his hand move in her hair. His eyes closed as he savoured the moment of the two of them on the ice, air cold around them and the stillness of the rink. It was like time stopped for them.

Arey was definitely getting spoiled she decided absently, losing herself a little in the kiss. It was intoxicating, sharing this kind of closeness with a person, and everything else seemed to just fade off into the background. She opened her lips up for him invitingly as his tongue teased at her bottom lip, and the slow intimacy of it encouraged her forward, despite her inexperience.

Tim felt almost drunk with being so close to her. Arey's lips parted and Tim moaned softly as he let his tongue explore her mouth. He hadn't been close like this with someone before. He had made out with girls, slept with puck bunnies but it was more casual, never connected and never close like this. His hand on her back pulled her closer. His breathing grew heavier but slower as Tim took his time to taste her, making the kiss last as long as he could.

I get it now. Arey thought blissfully, enjoying herself and everything about this too much to think too deeply about it. This is why Amanda and the rest of them go so boy crazy all the time. I never knew you could even feel like this. Arey gave a breathy little moan, hearing Tim be as affected by this as she was brought on a new kind of high to the experience, and heat was pooling low in places that left her feeling needy and ache for something she couldn't really describe.

Tim slowly broke the kiss, giving them both a chance to breathe. His hand moved from her head down her back to join its mate. He ran them both back up along her spine. He enjoyed the way her body felt under his hands and he wondered what it would be like to hold her without her jacket or sweater in the way. Swallowing he tried to compose himself. "We should keep skating before we get too cold. There is hot chocolate waiting for us and maybe more of this...?" He kept his voice low, his eyes searching hers. He was fairly certain Arey had enjoyed the kiss but part of him wanted to make sure he wasn't moving too fast, doing too much.

"Right..." Arey said trying to compose herself again. She paused for a moment, biting her bottom lip before working up the courage to say. "I wanna see you skate. Really skate I mean. I'm holding you back here with this beginner stuff, but I want to see what you really look like when you skate. I think I can stay upright on my own and follow behind."

Tim inhaled slowly. He held her still, hands back on her lower back. "I don't...really?" He watched how her teeth had come down on her lower lip and he struggled to fight the desire to kiss her again. "Are you sure? It is nothing impressive and I haven't done it in a year or so." He didn't want to deny her anything but he worried that in the end him skating would simply be boring to her. They had come for her to learn, not for him to 'show off'.

"Yes." Arey said decisively, pupils still dilated from the kiss. "You greatly underestimate how sexy you look when you skate." Beautiful really, though she wasn't sure that adjective would be as well received. She'd always admired the like of grace and poise it took to skate, and Tim make it look easy. She definitely wanted to watch him skate, it was too tempting a prospect not to.

Tim blushed. "You keep calling me sexy and I will do anything you ask. Hell, who am I kidding I'd do anything you'd ask anyway...." He inhaled slowly and stood a bit taller. "Okay. I am going to let you go. You steady?"

"Yeah, I think I've got this bit down." Arey said smiling, gently urging him to go.

Tim let his hands loosen their hold but subtly lowered them. He squeezed Arey's backside before skating backwards from her, a mischievous smile on his face. "Oops...."

He skated backwards a little ways, watching her to make sure she was not going to immediately fall. He found his stride, going slow in case she needed help. He still felt like he was getting his feet back under himself. A year was a long time away from the ice but it felt natural to him. It was like going home again. Tim tried not to think about how much time he had spent in this very rink or the guilt, though small that nagged at him.

Arey made a small noise in pleased shock when Tim made the grab for her backside, blush in place but grinning. She watched him skate backwards, already impressed, and followed behind slowly, but steady. So far she was managing to keep herself on her feet. "Don't think I'm not going to return the favor!" She called out to him, grinning like a loon.

Tim kept skating backwards, smiling the whole time. He was thrilled she had taken the grope so well. He was worried. He had heard the English could be prudish but Arey seemed playful and he really didn't want to do something to screw this up. Her ass was just too tempting to resist. "You are welcome to return the favour anytime." She seemed to be doing fine and so Tim turned. He skated forward. At first his gait was slow and even as if testing himself. Tim didn't want to get too far in front of Arey but it didn't take long for the familiar pull of speed got him. His strides grew longer. Tim picked up speed on the straightaway and he tilted, gliding into the corners and around. He was grinning like a madman as the breeze he created brushed his face.

He had been a fast skater. His long legs and strong muscles serving him well. He developed that speed and by the time he was in University there were only a couple of guys on his team who could keep up. His fear after the accident, once he could walk again is he would never get that speed back. Tim wasn't as fast as his was then but there was the growing drive to go faster. Maybe I'll start skating again.

Tim came around the rink and up behind Arey quickly. He reached out one hand, pinched her backside and passed her, turning to skate backwards once again. "Huh...look what I did again." She was still standing. Maybe Arey will come back with me again. Turning once more he took off for another circle of the rink. His legs moved with an ease that he thought was gone. Muscles remembered even though it had been a long time.

Watching the happiness that radiated off Tim when he skated was magic. He was fast too Arey thought a little in awe at his speed. The competitive part of her wanted to join in, not used to being the slow one, but she had more sense than to try and push the delicate rhythmic glide she'd been able to establish. When he passed her again with a pinch, she decided to try anyway. She was definitely going to return the favor.

"Indeed. You had better watch your backside now Tim, I'm the competitive sort." Arey replied trying to make her strides a little longer and put on some speed to chase after him.

Tim raised his eyebrows a little, "Think you can catch me?" His feet crossed smoothly as he turned once more and began to skate once more with long strides. He looked over his shoulder at Arey, watching for a sign that she was over extending and might lose her balance. "Come on, shake the lead out or you will never catch up...." He teased.

"I going to try." Arey returned, a bit of determination slipping into her eyes. She moved her feet out a bit more, trying to extend out the strides to increase her speed. This was so different from running that she had to constantly think about every move she was making as she moved, which was throwing her off a bit.

"Tease now while you can, I'll be the one laughing when I catch yo-!" Arey indeed over extended, slipping forward and then tried to catch herself, which pitched her backward instead. "Buggering hell..." She didn't hit the ice too hard, having catch herself with her hands, but her backside still smarted a little. The bigger problem was trying to get up. "Well...I went longer than I expected I suppose." She mumbled looking on the bright side.

Tim pivoted as he watched Arey start to lose her balance. He pushed himself to get to her but he didn't cross the distance fast enough to catch her. Stupid. You left her too far behind. He slipped down to a knee beside her. "You okay?" He looked worried. "You were doing really, really well at it. I shouldn't have teased you." He put a hand out to her. "Let me help you up?"

"Yeah I'm fine." She assured, taking his hand as he helped her up. She smiled at him, seeing the worry on his face. She'd hadn't hurt herself, she'd just slipped, everyone she'd ever talked to about skating had done so a few times as well, nothing to feel bad about. "But what if I like it when you tease me?" Arey said playfully, not wanting him to feel bad about enjoying himself on the ice.

Tim smiled a little. He stood slowly, steadying Arey so she could stand as well. "It bodes well for me that you like me teasing you. I feel bad that you fell. Happens but I should have let you go slower instead of making it a thing. However..." His hands moved to her backside and gently, he pulled her closer to him. "I really should make sure you didn't hurt yourself too badly." He smiled down at her, his eyes twinkling playfully as he leaned forward to kiss her. "So, doesn't feel like it is damaged." Tim squeezed her backside.

Arey shivered slightly from the feel of Tim's hands on her, squeezing her ass. She returned the kiss eagerly, taking in the playfulness of it and letting that warm her up from her tumble to the ice. "I would have tried to go faster anyway. Being a slow poke simply isn't in my nature." Arey assured lightly between kisses. As promised, her hands wandered farther south as well, cupping the generous swells of Tim's own ass in the middle of the kiss.

Tim smiled crookedly as Arey's hands grabbed him. "Well as long as you don't feel like I forced you." He sighed a little, it was ragged. "Arey I don't usually go for overly touchy on a first date. I really don't want to stop but if I am doing anything that makes you feel pressured please tell me. I just...I.." He set his mouth into a line, one hand coming up to cup her cheek. "I don't want you to think I am just trying to feel you up. I really like you. It is only a couple of days I know, still early but I want to chance to do this again, to take you out again. To spend time with you. I want to get to know you and I really don't want to fuck this up by going too fast." He kept his voice low, his tone a bit serious. He didn't want Arey to think he was just 'saying' these things in hopes that they'd hop into bed right away. He meant it and there was a lot more riding on this than just a chance with a girl. They had to work together, watch out for each other. Tim didn't want her to resent him or his advances.

"Ok." Arey promised, sensing Tim's seriousness on this matter. She leaned forward, giving him a slow but close mouth kissed on his lips before pulling back to give him her own look of seriousness. "If I stop being comfortable with anything we're doing, I'll be the first one to tell you. We London girls are tough little birds, we know how to give a guy who's getting too forward too quickly a good sock and piece of our mind. Don't worry about that." She said the last part with a wink, before slipping her hand back into his. "You want to give some of that hot chocolate a try?" Arey suggested. If one thing was going to distract her from this and slow them down to make Tim feel more comfortable, chocolate was their best candidate.

Tim smiled, relieved, "In a sec..." He put his arms around Arey and picked her up. He held her close and began to skate with her. His arms held her tightly around the waist, her skates off the ice. Tim made his strides a little bigger, picking up a bit of speed so that Arey's hair moved with the air. "I can't remember a time when I was this comfortable with someone or had this much fun. Thank you Arey." He skated a little faster, still holding her up. Around the rink they went, Tim smiling the whole time.

Arey laughed when he picked her up, the feel of speed exhilarating and so much fun she wasn't sure how to process it all. "Me either." Arey replied grinning, and in some ways that was completely the truth. The feeling of familiarity and comfort she'd felt with Arin had also been there, but that was Arthur, not her. Arey hadn't even know him, barely did now, though they were working toward friends. With Tim though, she was positive this was all her, Arey, not Arthur or anyone else. She was the one who liked Tim, liked hanging out with him, liked teasing and flirting with him. Arey didn't have to worry about questioning anything with him. "How are you single?" Arey joked half serious, clinging to his arm. Tim was handsome, fun, and a proverbial knight in shining armour. Arey had a hard time believing she didn't need to beat back hordes of girls with a stick.

Tim grimaced a little at her question. He skated them back to the open boards and put her down on the matted floor. He stepped off the ice to join her. "I did the stupid frat boy thing before the accident and after well there was rehab and then getting caught up on school. There is classes and work. Dating...it just never happened I guess. Not that I wasn't interested but I wasn't interested in the casual hookup, make out in the corner with some nameless girl thing. I had better things to do than that." He shrugged.

"What about you though?" Tim gestured to the bench so she would sit and he could remove her skates. "You mean to tell me the American guys haven't been falling all over themselves to get to you since you arrived? Was your last boyfriend a jerk? Only in it for that sexy accent?" Tim looked up at her as he once again knelt at her feet.

"I've um...never actually had a boyfriend before." Arey replied, trying very hard not to look as embarrassed by that fact as she felt. "Back home, the only guys coming to call were the ones Henry had pre-approved, and well let me tell you pompous and self absorbed aristocrats are not my cup of tea." Arey tried to explain.

"As far as American boys go, I spend the summer month in veritable football boot camp, so meeting boys wasn't really an option on the table." She continued.

Tim looked surprised for a moment. He removed both of her skates and then sitting beside her removed his own. "Leave them, we can clean them up after." Waiting till she had her shoes back on he took Arey's hand and led her down to where the basket and blanket waited. "Well...I don't know what to say but they were all missing out of time spent with you."

He grabbed the flowers and handed them to her. "Going to sound silly, I know but maybe if things go well and you go out with me a few more times I might get to be your first boyfriend?" Tim's cheeks warmed and he smiled a bit shyly. "If not at least give me the privilege of spoiling you a bit more before you crush my heart?" He gave her a wink.

"Well so far you're off to a good start." Arey teased, cheeks also warming up at the prospect. She sat with him on the blanket, playing with the flowers in her hand almost shyly. "Not really in the business of crushing hearts, so I'll see what I can do." She said smiling at Tim warmly.

Tim felt like the luckiest guy in the world. He reached into the basket and pulled out two mugs and the thermos. The hot chocolate was still steaming as he poured them each a mug full. "Careful still really hot." He handed Arey a mug. "Also..." He reached into the basket once more. He pulled out two boxes, one small and one a bit bigger. "So a date isn't complete without sweets for a beautiful lady. This one is for you, to take home for tomorrow over coffee so you can remember tonight fondly." Tim handed the smaller box to Arey. It was a white box with string tying it shut. Scribbled on the top was the word 'caramel choco brownies'.

"This is for us now however." Tim untied the rope that was around the slightly bigger box. When he opened it there were two cannoli's. "Chocolate chip with chocolate ricotta filling. You said you liked chocolate and they make the best in the city." He held the box out to Arey so she could take one.

Arey's mouth practically watered. Yep, spoiled rotten, no coming back from this she thought carefully taking out the chocolate covered deliciousness and taking a small bite to savor the flavor. She was not embarrassed to say she might have moaned just a tiny bit over how good it tasted. "Ok, you win, surprises good."

"I'm glad to hear you say that m'dear." A voice rang out from the shadowy stands, too dark to see into. "This meeting might have run a bit hostilely otherwise." The voice was oddly accented, and Arey didn't recognize it. The fact that they were supposed to be alone though, coupled with that rather eery introduction didn't bode well.

Tim was watching Arey bite into the cannoli. He was beyond pleased by her reaction. He was about to tease about surprises when a voice from the shadows made him drop the box with his dessert. "Oh fuck." Tim stood and looked for the man. His hand went to his neck, to where he had put the button Kat gave him. He squeezed it as hard as he could. They weren't ready for anything like this. He still had Kat's iron cross but that was only going to get them so far and Arey likely didn't have anything.

"What do you want?" Tim growled.

"Hey there boy scout." Balthazar drawled suggestively as he stepped out of the shadows and toward the pair. "You certainly do work fast. Third girl in as many days, gotta say, maybe not such a boy scout after all."

Arey stood up next to Tim, tense and alert. She'd seen Tim press the panic button, which meant help was on the way. It also meant that help was needed to begin with, so she could only guess this guy was some kind of fae.

"I'm here to talk to your boss here boy scout, simmer down before I decide I want a lap dance." Bal said with a wink before dismissing him from his attention in favor of Arey. "Arthur returned. So that old prophet wasn't just a posturing windbag after all." He mused more to himself that to either of them.

Tim growled again and then whispered to Arey. "Incubus. Jackass drugged Kat and tried to walk off with D in the club. Put quite a..whammy as Kat calls it on me though I fought it as best I could." He took her hand. "Don't know how he knows who you are but this can't be good. Don't let him get near you."

He raised his voice a little. "We have nothing to say to you. Don't want to hear what you have to say either." Tim glared at Balthazar. He couldn't remember what Viv had said when she checked them over. Something about being marked but he didn't remember the name or anything. He was tense and wanted to get them both out of there. He hoped Kat's button worked and the others were on their way.

"You were not invited to talk kiddo." Bal said impassively to Tim, eyes glowing amber a moment, as he sent enough radiating sexual need his way to bring a man to their knees. "The adults are talking now."

Arey's eyes narrowed, feeling defensive of Tim, an instinct to protect, urging her to keep him safely behind her. "How do you know who I am? How did you even find us?" Arey asked as calmly as she could muster, though there was a definite edge to her voice. She needed to stall for time here too, unsure they could outrun a fae. She remembered the shade she'd run into the night her world had changed, how Arin had fought it and how quick it had been. Getting the pompous thing to talk for a while might be their safest option.

"I read souls honey, I could recognize yours a mile off. Very distinct that way you are." Balthazar replied almost as a compliment strolling closer. "I recognized you back at that club, saw your little posse there too. Which I why I maked as many as I could get my hands on." He said matter of factly. "Your boy toy here," He said pointing his thumb at Tim. "I could find with my eyes closed. We got pretty up close and personal." He said flashing some teeth in a shit eating grin.

Tim had bumped the bench, spilling the hot chocolate. He clenched his jaw and fought the wave of desire that came over him. Fucking fae... He remained on his feet but only barely. He had been too tense and worried, not angry enough to fight. He shook his head, forced himself to stand taller and moved to Arey's side. He let one hand go to the small of her back, letting her know it wasn't going anywhere and keeping them connected in hopes of keeping them focused on the threat in front of them. Marked us, knew who we were. The fucker...he targeted Kat and D. Tim grew steadily angrier the more Balthazar talked.

The implication of his words made Arey's insides grow steeley. He'd put Deirdre, Kat, and Tim through some kind of sexual manipulation and turmoil as a means of getting to her, people she now greatly cared about. Her right hand ached to feel a sword, Arey recognized the urge wasn't her own, but she embraced it regardless. This dick needed to pay.

"Consider it a blessing in disguise." Bal offered lazily, hands in his pocket as he now stood about three feet away. His movements so far were non-threatening, but then with fae, appearances were always deceptive. "The name's Balthazar, though most in this city know me as the Underking. Being marked as my property has it's perks." Bal drawled, eyeing Tim up and down lewdly in an almost lazy gesture.

"Like what?" Arey growled, fighting down the feeling of possessive jealousy that surged from watching Balthazar so blatantly try to eye fuck Tim.

"Like the blatant smell of 'mine fuck off' to any fae that gets within a hundred feet. I've got a specific reputation in this town for vindictiveness and tenacity. There aren't a lot of fae stupid enough to try and feed off my humans." Bal drawled matter-of-factly.

Tim sneered, "Oh really? Then how do you explain the two bitches who attacked us outside the club. Your reputation didn't seem to stop them. You sure you are as scary to them as you think?"

"I've already dealt with those two." Bal said smoothly, voiced filled with a kind of cold efficiency that sent a chill down Arey's spine. "One was a outsider hunting on my turf, she's serving her purpose now. The other's hanging in pieces as a reminder for everyone else in the back of one of our clubs. We'll put her back together in a decade or so, once she's learned a little self control."

"And you," Bal said turning his gaze on Tim. "Are talking out of turn again. I think I need to teach my human some proper decorum." His eyes turned amber again, but this time it was like the lighting of the entire rink had changed, everything looked more bright and intense, and Arey was hit by waves of desire so intense she could barely breath, crumpling to the ground on her knees. Everything was too hot too intense. She began ripping layers off with desperate clumsy hands, starting with her scarf and jacket, though somewhere in the back of her mind she railed against it. It was like her body had a mind of it's own, and her mind couldn't get the proper grip to stop it.

Bal emerged behind Tim, seeming to have disappeared in the blink of an eye only to run his hands over Tim's shoulders and down his back until they rested on his hips. "I think it's about time boy scout, you learned your place in the world order." Bal whispered seductively in Tim's ear, blasting him with even more carnal need. "You're food, or best case scenario, an amusing pet. She," He said pointing to Arey. "Is a little higher up on that food chain by virtue of who she is. The only sovereign of humanity that the fae recognize, and therefore I have to deal with. The representative of the food if you will. Keep interrupting us, without my leave to speak, and I will fuck you senseless into that bench. While she watches. And I'll make you like it while you beg for it like a back street whore." He growled in promise, nuzzling his neck with his teeth. "Understood boyscout?"

Tim blinked, he swore it wasn't more than a blink and Balthazar was behind him. Arey was on the ground and he wanted to go to her but was frozen to his spot as hands ran over his shoulders. He ground his teeth as the man whispered in his ear. Tim's knees almost gave out as he was overcome with desire. Fucking fae... He didn't care who he was. He could be the fairy king of Katmandu and Tim would still have wanted to knock him on his ass. Tim growled angrily in response and fought with everything he had to resist the man's presence. He was sweating, he could feel it dripping down his ribs.

His eyes went to Arey. It was a mixture of anger and jealousy that he felt as he watched her pull off her jacket. How dare this guy do that to her! Tim was shaking. His hands balled into fists. If he could just find the strength to turn he'd clock the guy.

Arey's hands were balled up in her jacket, clutching desperately to keep herself from taking off anything else. She shook lightly with the effort, but for the moment it was effective. As her gaze turned back toward the Fae, she say him practically wrapping himself around Tim, touching him, and whispering in his ear with little nips at his neck. The sight nearly made her see red. She wanted to clock this guy, just the way Arin had shown them today, make him take his filthy fae hands off of Tim.,

"Don't...fucking...touch him!" Arey growled, pushing herself up with difficulty, her body physically shaking with the effort. she glared heavily at Balthazar, who retaliated cheekily with a cheshire grin and started running a hand through Tim's hair while the other began playing with the waistband of his jeans, occasionally teasing his fingers lower. The look on his face dared her to stop him, his confidence clear that she could not.

It took everything in him not to moan as hands played in his hair and at the waist of his jeans. The fae's aura was hard to fight but Tim was determined not to go down without a fight. Tim's face was frozen into a snarl as Balthazar touched him. Arey was standing now, facing him and he felt ashamed that he wasn't able to fight his way out of this situation.

"You ready to sit and talk like the good little political figure you are?" Bal taunted as he continued petting Tim obscenely, though pulled back on some of the sexual ora he was projecting out her way.

Arey's eye twitched, almost too angered by the sight to speak. "If I agree will you let go of him?" She managed to grind out, regaining some of her composure and self-restraint.

"After." He agreed. "I don't have any insurance from you otherwise." He drawled.

"And I have any from you?" Arey spat back glaring.

"Pacts with fae are binding sweetheart, and we can't lie. I give you my word, and I physically can't reneg unless you do first. We're funny like that." Bal said between sucking a hicky in place on Tim's exposed neck.

Balthazar sucked on his neck and Tim bit his tongue to suppress any noise he might make. He could taste the blood in his mouth. He wanted nothing more than to punch this guy in his smug fae face but he could do nothing but lean against Balthazar. He hated how weak and exposed he felt. The only saving grace was that he was still wearing clothes at this point.

Arey didn't know enough about fae to know if that was a lie or not, and she gazed with a mixture of anger and uncertainty at Tim, who was basically being sexually assaulted in front of her eyes. She'd told him he deserved someone to have his back, that she was going to look out for him. Arey couldn't let that be just empty words now.

"Willing to deal with the devil then sweetheart? Or do I get to keep this one?" He looked up from his work to shoot her a look, not quite of impatience, but that implored her dryly to speed up.

"Fine. We talk, we come to a consensus, you let him go. Permanently, and I want that mark or whatever the hell you put on him gone." Arey's eyes were as hard as her tone as she silently seethed.

"Now you're learning kid." Bal complemented walking Tim over with him to one of the benches sitting on one while physically forcing Tim to sit on the floor between his legs, though he allowed the poor human the dignity of facing out toward Arey rather than at Bal's crotch, as entertaining for him as that would have been. He gestured for Arey to do the same on the bench across from him, and reluctantly, Arey moved to comply. "If we come to a consensus, then yes. I'll hand over boy scout here back into your lovely company, and I'll retract my claim on him. Do we have a deal?" Bal drawled.

Don't do it Arey! Tim wanted to talk but couldn't find the ability to. He was on the floor now, barely understanding how he had gotten there. Balthazar's aura, the waves of sexual desire he was pushing out was making it hard for Tim to do anything but focus on his anger. He could see Arey and looked up at her. There was anger in his eyes, not for her but for the man who held him captive. There was disgust and disappointment for himself, that he couldn't be stronger and fight him off. He had done a better job when they were in the club but even then, only marginally better.

"A deal to make a deal?" Arey's eyes narrowed, practically smelling the technicalities.

"The ways of my people. Get used to it highness, you're a part of this world now. Deal?" This time, he let the question hang in the air, silently demanding an answer.

Tim didn't want Arey to make the deal, didn't want her to have to talk to this guy. Come on guys! We need you here. A shaking fist was raised to his chest once more and under the guise of clawing at his shirt Tim squeezed the button once more. He hoped they were get another signal, he hoped they were understand the urgency. He released it and squeezed it again.

"Your people sound like pricks." Arey said dryly, trying to school her features and keep her head cool. It was hard as she watched the Fae's hands running through Tim's hair and on his shoulders, like some kind of obscene massage. "You want to talk? Stop playing with Tim while we do." Arey demanded, arms crossed to stop herself from trying to punch him.

"I agree." Balthazar said shrugging, not about to deny the ways of the fae. "I'll keep it to a minimum." Bal compromised. "But he's mine until we finish our business." He finished, leaving his hands in Tim's hair.

Tim wanted to reach up and pull Balthazar's hands from his hair. He'd look like a sulking child in his position on the floor if it wasn't for the mask of absolute hatred on his face. He looked up at Arey and tried to shake his head. His free hand was in a fist.

"Alright." Arey agreed. Eyes shifting to Tim before hardening and back to Balthazar. "What is it you wanted to discuss?" She said tone firm and direct. She wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.

"Immunity, for me and mine. The unseelie prison is off limits, and you and yours leave us the hell alone if we do the same." Balthazar said without pause, suddenly sounding like one of those lawyers on tv dramas.

"The what?" Arey asked, confused about what he was even talking about. Bal's gaze on her grew confused for a moment, before sparking alight with amusement once again.

"Holy fuck." He said around a bark of laughter. "You really don't know anything do you?" Arey's cheeks reded a bit from the perceived ignorance, but her glare remained stoney.

"She didn't fucking tell you anything, that's a hoot! Awe kid, you just made my day." Bal continued laughing as he absently played with Tim's hair. "How 'bout you boy scout? You get the low down on any of this or are you just as clueless too?" Bal asked condescendingly as he pulled Tim's head back enough by his hair to make eye contact.

Tim looked up, not that he had much choice. He growled out his words in response. "Go fuck yourself. Why should I tell you anything?"

"Why go handsies when I've got your perfectly pouty lips right here?" Bal countered with a shrug, seriously considering turning him around and leaving him that way. "You're body's practically begging for it anyway." He tossed in for good measure as he slid a hand up Tim's stomach to his chest.

Tim snarled and tried to move away. All it did was serve to push his back against Balthazar's thigh. Tim wanted nothing more than to get away but he couldn't. "She hasn't really had a chance to fill us in on details. We were getting to it. Didn't count on assholes like you crashing private parties."

"Hands!" Arey snarled at Balthazar, a jealous rage bubbling up inside her that wasn't necessarily called for. "We're talking. You and me. You keep your hand in a neutral location or I'll-" She threatened.

"You'll what? Glare me to death?" Bal quipped. "Fae are immortal sweetheart, this is me being playful. If I was trying to hurt either of you, or actually feed, I could have you both naked in a mud pit right now wrestling over who got first ride on my dick." He said shrugging, as if that crude statement were some kind of known fact. "And as lovely an image as that makes, I'm restraining myself."

"What's the unseelie prison?" Arey growled out suddenly, trying not to react to the sudden rush of heat forced out her way.

Tim felt a rush of nausea, both from the excessive aura Balthazar was giving off and the sudden image he conjured. He also felt a rush of jealousy at the thought of Balthazar making Arey do anything. Tim tried to push himself up off the floor. He wanted to rip this guy's throat out.

"Cliff notes? A nasty little catch all where the seelie shove things they don't like or find bothersome. Not pleasant, and I have no intention of going there." Bal explained vaguely.

"Sounds like you should be there." Arey said with a hard voice. "Even if I had the power to...grant immunity, why would I let you walk around free?"

"Besides the fact I have hold of your little bunny boo here?" Bal drawled sarcastically, pinching one of Tim's nipples under the shirt to emphasize his point.

Tim half gasped in pleasure and half growled in anger as fingers pinched at him. "Stop that..." He clenched his teeth and tried to get up again.

"What you don't seem to understand yet, is that there's a war coming. The apocalyptic kind that wipes out your race if you don't tread carefully. The seelie, don't give a flying fuck about humans. If they have to watch your reality burn to maintain the status quo, don't think for a second they won't make that decision. Don't let the name light court delude you about that. I on the other hand, happen to like humans. You all are entertaining, less predictable, and you breed like rabbits." Bal said grinning.

"What does that have to do with me then? How am I suppose to stop a bunch of racist immortals with god complexes?" Arey asked in frustration, fighting down the urge to launch herself at Bal for dragging those kind of ragged noises from Tim.

"It involves you, because you have something, or you will, that both sides want, very very badly. You're a player on the board kiddo, and which ever side you end up batting for, that's the one that will win, and they know that." Bal explained smoothly.

"What if I decide not to bat for anyone?" Arey growled back, hating the sound of this more and more. She didn't feel like a player, she felt like a pawn that was being cornered.

"You will." Bal said with utter confidence, and the finality of that almost induced a panic attack from Arey.

"Why would I somehow matter? What do I have that they want so badly?" Arey asked almost frantically.

"Not part of the deal." Bal drawled.

"What?" Arey asked taken aback by his sudden unwillingness to talk. This guy seemed to love doing nothing more.

"Information wasn't part of the deal. That," Bal said wiggling his eyebrows as he pulled Tim up into his lap with an impressive show of ease and strength. "will cost you extra." He finished as he began rubbing his hands up and down Tim's inner thighs.

Tim felt like a rag doll. He was pulled up from the floor and into Balthazar's lap. He tried to stand, to get away but hands stroked his thighs and he felt his body react. No, no...damn it... He had no control over his body and it angered him even more. He knew it wasn't him but it didn't change the fact that he was angry.

His patience was at its end and Tim pushed himself up in an attempt to free himself from the fae's grasp. He let out a small roar of annoyance as he pushed with his legs and used his hand as extra leverage.

Bal's arms came up to circle Tim's waist like a steel grip seat belt locking him in place. Silently be was a little impressed with the human. Most would be a writhing pile of mush in his held by now, but this one was tenacious. "I can see why you like this one so much." Bal mused lightly as he laid a surprisingly gentle kiss between Tim's shoulder blades. "If he wasn't already on the bargaining table I'd be tempted to keep him." Bal said with eyes that danced with amusement.

Arey was trying to hold her own anger at bay, but it was the almost tender kiss Balthazar laid on Tim that finally ripped an all out snarl from her throat, the sound and ferocity of it not feeling like her own.

"Yes or no highness, before I'm tempted to just take my chances and bring this one with me." Bal announced. "When the war comes about and you're negotiating your own terms with the fae, I will be part of them, with immunity from the unseelie prison. Then you get back bunny boo."

"The mark goes away, and you do not fucking touch him or any of mine without express permission." Arey counter offered back. "And in the future, if I'm unlucky enough to see you again, you give me a bloody straight answer whenever I ask you for information!" She added on, a nagging doubt in Vivienne and what she was willing to tell her blooming in Arey's mind.

"Deal." Bal said with a positively predatory grin that was all teeth. "Now we just have to seal it, and our pact is struck."

"How do we do that?" Arey asked, suddenly feeling nervous again.

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