“What the fuck are you doing back there?” Brian asked over his thundering heart, he was getting really off his game if he hadn’t sensed Michael before. He foresaw a two-hour lecture with Ben about not being aware enough of his surroundings. “I think the question is what the fuck are you doing?” Michael leaned toward the blond in the front seat. “Cute kid. Is he yours?” he reached over to touch the kid when Brian smacked his hand away. “Fuck no. Don’t touch.” “Aww wittle Brae found a new toy.” Michael’s smile melted away. “Well I’m here to tell you, asshole don’t fuck with this one.” “Not that it’s any of your business but I didn’t even get that far.” “No shit. You know what I’m talking about.” “If you’re here to warn me about the danger’s of safe sex, I already know.” “You shit! I’m talking about your new boyfriend’s mark, the one that makes him dangerous to himself and to others.” “What the fuck are you talking about Mikey?” Brian paused at the first red light. “Justin isn’t like you or Ben or Even me. He’s special Brian. His power isn’t man made or from this earth it’s ingrained in his blood. He’s…” “I damn well know what he is.” Brian muttered. “He’s… wait what? You know!” Michael didn’t know what he wanted to do first hit him or kiss him. “Than what the fuck are you doing wiping his memory!” “It’s the only way to keep him…” “Safe?” Michael shook his head wondering why after all these years was he still surprised at the length his best friend would go to protect people even practical strangers. “You really are a piece of…” “Shit?” “I was gonna say work but yeah that too.” After a moment of silence Michael leaned forward again. “He need’s your help.” “Mikey, do I have super hero tattooed on my forehead?” “Come on Brian, he’s clueless.” “Didn’t seem so clueless before.” “Knock it off, he need’s help. The girl who was protecting him before can’t do it any more.” “And why not, don’t tell me it’s a man’s job now?” He looked over at his friend. “It was a joke. Funny, haha?” “This is serious.” “So am I.” “You know what fuck you. Maybe you don’t care about the kid but I do. Maybe if you had been serious before Justice would still be here to…” Michael knew he had gone too far when the car came to a grinding halt in the middle of the street. “Jesus Brian you could have killed us!” “Lucky for you you’re already dead.” Brian said. “Now get the fuck out.” “Brian I’m sorry I didn’t mean to bring that whole thing up but you gotta listen to me…” “I said get out.” “Brian.” “GET.THE.FUCK. OUT.” Michael gave a slight nod before literally disappearing from the back seat. Brian’s grip on the steering wheel tightened for a moment before he released it. His breathing now under control he looked over to see if Justin was ok. Finger’s skimming over Justin’s warm skin assessing any damage the kid was still sleeping. Good. “Fuck!” he slammed his fist against the already bent out of shape steering wheel. Another wheel nearly broken thanks to his ill temper. How was he gonna explain this one to the guys at the shop? Dam Mikey and his fucking self-righteous-bad-timing visits. What the hell is that noise? Reaching over into one of Justin’s jean pocket’s he pulled out a cell phone. “Hmm…” Daphne Brian glanced back at the sleeping blonde before making a decision. ~*~ Some where up there… Michael reappeared in the middle of an archway. “Well?” He turned around facing the one who had come to him for help, and slowly shook his head. “I’m really sorry, I tried to tell him but sometimes he can be a little…” “Stubborn? I don’t blame him. I was the same way when I first found out.” “Yeah, and I can be a little…” “Forward?” “I guess. I didn’t help much bringing up Justice. How is it that Brian already knows these things? I mean if he knows than why was I sent down there?” “To help him see better.” “Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something here?” “Because you are…” “I’m not gonna like this am I?” he asked as a blue tinged portal opened up in mid air. “How much do you know Michael, about Brian?” “At 500 he doesn’t look a day more than 28.” His joked died at his companions pointed look. “Sorry, um… he’s part feral or whatever the heck he’s got running through his blood.” He paused a moment. “I’m not even close, am I?” A wave of a slim arm and the portal changed an image began to take form. “He’s more than just a feral Michael.” ‘ Deep in the blue a fog of white began to swirl and from it emerged a group of people. Each seemed to be looking out for something. The youngest, a small boy, who was no more than three-years-old, stood close to his mother ’ “Who are they?” “That was Brian’s family.” “What do you mean was?” Michael watched as a tall strong looking man stood out from the group. ‘ Alpha stood out watching as his pack settled down for the night. Suddenly the group watched as the youngest cringed, crying out for his mother. “Brae its all right.” His mother cradled him as his body began to shake. ’ “He was supposed to have been a great seer in his pack. Not one of them knew what was happening to that poor boy. His first time was so horrible, he didn't want to talk about it, began to fear having them.” “What’s happening to him?” “What are you always this dense?” Michael huffed a bit as the image became blurred. “Brian use to be able to see things, before and after they happened.” “What do you mean use to?” “It was a painful ordeal as you can see. He didn’t understand it and unfortunately neither could his family. They thought it was part of the curse that had been placed upon them from day one. He was ridiculed by some of the older boys so he practiced suppressing this gift, until one day it just stopped happening.” “If it stopped happening than how did he know…” he ran a hand through his dark hair. It took a few minutes but the details began to click in his mind, along with a few memories of his own past with Brian. “...It never completely stopped did it? He always… its how he knew about Justin.” He whirled around to his companion index finger pointed at her. “I don’t know how you can be so calm about all this.” “I’m not, really.” “That’s supposed to be reassuring?” “I have faith.” “In what? Brian’s living in the land of ‘stay-away-and-you’ll-be-safe’.” He threw his hands up in the air in frustration. Brian always had to do things the hard way; it was something Michael never could understand. "How is he supposed to help Justin if he can't even help himself?" “Everything that is happening now, is happening for a reason.” “What the hell does that mean?! Jen yah gotta give me something to go on here. If he doesn’t wise up Justin could wind up like Justice or worse, they could turn him!” “It won’t get that far,” “How do you know?” “Michael, you have to believe that Brian will do the right thing.” ”Justice really knew how to pick ‘em.” Michael grumbled. “It’s almost time.” “Now? WE can’t do this now! Brian is in deep shit denial about what’s happening and you wanna take the only person that can actually help away from him?!” “Would you please stop with the yelling. This part is important. Justin’s gonna have a lot to deal with when he wakes up tomorrow morning.” “That’s another thing why in the fuck would he go and erase the kid’s memory for, when…” “He did what?” she turned facing the smaller man in shock. “Oops.” He had the grace to look bashful at his little slip up. “Michael Grassi.” “Ah.. I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” ~*~ Down on Earth… Daphne shook her head as she rapped on the apartment door. The phone call had been a little weird enough for her to check out the source. The door opened revealing the man who had been the source of her anger just hours before. “You have some nerve calling me the way you did.” The man turns to the side letting her in. The dingy three-bedroom apartment is dark and free from any kind of furniture. Daphne frowned as she took in Justin’s cousin. Something was way off about him. “Dave…” “Don’t come near me.” “What happened?” “I got attacked tonight.” “What the hell does that mean? When? How?” Daphne took a step toward him but David jumped back. “Don’t!” “Why won’t you let me see you?” “There’s something you need to know…” “What is going on…” “Deah!” his voice came out in a pain full hiss. “Listen to me for god sake.” “Ok.” Daphne stood where she was by the apartment door. “I got attacked by something. I don’t remember what is was but I got some sort of vision thing… FUCK! It was looking… hunting. Jesus Dee it was hunting and then killing everything insight! Bodies were piling up everywhere, blood spilling out into the ocean. Sick fuck.” “What was it?” “I don’t know I didn’t even… I couldn’t see it well. The fucker was in human form tonight. What I saw…. It wasn’t even. It felt ancient and it was hunting for something… Someone.” “Who?” “I don’t know!” “David… you have to clear your mind.” Daphne was trying to get a clear state of mind so she could heal her friend. The other man was so jumpy in the dim lighting that she couldn’t get a good start. “It said something right before it spat my blood out.” “It?” “He said it was wrong… not Justice. Whatever the fuck that mean.” She could hear a dark chuckle from the other side of the room. “Dirty blood, guess demons don’t appreciate E running through their food, eh? Makes us dirty…” “David you need help, let me.” “STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!” “I can heal you.” A sad laugh came from another side almost like an echo, as the room grew darker. “No one can help me now, it made dam well sure of that. No more, not clean.” “Than why did you call me here?” “To warn you…” “You could have done that over the phone.” Daphne was now realizing the error of her way. She had walked into something she knew nothing about, and David wasn’t in his right mind.