COME HERE BOY;; tagged ACE,

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((Set in this past July, since we couldn't get to it before the month changed.))

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ”Why does this Ace guy keep coming up?” Zachary Brooks asked, his curiosity hidden by the softness of tone he had begun to use automatically whenever Deirdra was in the area. As he said this, he put down the magazine he was idly sifting through, letting his own hazel eyes rest on his niece. He smiled at her, and though on the inside he very much wanted to know what brought this boy up in her thoughts, he didn't rush her. Even five years out of the grasp of her father, Zac knew she was frail. She could be set off by many things. Zac came up to Canada each month Deirdra was off school. He knew it would make it easier for her father to find her, but he would not leave her wandering alone in the world for an entire month without him. And he didn't have a safe place in the US to bring her. So every vacation, they stayed together in the same motel suit, on the ground floor if they could possibly manage it, so she didn't have to deal with the cramped elevators. This was no different. Deirdra was idly playing with a little stuffed black cat while answering random questions that were thrown at her. Her uncle did this because he knew she would yield no information without provocation, even if she needed it said. ”Ace.” A soft smile hit Deirdra's features. ”He's a friend.” She had already mentioned him when Zac asked about the cat, the bandages, and whether anyone had given her any trouble (she'd said yes, but that one time Ace helped her). But this word, this was not something he had ever heard out of her mouth before. Surprise registered on his face, then a bright grin broke out from his usually quiet expression. A friend? Oh, how he'd longed to hear her say that since he'd met her. She'd found a friend. ”Do you trust him?” ”I....” Dee frowned, ceasing the movement with her hands and looking at her uncle. She looked confused, like she didn't know how to answer. ”Yes.... No. He might hurt me, but he'd heal me too.” Leaning back in his chair, Zac gave her a happy, quiet smile. ”Deirdra?” ”Yes?” ”I'd like to meet him before I leave. Is that ok?” ”....Ok.” The next time she saw Ace, Deirdra asked him if he would meet them the next day. At the city park. If her uncle hadn't told her to say it, she might have forgot, but she added that they would be hanging around the forested area of the park, where there was fewer people and more privacy. Ace gained a shy sort of smile when he said yes, and then Dee scampered off home. At one point she wondered briefly what that little warm feeling inside of her was. But soon she was absorbed in the woods and her writing once more, blaming her feelings on her unpredictable nature. And soon, it was forgotten about entirely. The next day found Deirdra and her uncle walking slowly around an empty area of the park. Zac was mentioning how much nicer it felt here in the summer than in the winter, though a light jacket her wore spoke of his experience with warmer climates. After all, he lived a thousand miles south. Deirdra, as always, didn't speak much. But when she was certain there was no one to see, she would wander to withering plants and set them right, or weed a garden that hadn't been tended in far too long, or make some of the trees bloom again. All with her powers, obviously. It was taboo to show the outside world the presence of elemental powers, but never once had a person approached Dee without her noticing in Zachary's memory. Thus, he simply kept an eye out and went along behind her to fix the more blatant of her uses. A little weeding wouldn't hurt anyone. As they were waiting for Ace, they stayed in the same general area. Deirdra silently content, and Zachary quietly excited. TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.

[AMBER SAVANNAH JAMES AMBROSE]

Ace had been wandering around when he had seen Dee. She seemed to have wanted to ask him something. She asked if he could meet her, and her uncle at the park. He agreed and said yes. What he received would have made him say yes again. That small smile of hers. She hadn't smiled around him much. And he really liked that smile. Ace wondered about this feeling he kept feeling when he was around her. Usually when he was really close to her, he felt that pang. He still didn't fully understand the feeling. But it was a weird bitter sweet kind of feeling.

When she left him, he continued with what he was doing. He hung around the Mall because he had locked himself out of Nell's apartment. He grinned and whistled to him as he walked towards the mall. He had been able to get his bike back from the Mall because there was overnight parking there. Thank whoever made that happen. It took him a while to push the bike to the gas station but hell it was pretty easy.

The day after Ace was walking around the park, absently looking for Dee. The place was filled with mostly mothers and their kids. There was a few dads in the place but mostly mothers. He walked around holding his bike helmet from the strap. He didn't have any jacket on instead he had on a graphic tee that showed the Superman symbol, and he had on dark straight jeans. His shoes were his trusty converse, gone through so much with those shoes they were nearly broken. But he kept them together and they were still fine for a few more weeks. He wandered around eventually to the more woodier part of the park

Ace walked around and spotted his familiar friend, carefully weeding plots of land. He walked towards her and gave her a smile. "Hey Dee." Ace squatted down in front of her, careful not to step on any of the plants that had sprouted up or been healed by the Earth elemental. There was a man standing a few feet away, carefully watching her. Ace got a little protective, he tensed up a bit. But then he got a better look. The man looked like he was watching over Dee. Like one of the fathers back at the park. Like Dee was his child, or something like that. Ace stayed near Dee, sure that they would be introduced sooner than later.

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Deirdra was crouched by a small flowerbed when Ace finally showed. Zac was about to step forward and sharply say her name, but she looked up, met her friend's eyes, and went right back to tending the plants. This told Zac that she knew this person, and that he was an elemental. It was a small jump from there to assume that this young man was, in fact, Ace. Instead of coming forward and pushing himself into the conversation, Deirdra's uncle hung back. She knew he wanted to meet Ace, and would act accordingly. She always did. A barely-there hint of a smile in her eyes, Dee looked up at Ace when he greeted her. ”Hello.” She didn't say anything more for a moment, looking back down at the plant she was reviving. In this situation, her expression was blank, but her gaze was soft. She was much more relaxed than usual, now that her uncle was around again. A feeling of safety had enveloped her, and she wasn't sure she ever wanted the vacation to end. If only she could be with Zac all the time, she would feel normal. But instead of letting these feeling come to the surface, Deirdra raised a hand to pull a stray lock from her face and said. ”It's pretty here, isn't it? Uncle and I come here almost every day.” Though she had completely missed the moment of tension when Ace had first seen Zac, she nodded toward her uncle as if to show Ace that she was comfortable with him. It was a little habit she had gained with her uncle. There were very few people who had earned that little gesture, but sometimes Zac needed a quiet way to know if he should be protective or not. No, Dee wasn't really sure how she'd figured this out. But it had helped. Zac kept a subtle but alert gaze on the two, noticing (with a deep amount of incredulity) that Deirdra barely batted an eye at Ace's approach. It was not only odd that she was this comfortable with someone, but that the first person to gain her trust was a man. Well, other than Zac. It took Dee several moments to finish her current project. But, eventually, she was satisfied with her subtle improvements, and she stood. First, she looked at Ace, then she looked at her uncle. ”He wants to meet you.” She said, repeating what she had said when she'd met him the previous day. Then she added, ”I don't know why. But he's good. You'll like him.” It didn't even occur to her that Zac might deem Ace untrustworthy. Regardless, it was unlikely she'd ever know of it if he did, as he tried very, very hard to be the exact opposite of her father. Zac gave them a smile as the two approached. Like Deirdra, his natural persona was quieter than most, and it showed in the quality of his expressions. Still, there was a life in his eyes that was jovial and trustworthy, and, at this moment, just a little bit threatening. Not to Deirdra—oh, no, he couldn't love her any more if she was his own daughter—but when he caught Ace's gaze a sort of...warning appeared. No different than the brief look Ace had gained when he'd first seen Zac. ”You must be Ace.” Zac smiled genuinely, holding out his hand, ”My name's Zachary Brooks, but you can call me Zac.” TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.

[AMBER SAVANNAH JAMES AMBROSE]

Ace grinned at Dee's hello. He looked at what she was working on, at the plant that she was currently reviving. He watched her gently make the plant better. There was a soft look in her eyes. Something he hadn't seen when he was with her. She seemed relaxed, like she wasn't worrying. He wondered why this was, why she was so calm. Not that that was a bad thing or anything. But it was a new sight to see. Something he rather enjoyed. She looked back up at him and she brushed some hair out of her face. Ace nodded as he looked around. The place was really peaceful, something you could see from a story. The trees and the small gardens filled with flowers and other such plants. It was a rather peaceful place. "I can see why you'd come here." He said giving her a small nod.Ace continued to watch the plant's revival. He missed the small nod that Dee had given the man behind her. He was still wondering who this man was. He looked like her father, or at least someone who would protect and raise the girl in front of him. Ace pulled out some water from the small puddle on the walkway. He made sure no one was looking, and he did it secretively, keeping the water really low to the ground. When he had pulled it all the way towards him he gently sprinkled water on the plant, giving it something to drink when it was finished. "I'm not the best gardener, maybe you can teach me some things," Ace mused to Dee without taking his eyes off of the plant.
When she had finished she stood and Ace stood up beside her gently brushing off dirt that had clung on to his clothes. She repeated what she had said last time, and he remembered why he had come. It was this person, was it her uncle right? He was pretty sure that it was her uncle at least he thought that's what she said. So far Ace was going to end up sticking with Uncle because it fit the best. Ace gave her a smile "I'll trust you then." Ace said walking towards the man with her.

The man reminded Ace of Deirdra. He seemed quiet, if that was the right word. He had this joy in his eyes though. Brighter than Dee's eyes. But Ace still thought her's were prettier. Ace didn't know how to take in the man, so he sized him up best he could. The man seemed gentle, and lively, but he also seemed to be protective. But then who wouldn't be with their daughter, or niece or whatever. Ace shook the other man's hand. "Nice to meet you Zac." Ace said giving the man a friendly nod too.

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ”Maybe.” Dee answered softly, one finger lightly caressing the leaf of a flower. ”You can't do it the way I do.” Deirdra had never learned to tend a garden the mundane way. Yes, she knew everything involved, and would very likely pick the job up quickly. But when she went to be alone with nature, she liked to use her powers. Deirdra only lingered a second after that before she stood, glancing at Ace once before putting her attention on her uncle. A smile bloomed on her features as she approached Zac, though it was a small one, and she wasn't quite sure why it appeared. It just did. It was such a relief, being able to relax. Made her feel almost giddy. Zac noticed that Ace was a full inch taller than him. He gave the boy a good look over, then smiled at him. ”That all you have to say? Here I was expecting something life-changing from a friend of Deirdra's.” His tones stayed level and matter-of-fact through the entire thing, the only thing betraying the fact that he was being humorous was the twinkle in his eye. Then he paused, glancing at Dee. She smiled again. A quick one, which flashed across her face and then fled. Seeing that he would get nothing out of her, he turned back to Ace. ”You got a last name?” Soon, Deirdra began to drift away. Zac kept a sharp eye on her, but he was glad she didn't feel like she had to be at his beck and call out here. The earth girl meandered around them, then moved next to her uncle. Obviously, when she was out in the forest, it was hard to keep her attention on humans. After a few more times of her doing this, Zac chuckled and called her over. ”Deirdra.” ”Hmm?” ”Why don't you go back to your gardening?” ”Why?” Deirdra asked, turning her eyes on him with a keep interest. At this point, she was beginning to look like a normal girl. Zac gained a slightly more sober look and said, ”You know why.” She wandered off, then, humming to herself and going back to her former occupation. Zac watched her for a few moments, seemingly oblivious to Ace's presence. Then he glanced at the boy, and cast him a knowing smile. ”Not one for tons of company, that girl. Happier with a tree than a playmate.” He began to walk slowly along the path to keep her in their view, gesturing for Ace to walk beside him. ”So tell me; how did you meet my niece?" TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.

[AMBER SAVANNAH JAMES AMBROSE]

Ace nodded, "That's true." He thought for a moment, "Well how bout you show me if I can help you with the gardening." He suggested to her with a soft shrug. Ace didn't know how to tend to a garden, it was nice if he did, that way he could get fresh ingredients for some of his dishes. His mom tried to show him how to plant tomatoes and other herbs but he mixed everything up. The garden he had made was a mess, and eventually Ace gave up on gardening, deciding that the next best thing was a farmers market, though he would need to be driven there.

Ace was about an inch taller than Zack, but the way Zack carried himself, he seemed taller from afar. Ace was watched Zac look him over, like a father with a girl's first boyfriend. Ace gave the man a grin, in good spirits Ace replied, "I'm more of a man of action, words aren't my thing." Ace gave the man a smile, "Lupus," He replied to his question. "Ace Ispada Lupus." His middle name was a bit Spanish, but being a Filipino there was a lot of Spanish influence in the Philippines. It had been over ruled by the Spanish a long time ago.

Ace looked around and notice Deirdra pacing about. He guessed she liked the forest. He knew that she wasn't good with too many people around her, he remembered that at the mall. He could understand why she liked the forest, she was an earth student after all. Plus there weren't crowds of people hanging around in the park either. Ace listened to their short conversation and had happened to glance down at Dee. She seemed different, he couldn't really put his finger on it, but it was different. Like she seemed, not out of place.

Ace watched Dee scamper off to do what she had been doing before. When Zac spoke Ace looked at him and nodded. She seemed to be happier out here in the forest than anywhere else he took her. If he ever found a cheese shop, that was where he would take her. He wanted to see her reaction to all those cheese. Ace walked beside Zac who was keeping Dee in their view as they slowly walked the beaten path. When he asked his question Ace rubbed the back of his neck, his nervous tick. He didn't know if Zac knew about the things that happened around her, but he was someone Dee trusted, so he would tell him. "She was going, to stab herself, in the thigh," Ace specified hoping he wouldn't think anywhere near the heart, though the thigh was also just as bad, " I stopped her." Ace stated his story quickly, he didn't like thinking about that scene.

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ”Ah.” Zac smiled. ”Then I suppose I will have to supply the words.” Though he was a normally quiet individual, Zac was not what one would call a man of action. Not unless the situation really called for it—he guessed it came from being an earth elemental, the person who would much rather sit back and let people talk it out than deal with things with any sort of aggression. While he himself didn't tend to talk much, he was perfectly able to carry an interesting conversation. Which was something Deirdra had not quite yet learned. He glanced at the boy. ”And what's your element? Not fire, seeing as you got Deirdra to like you.” A light smile came onto his expression as he realized this was exactly how he'd always imagined dealing with a daughter's potential boyfriend. Sadly, he had no daughter. But he had Deirdra, and that was quite enough for now—beautiful but a handful. He'd have to help her deal with the terrors of her past before he gave so much attention to anyone else in his life, anyway. Still, he knew that there was no way Deirdra was anywhere near feeling romantic feelings for a man, so he wasn't so worried about that. He just wanted to know.... What sort of a person could push himself through that young woman's defenses? Oddly enough, Zac didn't look quite as perturbed as should be expected when Ace answered his question. His insides wrenched a little bit, but he'd long since learned that these sorts of things happened with that girl. He did lose his smile, and a bit of a frown formed between his brows, but it seemed the ability to keep emotions hidden on the inside was a family trait. After a few seconds of silence, he stopped walking, looked Ace squarely in the eyes, and said, ”Thank you.” The pain he felt at having to be so far away from his fragile niece could not be explained, and so it felt better to know that someone would at least try for her. Something kept him from actually saying this, however. Zac went back to keeping a sharp eye on Dee, saying, ”Believe it or not, she used to be so much worse. Either a blank slate or a psychopath trying to take off her own head. Mostly the former.” Like Ace, he said this very grudgingly; the man didn't like thinking of how Deirdra had just sat in the same place for hours, refusing to move or speak. One time he'd watched and timed her. Six hours. Six hours before she so much as shifted her position. The vacuum of life inside that girl was far more painful to see than any of her attacks or episodes. ”So....” Zac starting, sending a secret—yet mirthless—smile Ace's way. ”Any questions?” TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.

[AMBER SAVANNAH JAMES AMBROSE]

Ace nodded as he listened to Zac. He was the action person, it was in his nature to take action. Sure he could use words, but words didn't do it for him. He preferred to know that what he was doing was setting an example. With words people could just hear you, they might not listen. That's why he fought sometimes. Sometimes he couldn't transfer his words well in the heat of a moment. Even though he had been a poet once, he preferences to speak stanza's with his fists. IT ends up leaving a lasting impression over his words.

Ace looked at the man. "Water." He shrugged, this felt oddly like an interview. Not one for a job of course. But some sort of father/potential boyfriend interview. Which was weird because he wasn't going after Dee like that. No he was her protector, from herself and from others. He would guard her with his fists, or protect her with his words. He didn't think he had those kinds of feelings for her. But he was ignoring the fact that he felt that weird warm feeling that one day. The day of the hotel, when he felt those three warm feelings.

The man didn't look as surprised as Ace had thought he might have been. He must have known about these attacks before, and must have worried about it. They walked in silence for a few seconds, Ace guessed he was thinking of something to say. And then they stopped, the man looked directly at Ace and Ace didn't turn away. Zac gave his thanks, and Ace felt honored, he didn't know why, but he did. Last time he tried doing something good for someone, that Altair chick, she told him to not get into her fights and then proceeded to try and beat him up. That was one of the times he wasn't thanked for doing a good deed. "Any time." Ace responded with a nod.

She was worse than that? This was pretty bad as it is. But he wouldn't be able to sit there and watch a girl who just wouldn't respond to anything. It must have been frighting. But then that girl who would be a blank slate suddenly try to kill herself. Just the thought made it stressful. It made Ace think what he must have dealt with was nothing compared to stuff she had done before. He really felt bad for this man, to have to deal with that, but Ace would deal with it too, because he was her friend, and friends stick together. Ohana right?

Ace looked at Zac and thought for a second. He had so many questions, but the one he wanted to know the most, was the one he thought was the most important one. "Why is she like that?" He asked wondering himself, not being able to ask the question to Dee for fear it may have caused something bad to happen between them.

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ”Ah.” Zac said, looking away from Ace for a moment. Yes, he knew that question was coming. Human curiosity was far too powerful for a person to keep that sort of thing held inside. But he still wished he didn't have to say this—and no, he was not going to tell Ace to stuff it. Never before had the young woman's uncle had to say those words out loud. ”That's a.... That's a big question.” And to tell the truth, he didn't really know where to begin. After a few seconds of silent thought, the dignified man shrugged and gestured toward the ground. ”Sit. Deirdra can take care of herself for a few minutes.” Once he was seated, cross-legged, on the ground, Zac took a deep breath. He leaned forward, folding his hands together and looking down at his lap. Another long pause came, tension building in the air as a quiet sort of emotion welled up within him. He was not the type of man to show very much of it in his face, but his knuckles were white with the force they clenched, and his shoulders and neck were very tight. Yes, Zachary Brooks was a little bothered. But it wasn't the boy's fault. ”I'm going to have to preface this.” He said, ”Because you are going to get angry if you care about her at all. Very angry. But when Deirdra comes back over here, you need to try not to show it. If you haven't figure it out yet, she is very easy to frighten off.” He glances at Deirdra, who was skipping around the trunk of a large tree and trying to see a squirrel that had just scampered up it. He smiled, briefly, and then went sober. ”I suppose there's no putting it off.” He said, looking at Ace again. ”Deirdra's father was sociopath. Killed her mother two months after she was born. I don't even know how he managed to keep Deirdra alive through those next couple of years, but sometimes, I wish he hadn't. Because after her mother, he focused on her. He....” Zac stopped, grimacing and lowering his face into his hands. Then he shook he head, pulled himself up straight, and stared at the sky. ”My brother-in-law, Timothy Rosewood, was abusive to say the least. He kept my niece in his basement for fourteen years. I don't know exactly when things started to happen badly, if they were always like that, or if he was triggered by something, but I do know this.” His mouth opened, then closed. Then opened, letting out a pained sigh before he forced out the words. ”He raped her. Multiple times. I don't know how many, but from Deirdra's own lips...: Too many to count. He beat her, messed with her mind with his words, he....” A thud from a few yards away made him stop, and Zac was soon looking into the eyes of his Niece, who was frowning silently at him. She was far enough away that he didn't quite know if she'd been able to hear him. But she was keen, and certainly able to pick up when he got angry. Realizing that he was actually bruising his hands, he pulled them away from each other and placed them carefully on his knees. ”I'm sorry.” He said softly to Ace. ”Someone else needs to know. Someone else needs to be able to help her, and to protect her.” TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.

[AMBER SAVANNAH JAMES AMBROSE]

Ace looked at Zac. He guessed the man thought this would come. He had told her how he had met Dee and how she had been much worse. So it was only logical for him to ask why she did the things she did. He wanted to know. He wanted to know why she would even attempt those things. Why she would try to kill herself. Why she wanted to stick that knife into her leg. He was confused and in the dark on the matter at hand. He didn't like not knowing things, it scared him. Ace sat down after Zac curious and listening with intensity. The question was burning in his mind.

Why?

Ace listened to him. He listened to the man's warning. He nodded, he did care about Dee, like a brother would care for his little sister. Or something along those lines. "I'll try my best," Ace said seriously. He would try not to get angry that it would show on his face. But he didn't know how bad it was, not yet at least.

Ace sat there frozen in shock. His mouth literally hung open for a bit. What was that?! That was her life story?! Her history? Filled with all that crap, that abuse. Ace's fists were clenched, he wanted to find the man, smash his face in, then smash his bones, and then some. Make him hurt, for all the years he had done that too Dee. What was he? What man rapes his own flesh and blood?! It was just, no it was wrong in so many ways. He was angry, his brow knit in a burning rage. He needed to get revenge for Dee. His mind wasn't thinking clearly, it was filled with anger and rage. The thud snapped him out of his horrid trance. He saw Dee look towards them. Instantly his eyes were washed away with sadness and pity. This girl had gone through so much. All he wanted to do was to stand up and hug her. Hold her, and keep her safe.

Ace shook his head."No don't apologize. I understand." Ace said then he stood up and looked down at the man. "Don't worry, I'll protect her." His determination was clear in his face, he would keep his word, and he would keep it well. He won't let her down, he won't let her get hurt, not if he could stop it.

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The anger within Ace was very, very apparent. In fact, it was far more apparent than that of Zachary Brooks. Zac happened to look up a moment before they were both broken from the spell of rage, and he felt a bit of a chill. Maybe it was a bad idea to tell him. But it was too late now. Ace looked positively ferocious, ready to rip the throat out of the first person to come his way. Zac was actually about to change topics and try to calm him down—for Deirdra's sake, because he could go on being angry all day without qualm—when they were both distracted by Dee herself. She had dropped a dead branch, looking at them both in a way that was both heartbreaking and impossible to read. She was like that. Before long, her green gaze moved from her uncle to Ace, and something about her expression changed. All the anger had washed out of Ace as rapidly as it had come, just because he had laid eyes on the girl. Zac, upon realizing this, felt alarm bells going off in his head. He knew what it was like to be a young boy, to feel the pangs of protectiveness and mistake it for something more romantic. It was only Deirdra's presence that kept him from warning Ace off that sort of thing. Dee would not be able to handle it. Looking back at the boy, Zac started, ”There is one more thing. Her--” But then Dee started walking toward him. So he stopped, turning his face away for a second as he stood. He didn't know what she needed, or wanted, but he was ready to help her. Any way he could. And although he was grateful to Ace for showing such passionate need to protect his niece, he wondered if such strong emotion would be good for her to be around. Zac calmed himself down, keeping himself in the right state to deal with Dee. Then he turned to look at them again.... ….And was surprised out of his wits. Deirdra walked right up to Ace, then—sort of slowly, a little cautiously—wrapped her arms around him. Zac stared in utter amazement as the girl put her forehead to Ace's shoulder and said, ”He's a good friend, uncle.” Her voice sounded normal, like a girl her age should sound. And it was very, very foreign to the man. He stood there, stock still, until she had let go of Ace and walked away. Zac couldn't see, but it would be plain for Ace during those moments that there were silent tears running down the girl's face. She had heard them. TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.

[AMBER SAVANNAH JAMES AMBROSE]

Ace didn't know where that anger had come from, but it was there. He was a water student, a kid who loved to prank and was generally happy about twenty five hours of the day. But this anger, he was sure it could match a fire student's. He wasn't sure where it came from, but he knew what it wanted, it wanted revenge. It wanted to unleash itself upon the man who had done those horrid things to Dee. Like sicking Cerberus on any of Hell's intruders. He wanted to find this man, and make him pay.

Ace glanced at Zac as he started to speak once more to him. But he stopped talking and Ace stopped listening, both turning towards the girl they were talking about. Ace wondered what she needed, if she needed anything, or had simply lost whatever it was she was trying to watch. Maybe, maybe she heard him and her uncle. Maybe she heard his promise. Would she be mad or happy about that? What would happen when she finally made it beside them? He really didn't know what to expect. It was just something he was wondering.

Ace was as surprised as Zac was, that was the most touching she had done when he was with her. Previously the most was holding his hand. She did sleep on him, but that was because she had no other choice. But this, this was of her own free will, her own choice. Ace got over his shock and as she hugged him he gently wrapped his arms around her. The girl's voice came out soft but Ace knew that Zac could hear it. Ace relished the moment of contact, but it had to end, and she broke away from the him.

Ace had seen the glisten of tears down on the girls face, concerned he jogged after her. Silently he took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze smiling down at her.

[xmarci]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dee didn't exactly know why she was doing this. She didn't tend to allow herself to touch people so much, especially guys. After all, when she'd woken up in Ace's arms that one time, she'd yelped and jumped away from him. Not in panic, but it had been a little sudden. Startled him to hell, too. This time, however, she was very aware of what she was doing. And though a shiver did run up her spine when he wrapped his arms around her, all she had to do was remember that her uncle was about three feet away, and all of her fear dissolved. It may have seemed weird, her imagining Zac using his powers against Ace while she hugged him, but it was just logic. Zac would win, so she was safe. ”I can see that.” Zac said a little hesitantly as she was walking away. He didn't follow when Ace jogged to catch up with her, deciding instead to let things play out as they would. Dee was glad, because she did better with one-on-one interactions. Her ears told her that Ace was coming—Zac wouldn't have jogged—so she was only mildly surprised when he took her hand. She jumped a bit, but didn't pull away when he squeezed, her eyes slowly moving up to look at his. They were sort of...leaking. It wasn't really crying, but tears were falling, and there weren't happy. Resigned, maybe. Still, a mirthless sort of smile appeared on her face. Gaze sliding from his and onto the ground, Deirdra kept walking as she said, ”I know I'm not right.” The way she said it implied the 'in the head' bit. But she didn't like saying it. ”It's kinda scary, knowing that something's wrong. People don't know how to deal with me, and sometimes I.... Sometimes they trigger something.” Her hands raised as she said this, at first going for some sort of vague gesture, but then falling to her sides when she couldn't think of one. Even though she was more lucid because of the feeling of safety her uncle gave her, speaking like this was not easy for her. ”And I'm sorry.” She breathed, knowing he was paying enough attention to hear it. A few more tears spilled over as she closed her eyes. ”I know I'm hard to deal with.” TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.

[AMBER SAVANNAH JAMES AMBROSE]

Ace always forgot that she didn't like touching. It was always the one thing he forgot about her. He could remember a lot of things, but for some reason, that rule always slipped away from him. So he hugged her, he didn't remember that she didn't like the touching. He didn't know she didn't she just had to say so and he'd stop. Probably forget a few days later, but still he'd stop the touching for a while. Ace remembered the morning after waking up with Dee in his arms. She scared the hell out of him, made him jump and hit his head against the wall pretty hard. Gave him a pretty bad headache.

Ace felt the slight jump, and he noticed that Zac stayed a distance away, though he did keep the two in his eye sight. He looked at her with sad eyes. Wondering why was she crying? Did he do something wrong? Maybe he scared her. That was the main thought that was in his head at that moment. He looked at her and returned the sad smile. "What's wrong Dee?" He asked quietly as they walked down the path.

Dee let go of his hand and started to speak. She was speaking, well not Dee like. It was more normal, like she was just some other girl. But this was Dee, she was definitely not any other girl. This girl was special in a weird way. A way that wanted Ace to protect her more than he did anyone else. It confused him, he didn't understand it, but he went along with it anyway. He wanted to protect her and that's what he was going to do. She raised her hands in a sort of vague gesture, Ace didn't understand what that meant but he knew what she meant by the words. He knew a few times he might have triggered something. He knew the hotel thing was his fault. Ace nodded, "I understand," he said solemnly

Ace looked down at her, tears spilling down her face. And for some odd reason, he took his finger and wiped away one of the tears that had started its decent. Gently, softly he did it, trying his best not to startle her. He gave her a smile and his eyes were filled with reassurance, "Don't worry about it, I can deal."

[xmarci]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:16px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px; padding-bottom:0px; background-image:url(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nbr3oi.jpg) ] Deirdra Rosewood my soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Somehow, the contact with Ace was proving very comforting. Even the way he squeezed her hand and leaned forward to almost loom over her with his large frame. She wasn't sure she disliked it anymore. Deirdra was an odd young woman, not really knowing whether she was safe or not in any given situation, but right now she felt ok. A friend next to her and her uncle a few yards back, minding his own business. Or rather, pretending to while he listened to the conversation. Dee didn't mind. She knew he could tell when she was nearing panic attacks, so long as he could hear her speak. Still, it was hard for her to act like a normal person when Ace touched her while he eyes were closed. His fingers lightly brushed against her face, and she really did jump back then. In the corner of her eye, she saw Zac begin to speed up, but she shook her head at him. She was fine, even though she felt the tears coming down even faster as one of her hands came up to rub the place Ace had touched. Almost as though she was trying to wipe something away. No longer looking quite so comfortable, she almost moved closer to Ace, then changed her mind. Her feet carried her back into the trees. Zac walked up beside Ace, then, looking down and taking a deep breath. ”He used to touch her face a lot. Especially when he was about to take a knife to her.” By now his voice sounded a little dead. It had to be, or else emotion would have choked him. For a few long moments, Zac watched his beloved niece pick her way slowly through the trees. Then the turned to look at Ace. ”Her father's still out there somewhere. And he's obsessed with her.” TEMPLATE BY OH SO COOPERNATURAL ! @ CAUTION.