Facilitate Your User: A M/M Story By MJ May

Summary of Facilitate Your User:

Every year, a finite number of gifted are born.  Two halves of one whole, an equal number of those classified as Users take their first breath while somewhere else, their born Facilitators do the same.  Divided into Castes, these User’s and Facilitators are destined to find each other again.  Unable to fully control their gifts, a User must find and bond with their Facilitator before maturing into their full power.  All Users suffer the same fate, all but those born into the Stein Caste. 

Like all Facilitators, Keylee Donavon was placed into the Facilitator Academy at the tender age of seven.  Unlike other Facilitators, Keylee’s life is a torment, his future bonding anything but a sure bet.  Born of a woman whom is considered the worst kind of traitor, Keylee’s Facilitator mother was forced to murder her bonded User, Keylee’s own father.  The sins of the mother color Keylee’s future, most believing him undeserving of a User.

Born into the most prestigious Caste, Paul Stein carries a burden – a burden that threatens not only his only life, but also those around him.  As a Stein, Paul shouldn’t need a Facilitator to connect to and use his fire and wind affinities.  Refusing to acknowledge his failings, to truly be the embarrassment his father fears him to be, Paul recklessly takes his User’s test, nearly burning to death.

Paul should be dead, the fire filling his veins consuming him whole.  If not for Keylee, he would be.  Paul is a Stein, he shouldn’t need a Facilitator, but should and need are two different things and without Keylee, Paul will die, burned by the uncontrolled fire raging within.  Learning he needs a Facilitator to live is traumatic enough, hearing that the Facilitator he needs to bond with is the traitor, Maggie Donavon’s son is almost more than Paul can handle. 

Death is on the line and Paul needs to decide if the shame of admitting he needs a Facilitator and bonding with the pariah of the Facilitator world is actually a preferable fate.  Keylee’s continual sacrifice, his willingness to be anything and everything Paul needs should make the decision easier, right?

Chapter One:

Keylee looked around, previously filled bunk beds now empty, even stripped of their sheets – all beds but one.  Barely an hour passed and already the cleaners had done their job.  Grasping the sheet still attached to his own bed, Keylee felt the wad of fabric press into his hands, preventing his fingernails from doing the damage they longed for.  Head lifted, eyes staring at the now cavernous room, he vaguely found his own lack of tears odd.  This was, after all, what he’d feared the most, what he’d always known could happen, what his trainers had taunted him with for years. 

Alone.  Unwanted.  Unmatched.  He was officially a Facilitator without a User. 

Worthless.

“Thought I’d find you in here.”

Keylee didn’t bother turning his head. He’d heard that voice for thirteen years, and Keylee didn’t need to see its visually matching sneer.  Terran’s cruel visage would be a memory forever burned into his mind, no matter what became of Keylee now, he knew Terran would still come to him in his sleep, when his mind was too vulnerable to block the pain of memory. 

“Soooo,” Terran sing-songed, his voice laced with pleasure, “the other trainers and I’ve got a bet going and I thought you might be able to help me out.”

The last thing Keylee wanted to do in this life or the next was aid Terran. His silence did nothing to deter whatever his tormentor was going to say.  It never had. 

“Pete thinks you were born matchless.  Ella’s thinking maybe you did have a match but they died before you ever had a chance to meet.”  Terran moved closer, his forearm resting on the upper bunk bed, leaning his body over Keylee.  “You wanna know what I think?”

Keylee grasped the sheet tighter, strangling the fabric.  Eyes still locked on the cold, cinderblock wall at the end of the dormitory, fine cracks running the length of several blocks before hitting the concrete floor below.  Aaron and Mathew’s beds were nearest the crack.  Keylee could still hear Aaron’s cursed complaints every time the rain came from the North, water seeping through that crack and soaking into his sheets.  Keylee’d wondered on several occasions if the girl’s dormitory had similar issues but had never gotten around to asking.  He thought it was about a fifty-fifty chance one of them would have actually answered him. 

“I’m talkin’ to you, boy,” Terran grabbed Keylee’s face, forcing him to look up into those malicious eyes, the scant brown of Terran’s irises overrun by his blown pupils.  “You think I don’t know what you’re doin’?  You think I haven’t seen this in you a thousand times before?  Newsflash Keylee, you can’t ignore what happened, or in your case, what didn’t happen today.  You weren’t picked and I don’t think Pete or Ella’s got it right.  I think you’re User is out there and they’d rather die than be bonded with a traitor like you.”

A spike of pain so raw nothing in Keylee’s past could have prepared him for shot through his soul.  The possibility of Terran being right was all too real and that, more than any other reason why he hadn’t been chosen, fractured his soul.  It didn’t matter that Keylee was no traitor, had never had the opportunity to prove whether or not he might follow in his mother’s footsteps.  It didn’t even matter that his mother hadn’t been a traitor either; at least not to the thousands of civilians she’d saved.  Keylee’s mother had been faced with an untenable situation, a choice with no answer that didn’t involve ridicule and hate of some type or another.  Even those she’d saved saw her as trash and by default, anyone of Maggie Donavan’s lineage. 

“That hurts.  I can see it in your eyes.”  Terran released Keylee’s face with a satisfied smirk, the small gap in his front teeth clear to see and for once debris free.  “You’re good at hiddin’ that kind of thing, better than most, but even for you this is too much.” 

Mouth pulling down tight, Keylee fought the scream threatening his sanity.  Yes, he’d slipped and shown Terran weakness, but he’d be damned if he’d give the man the satisfaction of a single sound, no matter how spot on his taunts were. 

“Bet you’re wonderin’ what’s gonna happen to you now?  Hmmm . . . well, it’s not totally unheard of for a Facilitator to be left unbound.  It’s happened before, no matter how rare it is.  I suppose it’s happened to User’s too.” Terran actually sounded a little stumped at the thought, as if it had never occurred to him before.  The thought had occurred to Keylee, given his situation, how could it not.  Unless you were a Stein, the only Caste of Users capable of practicing without a Facilitator, you needed a Facilitator to manage your gift, to tame it from the wild beast it was into something useful and nondestructive. 

“Well, Users aren’t my concern,” Terran shrugged, as if the thought was interesting but nothing more.  “Facilitators on the other hand, now that’s what I know and without a User then you’re basically nothin’, little more than a useless human.”

And that right there was one of the main reasons Keylee thought Terran had no business training Facilitators.  With well over ninety-nine percent of the population fitting into the category of useless human, Keylee was unnerved by Terran’s views.  Arrogant to the point of stupidity, Terran was a Facilitator, but he was an incredibly weak one, bonded to an equally weak User.  Terran and his User, Betty might not be considered normal human, but they were on the lowest of the low scales when it came to the Gifted.  Well, Keylee thought there was someone lower and he had only to look in a mirror. 

“You’ve got no skills to make it as a human and let’s face it, with the last name of Donavan, your chances at findin’ a job aren’t lookin’ too good.”  Scratching his patchy chin stubble, Terran’s mouth twisted down into a falsely sympathetic pout.  “I suppose there’s still the oldest profession known to man.”  On the turn of a dime, Terran’s pout turned into a leer, his narrowed eyes raking up and down Keylee’s seated form.  “You’re not too bad looking and that hair of yours is just about the right length for a man to get his hands into.  You don’t use your mouth for much anyways, might be nice to actually find a – “

“Terran.”

Keylee barely had time to register the split second panic in Terran’s face before his own eyes whipped around, ever grateful for Mathis’ timing.  Unlike the oily look he’d just suffered through from Terran, Mathis’ perusal of Keylee’s body was perfunctory, an assessment of visible injury.  Mathis was well aware Keylee’s greatest injuries were not visible to the naked eye, but he still looked anyways. 

“Given the Pairing Ceremony finished less than an hour ago, one would think you would have more important matters to attend to than the one Facilitator we have remaining, Terran.  In fact, on my way here I could have sworn I heard Raina inquiring as to your whereabouts.”

“The Director?” Terran’s voice quivered ever so slightly.

“Perhaps if you leave now, she will be more forgiving of your absence.”

Keylee could see the hesitation in Terran’s face.  More than any other trainer or student, Terran had tormented Keylee the most over these past thirteen years.  When he’d been fresher, more vulnerable and not as hard of heart, Terran’s taunts had been brutal, the trainer’s satisfaction nauseating.  But if there was one thing Keylee had learned well, one thing Terran actually managed to teach him, it was how to hide every emotion possible.  And, thirteen years later, Keylee was a master.  Terran had spent the last few years with little to no reward for his efforts and yet here, today, he finally felt his due come in.  The temptation to risk Raina’s wrath was almost too much for Terran to ignore. 

Keylee knew the moment Terran made his decision and was, possibly for the first time in his life, thankful for Director Raina’s painful reputation. 

Turning ever so slightly, Terran gave Keylee the first genuine smile he thought he’d ever seen.  “See ya around, boy.  You let me know if you wanna take up that profession we talked about.”  Tapping his head, Terran added, “I’ve got a mental list of clients that just might be interested.”  And with a final lecherous once over, Terran gave Mathis a head nod, his feet carrying him in a wide arc as he exited the dormitory and Keylee hoped his life as well. 

With Terran gone, the pressure in the room deflated, leaving Keylee awash in the emptiness of the space once more.  Keylee’d taken three deep breaths before Mathis finally broke the silence.  “I’m going to ask you if you’re okay, and no, I’m not talking about the Pairing Ceremony because I already know the answer to that one.  What I want to know is if Terran did or said anything I need to kill him for.”

For the first time that day, Keylee felt the edges of his lips pull into something other than a tight line.  “I would hate for you to end up on Director Raina’s hit list.”

“Trust me, taking out Terran wouldn’t get me on that particular list, at least where our Director is concerned.”  Head shaking, Mathis headed toward the bed Keylee’d claimed thirteen years ago, sitting on the edge next to his student.  “If it weren’t for his Caste . . . “ Mathis’ voice drifted off, the sentence hardly needing finishing. 

“If it weren’t for Castes,” Keylee echoed, both of them knowing they weren’t solely speaking about Terran anymore. 

The ensuing silence hit Keylee hard, perhaps harder than it had when he’d first reentered the boy’s dormitory after the disaster of the Pairing’s Ceremony.  “Speaking of our Director . . . I wasn’t completely blowing shit at Terran when I told him Raina was looking for him.  The Pairing Ceremony is . . . well, each year’s class and pairings are a rather big to do.  The ceremony’s the pretty part, what’s not pretty is all the damn paperwork, notarizing and sorting that takes place after.  Let’s just say you picked the quietest spot to brood.”

“You don’t think I have a right to brood?”

“No one has more right than you,” Mathis was quick to answer.  “According to Raina, you’ve got thirty-six hours to brood away here.  I’m sorry, but that’s as much time as she can give you.  They’ve got to get the room ready for the next group of trainees.”

All told, there were twenty-six dormitories on the premises, thirteen boys and thirteen girls dormitories.  It took thirteen years to properly train a Facilitator, at the end of which time they were paired up with a User.  Although the individual numbers varied between each incoming class, what didn’t seem to vary was the number of User’s that showed up at each year’s Pairing Ceremony.  Almost without fail, the numbers always equaled. 

Considering all the theories evidently spinning around as to why he hadn’t been matched, there were probably more theories as to why the number of Facilitators and User’s born each year were the same.  Out of all the reasons he’d heard over the years, Keylee knew which one he liked best and he wasn’t the only one.  The forgoing theory was that paired Facilitators and User’s were simply souls coming together, split at the time of creation and reunited to make a whole, useable entity.  It was perhaps a little romantic, especially for Keylee, but regardless, it actually made the most sense.  Most pairs didn’t just wind up work partners, but life partners as well.  Users and Facilitator’s were so intimately connected that when one passed, the other almost always quickly followed.  His own mother had barely lasted long enough to birth him and even then he’d been two months early. 

“I’ll be gone,” Keylee finally answered despite having no idea where he’d be going. 

Keylee felt Mathis shift beside him, cracked fingers lacing together while the man rested his elbows on his knees, leaning over and hanging his head.  “I’ll . . . I’ll talk with Max again.  He knows . . . I know he knows deep down in his soul Maggie had no choice, and that you’re not like your father, I . . .  “ Mathis’ words drifted off at the feel of Keylee’s palm on his own skin. 

“You’ve done enough, Mathis, more than anyone.”

“Fuck,” the pain radiating through that one word soothed something deep in Keylee’s soul.  “I haven’t done near enough,” Mathis denied.  “We . . . we should have taken you in when you were born.  I should have tried harder to convince Max.  You should have never been given over to the state to raise.  I owed Maggie so much more than that.”

Regret was a constant companion in Keylee’s life, most of it not of his own making.  He’d heard similar words from Mathis before and knew the story by heart.  Mathis and his mother, Maggie grew up together, landing in the same Facilitator class at the tender age of seven. The same age all designated Facilitators began their training.  From what he understood, Mathis and his mother hadn’t been fast friends, in fact, they’d been bitter enemies, or at least as bitter of enemies as two seven year olds could be.  But somewhere along the line and somehow involving a cafeteria prank gone wrong and a few shared nights without food, they’d become comrades in arms – best friends.  Even after their own Pairing Ceremonies, his mother and Mathis remained close.  So close it was Mathis and his own-paired User, Maxwell Haines that had been on the front lines when Maggie’d been forced to betray her User, her lover and Keylee’s father, Jeremiah Induwe.  Max and Mathis survived the battle, but didn’t come away unscathed. 

Keylee would always wonder, as lost and ignorant as everyone else, when exactly Maggie Donavan decided to actually betray Jeremiah.  If anyone cared to ask Keylee what he thought, he’d tell them it was probably when his father attacked Max and Mathis. When Jeremiah purposefully fried every chakra pathway within Max’s body.  It was a wound not even the most powerful healers could fix.  In an instant, Maxwell Haines, one of the most powerful Users of his day, was decimated into little more than a human shell of the man he once was.  It was a wound that more than scarred his abilities, it scarred his soul.  And it turned Maxwell into a man that couldn’t even look at Keylee Donavan. 

Keylee had been left to a life of ridicule, pre-judged for crimes he’d never been given an opportunity to commit.  Being born a Facilitator, they’d given him his mother’s last name. Even though it had been his father who’d actually been the instigator in everything that had happened, many still looked upon Jeremiah Induwe as some type of tragic victim.  More than once, Keylee’d wondered if it wouldn’t have been better if he’d been born a User.  He’d have inherited his father’s last name and perhaps less derision. 

In the end, speculation was pointless.  No matter which last name he took, Keylee Donavan was born of two individuals who’d managed to massacre everything they’d been taught to hold dear and sacred.  One by choice and one by the absence of choice.  Keylee learned early there were some prejudices that could never be overcome, most of which were without merit.  But out of all those who saw a potential monster lurking deep within his smaller than average frame, Maxwell Haines was the most justified and no matter what Mathis said, Keylee couldn’t and wouldn’t ever think poorly of Max.  Two victims of Jeremiah Induwe, both innocent and neither saved by Maggie Donavan’s eventual betrayal of her User and his ensuing death. 

With a final squeeze of Mathis’ hand, Keylee pulled away.  “I’ll figure something out.  Don’t go pestering Max again.”

“No Key.  Terran’s an ass but what I walked in on him saying wasn’t totally without merit.  I’m not saying things haven’t been tough for you here, but out there, on the street with humans . . . “ Mathis shook his head, “they’ll eat you alive.”

“We’re human too, Mathis.  Why does everyone keep forgetting that?”  It was a disturbing trend, something that was gaining more and more traction in the street, at least what he’d read in the press and seen on news vids.  The fracture between those that had been gifted with what had long ago been deemed powerful tendencies and those that were but normal humans was growing.  Distrust was brewing, or maybe it had always been there but now the cracks were too numerous to hide.  His mother had broken every vow she’d ever taken to protect both normal humans and the Gifted and yet she was seen as a pariah in both worlds.  Sometimes he wondered if it wasn’t actually her they hated but what her story represented – what could happen should more Users abuse their gift. 

“I know,” Mathis’ voice was a grudged whisper, his head tilted to the side, a peppered gray lock of hair blocking his light green eyes from Keylee’s view.  “But we’re more than that.”

No, that wasn’t all, but at their heart, all the Gifted were human. Genetic research had shown that time and time again.  What it also showed was those gifted with powerful tendencies had something else, well, that wasn’t strictly true.  It wasn’t that the Gifted had genes normal humans didn’t; it was that there were certain genes in the Gifted that were “turned on”.  Facilitator’s almost universally had the same gene change, but Users . . . User’s were different and it depended on what particular affinity their gifts ran towards. 

When genetics first came into its own, many saw it as a home run.  Finally the answers to centuries of circulating questions as to what made the Gifted different were on the cusp of being answered and for certain, there were answers.  But those answers created almost as many questions.  When the reason for the Gifted was discovered, money poured into research facilities in the hopes of figuring out a way to turn on the specific genes in question, but those experiments had ended . . . badly. 

Facilitators were pointless without a bound User and unless you were born into the Stein Caste, every natural born User required a Facilitator to harness their abilities into something useful.  Without a Facilitator to calm and tame the wildness of a User, their abilities were far more harmful and erratic than actually useful – far too dangerous to actually use.  But that’s not all a Facilitator did.  Facilitators were, for lack of a better word, a User’s conscience.  Facilitators not only tamed the power flowing from a User’s body, but they helped ground and curb the baser instincts of those whom held far too much power to every be truly healthy. 

Experimentation proved turning on the Facilitator gene wasn’t that difficult, nor was turning on the different genes needed to create a User.  But what science failed to anticipate, or perhaps could never have anticipated, was the connection between the two.  Created Facilitators and Users couldn’t bond and no amount of genetic modulation or manipulation could change that single, unavoidable disastrous fact. 

The experiments were worse than a failure.  The created Facilitators got off easy as they simply went back to whatever lives they had before their genes had been manipulated.  But created Users . . . their stories were horrific – down to the very last dying one.  Some went crazy, the power within them restless and desperate for a release that would never come.  Some inadvertently killed themselves while desperately trying to use that untenable power.  While still others had to be put down, the danger – both physical and mental, too great a threat to the general population. 

In the end, over fifty years of experimentation had only led to strict laws governing and outlawing the upregulation of what were termed, “Gifted Genes”.  From what Keylee understood, the oversight committees and red tape needed to perform any legal form of research into Gifted Genes was so nightmarish few attempted it. 

After all the pain and loss, humanity was left with what they’d always had – a finite number of Facilitator and Users born each year, most to particular families designated as Castes.  Children with Gifted Genes were still born outside these specific families, but they were infrequent.  Still, because of the possibility, all children were tested at birth. 

Keylee wasn’t in the mood to get into a philosophical debate with Mathis, given where his life was headed he thought the issue of just how human or not the Gifted were was a moot point. 

Pushing off Keylee’s bed, Mathis stood, pulling his shoulders back before running a hand through his too long hair.  “I’ll talk to Max.”  Mathis sounded more resolved than before.  “At the very least we can give you a place to stay until you get things figured out.”

Head tilted up, Keylee looked into Mathis’ eyes, the fine lines feathering out around their edges just a little deeper than the last time he’d seen him.  Keylee didn’t doubt Mathis’ resolve.  He didn’t even doubt Mathis’ ability to guilt Max into letting him bunk down at their place for a while.  But a while was too broad a term, too indefinite and too appealing to indulge in.  The training facility had been the closest thing Keylee’d ever had to a real home and it was hard enough leaving it behind.  There was every possibility his heart would never recover if he actually got a taste of a real home only to have to walk away from it. 

And yet as he looked up into Mathis’ determined eyes, Keylee couldn’t take away the aching desire he saw there, the need to actually provide shelter for the remnant of his best friend.  Knowing he couldn’t bear to see any more guilt or pain reflected back in those orbs, Keylee gave a wane smile, his voice betraying not a hint of lie as he answered, “Okay”. 

“Okay?” Mathis chimed back before a smile lit up his face.  “Okay.  Well then, I’ve got a grumpy bond mate to convince.”  With a rather mischievous clap of his hands, Mathis looked to be scheming a militaristic coup.  “Give me twenty-four hours, Key.”

All Keylee could do was smile and nod.  He had a little less than a day to try and figure out a plan of action, less than twenty-four hours to pack up the little his life actually consisted of and disappear into the swell that was humanity.  By the time Mathis came back to get him, all that would be left were empty sheets, maybe not even that if the cleaners were as quick with his things as they’d been with his now placed classmates. 

Chapter Two:

“Do you have any questions, Mr. Stein?”

Any questions Mr. Stein?  Paul held in his cringe, outwardly showing nothing of the disgust he felt at being referred to as a title he associated with his father.  The simpering tone he’d been addressed with doing little to increase his opinion of the man before him, a tester by the name of David.  Paul could have cared less what the man’s last name was.  It wasn’t one of the major Caste names and therefore held little value as far as he was concerned. 

“My son is well aware of the parameters of the test, Mr . . . “

“Conwell, David Conwell.”  Paul wasn’t at all sure why his tester said his name like it actually meant anything, as if it carried weight, especially where his father was concerned. 

“Yes, Mr. Conwell.  I believe my son is well versed in the examination procedures.  If you would care to stand back and give Paul the space he requires . . . “

“Yes,” David Conwell flushed a light crimson, the color doing nothing to enhance his ginger heritage.  “Whenever you’re ready to proceed.  We have you officially listed as a User of both fire and wind.  You may start the exam wherever you feel most comfortable.”  With a quick nod and tucked head, David turned, almost tripping over his own tangled feet as he hurried off to the sidelines, joining the other test monitors. 

Paul felt his lip curl in disgust.  This was the person who would be judging him?  The thought was absurdly laughable. 

“Appearances,” Paul’s father chided, instantly making him feel fifteen years younger. 

“He’s ridiculous,” Paul countered.  “But I suppose you enjoy that kind of thing far more than I.”  It was a minor dig, something Paul was certain he’d pay for later.  Twenty years of living under Evan Stein’s roof and thumb should have instilled a deep seeded need for self-preservation.  Most days that was true, but today wasn’t most days and Paul felt uneasy, his gifts pushing at his questionable self-control.

Just as he’d thought, Paul watched his father’s nearly black eyes narrow; Evan’s back turned to the crowd hovering around them so as not a hint of his fury showed to any but his son.  “Mr. Conwell was showing the respect I am due, the respect our Caste is due, a quality and trait apparently you have yet to learn.”

“My brother knows it well, Father.  Paul simply doesn’t appreciate the fawning as much as you.”  Helen eased up next to Paul, the scent of cherry blossoms filling his senses and calming some of the coming storm.  “Hello brother,” Helen pressed her lips to Paul’s cheek.  “Apologies for being late.”

“You’re never late, Helen.”  No matter how long he lived, Paul would never think it enough time or opportunity to thank the fates for his half sister.  Typical of most the higher User Castes, their father bred with different women – different genetic combinations for each child, all in the hopes of producing a more perfect version of the Stein legacy.  The practice wasn’t sexist.  Paul’s aunts used similar methods only with different men.  It was messier for other Castes whose Users were typically devoted to their bond mates.  Some heterosexual bond mates had at least one child together while others didn’t.  But in almost every case, each bred outside the bond in order to produce more diverse Users and Facilitators.  And although the Stein Caste didn’t need Facilitators and thus had no bond mates, it wasn’t unheard of for one of them to marry.  The spouses in such relationships were very understanding. 

Today Helen’s scarlet hued lochs were pulled back, twisted into a sleek masterpiece complete with ornamental pins.  With deep green eyes, Helen was the physical reminder of her mother, a woman she’d never met and only had but one picture of.  Paul’s memories of his own mother were no different.

“Paul?” Helen questioned, her slender fingers gliding over his cheek.  A quick flick of Helen’s fingernail tucked an errant strand of hair behind Paul’s ear, the sweat dampening his hair no doubt darkening its color. That one word, his name spoken with both concern and comfort was almost enough to undo Paul, make him spill all his dirty little secrets – and in the Stein family, this particular secret was beyond filthy. 

“Thank you for coming Helen.  I know the Department’s got you running on fumes right now.”  Paul tried for distraction.  There was a brief flare in Helen’s eyes, an ever so slight widening of her pupils indicating she wasn’t so easily distracted, but just as quickly the tense look in her eyes dissipated. 

“Yes, well, there are some things in this world that are more important than the Department and you, baby brother, are one of them.”  The smile Helen gave Paul, the smiles she’d always given him, were the only reason he had any idea what real emotion – real happiness and caring, looked like.

Evan Stein didn’t seem to agree.  “Do not be so cavalier and flippant regarding your work, Helen.  You are an important asset to the Department, I’m sure what you’re doing there is more important than Paul’s testing ceremony.  Your brother would have been more than happy to regale you with the details when all is said and done.”

Paul watched his sister’s face, not a hint of the aching disappointment he felt at his father’s words lighting across her face.  Helen had learned the lessons Paul never mastered.  If it weren’t for the fact he loved her so much, Paul thought it would be easy to hate his sister.  Helen was everything he wasn’t, everything he longed to be.  And yet the jealousy he felt towards her was always tempered by the love he could never deny.  And that love was returned ten fold. 

“I’m sure it’s as you say, Father.  But regardless, I am here.”  Helen’s voice was even; her words lacking the disrespectful tone Paul’s normally dripped with. 

Paul watched their father’s tense face ease with something close to awe.  Helen’s official gifts were listed as electricity, wind and sound.  She was the first sound User in the Stein Caste and one of the few Users ever to master three different gifts, but Paul often wondered if perhaps Helen was gifted in other areas – more in the realm of the psychological or emotional.  Such a combination was unheard of, and yet Paul wouldn’t put anything past his sister’s capabilities. 

Evan cleared his throat, the action a rare glimpse of discomfort.  “I think it’s past time for Paul to begin.  The practical aspect of the test is simply perfunctory for a Stein.”  Eyes shifting out over the newly paired and soon to be bonded Users and Facilitators, Evan’s gaze narrowed with something akin to disgust.  “I have uselessly argued this is a waste of time for our Caste, but Director Raina will not be swayed.  As irritating as it is, we must still participate in this . . . test and we shall be gracious about it.”

Paul’s gaze traveled similar paths his father’s eyes tracked and while all the participants were the same, he hardly believed he and his father saw the same thing.  “The testing gives newly paired Users and Facilitators the opportunity to make sure they are truly compatible and able to bond.”

“Exactly,” Evan answered.  “Steins don’t require a Facilitator thus making this test moot.”

Paul felt the gentle brush of Helen’s fingers against his skin, her voice just as soothing.  “Perhaps we should not view the testing as a waste of Stein time but an opportunity to reassert our Caste’s unique qualities.”

“A valuable insight, Helen.”  Evan’s voice oozed pride and made Paul’s blood burn and pores sweat.  “Even so, if it isn’t a waste of Paul’s time, then it is certainly a waste of yours, Helen.  The practical is the final phase of your testing, let’s get this done so you can be placed within the Department, Paul.”

“Yes sir.”  The words burned coming out of Paul’s lips. 

“Very good.  Now, show them what it means to be a Stein.”  Turning, Evan began walking, a brief, “Come along, Helen,” passing over his shoulder before continuing on his way to the sidelines.

Ignoring their father, Helen gripped Paul’s hand, her fingers displaying a level of strength few would associate with her slender frame.  “It will be fine.  There are always gawkers when a Stein is tested.”

Paul only wished that was why his body was flushed with heat. 

“Paul?”  Again, that soft voice, the only person he’d ever known to show true concern. 

“I’m fine,” Paul lied.  “Go with Father.  This shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.”

Helen hesitated, her designer heels rooted to the grass below her feet as she stared, the concern lacing her previous voice translating through every fiber of her being. 

“You better get going.”

Helen still didn’t seem convinced but she knew the testing grounds were no place for the type of discussion she felt brewing deep within her brother.  With a single nod of her head, Helen headed off, every step taking her farther away and leaving Paul desolate and alone.  But that was the way of a User born into the Stein Caste.  Paul Stein wasn’t like the others – pairs working together, helping and supporting each other.  Paul wasn’t like that and he didn’t want to be. 

Drawing in a deep breath, Paul attempted to calm the churning storm firing through his veins.  He felt raw, the lines of power pushing at his skin desperate for escape.  This was how it always felt when he called upon his gifts.  The fire burned and the wind pushed.  It was agony and he’d learned from a young age to hide it.  When he’d been a child and just discovering what he could do, he’d made a mistake – he’d cried out, dissolving into tears as the pain ripped through him.  Evan Stein had made sure Paul knew what true pain was after that and Paul had never forgotten the lesson. 

Paul could feel his tailored shirt sticking to his back, the sweat dripping from his brow, running down the planes of his face and dampening his starched collar.  There were four objects before him: A candle, a sapling, a makeshift wooden building, and a pile of cinderblocks.  Eyeing the objects before him, Paul knew most would start with what was deemed the easiest – the candle.  Lighting the candle would take the least amount of power, but too little power wasn’t Paul’s problem. 

Stick to the plan, just stick to the plan . . . Paul concentrated as it recirculated through his head.  Pushing down the pain licking through his body, Paul looked at the cinderblocks and released the tentative hold he had on the power surging within him.  Within a matter of seconds the blocks blew apart before melting into a pile of useless limestone goo.  Around him he heard the applause, the other ongoing testers pausing to gawk at what a lone Stein could do. 

Pride swelled within Paul and within seconds the wooden shack was decimated, small flaming pieces flying off into the distance and making those standing in the crowd scuttle and dance out of the way.  Again there were applause, but they were hesitant, the testers sharing shaky, questioning looks.  Paul ignored them.

The whole of his body was slick with sweat, his clothes more than damp.  It was another discomfort Paul dismissed as he stared down the sapling.  He’d hoped discharging so much power onto the larger objects would diminish the pulse of chakra radiating through him but if anything, the release had only opened up the floodgates more.  Before he could hope to try and curb himself, the sapling he was simply supposed to blow the leaves from and then light the remaining wood on fire was gone – a spray of ash exploding into the air and showering those standing nearby.  Somewhere in the distance Paul thought he heard his father’s voice, anger radiating through it but it was nothing compared the storm raging within his own body. 

But if there was one lesson Paul had learned and learned well, it was how to persevere.   Ignoring anyone and everything, Paul concentrated on the candle.  One more . . . just one more and the test is done.  It was all he could think of, all he could manage before the flames licking across the lawn and decimating the candle were also swarming him, burning the ridiculously expensive suite his father demanded he wear, searing his skin and turning him into a walking roman candle. 

Screaming filled his mind, a desperate call for help.  Falling to his knees, the last thing Paul registered was the blessed coolness of water before a harsh yank hit his senses, a physical pull ripping the chakra from his core while a scream rent his throat.

Chapter 3

“You can not be serious?  A Stein hasn’t needed a Facilitator in over seven generations.”  Evan Stein used anger to mask the bitter disappointment clouding his vision.

Director Raina wasn’t impressed.  “Mr. Stein, I would think the evidence to the contrary is plainly visible.  Had it not been for Keylee – “

“A Donavan,” Evan spat, his eyes narrowed down on the small man who’d saved his son’s life. 

“Father – “

“No, Helen.  You are far too young to fully understand what the Director is suggesting.”

Mouth pinched shut, Helen’s eyes briefly fluttered closed, her normally easing going nature pushed to its limits.  “I don’t care who he is or who his parents were, Father.  What I do care about is that he was able to harness, control and dissipate the power burning Paul alive.”

Keylee stood alone and off to the side, both listening and watching the odd proceedings going on before him.  This was the very last situation he’d ever thought to find himself in when waking up this morning, not that he’d fully known where he’d be by now, but still at the Institution wasn’t it.  No, this morning he’d had a simple plan – get off government owned property before Mathis had a chance to find him still sitting on his bed in the boy’s dormitory.  But as with so many things in life, plans change and his had done so the minute he’d heard that wail of pure terror and need.  Keylee wasn’t at all convinced it was a sound any other heard because it was unlike anything auditory he’d ever experienced before.  It was the roar of thunder, only inside his head, shaking him to his very core.  It was a sound that could not be ignored, a sound that called to his very soul. 

“You may not care, but I do.”  The arrogance lining Evan Stein’s over privileged voice dipped into condescending. “Maggie Donavan, pariah of all Facilitators, bound to an equally degenerate User.  This,” Evan pointed at Keylee, not even bothering to look at him as he did so, “boy can’t be trusted to even the most basic of Users, let alone one with Stein blood.  If Paul needs a Facilitator, so be it, but I will not place his life into the hands of someone who will betray him.”

“Mr. Stein, that is quite enough.”  Directer Raina’s voice held the same tone Keylee’d heard for the past thirteen years. It was the one she used when the person on the other end needed to shut the fuck up and fly right.

“I couldn’t agree more.”  Mathis’ voice flooded Keylee’s insides with relief, that relief ebbing a little when he saw Max walk in directly behind his mother’s old friend.  “Are you all right?”  Mathis was right in front of him, cupping Keylee’s chin and turning his head this way and that, stretching Keylee’s head away and exposing his neck.  He wasn’t exactly sure what Mathis saw but the thunderous look in his eyes gave Keylee a pretty good idea. 

“Has he even been seen to?”  Mathis dropped his hand from Keylee’s face, the rage in his voice building.  “Key discharged a high level power surge from an unbound User.  My God, his chakra lines are lit up like it’s Christmas and all of you are just standing around here arguing about his parentage.” 

Keylee did feel tired, but he’d felt more exhausted during some rather vicious days of training.  User’s never liked being partnered with him during training exercises, no matter how temporary it was.  The fact they were already bound to a Facilitator and needed to only interact with Keylee for the purposes of that day’s training made little difference.  Regardless, most directed that anger right back at him, pushing his abilities to the limit without a care regarding how uncomfortable such chakra surges were to him.  Maybe if he hadn’t had so much experience mitigating this kind of pain in the past he’d be more put out now. 

Seeking to allay some of Mathis’ worries, Keylee answered a soft, “It’s okay.  I’ve had worse.”  But instead of the gentle easing he expected, Mathis’ face tightened down further, his lips cinched into a thin line. 

Director Raina’s laser focus zeroed in on Keylee.  “No.  Mathis is right.  I should have paid more attention to your injuries, I – “

“Injuries?” Evan mocked.  “It is my son who’s suffered.  The healers say he has third degree burns along his back and neck and the rest of his body faired little better.  I’m paying a small mint for the best healers there are and they still tell me it will be a miracle if he doesn’t scar.”

“And whose fault is that?”  All eyes swiveled to the hulking figure looming by the door.  Maxwell Haines was not a small man.  No longer counted among one of the Gifted, the simple fact that Max could no longer summon his power did little to diminish his intimidation factor nor the commanding tenor of his voice. 

Pushing away from the wall he was leaning against, Max shifted forward, his eyes briefly settling on his bond-mate before skittering off, alighting on Keylee.  A momentary glimpse was all Max had ever been able to stomach.  The boy, now a young man, looked far too much like his father.  Moving to stand next to Mathis, Max brought a hand up, fingers brushing over the full beard covering his chin.  “From what I’ve heard, your son . . . Paul, wasn’t it?”

Everyone knew damn well Max knew the name of Evan’s child.  Everyone knew when a Stein was born and when they came of age, to suggest he didn’t was a direct dig at Evan, one the elder Stein did not appreciate.  Seeming to take the silence for affirmation that he was indeed right about the name, Max continued.  “It seems that Paul has fallen a little far from the Stein family tree and that if it weren’t for Keylee here, there’d be one less Stein for the world to worship.  Your own damn son put his life in danger, and not just his but everyone else on that field.  If a water User hadn’t been nearby . . . Christ, Evan, letting Paul attempt something like that when he needs a Facilitator was reckless, even for you.  Is the Stein name and heritage that damn important that you’d risk the life of your son?”

Evan Stein’s nostrils flared.  “You think I knew about this before hand?  You honestly believe I would have allowed an embarrassment like that to take place had I any inkling Paul was not in complete control of his abilities?”

Keylee was beginning to sense a pattern here, a very disturbing pattern.  When he’d first set eyes on Paul Stein, the man was a raging inferno.  The second time he’d seen him, Paul’s skin had been mutilated – angry burns charring his body to the point where Keylee marveled the man was still actively breathing.  Hair burnt away, charred pieces of clothes melted into his skin; Paul Stein had laid there, desperately clinging to life.  Keylee might be young, but he knew an incredibly strong User when he felt one and he’d never in his life felt anything like Paul Stein.  His body ached from discharging so much raw, uncontrolled chakra. Keylee had little doubt that if Paul hadn’t already blown up or burned down so many different obstacles in front of him, the situation could and would have been much worse.  Tired as he was, Keylee doubted he’d still be standing if he’d had to diffuse as much power as he suspected Paul capable of wielding. 

But Paul’s injuries and near death experience weren’t at the core of Evan Stein’s anger.  Paul’s father wasn’t worried about his son’s health.  Even when the man had shown concern regarding the potential for permanent scarring it had been in conjunction with the fact that he was putting up a lot of money with no guarantee of perfection at the end of such a long financial leash. 

Keylee had only seen Paul Stein twice, had only heard that deafening scream of terror once, but it was all he needed to know that he’d found his User – the one he was co-created for.  He had no idea what Paul would think when he finally woke up and recovered from his injuries.  The last ten minutes hadn’t given Keylee a lot of reason to hope his User would be any happier with him than Evan Stein was.  But none of that mattered.  Paul was his User and contrary to what everyone seemed to think, he would not abandon him. 

Unaware of the thoughts circulating through Keylee’s mind, Max simply scoffed at Evan’s words.  “Knowing what the Stein’s are like, I doubt you’ve allowed that boy a single breath you weren’t aware of Evan.  How could you not know?”

Had Evan Stein been a porcupine, his quills would have been standing on end.  How had he not known?  It was a good question.  Most likely someone in his family had known, or at least suspected.  Someone Paul would trust with secrets he dared not share with his father.  Eyes narrowed, Evan let his gaze drift toward his daughter.  He and Helen would be having a discussion about this very soon, but not now.  The Stein name had suffered enough today and he refused to offer up another weakness.  With those thoughts in mind, Evan finally answered.  “Paul has never shown any indication he had anything less than perfect control.”  But even as those words passed his lips, Evan began questioning them, his mind whirling back through the past, certain incidents that seemed so inconsequential at the time now glaring in their intensity. 

“Riiight,” Max drawled out, his large hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket. 

Blessed silence descended upon the room, but as with many blessings it was not to last.  “What Mr. Stein did or did not know is irrelevant now.” Director Raina tried moving past the roadblock Max had thrown down but her words only incensed him more. 

“Irrelevant?”  Max sounded incredulous, his hands no longer in his pockets but now drawn into tight fists. 

“Max,” Mathis’ voice was pleading, his fingers lightly wrapping around Max’s painfully wound muscles. 

Max shook off his bond-mate.  “Don’t tell me this is another thing the Stein’s are going to get away with?  Haven’t they – “

“I’m not implying anything of the kind, Maxwell.  All I am saying is that right now, at this moment, I’m fucking exhausted and none of us are in our right mind to analyze a gnat, let alone what happened today.  The crisis has passed and I for one would like a hot shower, a good meal and a shot or twelve of vodka – not necessarily in that order.  I will be looking into this, but not tonight.  Is that understood?”

“Perfectly.”  The word was more of a growl than human speech and spoke volumes as to how much Max believed the Director. 

Keylee curiously watched a myriad of emotions pass through the Director’s gaze before her shoulders slumped; obviously relieved the evening was drawing to a close.  Unfortunately Raina’s victory was premature.

“We are far from done here,” Evan’s voice was like bitter shards of ice.  “There is still the issue of who Paul’s Facilitator will be.”

“There is no issue.”  Director Raina answered, exhaustion bleeding into her voice. 

“Of course there is an issue.  I will not allow my son to be bonded to the offspring of Maggie Donavan.  I will not put Paul’s life at risk when – “

“Paul’s life?”  Keylee’s voice, so very muted and soft still managed to interrupt the elder Stein’s words.  “Not a single word that has exited your mouth tonight has indicated any true fatherly concern for Paul’s life.”

Evan’s back snapped, pulling his shoulders tight, his posture ramrod straight as he glared down on Keylee.  Evan ignored the hushed plea of his daughter while moving closer to the boy who fancied himself good enough to enter into the Stein family.  You didn’t have to be a giant of a man to tower over Keylee Donavan. 

On the surface, Keylee did indeed look more like his father.  That blacker than black hair had been something of a trademark for Jeremiah Induwe as was the moon pale skin.  But there were hints of his mother there as well – a small smattering of light freckles across the bridge of his nose, the strange Caribbean blue of his eyes . . . but nothing spoke of Maggie Donavan more than Keylee’s small stature.  It appeared as if Jeremiah’s son had inherited none of his father’s build. 

Few were as large and imposing as Maxwell Haines, but it was only when compared to Maxwell that Evan appeared diminished and Evan Stein had been using his towering height and size to intimidate people all his life.  Using his imposing figure on Keylee was damn near second nature to him.  “Do you even realize who I am? What it means to be a Stein?”

Keylee looked up, arms crossed over his chest and posture relaxed.  With his head tilted up, his glowing, overworked, blue spider web chakra pathways were plainly visible.  “I’m learning more and more exactly what it means to be a Stein.”

Evan hesitated, unsure if Keylee’s words were offensive or not.  Keylee didn’t sound flustered or intimidated.  If anything the boy seemed apathetic.  Although tattered, Evan’s pride was a beast all its own and he pulled it around his body like the shield of armor it was.  “Then you understand why you will not be allowed to bond with my son.”  Cruel smile on his face, Evan tilted his head to the side, mock sympathy lighting up his eyes.  “I can only imagine what you’ve been thinking.  Bonded to a Stein?  For someone of your . . . lineage, you must have thought yourself set for life.  The prestige, the money, the connections . . . of course that would be a difficult thing to give up.”  Evan quieted, allowing the weight of his words to hit home. 

 Lifting a single eyebrow, Keylee shifted his weight so he could look around the overbearing man leaning over him, his eyes searching out Director Raina’s, his words meant for her instead of Evan Stein.  “I realize the Stein’s don’t traditionally need Facilitators, but aren’t they educated about them?  I mean, I assumed all User’s were taught the basics, even someone of the all impressive Stein lineage.”

Raina’s lips twitched, the heavy lines around her mouth easing ever so slightly.  “I’m not sure, Keylee.  Like you I would have assumed as much but it doesn’t appear to be so.  Would you be so kind as to inform Mr. Stein the basics of User-Facilitator bonding or would you like me to do that?”

“I’ve got it,” Keylee answered while shifting back, his eyes once more traveling up and locking on the furious orbs of the father of his fated User.  “Okay, so it’s like this.  Every year there are a finite number of Users born and an equal number of needed Facilitators.  This year, at the pairings ceremony, I was the only one left and – “

“I am not in need of a history lesson.”

“Oh . . . well, it just seemed like you were confused or something,” Keylee shrugged.  Somewhere nearby Keylee could have sworn he heard Max chuckle but never having heard it before he was unsure. 

“You do not seem to understand – “

“No,” Keylee interrupted, his words no longer light but sharp with anger.  “This is not a game of choice.  I am a Facilitator and Paul is my User.  You could get other unbound Facilitators to temporarily help him out, but he’ll burn through their chakra systems after one or two uses.  That’s the way of it.  That’s why laboratory created Users and Facilitators didn’t work and that’s why what you want now is irrelevant.  I’m Paul’s Facilitator, the only one he can form a permanent bond with and if he doesn’t then we all know what that means for him and just in case you actually do need a history lesson – your son will die.”  Eyes raking up and down Evan’s vibrating body, Keylee shook his head.  “I get the feeling that would actually be your preference.  You’d rather your son die than bond with me.  It’s true; I am Maggie Donavan’s child.  You seem to believe that I’ll betray Paul but what you fail to realize is that you already have.  You’re more worried about what bonding with me will do to your precious family name than what not bonding with me will do to your son.”

 Evan felt his own power swell, the need to erase the disrespectful creature below him from the earth growing with every passing second.  Stein’s had a long history as fire wielders and Evan was no different.  The fire within him was pushing at his control, licking through his veins and simmering just below the surface.  Unable to form words, all Evan could do was sneer, his lips pulled back in a grimace of pain. 

Keylee’d seen worse in his relatively short life.  He’d looked into the face of hate and disgust and come out the other side maybe not whole, but still alive.  Evan Stein was a powerful beast – powerful in the true sense of the word as well as financially and politically, but at the end of the day, he was the same as all the others.  Evan’s build-up of power didn’t threaten or intimidate Keylee.  “Currently, I’m unbound and can disperse your chakra just as easily as I did Paul’s, probably more so because you hold but a fraction of the juice your son can wield.” 

Evan pulled back as if he’d been physically slapped, his growing fire banking in the face of such insolence. 

“And just for the record, I don’t give a damn about your money or your name.  I imagine your precious family Caste is going to cause me more trouble than anything.  Things don’t matter to me, names don’t matter, pompous jackasses don’t matter.  The only thing that does matter is Paul and I will do everything I can to protect and keep him safe – from you or himself, it doesn’t matter.” 

Evan took in a hissing breath, its exhale filled with smoke.  “You would dare?”

“There is nothing to dare.  That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”  Not only done with the conversation but with the man attached to it, Keylee stepped past Evan and up to the director.  “Director Raina, if it’s possible, I’d like to see Paul and then hit the sheets for a bit.  I’d also like to request another night or two in the boys dormitory until my User is healed and able to bond.”

“You could stay with us.” The offer was hesitant as it fell from Max’s lips.  “Mathis and I spoke earlier and I . . . if it’s just for a little while then I think . . . “

Keylee wondered how much damage the heart could take before it was past the point of mending.  Max couldn’t even look him in the eye while offering up his home.  “As long as Director Raina agrees, the dormitory will be fine.” 

“But they aren’t serving meals anymore and I’m sure the dormitory needs prepping for the next incoming class.  Wouldn’t you be more comfortable staying with us?”  The need in Mathis’ voice was palpable.  Keylee hated disappointing the man, but his family had hurt Max enough and he refused to continue adding to that pain. 

“You’re right to an extent, Mathis,” Director Raina stepped in.  “The dormitory does need prepped, but I think we can work around Keylee for a few days.  As for meals, the younger classes are still on premises and are taking meals in the mess hall.  I see no reason why Keylee can’t join in with them.  One extra isn’t a strain on our resources.”

 Keylee felt a presence beside him; a whisper soft nudge along his consciousness that should have felt intrusive but somehow calmed him instead.  “I don’t live in the area but will be extending my time in the hotel suite I’m currently staying in.  I believe there would be enough room if you would feel comfortable with me.  I certainly don’t mind and it’s the least I can do for you.”  Helen Stein’s melodic voice sang through Keylee’s brain and for the briefest of moments he considered taking her up on the offer. 

 “Thank you, but – “

Evan cut off Keylee’s polite decline.  “There’s no need for you to stay here Helen.  You’ve already been away from the Department long enough.  I’m sure Commander Ellis wasn’t thrilled with you taking even this short of leave.  I’ve already gotten word from the healers that Paul will survive this debacle.  Besides, you heard Director Raina, Keylee has a place to stay while we get this mess straitened out.  He doesn’t require Stein charity.”

“Father.”  The chill running through that one simple word made Keylee shudder.  “Giving shelter to Paul’s Facilitator is not charity.  It is nothing short of the Stein family’s duty and something you should have already offered.  And as far as Commander Ellis is concerned, I’ve already contacted him and made arrangements for a few more days off.  Contrary to what you believe, I am not as indispensible to the Department as you believe and he was generously accommodating in allowing for an extended break so that I might be close by while Paul recovers.”

 Evan ignored the rebuke in his daughter’s words.  Helen was right, as she often was.  Good breeding and manners would have been to offer Keylee a place to stay, but Evan still wasn’t willing to accept what Fate was pushing down his throat.  Unwilling to comment on yet another way he’d failed as a Stein; Evan concentrated on something he could attack.  “You have always coddled your brother too much.” 

“No, what I have always done is love him as he is.”  Helen answered before turning her back on her father and focusing on Keylee.  “Please know that my offer stands.”

Although not as tall as her father, Keylee still had to look up to stare into Helen Stein’s emerald eyes, little flecks of gold dancing here and there.  There were very few eyes he’d seen that held such absence of malice, at least when those orbs were trained on him.  More and more it was looking like Paul wasn’t the only Stein who’d fallen a little bit further from the tree than Evan would have liked. 

“It . . . it’s a nice offer, but the boys dorm is fine.”

 “All right, but if you’d allow, I would like to accompany you to Paul’s room first.”

 Keylee knew they’d taken Paul to a proper hospital instead of the local infirmary located within the Facilitator Institution.  What he didn’t know was which one or how he’d get there.  He’d kind of thought maybe Mathis would be willing to give him a ride, but if Helen was offering then he could save Mathis a trip.  “If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Helen smiled and Keylee thought he could get used to what appeared to be genuine kindness. 

“Are you sure you’ll be okay alone with . . . well, without someone you know?”  Mathis asked, his eyes shifting toward Helen in an apologetic way.

Throwing another glance in Helen Stein’s direction, Keylee nodded.  “I think it will be okay.  Besides, it sounds like she actually gives a shit about Paul.  I’m good with that.”

Pulling back, Mathis blinked, long and slow.  Bonded Facilitators and Users were generally very protective of each other and Keylee was already displaying a strong level of commitment.  Mathis only hoped it would be returned.  If Paul Stein was anything like his father, Keylee was in for an uphill struggle and to his mind; Maggie’s son had been through enough in his first twenty years.  Being bonded to an unwilling User was something he wouldn’t wish on anyone, let alone Key. 

“You’ll let me know if you need anything?”

“Of course.”  Lying to Mathis was automatic at this stage in Keylee’s life.  Not that he wanted to, exactly.  It was just easier and made Mathis feel better. 

“I’ll let the custodians know to leave your bunk made up.”  Director Raina was already on her phone, turning away from the people lingering in the room while doing what her position paid her to do. 

“Helen, I want to speak with – “ Evan Stein was interrupted by a knock on the door, a woman Keylee recognized as Director Raina’s secretary peaking her head in, her eyes quickly scanning the room, briefly landing on Evan Stein before connecting with her boss. 

“Director Raina, I’m sorry to interrupt but there’s a call for Mr. Stein.”

“Whoever it is, they can wait,” Evan dismissed. 

“Your pardon sir, but the caller said she’s been trying to get a hold of you but you aren’t answering your cell phone.  She said her name was Eva Stein.”

Keylee watched in fascination as all the bluster in Evan diminished, running out of his body like water and leaving blanched skin behind.  For a fraction of a second, all the arrogance and bravado making up the elder Stein vanished. 

“Tell her I’ll be there in a moment.”  Evan’s voice was solid, but Keylee had the feeling years of practiced bullshitting were behind it. 

Whatever was going on, Helen’s slender fingers found their way to Keylee’s elbow, ever so gently guiding him toward the door, the soft click of her heeled boots the only sound in the room.  “We’ll speak later, Father.  For now I don’t believe it wise to keep grandmother waiting any longer.”

Keylee got a last glimpse of Evan Stein’s pale face, his lips thinned, the fine lines around his face grooved deeper while his hand clutched tightly down on the cell phone the man had obviously turned off or placed on silent.  For a moment it looked as if someone had just walked over Evan Stein’s grave and Keylee couldn’t give a damn about the ghost they left in their wake. 

Chapter 4

“He’s stable, just heavily sedated.  As you know it’s not wise for a User to be in between states of consciousness, especially when in pain.  They’re more likely to loose control of their abilities.  Healer Talbot was in earlier and thinks Mr. Stein will make a full recovery and the scarring, if any, will be minimal.”  Paul’s current nurse was a perky petite woman Keylee guessed to be in her early twenties.  Her nametag had a little stethoscope with a heart at the end, the name, Emily, etched above.

Healers were like all other Users in that they needed a Facilitator to channel their abilities into something useful instead of disastrous.  Since Healer Talbot wasn’t a Stein, he had to have a Facilitator but it didn’t phase Keylee when he didn’t hear the Facilitator’s name.  Facilitators were typically relegated to the bylines of life, something most were thankful for.  If it hadn’t been for his parentage, Keylee would have been just as anonymous as most of his brethren and happily so.  

“Thank you, Emily.  We are grateful for the care you’ve given Paul.”

The blush lighting up Emily’s face was impressive.  Keylee wasn’t sure if it was due to the sincere appreciation in Helen’s voice or if it was the fact she was speaking directly with a member of the Stein Caste.  As far as he could tell, Emily was a normal human with no abilities of her own but even so, normal human or gifted, everyone knew the Stein’s.  They were as close to American royalty as one could get in this day and age. 

“Would it be all right if we visited?” Helen ignored the nurse’s flustered flush with practiced ease.

Eyes darting from Helen to Keylee, Emily began chewing on her bottom lip.  “I . . . uh . . . I’m not entirely sure.  I mean, it’s fine for you to go in Miss Stein, but right now it’s family only and I’m not sure if Mr . . . “ as far as Keylee knew, Nurse Emily had no clue who he was.

“Mr. Donavan is a distant cousin.”

Keylee wasn’t sure why he was surprised by the ease of Helen’s lie.  Regardless he was pretty sure he’d managed to keep his jaw closed. 

“I . . . well, I wasn’t aware there was any type of relation.  I’ll make an updated note in Mr. Stein’s file indicating Mr. Donavan’s status.”

“Thank you, Emily.  That would be appreciated.”  Helen sounded even sweeter than she had before. 

“It’s no problem.”  With a quick head bob, Nurse Emily scuttled away.

“A distant cousin?”

Helen was already walking; the click-clack of her heels on the linoleum floor echoing throughout the hall.  “I don’t like lying and I’m far from ashamed Paul needs a Facilitator, even less so that it is you, but right now we don’t need the press breathing down our necks any more than they already are.  So far you haven’t been mentioned and I plan on keeping it that way as long as possible.  When they find out the whole story, and who you are – “

“It won’t be good?”

Helen stopped long enough to shrug before beginning her journey again.  “Good isn’t really the right word here.  Let’s just say it will get messy and the longer I can keep that kind of chaos away from you, the better.  Right now Paul needs rest and so do you.”

Following behind, contrary to Helen’s footsteps, Keylee’s were so light as to be silent.  “I would imagine Evan would like to keep that knowledge buried forever.  Maybe Paul too.”

This time Helen didn’t stop, her gait never once faltering despite the regret in her voice.  “I’ll worry about my father.  As for Paul,” Helen sighed, “I’m not going to lie and tell you it’s going to be easy.”

“Nothing ever is.”

“No.  Our paths in life have been different but on that I believe you and I can easily agree.”

Keylee’s intimate dealing with the Stein Caste may be but a few hours old, but he found he readily agreed with Helen’s statement.  The Stein’s were reported to be one of the wealthiest families in the world, let alone as a Caste.  But money, power and prestige came at a cost and Keylee was beginning to think maybe Paul’s price for living surpassed his own. 

Suddenly the soft click of Helen’s boots stopped, allowing the sound of beeping machines to take their place.  “Oh, Paul.”  The words were soft, barely a whisper of regret.

Keylee wasn’t sure what he’d find when he finally managed to wiggle around Helen’s imposing form but when his gaze settled on the man who was to be his User, he felt his breath momentarily catch.  He could only imagine what Paul’s sister was going through. 

Watching Helen was almost a magical experience for Keylee.  Though her grief was obvious, Helen only allowed it purchase for the barest of moments before she pushed through it, moving up to her brother’s side.  “I should thank the healers who worked on him.  As bad as this is, he looked so much worse when they took him off the field.”

Keylee agreed.  “I’m no healer, but it does look like there’ll be minimal scarring.”  The bright pink flesh covering much of what they could see of Paul’s new, tender skin looked healthy if thin.  “I’m not sure how long it will take his hair to grow back out.”

Helen gave a soft, musically sad laugh.  “Paul will hate that the most.  Not that he’s all that vain about his hair, but he’s always been complimented on it.”

Keylee didn’t know what Paul’s hair looked like – not the color, length or style of it.  By the time he’d laid eyes upon Paul Stein, all that had been atop his head was a plum of flame.  

The soft click of Helen’s shoes started up again as she moved toward the bed, sliding her slim fingers beneath the slack ones of her brother, the bloody red of her perfectly manicured nails contrasting harshly against the paleness of Paul’s skin. 

Moving up beside her, Keylee stared at the blotchy pink skin and marveled at what the healers had been able to accomplish.  When he dared allow himself to dream of the future – a future where he well and truly had a bond mate – Keylee sometimes imagined he was a healer’s Facilitator.  He wondered what it would be like to be looked at not as the scum on the bottom of someone’s shoe, but as the deliverer of health.  Staring at the charred remnants of Paul Stein’s face was all the reminder Keylee needed.  Paul was no healer. 

Helen Stein wasn’t a healer either, at least not in the traditional way of thinking.  But Keylee had to wonder if she didn’t have some type of healer tendencies, at least psychologically.  Helen did appear to care deeply for her brother and although he hadn’t had an opportunity to observe Paul’s reaction to his sister, he had the feeling it was mutual.  And if that were the case, then it begged the question, “Did you know?”

Helen didn’t bother denying her understanding.  “Did I know Paul didn’t have control of his gifts?”  Helen gave a shake of her head.  “No.  But I should have.”

“Why?”

Helen gave Paul’s hand a final squeeze, his eyes not even giving the barest of flutters in response.  “Looking back there were a myriad of reasons.  If you’re asking if Paul ever confided in me then the answer is no, or at least he didn’t say it outright.  I knew, as did Father, that when Paul was a small child, he complained of a rather high level of pain when his gifts began manifesting.  Our father told me he’d spoken with Paul and solved the issue.”  Giving a grunt of disgust Helen turned her head to the side, looking out the large window stretching across the southern wall of Paul’s room.  “I was still a child, but I was old enough to know what that probably meant.”

Keylee felt something deep in his gut twist and tighten, anger simmering low.  “And what was that?”

“Father’s ideas of problem solving, especially where Paul was concerned, were not particularly . . . kind.  Paul never complained, at least not to me and I have to believe that if he didn’t confide in me then he kept his silence.” 

The knot in Keylee’s stomach grew.  Abuse, both verbal and occasionally physical, was a topic he understood all too well. 

Shoulders slumping and forehead in hand, for the first time that day, Helen Stein did not look the picture of stoic elegance.  “I must apologize, Keylee.”

“Key,” Keylee offered. 

“I’m sorry?”

Keylee shuffled his feet.  Mathis was the only living soul who’d ever shortened his name, gentling the tone of it and making Keylee feel like a different person – someone not born of Maggie Donavan.  “I’d uh . . . I mean, you can call me Key.  If you want.”

“Key,” Helen smiled, warmth seeping into that single word just the way Keylee had hoped.  “I heard Facilitator Mathis call you that earlier.”

“Yeah.”  Keylee knew his cheeks were burning. 

Helen stared down at the top of midnight hair, its color so dark there were blue highlights under the fluorescent bulbs of Paul’s hospital room.  With his head bent Helen could make out the fading chakra lines spider webbing across the back of Keylee’s neck, glaring evidence of the toll his body had taken when he’d saved Paul’s life.  “Thank you, Key.  For everything you’ve done.  Thank you.”

Keylee squirmed under the weight of Helen’s gratitude, an emotion he had no idea how to respond to.  Unsure how to react, all he could do was shift uncomfortably, his eyes drifting to the side and focusing on the monitor tracking Paul’s steady heart beat. 

Hand raising, Helen had a sudden urge to run her fingers through that shock of thick, unruly hair but gently eased her hand down before it had a chance to find purchase.  Maybe one day Keylee would be comfortable enough to tolerate her touch, but not now.  Pulling back her emotions, Helen started again.  “As I was saying, I must apologize to you.  Few ever get a true look into the Stein family workings and I’m afraid you were rather unceremoniously thrown into the deep end of the pool today.  Treading through the shark infested waters of our family is an art and something only the most experienced normally survive.”  Smile pulling at her lips, Helen shook her head, tiny wisps of crimson finally escaping the meticulous up-do they’d been manipulated into earlier in the day.  “Even so, I have to say that few have ever managed to make my father lose control the way you did today.”

Keylee grunted.  “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

“Perhaps not.  I meant it as both praise and awe.  In all my years, the only other person I’ve ever known to be able to unhinge my father so utterly is my grandmother.”

“Is that who was on the phone when we left?”

Helen nodded, the smile on her face dropping.  “Eva Stein, my father’s mother.  If you believe my father harsh . . . well, I can only hope you’ve no need to ever meet the woman who birthed him.”

Keylee gave a short head nod.  He had no need or desire to meet such a woman and imagined if he ever did, their interaction would be fleeting.  No doubt she’d find him just as wanting as her son, but Keylee’d been dealing with that shit all is life and figured he’d simply push through that encounter just as he did all others.  

Without much thought Keylee let loose a deep yawn, the exhaustion of not only that day but also the sleepless night precluding it finally taking their combined toll. 

“You’ve had a rather adventurous day.  Perhaps it’s time to put this one to bed.”

Keylee couldn’t really argue with Helen but he also didn’t want to cut her visit with her brother short.  And if he were being honest with himself, he was a little reluctant to leave Paul too.  “I’m all right.  We can stay longer if you want.”

“No,” Helen shook her head.  “You heard what the nurse said, between his injuries and the drugs, Paul will be out for at least another twenty-four hours, maybe longer.  I simply wanted to see him with my own eyes.”

Keylee could understand that sentiment and added a quiet, “Me too.”

“Well then, we’ve both seen him and confirmed Paul is indeed on the mend.  Father may complain how much the Healers’ cost but I’ll make sure they are compensated to the fullest and then some.” 

Keylee didn’t doubt it for a minute and knew when Helen Stein offered her gratitude, it was exactly that and not out of a sense of duty as a Stein.  Helen was sincerely grateful to those who’d saved her brother’s life and so was he.  “I’m sorry but I don’t really have the funds to help with that.”

Helen blinked once, a brief moment of surprise flaring in her eyes.  “It is a nice thought Key, but you have done more than enough, more than anyone had a right to ask or expect.”

Keylee bristled.  “He’s my User.  Why is everyone surprised I stepped in?”

Taken aback, Helen realized her mistake.  “I’m sorry, Key.  For better or worse, I’m a Stein and have never had a need for a Facilitator.  I . . . I know that you’ll bond with Paul, that evidently you already feel the pull to my brother but it is a foreign concept to me – something I’m afraid I will never truly understand.  I didn’t mean to imply that because of who you are, because of your heritage, you would do anything less than any other Facilitator.”

The ire he’d been feeling washed away, leaving Keylee even more exhausted than before.  “Sorry,” he offered while pushing up the gray sleeve of his worn sweatshirt, scratching aimlessly over fading chakra lines.  “Habit, I suppose,” he added with a shrug of his shoulders. 

“Understandable.  If you’re sure you don’t want to stay with me, then I’ll take you back to the dormitories.  But just so you know, my offer is genuine.  You are more than welcome to stay with me until Paul is recovered enough to move in with him.”

Keylee swallowed, the thick pull of saliva aching painfully in its descent.  Move in with Paul?  Keylee’s strange aqua colored eyes darted towards Paul’s quiet body.  Almost all bonded Users and Facilitators lived together.  It was something he knew but hadn’t spared a thought for during the clusterfuck today’d turned into.  Would Paul really want him under the same roof?  Keylee wasn’t holding his breath.  Keylee didn’t know where Paul lived, if he had a place of his own or if he still lived within the Stein family home. If it was the latter then Keylee figured what Paul wanted was a moot point because he wasn’t about to move into that hellhole. 

“Bye Paul.  I’ll be back tomorrow.” 

By the time Keylee registered Helen was in the process of saying her goodbyes, she was already rubbing Paul’s temple, wiping away the trace of lipstick her parting kiss left.  Forcing his body closer, Keylee stared down on his User.  He’d officially met two Stein’s and both were beautiful in their own rights.  It stood to reason Paul was just as striking as the rest of his family even though right now his skin looked like a patchwork of varying shades of pink.  Unsure but feeling that indefinable pull, Keylee allowed the briefest of touches, the pads of his fingers ghosting over Paul’s cool skin.  At that touch, for a fleeting moment, Paul’s heart monitor registered an increase of pace, his rate slowing as soon as Keylee’s fingers drew back.  With his back to Helen, Keylee never saw the satisfied smile lighting up her face.

“So, how about it – the dormitories or my hotel suite?”

Keylee’d been so very lost in his thoughts he’d forgotten there was a question on the table.  Helen’s offer was genuinely intriguing, especially given the fact he’d never seen the inside of a hotel, let alone a suite, but in the end Keylee decided against it.  He’d had enough Stein companionship for the day and knew his body and mind needed rest – something he wasn’t sure he would be able to find while remaining in Helen’s company. 

With that in mind, Keylee declined.  “It’s a nice offer, but – “

“But you’d rather spend the night where you’re most comfortable.”

Keylee nodded.  “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’d like to come back tomorrow to visit with Paul.  I’d like . . . well, I’d like to be here when he wakes up.  I’m not sure he’ll feel the same way once he realizes what’s going on, but . . . “ Keylee’s voice trailed off, unsure how exactly to express what he was worried about. 

“I would love nothing more but I’m afraid I won’t be able to put Father off for much longer.  I can easily have a car brought round for you.  The driver will be at your disposal.”

All that sounded like too much and Keylee was on the verge of arguing but Helen raised a hand to silence him.  “You’re a Stein now.  You might as well start getting used to the perks as well as the tribulations.”

Keylee wasn’t at all sure which one would outweigh the other but he knew which direction he was leaning.  Deciding having transportation at the ready wasn’t such a bad thing, Keylee nodded and began following Helen out of the room, never once looking back at Paul even though that’s what his body was screaming at him to do.  For now Keylee ignored the pull, something he had a feeling wouldn’t be so easy to do once they were officially bonded. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Keylee wasn’t sure if the Healers were surprised or not when Paul didn’t wake up the following day.  He’d spent the majority of the day by Paul’s side, stepping out when Healer Talbot and his Facilitator, David, came in.  By the time they left, Paul was looking even better, the texture of his skin and mixed pink tones beginning to even out.  From what Keylee understood, they’d already begun decreasing the drugs keeping Paul asleep and anticipated him waking anytime. 

It was late afternoon before Helen made an appearance, her demeanor harried and tired.  Keylee thought the woman put up a decent front but he could see the strain in her eyes.  When he’d questioned her all Helen had said was that it wasn’t anything for him to worry about.  Keylee kind of doubted that but didn’t push.  Like everything else in life, he’d deal with it when he had to. 

Evan Stein never showed up that day, or at least not while Keylee was there and he stayed with Paul until they kicked him out about eleven that night.  Helen was already gone by then after he’d declined her hotel suite offer again. 

Keylee was a fresh kind of tired riding back to the dormitories that night.  The driver Helen provided was polite but kept to himself.  He wondered if that was the hallmark of a good employee but had no idea.  Mostly Keylee didn’t much care given the fact he didn’t think he’d be able to keep a conversation going with a goldfish, let alone a human. 

Having missed dinner, Keylee showered and fell into his cot, stomach rumbling but too tired to care.  Healer Talbot didn’t seem concerned Paul hadn’t woken up today and simply stated the deep sleep was allowing him to heal better.  All in all, Healer Talbot acted pleased with Paul’s overall situation and both he and his Facilitator had been, if not kind, then tolerant of Keylee’s presence. 

Keylee had every intention of sleeping as long as possible, only getting up in time for breakfast in the mess hall.  But instead of being woken by the sun, he woke to the harsh slap and frustrated voice of a man he’d hoped to never see again. 

“Get the fuck up,” Terran’s guttural order had Keylee awake and out of his cot faster than a bucket full of ice water. 

“What – “

“Fuckin’ ridiculous is what this shit is,” Terran’s rant interrupted Keylee but didn’t offer an explanation as to why he was being rousted out of bed at . . . Keylee looked at the digital clock on the wall, four thirty-three am.  “If the Stein bitch want’s to be able to get ahold of your ass at all times of the fuckin’ night then she should have given you a damn phone instead of forcin’ me up at this gods forsaken time of night.

“Morning,” Keylee corrected before he could think better of it. 

Terran’s mouth twisted into something full of hate.  “You must really think you’re somethin’ special now, huh?  First fuckin’ Stein in seven generations that needs a Facilitator and you think it’s you.”

“I know it’s me.”  Keylee’s rude awakening had his exhausted brain firing on all cylinders.  Waking up to Terran’s face was never a good thing and warning bells were blaring loud and clear. 

“Arrogant little shit.”  Terran grabbed at his wild hair, pulling the stringy strands into something even rattier than they already were.  “You just wait.  Evan Stein doesn’t want you anywhere near his family and when his son wakes up, he’ll throw you out even faster than his father.”

Keylee was now awake enough to swallow his angered reply.  Terran was a Facilitator, bonded to one of the weakest registered Users, but still, he knew what the pull felt like – knew that at the end of the day, there was no choice.  It didn’t matter if Evan or Paul wanted him.  Hell, it didn’t even matter if Keylee wanted Paul (something no one had even thought to ask him).  Instead of arguing further, Keylee got back to the reason a very pissed off Terran was slapping him awake at four fucking thirty in the morning.  Terran had said something about Paul’s sister and if Helen was contacting him then he could only assume something was going on with Paul.  “What did Helen want?”

“Helen?”  Terran grunted in disgust.  “Miss Stein called and said you need to get to the hospital ASAP.  I’ve no fucking idea why.  All she said was a car was already on its way and to come get your ass out of bed.”

Keylee highly doubted Helen Stein had used those exact words, but the sentiment was the same regardless.  Standing only in his boxers, Keylee quickly darted to the end of his bed, throwing open the government regulated chest and pulling on the same government provided gray sweatshirt and jeans.  Never once looking in Terran’s direction, Keylee tried ignoring the eyes he felt leering at him as he dressed. 

He’d no more gotten his shoes on when car lights flashed through the dormitory windows.  Without a backward glance in Terran’s direction and ignoring the litany of foul curses coming from his corrupt mouth, Keylee hauled ass out of the dorm and into the back of the same car he’d crawled out of a little over four hours earlier.  He wasn’t even that surprised that it was the same shot of white hair sitting behind the wheel.  Keylee wasn’t the only one who’d gotten gipped on sleep that night. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

As soon as the elevator doors opened on Paul’s floor, Keylee knew something was wrong.  If the instant heat wasn’t the first indicator, then the papers blowing around the hall and the loud voices he heard coming from the end of it were.  Picking up his pace, Keylee all but ran down the hall, busting through the door and landing in the middle of a chaotic nightmare. 

“Give him more!  What the hell am I paying you for if you can’t even manage to sedate my son.”  Evan Stein’s voice was beyond angry, heavy frustration curling its way around the edges. 

“Sir, he’s fighting the drugs too much.  I’ve already given him more than is healthy.  Your son doesn’t need more drugs.  What he needs is his Facilitator.”  Keylee recognized Healer Talbot’s voice.

“My son doesn’t have a Facilitator,” Evan ground out.

“Stop being so stubborn, Father.  I’ve already called for Keylee, he should be – “

“Keylee Donavan is not Paul’s Facilitator!  I will not allow it.”

“It’s not up to you to decide that, Mr. Stein.”  Keylee was surprised when it was Healer Talbot’s Facilitator, David who spoke up.

“Like hell.  You’re a Facilitator so do your damn job.”

“I am a bound Healer Facilitator.”  Pointing down on Paul’s agitated body, David leaned closer toward Evan.  “I’ve never felt something like this, even when I was still in training.  Feeling this, I can’t believe Keylee managed to dissipate it the first time but if he did then you better pray he’s strong enough to do it again.  That level of unmitigated power could kill him, especially since they’re not bound yet.  You need to wrap your head around that fact and accept it.”

“That boy is not my son’s Facilitator.”  Evan leaned into David’s personal space, traces of spittle settling on David’s skin.

Ignoring the wetness on his face and the angry Stein pressing his boundaries, David looked Evan in the eye, his words chilling in the overheated room.  “Emily, call quarantine and let them know we have incoming.  Evacuate all unnecessary personnel on Level B2.  Please also alert the morgue to expect another body tonight, although I’ve no idea if there will be anything left of Paul’s flesh beyond ash.”

“What the hell are you doing?”  Evan’s voice roared through the room.

“He’s doing what’s necessary,” Healer Talbot was already turning, both he and David releasing the wheel brakes holding Paul’s bed in place.  “You’ve made your decision and now we must make ours.  Even if Keylee were here, at this point asking him to try dissipating this level of power could likely lead to his death.  I’ll not have that sitting on my conscience.”

Despite the heat, Helen felt her skin go cold and clammy, her mind whirling and crashing with the impossible pain of the situation.  “T-there has to be something.  There has to be more – “

“There’s only so much I’m capable of doing and we’re wasting time.”  Healer Talbot tore off his sweat soaked white coat.  “The whole floor’s going to be a towering inferno within the next five minutes if not sooner.  I can’t risk the other patients in this hospital for one man – not even a Stein.”

Listening to the surreal and impossible conversation was like torture to Keylee.  Inside his body, inside his soul, his heart was crying.  Unbelievable pressure built within his chest as his eyes stared down on the writhing body of his User. 

His User.

Those words floated through Keylee’s mind, building steam with each and every passing second.  Paul didn’t know it.  Evan didn’t believe it.  Keylee didn’t doubt it.  Paul Stein was his User, his other half, the one he was meant to go through life with, the one single soul born to this planet that he could never abandon.  There was no choice.  Whether it destroyed him or not, Keylee would not allow Paul to be taken to quarantine, sealed within a fireproof room until the untamed power within consumed him.    

Tuning out everyone and everything else in the room, Keylee focused on the only thing that mattered – Paul.  Sometimes being smaller than the general population had its advantages and this was one of those times.  While everyone else was staring the other down and arguing, Keylee slid past, unobserved by all but David and Helen. 

This close, Keylee could feel the power building – wild, untamed and reckless as it desperately looked for an outlet, a way of breaking free.  They’d put restraints on Paul but Keylee was at a loss as to what good they thought that would do knowing Paul’s affinity for fire.  Maybe it was just to keep him from ripping out the IV line, maybe it was to keep him on the bed.  Keylee didn’t know.  What he did know was that Paul wasn’t fully awake yet, not that he thought it would matter even if he were.  Keylee doubted Paul would have any more control over his gifts fully conscious or not, at least not at this moment.  Regardless, Paul was stuck somewhere in a state of semi consciousness and he was a loose cannon. 

Pulling in a deep breath, Keylee ignored the knowledge that if this didn’t kill him it was going to hurt – a lot.  The chakra lines crisscrossing his body had faded but doing this again, so close to his last User purging wasn’t smart.  If Paul weren’t his destined User, there would likely be no chance of survival.  Unfortunately, what it also was, was necessary.  Accepting the pain to come, Keylee reached out, opening up his chakra channels and pulling the rampaging power pushing at Paul’s body into his own – twisting, taming and dispersing it. 

The noises around him were nothing but a background hum against the fire licking through his body.  Somewhere Keylee thought he heard a scream and wondered at the fact that it probably came from him.  But there was little to be done about it.  On and on it came, pulsing through his body while his Facilitator nature did what it was born to do.  Now on his knees, Keylee stayed connected to Paul, to his User as he drained everything he could.  Only when there was nothing but banked coals and a whispering breeze floating through Paul’s body did Keylee cut the connection.  The last thing he remembered seeing were the wheels of Paul’s hospital bed, little dust bunnies clinging to the metal as charred linoleum floor kissed his cheeks. 

Chapter Five

“This can’t be happening.  It’s a nightmare, Helen.  It has to be.”  Paul looked down on his hands, patchwork pink dotting here and there where new skin formed and healed.  Turning his palms upward did little to improve the view.  “I’m a fucking Stein.  A Stein!” Paul’s voice grew in volume, “I do not need a fucking Facilitator.”

“Paul – “

“No!  Don’t you dare use that voice on me.  There has to be some kind of a mistake.  I mean,” Paul licked his cracked lips, “I may not have as good of control as I should, but – “

“If Key hadn’t been there, you would be dead, Paul.  There is no getting around it.  And not only you but there’s a high likelihood others would be too.  This is not just a matter of needing more practice or better concentration.”  Helen knew her brother would be upset, would deny his need but she would not let him do this.  Not to her and not to Keylee. 

Fingers curving into tight fists, Paul turned from his sister, his hazel eyes tracking to the single window in the room.  From what he’d been told, the room he was in now wasn’t the one he’d been recovering in previously.  According to Helen, that room would need extensive remodeling as the floor was completely unsalvageable.  

Seeing Paul’s increasing stubbornness, Helen walked a few paces to a nearby chair, pulling it closer to her brother’s bedside.  Tucking a stray piece of crimson hair behind her ear, Helen scooted closer, reaching for her brother’s fisted hand and tightening her own grip around it.  “I knew something was wrong.  I’ve known for years.  I was too busy, or at least I thought I was, to take the time to push you on it.  When you were little . . . when you were young . . . it shouldn’t hurt, Paul.  Or at least it should never have hurt that badly.  Father said – “

“Father took care of it.”

“But he didn’t, did he?”

Paul was silent, his eyes staring into the sunlit sky beyond the window, his mind not only absent from the room, but the date – traveling back thirteen years.  “Father can accuse me of not learning my lessons well, but that was one I never forgot.”

“Oh Paul.”  Helen felt something in her soul shrivel up and die.  She was seven years older than her brother and even at the tender age of fourteen had been deep into her own training.  Helen had always loved Paul and thought herself a good sister, but events of late indicated she hadn’t been the sibling she’d thought.   

Swallowing past her grief and guilt, Helen attempted to push the past behind her.  There was nothing she could do to help a seven-year-old Paul, but there was a hell of a lot she could do for the twenty year old one lying in the hospital bed before her.  “And before the exam started, you were afraid, weren’t you?  You could have told me.  You – “

“Told you?”  Paul’s head whipped around, the outside view now moot.  “My perfect, Stein sister?  My God, Helen,” Paul’s exasperation sang through the room, shocking Helen in its animosity.  “You are everything I want to be, everything I’m supposed to be.  Tell you I was afraid of losing control?  Tell the person I admire the most, the one I want so badly to be like . . . you ask the impossible.”

“I am far from perfect, Paul.”

“Not in Father’s eyes,” Paul answered, his voice little more than that of a lost boy desiring the one thing he could never have.  “Has he even been here to visit me?”  Paul shook his head.  “You don’t need to answer, I already know.”

“Father’s eyes are clouded and see only what he desires.”  Helen knew the strain of growing up under the Stein family name, knew it and both despised and cherished it in equal measure.  “Paul, you have an opportunity to be so much more than I could ever be.”

Paul gave a grunt of derision and disbelief. 

Giving her brother’s hand another squeeze, Helen ordered, “Paul, look at me.”

No more able to deny his sister now than before, Paul did as asked, turning his head, gaze barely tilted up enough to make eye contact.  For Helen it was enough.

“Would it surprise you to know I’m jealous of you?”

In answer Paul rolled his eyes while trying to pull his hands free. 

“Have I ever, in all the years you’ve known me, lied to you?”  Helen asked in a voice forged of steel. 

Instantly Paul stilled before shaking his head and whispering a muted, “No.”

“No, at least not about anything this important.  So, I want you to listen and listen well.  Everyone holds the Stein Caste in such high regard, foolishly considering us as superior to other Users.  The fact that we don’t need a Facilitator, that we have enough control over our own abilities that we require no one else to use them . . . but it’s not true, Paul.  All that makes us is incredibly lonely and emotionally stunted.  I’ve been a licensed User for a little over seven years and do you know what that time has taught me?”

Paul shook his head, for the first time genuinely interested.

“That we aren’t the lucky ones.  In fact, the Stein’s should be pitied, not revered.”  Finally releasing her brother’s hand, Helen leaned back in her hospital chair, allowing the full weight of the past few years to show in her emerald eyes.  “Everything I do, I do alone.  I go to work alone.  I handle cases alone.  I go home alone.  There is no one to share the burden of my abilities with, no one that understands in their soul what it’s like to be me – the weight of responsibility I carry day in and day out.”  Helen’s eyes closed, her lids fluttering with moisture.  “Destiny didn’t see fit to give me a Facilitator and I hate her for it.  I would give anything to be where you are, to have been given Keylee.”

Paul swallowed, the shock of Helen’s words unsettling him.  “But Father – “

“Fuck Father.  Fuck all the Steins.”  Helen’s eyes flew open, green fire burning deep within. 

“Never thought I’d agree with a Stein,” Max’s raspy voice echoed into the room pulling two sets of eyes toward him.  “Life’s strange like that. ” Max continued while walking further into the room, an unlit cigarette precariously dangling from his lips.  “Seems I’m learning all kinds of new things today.”

“User Haines,” Helen started to get up in greeting.

“Helen,” Max nodded, his hand waving Helen to stay seated before turning his attention to Paul, his eyes narrowed as they traveled over the youngest Stein’s blotchy pink skin and bald head.  “Looks like you managed to do a number on yourself but it’s good to see the Healers have set you to rights.”

Paul had met Maxwell Haines only once but heard his name spoken hundreds if not thousands of times in his life.  While his father’s voice had always been laced with derision when speaking Maxwell’s name, every other teacher he’d had spoke of User Haines with barely disguised fear.  Not because they actually feared the man anymore, but more what had happened to him.  The story of Maxwell Haines’ life was a tale told around midnight campfires.  Paul wasn’t sure which parts of what he’d heard were fact or fiction, what he did know was that Maxwell Haines was little more than a normal human after what Jeremiah Induwe had done to him and that fact shot sheer terror through almost every User. 

“How’s Keylee doing?” Helen asked.  “Is Mathis still with him?”

“Last I knew Keylee was still asleep.  Mathis will be sticking by his side until he wakes up and probably after that too,” Max sighed before pulling the unlit cigarette from his mouth and twirling it between his fingers.  He would need to head outside to the designated smoking corner pretty soon or else risk losing what little sanity he had left. 

Keylee or Key as Helen had called him once or twice, it was a name Paul heard repeatedly, the name of his supposed Facilitator and Paul knew next to nothing about him.  Having grown up a Stein and assuming he’d never have need of one, Paul knew next to nothing about Facilitators and their given Castes.  Was his Facilitator from a well-respected Caste?  Or was he one of the outliers – someone born to normal humans but somehow having their Facilitator gene turned on. 

More curious now that he’d gotten over the first of his shock, Paul finally asked, “This Keylee, you claim he’s my Facilitator?  Does he have a last name?”

The silence meeting Paul’s question combined with Helen suddenly shifting in her seat and Max’s tightened lips made Paul’s stomach drop.  “Helen?”

Hands tightening down on her slacks, Helen took a moment to collect herself.  Paul’s question indicated a hesitant acceptance of his new world but her next revelation could easily derail the progress they’d made. 

“He does have a last name, doesn’t he?”  Paul pushed, his anxiety increasing. 

“Yes.  Of course he does, it’s just – “

“Donavan,” Max cut to the chase.  “Keylee Donavan is his name.”

The blood ran from Paul’s face, his jaw slack in disbelief before anger and shame washed through him.  He may not know much about Facilitator Caste’s but one didn’t need a lot of knowledge to know the last name of Donavan.  “No.”

“Paul,” Helen’s voice pleaded.

“No!”  Head snapping toward his sister, Paul let the grief-riddled anger he’d been suppressing rise to the surface.  “Donavan?  You honestly expect me to bond not only with a Facilitator but a traitorous one?”  Paul wasn’t sure how many more hits his pride could take but this was the final straw.  Pointing a finger in Max’s direction, Paul kept his eyes on Helen as he raged.  “Just ask him.  Ask Maxwell Haines about Maggie Donavan and then you tell me again how damn lucky I am.”

At Paul’s prejudiced rant, Helen felt her own power licking underneath her skin.  Locking down her growing anger, Helen stared down her brother.  “Paul.  You have no idea what happened, what Keylee has done for you.  Do not speak of things you don’t yet have a full understanding of.”

“Things I don’t understand?  I just heard that I’m supposed to put my life in the hands of Maggie Donavan’s offspring and that’s all you have to say?  She killed her User, Helen.  She betrayed Jeremiah Induwe and murdered him.  She swore a vow to protect and cherish him.  She was even pregnant with his child at the time.”  Head down and shaking, Paul sneered, “Unbelievable.”

“Paul – “

Max cleared his throat, grabbing both Stein’s attention.  “Seems to me you asked your sister to question me about Maggie and Jeremiah.  You still want to hear my opinion or are you content to stew in your own cock-sure ideas?”

Paul was incredulous.  “Don’t tell me you’re going to stand there and defend what she did.”

Pulling his lips down tight, Max crushed the still unlit cigarette in his hand.  “No.  Or at least I’m not going to discuss what happened with Keylee’s parents beyond the fact that I want you to sit there and think on what you would have preferred she’d done.  Maggie made a choice, a choice I wish she’d made sooner but at the end of the day I can’t go back in time and change things any more than Keylee can.  What I can and will speak of is her son.”  Sucking in a deep breath, Max ran his fingers over his thick beard, pulling the strands in an almost painful manner.  With a muted, “Fuck,” Max pulled his hand away from his face and shoved both fists deep into the pockets of his pants.  “It’s no secret I can hardly stand to look at him.  Keylee looks too damn much like his father and I’ve done nothing but punish him, in my own way, these past twenty years.  I didn’t trust him, couldn’t stand the sight of him or listen to Mathis talk about him.  But those are my sins and I’ll have to find a way to both deal and live with them because my eyes got a damn good opening these past few days.”

Eyes widening, Paul watched Max take two steps forward, his massive frame now looming over the foot of his bed.  “Facilitators protect their User’s – both physically and mentally.  They are loyal until death and make no mistake, Paul Stein, your fated Facilitator nearly died yesterday saving your life.  I may not have been there, but I’ve heard the stories, seen what’s left of your room and what’s left of Keylee.  The floor beside your bed?  Burnt nearly through to the level below it.  The two of your aren’t fully bonded yet and your father’s been all up in Keylee’s face telling him how he’ll never be fully bonded to you and yet he knew, as all Facilitators do, that you belong to him.  If he’d been wrong, he’d be dead.  If he’d listened to your father, you’d be dead.  But Keylee listened to what his heart and instincts were telling him and yesterday he dissipated so much damn energy from you that the only way he could dispel it all was to push your fire down and out of his body, taming it enough to burn through the soles of his feet and through the floor instead of lighting up the whole damn hospital wing.  Healer Talbot worked all damn night on Keylee’s feet but there’s nothing he can do for the burnt out chakra pathways.  The fuckers are lit up all over his body, even across his face.”

Max pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket, forcing one out into shaky fingers.  “Christ, do you even know what kind of trauma it takes to light up the chakra pathways on a Facilitator’s face?  Mathis says he’s never seen it before, doesn’t even know how Keylee managed to live through it.  Healer Talbot says they’ll heal at their own pace and fade but Mathis says when he does wake up his skin’s gonna feel like a million ants are crawling underneath it and there’s nothing the Healer’s can do.”

Popping the cigarette in and out of his mouth, Max fidgeted and was a heartbeat away from saying to hell with hospital policy and lighting up.  Finally pulling it out again, Max ran a hand back over his beard.  “You want loyalty?  You want a Facilitator that’d die for you?  Then get your ass over to Keylee Donavan’s room and bend over and kiss his blistered feet.  As far as I’m concerned he’s too good for the likes of a Stein.” 

Shoving the cigarette back in his mouth, Max ignored Paul’s open mouth stare and instead nodded his head once in Helen’s direction.  “Be seeing you, Helen.”

With that, Maxwell Haines walked out the door in his quest to actually find the outside corner smokers were relegated to, never once glancing at the carnage he’d left behind.  Never in his life would Max have believed he’d be defending Keylee to anyone, let alone a Stein.  Karma wasn’t just a bitch, she was a dirty, sneaky bitch as far as Max was concerned.

Chapter Six

“State your business Evan or get out of this room.  Keylee’s been through enough.”  Mathis couldn’t believe Evan Stein dared show his face in this room, especially after he heard what the man had said in his own son’s room.  Shifting his eyes back toward Keylee, Mathis still couldn’t completely comprehend what he was looking at – neon blue and magenta lines crookedly crisscrossing all over Keylee’s body, including his face.  They were even covering Keylee’s closed eyelids.  Mathis couldn’t even begin to fathom the pain and that was saying nothing about the burnt flesh on Keylee’s feet. 

Instead of answering, Evan moved further into the room, prompting Mathis to raise his head.  Opening his mouth to issue yet another warning, Mathis snapped it shut when he took the time to really look at Evan.  “Well, at least you look like shit too.”

Evan’s eyes narrowed, the grooves etching through his aged skin deeper and far more shadowed than usual.  “The past seventy-two hours have been trying, even for me.”  Stepping even closer, Evan’s eyes scanned the listless body resting below pristine white sheets.  “Are they drugging him?”

“No.”

Evan’s eyes snapped up, meeting Mathis’ angered ones.  “But I’d heard he hasn’t woken yet.”

“You heard correctly, although why the medical staff here is telling you anything is beyond me.  You aren’t family and you sure as hell aren’t considered a friend.”  Mathis made a mental note to speak with Healer Talbot and see what he could do about getting Keylee a little more medical privacy. 

“I’m Paul’s father,” Evan said as if it explained everything.

“Not a good enough reason, especially when you’ve been doing nothing but denying the fact Keylee is Paul’s Facilitator.”  Anger licked at Mathis’ words, giving them a force and will of their own.  Mentally Mathis geared up for the verbal battle he was sure would ensue.  Evan Stein had never shied away from a fight – verbal or otherwise, and so the ensuing silence unnerved him more than vitriolic words ever could. 

Evan wanted to rail, wanted to scream, rant and deny but he couldn’t.  Not anymore.  Like almost every other Stein, Evan never had need of a Facilitator.  He’d been in situations where he was forced to work with other User’s and their Facilitators, so he’d seen the mechanics of it, or at least seen the results of that almost symbiotic relationship.  But he would never truly be able to understand it at its most basic and intimate level.  What Keylee had done for his son truly confused him.  

More than once Evan had wondered at the relationship between User’s and Facilitators.  On the surface, it appeared as if it were a rather once sided experience.  Facilitators didn’t truly need User’s, not like their counterparts needed them anyway.   For all practical purposes, Facilitators could simply walk away and lead a normal, if rather dull human life.  But that’s not what they did.  Instead, Facilitators were taken from their families at the age of seven and spent thirteen long years training their bodies and minds for what was to come.  And when they met their User’s, when they recognized those that were meant for them . . . there was only one emotion – joy. 

What did Facilitators get out of the whole thing?  Evan could only shake his head and wonder.  Never a religious man, Evan didn’t know what it was.  Some thought it Fate, others God and some simply thought it was an oddity of Nature herself.  But for whatever reasons, Facilitators craved their User counterparts.  Everyone spoke of the code, the rules and traditions that bound Facilitators to Users – that created culture of unfaltering loyalty, but he doubted Facilitators really needed the uttered oath.  Evan doubted the spoken words were little more than tradition at this point – unnecessary verbal attachments with more sentimental meaning than actual merit.  There was something soul deep in Facilitators, something that wouldn’t allow them to walk away.  Something that couldn’t be scientifically measured.  Something that could never be broken.  And contrary to what he’d thought, Keylee Donavan was no different. 

Staring down at the mesmerizing lines etching their way across visible skin, Evan could barely believe the words he was about to speak.  He didn’t relish the coming tongue lashing from his mother, but she hadn’t seen what he had, what he now understood.  And despite what everyone, including his own daughter seemed to think; Evan did not value his family name and reputation over the life of his son.  He would do everything in his power to preserve both, but there came a time when one had to chose, and he was choosing his son.  “Helen has informed me Paul’s awake and should be discharged from the hospital within a matter of days.  As soon as Keylee is strong enough I will schedule their bonding ceremony.” 

Mathis couldn’t help the small intake of breath hissing through his teeth.  “You’ll no longer deny him?”

“No, although I can not speak for my son.  Regardless, Paul has no choice in the matter.  Helen is with him now.”  Evan’s mouth twisted down with irritation.  “Paul has always had a weakness for his sister.  Helen can be rather . . . convincing when she wishes.  I’ve decided to leave the task of discussing the matter to her.”

“That’s twice in one day I’m agreeing with a Stein,” Max grunted in disbelief while walking through the door of Keylee’s hospital room.  “Hell has past the point of freezing over and is in a full blown ice age by this point.”  Striding across the room, Max eased up behind his bond-mate, leaning over and placing a kiss on Mathis’ temple.  “Any change?”

“No,” Mathis felt the tension in his muscles dissipate.  He’d been a ball of nerves ever since being notified about what had happened to Keylee.  Walking in and finding Key in his current state had not increased his level of calm.  Evan waltzing into the room had only wound him up further.  The scent of cigarette smoke filtered into Mathis’ nose.  “You’ve been smoking again,” he couldn’t help but scold.  It was an old argument, one Mathis doubted he’d ever win but one he refused to give up on.

Ignoring both the taunt and Evan Stein, Max looked down on Keylee.  Of course the boy had never been tall, but lying in that hospital bed made him seem downright miniscule.  “Probably for the best.”  And unfortunately Max knew that from experience.  He still woke up screaming some nights, the remembered pain of his own chakra pathways being intentionally burned beyond repair.  Max had woken up in the hospital completely pain free – no discomfort, no ants running under his skin and that had been the worst feeling in the world.  Jeremiah hadn’t just attacked his chakra system, he’d annihilated it.  Keylee would be in a hell of a lot of discomfort when he woke up, but at least he’d still have his chakra system.  In time, he’d heal.  Max wouldn’t. 

“I’ll speak with Healer Talbot about medicating him,” Evan broke in.  “I’ve already changed Keylee’s medical records to reflect that he is under the Stein Caste.  We will be covering all his medical costs from here on.”

Well, that explained why Evan was getting information regarding Keylee’s health, Mathis thought, the idea not sitting well with him. 

“Drugs and Healers don’t work on chakra pathways.”  Max’s voice was emotionless.  “Keylee’s on his own on this one.”

Silence crept into the room again, the gentle beep of Keylee’s heart monitor and whirl of his IV pump the only sound.  Grinding his teeth together Evan thought on Max’s words and could only give a brief nod. 

“He’s strong,” Mathis felt the need to say.

Max gave a grunt of agreement.  He hated to admit it, but most likely Keylee was stronger than anyone he’d ever met.  He’d had to be. 

“I’ve left my number with the hospital staff although Helen will most likely be easier to reach should one of us be needed.  Helen is determined to stay until Paul is up and walking and most likely at this point she’ll want to stay for the bonding ceremony as well.”  Head shaking, Evan still couldn’t understand it.  “Waste of talent and time in my opinion but since my daughter cares little for that at this moment, I will simply have to do my best to ensure the ceremony happens as soon as possible so she can get back to more important things.”

Mathis clamped his mouth shut on the litany of remarks he desperately wanted to say to Evan Stein.  Small victories were important and he’d had one today.  Actually, Evan Stein coming around to accepting Keylee wasn’t small, it was gigantic. 

“I’m assuming you’ll want to be at the ceremony as well.”  It was a statement, not a question and was said in the most put upon manner Evan could manage.  “I’ll have Helen inform you of the details when I have them.” 

Mathis wanted to roll his eyes but was too fascinated by the fact Evan was now looking back at Keylee with something bordering on affection, or at the very least gratitude.  Mathis never would have wished this road on Maggie’s son, never would have wanted Keylee to be bonded to a Stein and have to deal with the bullshit that came with it, but he would do everything in his power to help Key through it.

Tracking Evan’s path out of the room and through the door, Max rested his hand on Mathis’ shoulder, kneading the flesh beneath his fingers.  “This day’s been all kinds of fucked up.  Up’s down and right’s left.  You do realize that, don’t you?”

Mathis leaned back into the touch, loving the feel of those strong fingers digging into his muscle.  “Evan said Paul’s awake.  Did you get a chance to talk with him?”

“Talk with him?  No.  Talk at him, yes,” Max answered, his fingers digging in deeper and working at a particularly stubborn knot he could feel. 

“That good, huh?”

Max paused.  After speaking with Paul he’d gone out for a smoke, his mind replaying what had and hadn’t been said.  He couldn’t blame Paul for his reaction regarding Keylee.  Max wasn’t that hypocritical.  But what he could do was try and stop a repeat of his own ignorance.  He wasn’t sure what Paul’s next move might be, but he thought there was hope.  Mentally grunting, Max wondered at his use of that word.  He’d given up on hope a long time ago.  Perhaps it was time to give the concept another shot.  With that in mind, Max nodded his head, an action Mathis couldn’t see.  “I think he’ll come around.  Given time.”

Mathis let loose a sigh.  “I don’t think time is something we have in abundance.  Keylee managed to survive, this time, but you and I both know Paul’s only going to get stronger.  All Users do as they age and given what we’ve already heard and seen, the thought of Paul Stein gaining in strength is frightening.  If Paul has another uncontrolled build-up of power before they’re fully bonded . . . my God, Max.  I don’t think Keylee could handle another one, not like this.  It will do more than burn through his chakra system.  It’ll kill him.”

Max couldn’t disagree.  “And he’ll literally run into the fire willingly.  Keylee won’t think twice about putting his life in danger if it means protecting Paul.”

“Someone who doesn’t even want or appreciate him,” Mathis’ lamented.

“He will.”  Mathis sounded so sure.  “He’ll learn to cherish him.  All Users do.”

Reaching up, Mathis laid his hand over Max’s and squeezed.  No matter their disagreements over Keylee, Max’s smoking or anything else, Mathis never doubted the love and devotion of the man hovering behind him.  Max may not be able to use his powers anymore, but Mathis would always be his Facilitator.  Mathis would always protect his User, his bond-mate and his lover. 

________________________________________________________________________________________

Whose alarm is that?  Keylee’s mind was irritated, the constant, steady beep going off somewhere close by annoying in its consistency and persistence.  I’ll bet it’s Charlie’s.  He’s always forgetting to turn it off.  Keylee tried raising an arm, determined to throw a pillow at the damn thing.  He’d done it before and sometimes knocking it off the stand was enough to shut it up.  But when he tried to move, nothing happened. 

What the?  Besides the lack of use of his body, something else was nagging at Keylee’s mind.  The more he focused on it, that beep didn’t sound like Charlie’s alarm.  It didn’t sound like any of the boys’ alarms.  Drawing in a deep breath, Keylee groaned at the ache it caused, but that ache wasn’t just in his chest, it was . . . everywhere. 

“Fuck,” that single word was a whisper as it passed through Keylee’s lips, his eyes slowly fluttering open then slamming shut when the sting of fluorescent lights burned into his retinas. 

“Don’t try and move too much.”

Who the hell was that?  It wasn’t a voice Keylee recognized and he was sure he’d remember that sound.  Desperately blinking his eyes in an effort to adjust to the lighting, Keylee took another deep breath. He didn’t recognize where he was and he for sure didn’t recognize the odd smells entering his body. 

“Healer Talbot says your chakra pathways are shot to hell.”  Keylee heard a disgruntled huff.  “Your body looks like a damn lightening storm.  Even the chakra lines on your face are lit up.”

On his face?  To Keylee’s knowledge that had never happened before.  Swallowing through the arid dessert of his throat, Keylee finally got his eyelids open long enough to get a look at where he was, but the flickering lights above his head didn’t really clue him in.  “W-where am I?”

“Don’t remember much?  Guess it’s to be expected after what you pulled.”  Keylee heard the scrape of a chair and felt his muscles tense, which only sent a fresh wave of agony spiraling through him. 

“I thought I told you not to move.”  The gruff voice sounded arrogant in its condescension.  “Your masochistic tendencies are something else we’re going to have to talk about and trust me, we don’t need to be adding a damn thing to that list.” 

For a minute Keylee thought he needed to ask his question again, but the person, now closer, sighed deeply before finally cluing him in.  “You’re in the hospital after doing something really stupid.”

“Stupid?” Keylee croaked out.

There was a long pause before an even longer drawn out, “Yeah,” whispered through the room.  “Something else you and I are going to need to discuss.  Eventually.”

Whoever this guy was, he seemed to think he and Keylee had some type of future relationship.  “Who . . . Who are you?”

“Me?”  There was another grunt of something close to derision.  “Now, there’s a good question.  I thought I was a Stein, but recent events might prove otherwise.  Besides questioning my parentage, I’m the guy you saved – twice.”

“Paul?” The word was little more than a choked whisper.

Another soul weary sigh slipped into Keylee’s ears before Paul finally answered, “Yeah.  In the flesh, or at least what’s left of it.”

Once again Keylee tried opening his eyes, but the bright lights burned too much and he snapped them closed before catching even the barest glint of his User. 

Easily catching the action and the flinch of pain, Paul asked, “You want me to turn down the lights?”

“P-please.”  Keylee’s arid throat didn’t seem to be working any better than the rest of him.  Now a little more awake and aware, the constant tingling in his skin was becoming increasingly distracting and uncomfortable.  Keylee felt like something was crawling just under the surface, scurrying too and fro – like an itch he couldn’t scratch and would slowly drive him insane. 

“Okay, lights are off so you can try again.”

Cracking his lids ever so slowly, Keylee was relieved by the shadowed light barely illuminating his room.  Still, even the low level of light was a little uncomfortable, keeping him from fully opening his lids.

“Better?”

“A little,” Keylee managed to squeak out. 

“But still not great?”  Paul was truly puzzled.  Sure Keylee’d been asleep for a little over thirty-six hours and it was understandable just opening his eyes to the glare of fluorescence would be a little jarring at first, but it shouldn’t be this uncomfortable, especially with the lights dimmed to barely a glow.  “Should I get the Healer?”

Keylee barely shook his head, any further movement far too painful.  “N-no.”  A dry, searing cough tore through his throat.  “F-fuck,” Keylee wheezed before slamming his teeth shut against the agonized words desperate for release.  Finally when he thought he could manage it, Keylee asked, “W-water?”

“Shit,” Paul scolded himself.  “Should have thought of that.”  Quickly pouring a shallow glass, Paul shoved a straw in it.  “You probably shouldn’t be laying flat on your back if you’re going to try and drink.  I’m going to raise up your bed if that’s okay.”

Keylee wasn’t sure if it would be okay or not, but right now he thought he’d do just about anything to get a drink of water and so with a slight nod of his head, Keylee heard the automatic hiss of the bed as it began raising his head and torso.  Mentally cursing when his automatic muscle clenching sent shards of pain racing through his body, Keylee forced his muscles to relax.  Only then did the agony recede back into the infuriating hum he was growing accustomed to. 

“That should be enough.”  Paul stopped the bed’s movement.  “I doubt this stuff’s very cold, but maybe that’s good.  I’m no Healer or human doctor, but I’m guessing they’d tell you to take little sips.”

Keylee felt his eyelids shutter closed as his lips clenched over the straw, ignoring Paul’s words and sucking down the lukewarm fluid.  Almost immediately another coughing fit ensued. 

“Fuck, you are going to be a handful.”  Paul’s voice sounded angry to Keylee’s ears.  “Just what I need, a Facilitator that’s got some type of death wish.  As if this whole situation isn’t fucked up enough as it is.”

Distantly Keylee wondered if Paul’s words and tone should upset him.  Emotionally numb, all Keylee could manage was a slight tilt of his head, his slightly shuttered eyes finally tracking toward the man he’d moved Heaven and Earth to preserve.  Through the dim light Keylee was able to see Paul was looking much better than the last time he’d seen him.  Although pinker than it should be, Paul’s skin looked relatively uniform, the patchwork quality of late now gone.  Balder than a newborn babe, the top of Paul’s bent head glistened in the low light.  Hunched over as he was, that was all Keylee could see of his User. 

Another heavy sigh permeated the room, Paul’s long fingers running over the smooth planes of his head.  “I have no – “ Paul’s words came to a sudden stop, his head lifting and his gaze finally zeroing in on Keylee.  “Oh my God.  What did you do to your eyes?”  Scooting to the end of his chair, Paul’s fingers wrapped around Keylee’s chin, forcing his head up and tilting his face so he could get a better look at Keylee’s eyes before suddenly releasing him once realization settled in. 

Head now pounding even worse with the unnecessary treatment, Keylee could only blink and stare.  “What – “

“Your eyes,” Paul waved a hand in Keylee’s general direction.  “I didn’t even know there were chakra pathways in the eyes.  No wonder they’re so damn sensitive.”

“My eyes?” Keylee’s voice sounded strange even to his own ears.  “I’ve got chakra lines running through my eyes?”

Paul could only nod.  “I wonder if Healer Talbot knows about this?”

Keylee didn’t know and couldn’t answer.  What he did know was he wanted more water and managed to say just as much. 

Refilling the glass Paul held the straw to Keylee’s lips again, a stern, “This time take it slow,” his condition. 

Learning his lesson from the first time, Keylee did as told and took small sips.  The water burned, but soothed also. 

“I’ll ask about some ice chips too.  The ones they brought in earlier have already melted.”  Sitting back in his chair, Paul set the glass down on a side table.  “I’m surprised Mathis let them melt.  The man’s been sitting by your side the whole damn time, fussing over you and making sure everything would be ready when you woke up.”

“Mathis has been here?”  Keylee took it as a victory when all his words came out without catching in his throat.

“You sound surprised.  From what I understand, you shouldn’t be.  It took Max forever to get him to finally take a break.  Mathis is going to be pissed when he finds out you actually woke up when he was gone.  Most likely Max is going to catch hell of it, but the man was right.  Mathis needed a break, a shower and some decent food.”

Keylee took a moment to wonder at the fact Max had been there too, but if Mathis had really been there as long as Paul was saying then it made sense.  A stab of guilt etched its way through Keylee’s gut at the knowledge he’d been such a bother, especially to Max. 

“Speaking of food, are you hungry?”  Before Keylee could answer, Paul shook his head and rescinded the offer.  “Probably should get Healer Talbot’s okay on that first.  I can’t think of a reason why you can’t eat, but he’s the expert, not me.  I’ll go get a nurse or something.”

“Paul, I’m fine.”

Even in the dim light Keylee could see the muscles in Paul’s shoulders tense, his head hung low while an angrily mumbled, “You are not fine,” slipped past his lips.  “You are as far from fine as one can get and still be alive.”  The anger was building, leaking into the words and smothering them.  “What in the hell were you thinking?  You’re damn lucky to still be alive and even luckier your chakra pathways are still working well enough to hurt.”

What was he thinking?  The answer was simple, Keylee hadn’t been thinking, at least not with his head.  “You’re my User.”  They were the only words Keylee knew to say and as far as he was concerned, they explained everything. 

But Paul’s fingers clenched down into tight fists, his voice silent. 

“Are you going to deny it?”  There was no emotion in Keylee’s voice, nothing but emptiness, as if the answer was a forgone conclusion, only the actual words missing. 

“I believe that ship has sailed.  But just because I can’t deny it doesn’t mean I want it, that I want you.” 

Keylee mentally flinched, years of practice absorbing the cruelty of words his only defense.  “You may not want it or me, but that doesn’t matter.”

Paul laughed, the sound anything but jovial.  “No.  No it doesn’t.  Seems my father is even planning our bonding ceremony.  As soon as you’re able, it’ll happen.  It’s as if everyone is afraid I’ll loose control again.  They can’t wait to get me officially hitched to a Facilitator.”

Soft voices floated in from down the hall, growing louder as they came increasingly closer to Keylee’s room.  Without looking he recognized those voices and used the calming resonance of Mathis’ voice to drown out the choking pain of Paul’s words.  Staring into Paul’s cold, hazel eyes, Keylee allowed his own to slip closed as his mother’s dearest friend walked into the room.

“Max, I didn’t – “ Mathis’ voice died on his lips, his eyes quickly traveling between Paul and Keylee as realization dawned on him.  “You’re awake!”  Rushing into the room Mathis pointed an accusing finger in Paul’s direction.  “Why the hell didn’t you call me?  That was the agreement.  Don’t tell me Stein’s don’t know how to use a fucking phone.”

Without truly answering, Paul scooted his chair back, easily standing before moving toward the end of the bed.  “He’s been awake for a few minutes.  The ice chips are all melted.  I gave him some water to drink but that’s it.  He looked well enough so I didn’t think it was a rush to alert the nurses or Healer Talbot but when he does come in . . . “ Paul hesitated before throwing a quick glance over his shoulder in Keylee’s direction, “make sure he looks at his eyes.”

“His eyes?” Mathis questioned.  “What’s wrong with his eyes?”  But Paul was already walking out the door. 

“Let me or my father know when Keylee’s strong enough for the bonding ceremony.”  And with that Paul walked out the door, not even bothering to close it as he left. 

Silence descended upon the small room.  Keylee knew Mathis and Max had stayed, were in fact standing but a few feet away from his bed, but he didn’t bother opening his eyes.  One thing he could say for Paul’s visit, his User had managed to take his mind off his physical pain, replacing it with a different and more insidious kind of agony. 

“Keylee?”  Mathis’ voice was close, whisper soft against his charged skin. 

“Hmm?”

The dimness of the room finally registered with Mathis and while he wanted so badly to ask Keylee how his first meeting with Paul Stein had gone, Mathis was even more concerned by Paul’s parting words.  “Why does Paul want me to have the Healer look at your eyes?”

Deciding showing might be easier than telling, Keylee turned his head, ever so slightly parting his lids and allowing Mathis a good look. 

“Oh, God.”  Mathis took in a hissing breath.

“What?  What’s wrong?”  Max’s towering frame loomed over his bond-mate, his own intake of breath indicating he’d seen what Mathis had.  Finding his voice first, Max asked, “What does this mean?  Mathis?  You’re a Facilitator, is that what I think it is?”

Mathis just nodded, the action stilted at best.  “I . . . I think so.  Is that why the lights are so dim?”

“Yeah,” Keylee’s lids slipped shut again.  “I’m not sure if it’s related or not, but the light hurts.  I haven’t looked at myself in a mirror yet, but if Paul’s reaction and yours are any indication, they must look pretty horrific.”

Horrific wasn’t the word Mathis would use and when he glanced back at Max, he could tell that wasn’t the one he was thinking of either.  Bizarre, eerie, beautifully exotic . . . those were the words Mathis would use to describe the mix of electric blue and magenta chakra lines crisscrossing their way across Keylee’s already Caribbean blue orbs.  “I . . . I’m just worried what affect it will have and if they’ll fade as your chakra system heals itself.”

“They’re different, but that doesn’t automatically mean bad,” Max added.

But Keylee just turned his head and looked away, futilely trying to will the crawling feeling in his skin away.  “You wouldn’t think that the way Paul acted.”

Mathis stiffened and felt Max inch a little closer.  “What exactly did Paul Stein have to say?”

If it wouldn’t hurt so bad, Keylee would have shrugged.  “Nothing completely unexpected.  At least he’s willing to admit I’m his Facilitator.”

Bending his head, Mathis turned back to look at Max, a prematurely hopeful look on his face.  “Well, that sounds encouraging.”

“Yeah.  Only, he doesn’t want me.”

“Huh?” Max grunted.  “Don’t take it to heart, I doubt Paul Stein want’s a Facilitator at all.  He’d be bent out of shape no matter who it was.”

Keylee figured Max had a point, at least to a degree, but neither of them had been in the room.  They hadn’t heard Paul’s words, he didn’t just not want a Facilitator, Paul didn’t want Keylee.  He wasn’t kidding himself.  This had to be a major blow to Paul’s ego, or at least Keylee figured it was even though he honestly didn’t understand it and probably never would.  But just because he didn’t understand didn’t mean he couldn’t empathize.  Would Paul be quicker to accept him if his last name wasn’t Donavan?  Yeah, Keylee figured that particular question didn’t even bear a second of his time.  The answer was obvious.

“Keylee,” Mathis’ voice was soft, almost fragile in its kindness.  “I’m no fan of the Stein’s, in reality, most of the Gifted aren’t and not out of jealously like the Stein Caste seems to think.”

“Damn right,” Max agreed.

Turning his head, Mathis gave his bond mate a knowing smile.  “The Stein’s have long believed they are the way of the future, the perfected genetic specimen of Users.  They believe the rest of us are lesser, that we covet what they have and are afraid of them and the power they wield.  But this,” Mathis reached back, grabbing the hand on his shoulder and squeezing down tight, “is something they’ll never know and for that reason, most of us pity, not envy them.” 

Leaning back into Max’s touch, Mathis softly laughed, the sound pushing away some of the darkness that had descended on the room.  “Can you imagine what Evan would say to that?”

“Or Eva.  I’ve met Evan’s mother twice and that was two times too many.”  Max shook his head, memories of the matriarchal Stein something he only wished he could forget. 

“I don’t think Paul would be too happy to hear you say that either.”  Keylee had only just met the man, spoken with him even more recently and for a very brief amount of time but it was clear pride was a sin Paul Stein had in spades. 

Mathis thought for a moment before nodding.  “No, probably not, but he’s young enough there’s still hope for him.  I may not have been brought up in the Stein household and I thank every deity known to man for that small blessing, but I can imagine Stein doctrine has been shoved down Paul’s throat even before he was old enough to understand the words being fed into his tiny ears.  The next few weeks, months and maybe even years are going to be hard for him.  It’s not fair – “

“I don’t expect it to be,” Keylee interrupted while memories of he and Helen’s earlier conversation regarding Paul’s childhood twisted through his brain.

“No, I don’t suppose you do.”  Mathis answered, Max’s fingers tightening down on his shoulder.  “Still, I would have never wished this upon any Facilitator, let alone you.  You’ll get through this.  You’re the most stubborn person I know and Paul’s damn lucky to have you as his Facilitator.”

Keylee wasn’t so sure, at least not the part about Paul being lucky to have him.  Not trusting his own voice or words, all Keylee could do was lay there, desperately trying to ignore or at least manage the constant, painful tingling in his body.  The longer he was awake the more Keylee began thinking consciousness was overrated. 

Staring down at the small frame lying amongst white sheets, Max caught the look Mathis sent him, the pain and worry in his lover’s eyes far to raw for his liking.  Breathing deeply, Max fought years of anger and distrust.  He’d meant what he’d said earlier, he’d been wrong about Keylee, but that didn’t mean standing there, staring down at a young man whom looked so much like the monster of his nightmares, was easy. 

No, it wasn’t easy, but it was right.  “Keylee.”  Max’s voice always held a deep resonance, the sound simply a projection of the larger than life man.  “As is frustratingly usual, Mathis is right.  Paul is damn lucky to have you and not just because you somehow managed to save his life while preserving both your abilities.  We do fear the Stein’s, and what I mean by that is our rather limited population of both Users and Facilitators.  But we don’t fear them for the reason’s the Stein’s seem to think.”

Curious, Keylee took a chance, rolling his head against his pillow; his barely parted eyes tilting upward until they connected with a gaze he normally avoided at all cost.  He didn’t need to say the words, his expression enough for Max to continue. 

Teeth clenched, Max slammed his eyes shut against that gaze, forcing them open and wondering at what he saw staring back at him.  The chakra veining was strange, but not nearly the eyesore Keylee seemed to think.  In fact, Max found it oddly beautiful.  But beyond that, Max wondered at the Caribbean pools of blue lurking behind shuttered lids.  He’d always turned from Keylee, unable to look at the dark hair and pale skin that so reminded him of Jeremiah.  But what he’d been missing, what was so painfully obvious was that Keylee’s eyes were nothing like his father’s.  Cold, deep pools of the deepest blue – that had been Jeremiah’s calling card.  Those fathomless cruel orbs haunted his dreams.  He’d been staring into those eyes when Jeremiah had unleashed hell upon him and it was that vast wasteland of blue he’d spent years trying to erase from his memory. 

But Keylee’s eyes weren’t that unrelenting, malicious color.  Instead they were warm, inviting and held a kind of innocence Max was amazed anyone could still harbor, let alone one tethered by the last name of Donavan. 

“Max?”  Mathis’ easy, questioning voice broke through the memories and regret swirling through Max’s head. 

“Sorry,” Max cleared his throat, shaking the cobwebs of the past from his mind.  “What I’m trying to say, Keylee is that we don’t fear the Stein’s because they hold more power than the rest of us, but because there is no one there to temper it.  What,” Max stumbled for a minute before forcing his brain to focus.  “What we fear is that they will turn, like Jeremiah.”

Keylee’s buzzing skin turned cold, the beep of his heart monitor pinging just a little quicker.  “My father?”

Max nodded.  “None of us will ever know what truly happened with Jeremiah, but we all fear it.  He had a sickness of the mind not even your mother could counter.”

“And believe me, Keylee,” Mathis reached across the bed, his hand hovering over Keylee’s before thinking better of touching his over sensitized skin, “she tried.  Maggie . . . she loved him.  God above, how that woman tried.”  Mathis felt the exhaustion of the past licking at his current peace. 

“And she succeeded, at least for a little while,” Max added.

Keylee sucked in a deep breath.  His muscles had pulled taught once again, the agony of their strain a powerful reminder of what he’d put his body through.  No one spoke of his parents, at least not like this.  He’d heard stories from Mathis over the years about his mother, but they were always of a Maggie Donavan before she met her User, before she’d been bonded to his father.  Over the years he’d begun wondering if there was some type of unwritten law stating Maggie Donavan and Jeremiah Induwe’s names were never to be spoken of, at least not in the same sentence.  Intrigued, Keylee ignored the pain in his body as well as the increasing pounding in his head. 

“That she did,” Mathis agreed.  “Jeremiah was always . . . “

“Unsettled,” Max finished.

“Unsettled,” Mathis nodded.  “But when he met Maggie, something changed, at least for a time.  Maggie eased something inside him, she filled in the missing pieces and helped stabilize Jeremiah, just as Facilitators are meant to do, just as they’ve been doing for as long as records have been kept.”

“What changed?” It was a question haunting Keylee’s mind. 

“No one knows,” Mathis shrugged.  “I doubt we’ll ever know.”

“And that’s the problem.”  Max’s voice was more a growl than human speech.  “We don’t know and that scares the piss out of all of us because if it happened once, it can happen again and it’s more likely to happen to a User who doesn’t have a Facilitator.”

“A Stein,” Keylee supplied.

Max nodded.  “Exactly.  The Stein’s are already arrogant.  When you start believing you’re better than everyone else, both humans and gifted alike – “

“Gifted are human,” Keylee corrected Max, just as he’d done with Mathis a few short days ago.

Jaw clenching, Max thought over the words before giving the barest of nods.  “Fair enough.  Just goes to show how easily we all fall into the trap.”

Keylee was just as disturbed by Max’s opinion as he’d been with Mathis.  The gifted weren’t better than normal humans, just different and different didn’t equal superior. 

A shot of white-hot pain flashed behind Keylee’s eyes, slamming his lids closed and bringing his hand up to clutch at his forehead, the action of raising his arm even more painful than the throb in his head.  Unable to hold in the groan of pain, Keylee’s teeth clenched down so tight he felt the burn in his jaw. 

“I think it’s time we shared the secret of Keylee’s waking.”  Leaning over the bed, Mathis fought the instinctual need to offer a comforting touch.  “Max?”

“On my way,” Max finally raised his hand off Mathis’ shoulder.  “I’ll see if Healer Talbot is still in the building.”

Keylee couldn’t hear the sound of Max’s feet moving out of his room, the pounding of his head too loud. 

“You know there won’t be anything they can do about the pain in your chakra pathways.  Most likely they’ll give you a sedative to help you sleep through the worst of it.”  Mathis had dealt with chakra pain before, but nothing to this extent. 

“I’ll be okay.”  Keylee doubted his words held a lot of conviction, but regardless he knew them to be true.  Things royally sucked right now, but one way or another, he’d get through it and make it out on the other side.  Most likely he’d face worse than this and figured like the rest of his life, this was simply a test building up both his mental and physical pain tolerance. 

Ignoring the painful words, Mathis simply sat, scooting his chair closer and murmuring, “The Healer should be here soon.”

Max took a step outside the doorway, head swiveling first right then left in search of a nurse or doctor.  But it wasn’t hospital staff that caught his attention first, but the back end of a hospital gown scurrying down the hall, fluorescent lights shining off the hairless, bald head of a man fortunate to be alive.  Smirking, Max hung his head, his fingers digging into the pocket of his jacket, searching for the pack of cigarettes Mathis had thrown out earlier.  Users could never ignore the call of their Facilitators.  The draw was too deep, too powerful and Paul Stein was learning he was no exception.

Chapter Seven

Paul barely made it through the doorway of Keylee’s room before scooting to the side and leaning heavily against the wall, his heart racing, knees shaking.  “Christ,” Paul cursed, the back of his head bouncing off the cinderblock wall of the hall.  If he’d had any previous doubts about Keylee Donavan being his Facilitator, they’d all been washed away.  Never in his life had Paul felt something like that, something so achingly strong, something so undeniable. 

Leaving his head resting on the wall, Paul shifted, Max and Mathis’ voices softly drifting into the hall, snippets audible here and there.  Paul had every intention of walking out that door, down the hall, into the elevator and back to his room.  So why the fuck was he still standing there, hovering like some type of creepy voyeuristic stalker?  Why?  Because Keylee was his Facilitator, his bond-mate, his other half and the realization slamming into his brain was frying all his circuits.  Everything in his body screamed at him to walk back through that doorway and never leave. 

“Fuck,” the curse was spoken with absolutely no vehemence behind it.  “I’m so fucking screwed.”  Paul had no idea what to do with this overwhelming feeling, this burning need that was one part exhilarating and two parts sheer terror.  Was this how Keylee felt about him?  Did he feel even the tiniest iota of this overwhelming need?  Was that why he’d saved him?  Why he’d risked his life? 

All Paul could do was shake his head.  If so then it was no wonder why Keylee had risked his own life because Paul was fairly certain he would do anything and everything to keep the man in the room behind him from harm. 

Sucking in a deep breath of hospital-flavored air, the whole of Paul’s body quaked, small tremors running through every aspect of his being.  All his life he’d been trained to ignore emotion, to hide his feelings from everyone – Helen the only exception and even with her it was a tenuous thing.  He’d never been as good at it as he wanted.  That was one of the few things he and his father could readily agree upon.  But not living up to Stein standards where emotional suppression was concerned didn’t mean he wasn’t a gold metal contender when compared to the general population.  Years and years of pushing his feelings down and away, of storing anything and everything that could be seen as a weakness and used against him . . . all that training was now working against him.  This thing with Keylee, this overwhelming need . . . it was too much to suppress.  Paul had spent a lifetime ignoring his desires but this wasn’t something he could ignore. 

“Excuses me, but are you all right?”

 The worried tone brought Paul out of his daze, his eyes snapping up only to find the concerned tone of voice matched by equally troubled eyes.  Tracing over the light yellow scrub top, Paul found a name and finally managed to answer, “Yes, Lydia just a little tired is all.”

Nurse Lydia didn’t look convinced, her eyes tracking down to a spot on his chest while her eyebrows drew tight.  “Are you sure, sir?  I can get you a wheelchair, or – “

“No,” Paul shook his head while trying to keep his voice down.  The door to Keylee’s room remained open and if he could hear the soft voices within then it would be nothing for them to hear his current conversation in the hall.  Paul gave his best smile, slowly releasing the death grip his right hand had upon the fabric over his heart before that same hand came up to rake through hair that was no longer present.  “I’ll be fine, just needed a bit of a rest.”

Nurse Lydia eyed him closely, still not completely convinced.  “The nurses station is down the hall,” Lydia pointed to Paul’s left, “just past that corner.  If you change your mind we’re here to help.”

“Thank you,” Paul’s smile widened even further, his back straightening.  “I appreciate that.”

Nurse Lydia blushed, a beautiful color against her lightly tanned skin.  “Asking for help when you need it isn’t a weakness.  Please keep that in mind and don’t hesitate to do so.”

Paul didn’t bother expounding upon all the reasons why he didn’t believe that to be true, the words of his upbringing singing through his head as if on autopilot.  The teachings of his youth were ingrained within the fabric of his brain and Paul doubted he’d ever truly be able to change them, but that wasn’t Nurse Lydia’s concern and instead of spouting off the words and phrases of his youth, Paul simply nodded and gave a seemingly sincere, “Will do.”

With his heart calmed, Paul felt grateful for Lydia in ways she would never truly understand.  With his head slightly clearer, he focused back on the voices within Keylee’s room only to feel his stomach drop, his body queasy with unease.  It was clear Keylee was in pain, more pain than he’d been in when Paul had left the room.  Both Max and Mathis were worried and Paul was just about to go back in and demand something be done when he heard Max promise to find Healer Talbot. 

The relief that revelation brought was quickly followed by panic when Paul remembered where he was standing. If he didn’t move quickly his voyeurism would soon be discovered.  Hastily getting his feet moving, Paul shoved off the wall, moving as quickly as his recovering body could take him.  Within seconds he’d turned the corner of the hall. Someone was just getting on the elevator and with a quick, “Hold the door,” Paul was inside the small box, his heart pounding once again.  Hopefully he’d gotten out of there before being seen.  After all, there were only so many hits his pride could take and quite honestly, Paul was beginning to wonder if by the end of this there would be anything left to patch back together. 

Paul’s mind whirled while ignoring the furtive glances of the woman he’d joined in the elevator.  He had to figure out this shit with Keylee – had to think of it logically and keep his emotions out of it.  Paul could accept he needed a Facilitator.  He could even accept his Facilitator was a descendent of Maggie Donavan.  What he couldn’t accept was this instant craving, this whole body and soul need to be near Keylee – to protect and care for him.  The thought that Keylee had almost died and even now was in excruciating pain because of him was unacceptable.  And if he couldn’t stand the thought of ever causing Keylee Donavan harm, then how was he ever supposed to use the man as his Facilitator?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

 Keylee pulled at the tie around his neck.  He’d never worn something so damn constricting in his life and was fast coming to the conclusion he hadn’t been missing out on anything.  His government regulated gray track pants and sweatshirt might have been dull and boring, but they were comfortable.  This, Keylee tugged at the knot around his throat again, was anything but comfortable. 

“Quit fidgeting,” Mathis scolded from nearby.  “You look good dressed up.”

Keylee rolled his eyes, thankful for the dark sunglasses covering his still light sensitive eyes.  How he looked had never been a blessing and he doubted the suit and tie he was currently sporting made much of a difference.  With his mother’s shorter stature and his father’s coloring and features, Keylee’d been given shit in one form or another all his life regarding how he looked.  To his mind, it was best not to draw attention to his personal features.  Picking a tie that brought out an eye color most found odd and wouldn’t be seeing today anyway seemed less than pointless. 

Honestly the only conciliation Keylee had was that Mathis forced Max to dress similarly and the large man looked even more uncomfortable than he did.  Max had definitely whined more too.  Forgoing the knot around his throat for a second, Keylee opted for the second thing he’d been doing all morning, looking at the time on his watch. 

“It’s not even eleven yet,” Mathis’ voice was near his ear, hushed so no other could hear.  “He’ll be here.”

Keylee wasn’t so sure and gave a slight shake of his head. 

“Paul will show up.”  Max sounded so positive.  “Trust me on this one.”

Keylee wished he had that kind of confidence.  He hadn’t seen or heard from Paul Stein since that one visit in the hospital five days ago.   Helen had been by, three times by his count – two he remembered and once when he’d been sedated.  The nurses had informed him of his visitor.  When he’d asked if there had been anyone else besides Helen, Max or Mathis, the nurses all agreed they’d seen no one.  Their answers hadn’t surprised him, but he couldn’t deny the disappointment he still felt. 

Keylee heard Mathis huff.  “Still, you’d think they’d be here already.  Evan was so damn persistent we do this as soon as possible.  Key was just released from the hospital this morning and already they’re being bonded.  Paul’s been okay these past few days, I don’t see what another two or three would harm.”

Knowing it was Evan Stein pushing for their bonding ceremony didn’t settle Keylee’s nerves.  “I’m fine, Mathis.  Healer Talbot gave the all clear to leave the hospital last night.”  If he’d had a place to actually go home to, Keylee would have been released the night before.

“Having the all clear to go home isn’t the same as well enough for something like this,” Mathis disagreed.  “Your chakra pathways are still singed and at least faintly visible.  And your eyes . . . “

Mathis didn’t finish that statement, mostly because none of them were really sure what to say about Keylee’s eyes.  They were better, but weren’t improving at the same rate as the rest of his body.  Healer Talbot was beginning to believe there’d be permanent damage.  There was a good chance Keylee’s eyes would always be more sensitive to light and the sunglasses he now wore would be a permanent fashion accessory. 

Everyone else seemed more worried about his eyes than Keylee.  It wasn’t like he couldn’t see; he was just a little more sensitive than most.  The sunglasses helped and as far as he was concerned the solution was easy. 

Listening to Mathis talk about his chakra pathways had Keylee wiggling a finger between two of the buttons on his pressed white dress shirt, his nail inching in and scratching along one of the lines still lighting up his belly.  The damn things still itched.  While they were no longer painful, they were irritating. 

“You know that’s only going to make it worse.”  Mathis was always watching, always hovering and pointing out the obvious. 

“I know, but it feels good right now,” Keylee responded while wiggling his finger in further, desperately wishing he could just remove the whole damn thing and have free access to his body. 

“Quit fussing,” Max scolded his lover, the fresh pack of cigarettes in his pocket desperately calling his name.  “You think Raina would mind if I smoked in her office?”

Without answering, Mathis stomped over to Director Raina’s desk, yanking off a magnetic plaque and shoving the no smoking sign in Max’s chest.  “Does that answer your question?”

Giving a heavy sigh Max put the sign back.  “Maybe we could petition to hold the ceremony outside.”

“Outside?”  Mathis stormed over to the window, staring out at the heavy rain before whipping his head back around.  “Have you even bothered looking out the window?  It’s pouring.  It’s bad enough Keylee has to go through this ceremony here, in this tiny room, no decorations or . . . or . . . well, just look at this place!  When we were bonded there were flowers and candles.  We had a band playing, there was cake and dancing and . . . “ Mathis seemed to deflate.  “Key deserves better than this.”

Keylee had never actually been to a bonding ceremony before but knew they often mimicked the same festive levels as weddings.  Some flew to exotic locations; some had simple ceremonies in back yards or grand rented halls.  He even knew some were performed in what the participants regarded as holy ground, even though those types were more rare.  What they were doing pretty much equated to getting hitched at the local government office.  It would be legally binding but lacking any type of fanfare. 

Feeling worse for Mathis than himself, Keylee finally stopped scratching at his skin and made his way toward the window Mathis was now leaning against.  “It’s okay.  That kind of thing really isn’t for me.  I prefer something simple.”

Mathis gave a smile that more than indicated Keylee didn’t truly understand what he was missing.  “Key, you – “

The door opened, all eyes swiveling that direction, all expecting the Stein’s arrival.  Only it wasn’t Evan or Paul who entered, but Director Raina, her ear plastered against the smartphone in her hand, her assistant’s heels clicking in time behind her. 

When Mathis opened his mouth, Raina held up a finger.  “Okay, everything’s ready on our end.  Keylee’s party is all accounted for.  We’ll see you in a minute.”

Keylee’s heart beat out a quick rhythm, his voice tight while asking, “Was that Paul?”

“No,” Raina shook her head and Keylee’s stomach dropped.  “It was Evan.  The rain slowed traffic down and they’re just now parking.  Paul’s with him but evidently Helen was called back to the Department yesterday so she’ll be absent.”

Shaky relief coursed down Keylee’s body.  Helen’s absence was a disappointment but it paled in comparison to what Keylee had feared. 

Quickly looking down at the time on her phone, Raina gave a quick nod of her head.  “They’re just a couple minutes late so it shouldn’t have too much bearing on things.”  Looking back up, the director focused in on Keylee.  “I’m legally authorized to perform a bonding ceremony and Healer Talbot has graciously offered to perform the implantation.  I was surprised he was able with his busy schedule but from what I understand both he and David need some recovery time after healing both you and Paul.  Evidently the two of you were taxing even to a User of his level.  The implantation process doesn’t require the use of his abilities, only his technical skills and authorization.”

“He was able to obtain an implant?”  Mathis moved a little closer, his hand coming up to rest on Keylee’s shoulder.  “I wasn’t sure that would be a part of today’s ceremony.”

“It will,” Raina nodded, “although not strictly necessary for the bonding, it’s unadvisable to have one without the identification and tracking chip placement.  I had to pull a few strings, but I secured what we need.  It’s not safe for Paul or Keylee otherwise.”

“Agreed.  Thank you for working things out, Director Raina.  I have to admit I’ll sleep better tonight knowing we’ll be able to locate Key should the unthinkable happen.”

Raina’s eyebrows furrowed, her eyes briefly skittering over Keylee before looking away again.  “The Stein’s are already targets.  So far we’ve managed to keep the fact the youngest Stein requires a Facilitator out of the media, but that minor miracle can’t last.  As soon as they find out Paul isn’t like all the other Stein’s and then when they learn Keylee’s name . . . “

“He’ll be a soft target,” Max finished.

Raina nodded before fixing her gaze upon Keylee’s dark sunglasses.  “You’re probably the most vigilant person I’ve ever met.  You’re a fast learner, Keylee.  You’ve had to be.  Even as a child you knew what to look for.  I hated you felt as if under constant threat, even here under my care and control.  I want you to know I did everything I could to keep you protected, to make sure things never went too far.  There was no way to dissipate or mitigate it all and to be truthful; doing so would have done you a great disservice.  Out there,” Raina’s head ticked in the direction of the window, “I have no control and the general population isn’t going to give you many breaks.  Sending you out amongst the wolves with the naiveté you were just like any other Facilitator would have been irresponsible of me.  So, I’m sorry if it sometimes felt like I didn’t do enough, Keylee, but for lack of a better way to say it, I had to make sure you were tough enough to survive outside this facility.”

Behind his dark lenses, Keylee’s eyes rapidly blinked, understanding slamming him in the gut.  Had his life here sometimes been Hell?  Yes, it had, but he’d never been seriously injured and he could see the Director’s point all too well.  Unsure what to say, all Keylee could do was offer the barest nod of his head. 

“And now,” Raina sucked in a deep breath, “you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned here, both instructed and forced, to survive out there.  The public is going to be curious about why Paul Stein needs a Facilitator and why that person is you.  That fascination can turn ugly and sometimes violent.  Honestly I have no idea what normal humans are going to make of this but what I do know is that if there is a Facilitator out there who can handle it, then that person is you, Keylee.”

Through the past thirteen years, Keylee’d been equally frightened and awed by Director Raina.  Though harsh, he’d quickly learned she was also fair.  There were rules and they were to be obeyed.  Those who broke them were punished equally regardless of family Caste name.  Keylee didn’t always like Director Raina, but he respected her and to have that respect returned warmed a bit of the bitter coldness Keylee lived with. 

“Okay,” Raina ignored the silence, either uncaring or accepting of Keylee’s unspoken words.  “Last I heard, Healer Talbot can’t make the bonding ceremony, or at least most of it.  He’ll be here towards the end and can do the implantation then.  I’ve got the chip right here.” Raina patted the lapel of her suite jacket and Keylee could only assume the chip was in a pocket somewhere below. 

The door to the office opened, its arc wide, almost hitting the wall behind with the force of entry.  Water droplets scattering across the floor, Evan Stein pushed his way into the room, the umbrella in his hand twisting back and forth before dropping to the floor just inside the doorway.  Sharp as always, there was only the barest of dampness clinging the edges of Evan’s tailored pants.  “Forgive our tardiness, it seems as if the rain makes fools of drivers.”

Keylee highly doubted Evan had actually driven a car himself in years, if ever and didn’t think he probably had the right to judge others regarding inclement weather.  He also doubted Evan Stein cared one whit whether he was justified in his criticism.

“Mr. Donavan,” Evan nodded in Keylee’s direction, the look on his face impossible to interpret. 

Keylee gave a head nod but his eyes were already focusing on what was behind the elder Stein.  Breathing in heavily, Keylee was glad for the dark lenses covering his eyes.  Not quite as tall as his father, Paul nevertheless cut an impressive figure.  Pushing up behind and around his father, Paul set his own umbrella down, the ends of his charcoal gray suite pants near black with the water clinging to them.  Shifting further into the room, Paul rolled his shoulders, standing to his full height, the equally deep charcoal suite jacket pulling across broad shoulders and what Keylee thought were probably well muscled arms. 

The last time Keylee had seen Paul, he’d been sitting on a chair beside his bed.  Lost in his own pain and confusion, Keylee had barely taken the time to actually look at his User.  Skin now healed with a short, but thick crop of what looked like varying shades of blond hair growing from his head, Paul Stein cut a handsome and commanding figure, something Keylee figured was true but hadn’t fully been able to envision.    

“Looks like you’re feeling better, Paul.”  Max broke the odd silence permeating the room.  “Not really sure what you’re paying the good Healer Talbot, Evan, but whatever it is should probably be doubled considering what he’s done for your son.”

“Healer Talbot is being paid sufficiently for his time and efforts, more is not required,” Evan grunted with something close to disgust. 

The hand Mathis still had on Keylee’s shoulder tightened down, pulling him in just a little bit closer.  Keylee wasn’t sure if the motion was meant to comfort him or Mathis but whatever it was if the look on Paul’s face was any indication, the man didn’t like it, which just confused him. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

All of Paul’s attention was soaked up by the smallest person in the room, the one man who looked for all the world as if he was trying to become invisible.  Paul had the sudden notion Keylee’s act was more instinct than contrived for this specific occasion. 

But try as he might, Keylee Donavan would never again be invisible to Paul.  He could be blind and would still be able to locate his Facilitator.  As soon as he’d exited the car, rain pouring down on the umbrella protecting his head, Paul had known Keylee was already in the building and thought he would have been able to find him even blindfolded.  And the closer he’d gotten, the more his body buzzed – a strange hum vibrating throughout his whole system, an expectation of wondrous things.  And burning behind all of it was need, a need so strong it was all Paul could do to stay on his side of the room. 

Raw jealousy ripped through him when he saw Mathis’ hand on Keylee’s body.  When the man pulled Keylee closer, Paul felt the power within his body flare.  He’d been feeling little sparks of energy for the past thirty-six hours and although they were worrisome, they were easily tamped down.  But this . . . this was different, this was bordering on dangerous.  And if he felt this way before they were officially bonded, Paul feared what it would be like after.  His heart and soul craved Keylee, but his head told him to bolt from the room, to run as far and fast as he could.  But Paul doubted being on the other side of the globe would cure this need and wondered if it would be his fire or this unquenchable craving that would kill him first. 

Fear shot through him and yet it was that same fear that pushed Paul to move forward.  Stein’s didn’t cave to fear and though he may need a Facilitator, Paul was still a Stein. 

Finally moving beyond his father, Paul let his gaze fall on Mathis’ hand before turning his attention to Mathis himself.  Emotion was a tool to wield and Paul held none of his irritation from his eyes.  In the end, it wasn’t Mathis that finally removed his own hand, but Max.

“What are – “ Mathis’ head whipped back when Max’s fingers wrapped around his own, pulling him away from Keylee.

“Time to let him go.”  Max’s words were softer than honeyed silk.  “You know how this works, baby.”  Without waiting for a reply, Max wrapped his arms around his bond-mate, the man he loved beyond reason and sanity. 

Mathis wanted to argue, wanted to pull Keylee toward him and hold on.  To his mind, Key would always be little more than a boy, Maggie’s one and only child.  It was hard to let go, especially when he was relinquishing Key into the hands of a Stein.  “But – “

“No,” Max shook his head, his beard tickling the top of Mathis’ brow.  “He’s his User.  Trust me.  Trust this.”  No more had the words passed through his lips when he felt Mathis deflate, his muscles loosening and whole body leaning into his own.  Mathis was where he was supposed to be and soon Keylee would be where he was needed. 

The fire within Paul banked to a simmer as Mathis moved away, leaving Keylee standing by himself, alone.  Moving in, he took Keylee’s chin in his hand, lifting his head and staring into those dark lenses.  If he looked hard enough, Paul could still see faint chakra lines running along Keylee’s pale skin.  “I heard your eyes are still a problem.”

Keylee wanted to suck in a deep breath, but given Paul’s hand on his chin and the angle of his head, all he could do was take in quick, shallow ones.  Even still, he could smell Paul all around him, surrounding his body with the scent of a dying campfire.  Slowly wrapping his head around the words spoken, Keylee shook his head, the action restricted by Paul’s grasp.  “Nothing I can’t work around.”

Paul frowned.  “But they’re still painful?”

“Only in bright light.”  Keylee really didn’t see this as the issue everyone else seemed to.

“Will they improve?”

Keylee shrugged when Paul finally released his hold.  “Healer Talbot isn’t sure.  Either way the sunglasses help.  I really don’t mind.”

Paul’s lips thinned, his eyes narrowing down to little more than slits.  Keylee may not mind, but he did.  Keylee had been hurt helping him, saving Paul’s life and injuring his own.  To his mind having permanent damage from such an event was unacceptable.  “We’ll seek out other healers and see if there’s something more that can be done.”

But Keylee just shook his head.  “They’re chakra pathways.  You and I both know there’s nothing healers can do about them.  They’ll either return to normal or they won’t.  There are far worse things.”  Finally able to pull in a deep breath, Keylee raised his head, determination oozing from every pore.  “It won’t affect my ability to be your Facilitator, if that’s what you’re worried about.  I can still see and the glasses really do make it bearable.  I won’t be a hindrance.  I promise.”

Paul pulled away, the whole of his body snapping back into place as every muscle screamed in protest.  “You think – “

“What are you doing here, Clara?” Evan’s sharp voice slammed into the room. He’d been so focused on Keylee, Paul hadn’t even heard the door open.

The words lingering on Paul’s lips died, the name his father had just spoken little more than a character from the fairy tails Helen and he’d consumed as children.  And yet none of those names had ever been able to pierce his heart the way this one did.  Eyes slipping closed, the pressure in Paul’s veins grew, something he thought impossible at this stage. 

“Paul?” Keylee’s voice was full of concern, sincerity at its most beguiling. 

Unsure how to answer that pleading question, Paul turned, the vision he held in his mind of a woman twenty years younger warring with the image standing before him.  Clara Missanger, the woman who’d carried him, the other half of his DNA, the mother he’d never known, stood slightly within the doorway. 

Blond hair cut in a neat bob, slightly wrinkled and water stained navy pants topped by a black rain jacket, Clara was still beautiful, the last twenty years barely touching her.  With the exception of the length of her hair, the one and only picture Paul had of his mother could have been taken today.  But looking closer, it wasn’t just the hair that was different, but also the eyes.  The photo he carried in his wallet was of a woman with deep green, indifferent eyes, not the hostile fiery ones he now found himself looking into. 

“I asked you a question, Clara.  What in the hell are you doing here?” Evan was on the move, blocking their newest arrival, effectively limiting her ability to move further into the room. 

“What am I doing here?”  Clara’s voice was nothing like Paul had always imagined it, effectively shattering another childhood fantasy.  “That’s what I should be asking you.”

Out of his periphery Paul felt Keylee move up beside him, almost close enough to touch. 

As if by some silent, unspoken agreement, everyone in the room remained quiet, allowing Evan to handle the woman only he and Paul knew anything about.  “What we are doing here is none of your business, Clara.  Suffice to say it is a private gathering and one you were not invited to.  I neither care nor wish to know what you’re about.”

“None of my business?”  Clara’s voice didn’t go up an octave, but turned low and spiteful.  “Have you forgotten the agreement we both signed nearly twenty-one years ago?  When Eva called me – “

“Grandmother?”  Paul finally interrupted.  “What does my grandmother have to do with this?”

“Paul – “ Evan’s voice was harsh, but held a hint of pleading, the remainder of his words interrupted as Clara pushed her way around him, coming to stand before her son, not an ounce of compassion or motherly love lighting her angered eyes. 

“Your grandmother is the only one in the Stein Caste that appears to have any sense left.”  Clara moved in closer, a glossy pink fingernail pushing deep into Paul’s chest.  “What is this nonsense about you requiring a Facilitator?”  Dropping her hand, Clara whipped around, her fury set on Evan.  “I know you never liked me, but to do this?  To cheat me out of what I’m due.  I fulfilled my end of the contract.  I carried your child, your heir and I expect to be compensated as agreed upon.”

Keylee’s mind desperately grasped for understanding while Paul’s withered under the hostile glare of the woman who’d birthed him.  Clara could never be termed mother, but Paul had always hoped there’d been some affection for him.  But just as all his other hopes and dreams; this one was as false as the nails decorating Clara’s fingertips. 

“The contract,” Evan somehow managed to wedge himself between Paul and Clara, “has been honored.  You received payment for your genetic contribution and for carrying Paul to term.”

Clara bristled.  “I’ve only received half what I’m due.  Five hundred thousand, that was the number that should have been deposited into my account when your son passed his test as a User – money I still haven’t received.”

“The contract is clear, Clara.  You read it and I know you had not one but two lawyers read it as well.  The five hundred thousand you claim you are due was only to be paid if Paul was a User of Stein quality – his gifts independent of a Facilitator.  That has proven untrue.  Considering I have a daughter by another woman who is of Stein standards, the fault clearly does not lie with me, but you.  You will not be rewarded for providing inferior genetics.”

Paul’s eyes widened, his clenched hands now little more than limp appendages dangling from equally loose arms.  One million dollars – that was the cost of his birth, his worth.  Only that wasn’t quite true if what he was hearing was correct.  Stein standards.  Inferior genetics.  Was this what a defective Stein was worth?  A measly five hundred thousand?  Was he even worth that? 

Heart pounding, Paul could hardly concentrate on what was being said, the cruelty of it far too painful.  The sound of his father and birth mother arguing over his monetary worth, over his disappointing performance, over his defects . . . raising a shaky hand to his eyes, Paul willed the sting of tears away.  For a fraction of a second he wished Keylee had simply let him burn.  But those thoughts had no more flitted through his brain than he was tugged back to the here and now.  Keylee’s voice, so strong and sure coming from such a small frame.  Keylee’s back pressed firmly into the front of Paul’s body, warming him and offering the kind of support he’d only glimpsed through his relationship with Helen.  Keylee defending not his body, but his mind from the verbal threat in the room. 

“Enough.” Keylee sounded quietly furious.

Chapter Eight

Keylee couldn’t believe what he was hearing, couldn’t even begin to fathom the words coming out of Evan and Clara’s mouths.  With the last name of Donavan, Keylee had known derision and hatred through most of his life.  His mother had murdered his father.  That kind of history should trump the story of Paul’s conception, birth and upbringing.  But it didn’t.  Keylee had the benefit of knowing Mathis, a man who’d known and loved his mother as if she were of his own blood.  Mathis had always been adamant that Keylee had been loved, been wanted and had been the only reason Maggie was able to cling to life as long as she had after killing her User.  Every day she lived had to have been a torture, but she’d done it to save him.  Yes, he was born premature, but the point was he’d been born.  Maggie had loved him enough to give him a fighting chance.  She’d done the absolute best she could for him in yet another impossible situation. 

But this . . . this was appalling on so many different levels Keylee didn’t even know where to start.  He knew, on a rudimentary level, that Users and Facilitators often paid both males and females to conceive children.  It was an odd business practice, legal and binding and so common in the lexicon of the world that few if any questioned it.  But he’d never been faced with the reality of what that meant and he’d never imagined the cold nature of such agreements.  She may not have raised him, but Paul was Clara’s child, not some defective car that missed a critical part of inspection. 

Nearby Keylee heard someone take a hissed intake of breath and wasn’t sure if it was Max or Mathis.  Out of the corner of his eye he could see Director Raina, her face flushed and eyes dancing between the verbal duel playing out in her small office.  But it wasn’t their reactions Keylee was most concerned about, but the ever so slightly trembling man beside him.  Close enough to almost touch; Keylee shifted his arm, closing that minute distance, the hum of Paul’s body transferring through his tailored suite jacket, through Keylee’s own clothes and into every pore of his skin. 

Surprisingly, Paul’s gifts were quiet, his fire banked and wind nonexistent.  Although that made them all a little safer, it also meant Paul was dying inside.  He was in so much shock and pain that everything within him was shutting down – shoring up walls and battening down proverbial hatches.  Head tilted up, Keylee caught sight of Paul’s hazel eyes.  Earlier they’d been shimmering, glinting with the fire stoking Paul’s soul.  But now they were dulled, glazed over versions of grief. 

Keylee had heard enough.  With precious little effort he maneuvered himself in front of Paul.  He might have been smaller than his User, but that didn’t make him weak.  Using the whole of his body, he pushed back into Paul, shifting them both further away from the arguing duo in the room.  Director Raina’s office wasn’t massive, but Keylee was determined to use every bit of square footage to put as much physical distance between Paul and the piercing words being thrown around the room. 

“Enough!”  Keylee’s voice, a quietly hissed shout silenced Evan and Clara, both their heads whipping around, mouths twisted in hate filled sneers.  Clara looked as if she was about to speak but Keylee silenced her again.  Focusing in on Clara, Keylee’s tone was frosty.  “This is an official, sanctioned bonding ceremony.  You have no right to interrupt or disrupt the current proceedings.  Isn’t that correct, Director?”

Raina cleared her throat with a satisfied grunt.  “Yes, Keylee,” Raina answered, her fingers already flying across her phone before holding it up to her ear.  “Lillian, please make security aware we have a situation in my office and to be on standby for a forced extraction.  You might want to call Captain McBride as well.  Let him know if we meet with resistance we’ll be needing a jail cell at the ready.”

Clara jerked back as if physically slapped before her eyes narrowed, mouth pursed, making what should have been a gorgeous face into something beyond ugly.  “You wouldn’t dare.”

Keylee thought this woman definitely didn’t know the director well if she was asking something so stupid.  Thankfully, Director Raina didn’t disappoint.  “Watch me.”  Then looking to Evan, she added, “And don’t think you’re immune either.”

Evan looked momentarily shocked before it turned into outrage.  “I am Paul’s father.  I’m the one paying for this bonding ceremony, the one who agreed to – “

“Fuck that, I’ll pay for the damn thing if that’s all that’s keeping us from kicking Evan to the curb,” Max helpfully offered and Mathis quickly voiced his agreement. 

“Stay out of this, Haines.  Your presence is suffered only upon my good graces.”  Turning his back on Clara, Evan moved closer to Max, never once looking in Paul’s direction. 

Sensing another oncoming verbal clusterfuck, Keylee placed a halting hand on Evan’s body, the palm of his hand pushing into Evan’s lower chest and effectively stopping him on the spot.  Given the disbelieving look in Evan’s eyes, Keylee thought the older Stein wasn’t used to someone touching him. 

Keylee wasted no time now that he had Evan’s attention.  “You claim to be Paul’s father, but are you?  Or are you just another genetic donor like that harpy over there?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”  Evan’s eyes widened while Clara screeched like the creature she’d just been accused of being.

“Who do you think you are?”  Clara shoved at Evan’s shoulder, pushing him away enough to get into Keylee’s face.  As the only other person in the room Keylee’s height, her eyes bored into him.  Keylee wondered where Clara’s Facilitator was, but up this close and personal, it was all too clear she wasn’t one of the Gifted.  Keylee had a moment to consider the fact Evan Stein had picked a non-User as Paul’s mother but those thoughts vanished the moment he saw Clara raise her hand, those wicked, fake nails aiming straight for his face.  Mere inches away, that hand stopped, previously outstretched fingers now curled and claw-like. 

“You don’t get to touch him, Mother.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Paul could handle physical pain.  He could also handle emotional pain as well.  Given the two, he’d pick the physical any day of the week.  Physical wounds healed.  Emotional ones festered.  Tucked away, you’d think you were over it, had overcome the harsh cruelty casually thrown your direction.  Those insecurities had a habit of rearing up from the crevice they’d been hiding within – that little corner of the brain that stored memories you only wished you could purge. 

Paul could take his own pain, what he couldn’t take was Keylee’s.  This man, this Facilitator that was his and no one else’s had already risked everything he was and paid a painful price.  Paul had no control over those situations, but this . . . this was different.  Standing there, doing what he always did when faced with something so damn raw and painful to his psyche, Paul had retreated into his mind, barricading his sanity and self-worth against the raging storm outside.  But when he saw that hand move, the obvious intent Clara had to harm his Facilitator . . . Paul woke up. 

Hand clamped down on the delicate wrist within his palm, Paul felt absolutely no need to temper his strength.  Let it hurt looped through Paul’s mind, immune to the twisted look of pain on Clara’s face.  And when her other hand came up, arching toward Keylee again, Paul reached around Keylee’s body and gripped her other wrist in the same manner. 

Deep inside, Paul’s slumbering fire sparked back to life, his hands heating enough for Clara to notice, her pained eyes turning to ones of panic, a whimpered, “Paul . . . please . . . “ escaping her painted lips. 

“I warned you not to touch him and yet you attempted to do so again.  Give me one good reason I shouldn’t roast you where you stand.  How much would your precious money mean to you when you’re nothing more than ash?”  Despite the heat of his skin, Paul’s words were frigid with anger. 

Well and properly scared, Clara’s head twisted toward Evan before sweeping the room.  Seeing absolutely no support, Clara turned her attention back to the only help left.  “You’re supposedly his Facilitator.  Do something!”

Keylee could have cared less if the woman before him died a long, drawn out and painful death.  He didn’t even care if it was by Paul’s hands.  Maybe he should have.  Maybe he should have worried what long-term effect such an act would have on his User, but he didn’t.  What he did care about was the fact that Paul still didn’t have enough control to simply stop at Clara Missanger.  If they were already bonded things would be different.  Keylee would be able to mold and control the burn.  If he were involved in the beginning, as opposed to intervening when things had already gotten out of control, Keylee could keep Paul’s power from growing to the level of destruction he’d had to dissipate in the past.  He could do what Facilitators were meant to do.  But they weren’t bonded yet and Keylee’s control on Paul’s powers was shaky at best. 

Given his concerns for not only Paul’s safety, but everyone else in the room, Keylee raised his hand, his fingers pushing back the suite jacket and underlying shirt, the pads of his fingers gently resting upon Paul’s heated skin.  “Paul,” a single name caringly spoken.  “Paul, look at me.”

“In a minute.  I’m a little busy right now.”

Lifting the dark glasses covering his eyes, Keylee tried again.  “I know, but I need you to look at me.  Do it now.”

Paul didn’t want to divert his attention from his mother, not for a minute, but there was something in Keylee’s voice he couldn’t completely ignore.   Only intending to glance down, Paul’s eyes lowered.  Instead of turning away like he’d wanted, his gaze was caught.  Keylee’s eyes, so incredibly blue and tainted – tainted by magenta colored chakra lines veining out and away from those brilliant blue orbs.  Although not as bright as in the hospital, they were unmistakable against the white background of his sclera.  Sucking in a harsh breath, Paul’s internal fire cooled but his fingers remained gripped around Clara’s slender wrists.

Having Paul’s full attention, Keylee desperately tried keeping his eyes as open as possible, the lighting in the room painful and making squinting impossibly unavoidable.  He had to make the pain count.  “Paul, I don’t know if I can dissipate your power again.  Not without being bonded.  You have to calm down and let her go.  We can fry her ass later, but not now.”

Hurting Keylee further was exactly what Paul had been trying to avoid and was ashamed he was on the verge of doing worse damage to him than Clara’s flesh ever could.  Upon this realization, Paul’s fingers loosened.  Immediately Clara pulled her hands away, tucking them protectively against her chest, her eyes darting between Paul and Keylee too quickly to follow. 

Unsure what to say, what he even could say, Paul backed up, separating his body from Keylee’s.  The increased distance immediately left an odd, aching chasm of loss within the pit of his belly.  Unable to find the words, Paul gave a simple head nod.

 With Paul’s situation more under control, Keylee covered his eyes before slowly turning his attention back on their unwanted guest.  “Glad to see you accept I’m Paul’s Facilitator, even though your life needed to be on the line to do so.  Since you’ve admitted it, and assuming Evan’s telling the truth about this contract you signed, then I believe this conversation is over.  I’m Paul’s Facilitator and only in the Stein Caste is that considered a dirty word.  I may not know Paul well, at all really, but I do know that needing me doesn’t make him defective.”  Turning his attention to Evan, Keylee added, “And the next person to suggest it does will get the fuck out of this room.”

Keylee thought Evan might protest, might rage against a Donavan effectively threatening to throw him out, but he didn’t.  Instead Evan preened like a peacock, pulling his slightly disheveled suite jacket tighter around his body, fixing the buttons and settling the whole of his outfit while rolling his broad shoulders.  Without looking in Clara’s direction, Evan ordered, “There is nothing more to discuss and you are unwanted and unwelcome here.  Now, I suggest you leave before the Director calls the security team she already has standing on alert.”

With the exception of Helen, Paul had never seen anyone handle his father the way Keylee had.  Evan might obey his mother, Eva, but it was almost always begrudgingly, as if doing so wounded something deep within.  When he went along with Helen’s requests, it was different.  The tightness wasn’t there.  Evan didn’t look like he’d just given up a piece of his soul.  With Keylee it was similar and Paul felt a momentary spike of jealousy combined with an even healthier dose of awe at the realization that somehow, in less than ten days time, Keylee had managed to gain something he hadn’t been able to in twenty years – Evan Stein’s respect. 

“I will be contacting Eva about this, Evan.  Make no mistake on that.  And if you think I’m walking away from this, you’re sorely mistaken.”  Evidently Clara had recovered enough from her earlier terror. 

 At the mention of his grandmother’s name, Paul watched his father’s jaw clench, those dark eyes narrowing ever so slightly.  Eva had always been a powerful force, her visits infrequent but highly stressful.  Like Keylee, she was slight of frame but mighty in every other aspect of her life.  The mention of his grandmother’s name was the only time Paul ever saw true fear in his father’s eyes. 

“You may do as you wish,” Evan curtly replied.  “But seeing as my mother is currently in California and we are standing in Virginia, I believe your current plans and schemes to be moot.  Besides, if my mother planned on paying you from the Stein Caste accounts, she would have already done so and you would not have bothered coming here to begin with.  So please, feel free to beg Eva Stein for money but don’t come crying to me when you realize the consequences of such foolish actions.  And when that moment comes, and it will come Clara, please try and remember that I did warn you.”

The massive amounts of blush coloring Clara’s cheeks made her increasing pallor difficult to distinguish.  With a final glare, the woman who’d birthed him left, slamming the door behind her in what Paul assumed she thought was a parting comment. 

Silence hung in the room, until Keylee quietly said, “I hope you fell really far from that tree, Paul.  Otherwise the rest of my life is going to be hell.”

Max’s booming laughter lit up the room, Mathis’ soft chuckles adding the accompanying music to the instant lightening in the room.  Behind her desk, Raina’s head was tilted down, hiding her smile while her head shook back and forth. 

Even Evan was fighting a rare grin, his voice oddly choked when he finally answered, “Yes, well . . . lucky for you I believe Paul bares little resemblance to Clara.”

Max grunted.  “Keylee will only be lucky if Paul doesn’t act like either one of his genetic donors.”

“Max,” Mathis chided, more than ready to get past the discomfort of earlier. 

“I believe my son would readily agree with you, Maxwell.  I’m confident nothing would make Paul happier than acting in the opposite way of me in every possible aspect of his life.  In fact, I – “

A quiet knock at the door disrupted Evan’s words and prompted a rather disgruntled, “Oh for fuck’s sake, what now?” from Max.

The knock was quickly followed by Healer Talbot and his Facilitator, David entering the room.  “Sorry to interrupt.  We got here as quickly as possible.  Would have been here a little quicker but David almost ran into this woman leaving.  She was on her phone and not paying a bit of attention.  When David caught her from taking a tumble down the stairs she said some rather . . . unkind statements.”

Reaching for her phone again, Director Raina held up a finger asking for a moment.  “Lillian, please have security keep an eye out for a petite blond in a black raincoat.  I want her off my facility within five minutes.  Is that clear?”

There was only a short pause before the director lowered her phone again, a tight smile on her face while addressing the Healer.   “Unfortunately we were delayed.  We’ll be starting the bonding ceremony within the next few minutes.”

Instead of being upset with the delay, Healer Talbot looked pleased.  “It’s been awhile since I’ve had the opportunity to witness a bonding.  If there are no objections, I’d like to stay and watch.  Would you agree, David?”

“Of course.”

There was a chorus of agreement from everyone in the room and although two more made Director Raina’s office feel that much smaller, no one seemed to mind as the ceremony finally got started.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Having never been invited to one, Keylee had never been to an actual bonding ceremony and he was fairly certain the same could be said for those in the room carrying the last name of Stein. 

Confirming his earlier thoughts, he imagined his ceremony was akin to walking into the local justice of the peace and getting hitched.  There was no fanfare, no candles or music, no pictures or guests throwing birdseed.  Their ceremony was perfunctory.  It would get the job done and honestly that’s all that really mattered to Keylee in the first place. 

“Keylee,” Director Raina’s voice cut through his thoughts, “please place your palm in Paul’s hand.”

Doing as told, Keylee looked over to find Paul’s large palm already upturned, waiting for the addition of his flesh.  Resting his palm within Paul’s, Keylee felt the warmth of his User, not the heat of his power, but the simple comfort of human flesh. 

“Keylee, you’ve already dissipated Paul’s chakra through your own pathways, but the process was done too rapidly for your body to recognize and adapt to Paul’s unique signature.  We’re about to change that.  Paul,” Director Raina turned her attention to the youngest Stein, “just like during the exam, let your power loose.”

Keylee felt Paul’s hand tighten down on his own, his User obviously hesitant. 

“Trust in him, Paul.”  Raina’s voice was steady, the slightest command pushed into the words.  “You were alone then, but you aren’t now.  Trust your Facilitator.”

Trust wasn’t something that came naturally to Paul, or probably any Stein and he was balking not only at something so firmly engrained within his mind, but also at the prospect of hurting Keylee again.  If things didn’t go well, if Keylee couldn’t –

“It’s okay, Paul.  I’ve got this.  It’s what I was made for.” 

 Made for.  Paul closed his eyes, marveling at that simple thought.  Was Helen right?  Was having a Facilitator to go through life with better than being alone?  With his dark lenses firmly back in place, Paul couldn’t see Keylee’s eyes but there was a determined set to his shoulders, a confidence that everything would be all right if he just let go and did what they were asking.  Was Keylee well and truly made just for him?  Or was it the other way around?  The fact Keylee could live without bonding to him, and Paul couldn’t, seemed to answer that question, at least in Paul’s mind. 

And so, with a deep exhale of breath, Paul did as asked and released the shaky restraints reigning in the power always pushing for release.  Within an instant, he let it go and trusted Keylee to grab ahold and tame it.  Familiar pain slammed into him, but he was used to it by now and no longer a frightened child.  Helen said releasing his gifts shouldn’t hurt, but it always did.  No sooner did the pain begin than it began dissipating.  Paul let loose an awed gasp of relief, his voice barely audible.  “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Standing to the left and slightly behind his son, no one saw the brief shot of pain Evan couldn’t keep from his eyes.  He’d known, known and ignored what was now so blatantly obvious.  At the very least, his stubbornness had caused his son pain; at the most it had almost cost him his life. 

Unaware of the turmoil and regret running through his father’s mind, Paul stood there, stunned beyond wonderment.  There was no raging inferno, no blown out glass, no whirlwind let loose upon the room they were cramped into.  Always before there had been nothing but chaos, a gaping maw of raw power with no direction, no purpose, but now . . . now there was calm.  He could see it all so clearly, the river and flow of his chakra, the fire and wind separate and yet somehow connected.  Beauty now replaced the disorganized whirlwind running rough shod through his body, and yet that beauty was in no way diminished in power.  In fact, Paul felt stronger than ever. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Keylee had never felt anything like this before, this completion of the recognition his body had started the two times he’d dissipated Paul’s energy.  Then it had been a fight, a battle of wills to simply expend that power in the least harmful way possible, but now . . . now it was a bonding, a sharing and acceptance. 

“I, Keylee Donavan promise to protect, nourish, and always stay by my User, Paul Stein’s side.  Where there were two, now stand one, forever and unto death.”

Paul’s energy, his innate power didn’t push at Keylee but more sought him out, as if it were searching for what it had always been missing, easily recognizing that errant piece of itself in Keylee’s body.  As nervous as Paul was, Keylee kept his own worries and misgivings to himself.  Knowing how badly interacting with Paul’s chakra earlier had hurt, he’d thought today might be similar, or at the very least uncomfortable.  To his eternal gratitude and surprise, it wasn’t painful in the least.  In fact, if Keylee had to put a name to it, he’d call it nothing short of joyful – a type of peace and serenity bathing his own chakra pathways in a soothing balm.  Nothing on the planet could have felt more right. 

A tiny gasp of awe escaped Keylee’s lips and if anyone had been able to see his eyes, they would have witnessed fluttering lids of wonderment. 

Time lost meaning.  Seconds, minutes or hours could have passed and Keylee would have been none the wiser, nor would he have cared.  The world could be exploding around him and Keylee doubted he’d notice.  Welcoming a part of Paul into his body and soul seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

All too soon Paul’s chakra began pulling back, easing out of Keylee’s body but leaving a warm imprint behind.  As a Facilitator, Keylee had no chakra of his own, just a vast network of pathways whose sole purpose was to temper that of another – to tame the untamable.  No, he may not have chakra, but there was something within him that longed to follow Paul’s energy, to chase it back to the source if only to prolong their dance. 

And then, as if it had been a dream, Paul’s energy was gone and the sounds in the room began filtering back into Keylee’s ears.  Though the room was packed to its gills, only the barest shifting of clothing could be heard, the near silent inhale and exhale of those gathered set against the constant rain falling just beyond the window. 

“Keylee?” Director Raina’s questioning voice cut through the quiet. 

Keylee felt his hand squeezed within Paul’s when he failed to answer right away, his voice momentarily caught deep within the vocal paralysis of his mind.  Lips parting, his tongue darted out, moistening their cracked edges before finally speaking the only thing he could think of, “I’m fine.  It’s done.”

“Yes,” Raina’s voice was no longer questioning but held a hint of amusement, “I believe we can all see that for ourselves.”

Confused, Keylee stuttered out something both unintelligent and unrecognizable only to hear Mathis’ pleased voice by his ear.  “Look at your hands.”

Doing as told, Keylee stared down at the back of his hand, still clasped within Paul’s larger one.  A small gasp exited his mouth right before his other hand came up to lift the dark glasses from his eyes, just enough for a quick peek. 

Squinting against the overhead lights, Keylee marveled at what he was seeing.  His chakra pathways weren’t just lit up, but pulsing with a warm glow. 

“Did that happen before?” Paul asked while shifting Keylee’s hand within his own, moving it back and forth before pushing the sleeve of his suite jacket up and exposing the same thing on his wrists.  “Somebody turn off the lights.  I wanna see his eyes.”

Keylee wasn’t sure who complied, but within seconds the room was darkened, the gloom of the outside the only source of light.  Pushing his glasses upward and settling them on top of his head, Keylee did as Paul asked and stared up at him only to see his User’s eyes widen with something akin to awe. 

“Holy shit.”

“What?  Is it that bad?” Keylee wondered.

Paul only shook his head.  “Bad’s not the word for it.  I . . . it’s starting to fade, or at least die down a little.”

Dropping his eyes from Paul’s, Keylee stared at the back of his hand and noticed Paul was right.  The pulsing was dissipating, each one a little less bright until they faded all together.  Unsure what to think, Keylee looked to Mathis.  “Was that normal?”

Mathis nodded.  “Very, although the degree of veining and brightness varies from Facilitator to Facilitator.”

“Most believe it is a reflection of how strong the bond or the User’s chakra is,” Director Raina added.  “There’s no good way to examine either of those things well, or at least scientifically, so it’s mostly theoretical.  I will say this, of those currently living, I’ve probably witnessed the most bonding ceremonies and I’ve never seen a Facilitator’s chakra pathways light up quite like yours and to the overall bodily extent.  I’m not sure if that has to do with your previous interactions with Paul’s chakra or if it would have happened regardless.  There’s no way to tell.”

“Interesting.”  Evan spoke the word in a preening kind of way, as if there was suddenly something about his son needing a Facilitator that had finally met with his approval. 

Keylee ignored Paul’s father.  He didn’t care if his chakra pathways lit up the room.  All Keylee could concentrate on, all that was important to him was that the seemingly impossible had happened – he had a User – a bonded User.  And now Keylee was a fully bonded Facilitator.  Paul was his and nothing and no one could take him away.  Keylee was no longer alone in the world. 

For maybe the first time in his life, Keylee felt a grin stretch widely across his face, his cheeks happily aching with the effort.  With something close to wonder, Keylee stated the now obvious, “We’re bonded.”

Chapter Nine

Coming into the bonding ceremony, Paul wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about the whole thing and was even less sure how he’d feel afterward.  Looking down on his Facilitator’s beaming face, Paul didn’t think he held that level of pure joy, but he also wasn’t quivering in fear or lying in a useless puddle on the floor. 

So many worries had niggled at his mind, the foremost the fact he wasn’t entirely sure if the bonding would hurt Keylee, something he was determined never to let happen again.  But Keylee looked anything but injured.  How linking his life, his future and his survival with someone else, someone who had no idea what to actually do with a Facilitator, could make Keylee so damn happy was beyond Paul. 

“Before we get to the celebratory phase, there’s one last thing I need to do,” Healer Talbot interrupted Paul’s internal musings.

“You mean beyond all the paperwork?”  Director Raina’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Besides that.  I believe you have what I need?”  Healer Talbot looked at Raina expectantly.

“Ah,” Raina patted an area in her suite jacket just above her left breast before reaching in and pulling out a slender, sterilely wrapped object.  “It just arrived this morning.  Did you bring everything you need?”

Moving up beside his User, David threw a smile Keylee’s way before lifting a bag.  “We’ve got everything right here.” 

Paul stared at the small bag.  He didn’t know all the details involving the microchipping process.  “Will this hurt him?” 

Healer Talbot shrugged his shoulders before giving a noncommittal headshake.  “I can numb the area with drugs if Keylee would like.  Some say the numbing is more painful than the actual chipping process.”

“You’re a Healer, can’t you do it without drugs?” Paul asked, genuinely confused.

“You said it, I’m a Healer and right now there’s nothing in Keylee to heal.  I can mend the body after the painful event, but I can’t prevent it from happening.”

“Oh,” Paul had honestly never given it much thought.

 Ignoring Paul Stein’s latest revelation, Healer Talbot turned to his Facilitator.  “David, you’ve had the procedure done, what’s your opinion?”

David didn’t even have to think about it.  “I’d skip the numbing.  The needle’s big but I agree with Levi, the – “

“Levi?” Paul glanced around, his eyes settling on the Healer.  “You mean Talbot?”

David’s cheeks flushed ever so slightly.  “Sorry, to me he’s simply Levi.”

Paul watched as Healer Talbot – Levi, shifted that much closer to his Facilitator, wrapping an arm around David and pulling him close, laying an affectionate kiss on his temple before pulling away.  When the Healer finally looked away, there was no hiding the adoration lighting up his eyes.  For all intents and purposes, it looked as if Levi and David were no different than most bonded and shared more than a professional relationship.  Eyes briefly skittering over toward Keylee, Paul wondered if that was their future as well.

Paul had been with both men and women and enjoyed their company equally.  Although he’d never been to a shrink, he didn’t think he needed one to point out why he’d spent the last few years of his life bed hopping, the extent of which not even Helen was fully aware.  There was a hole in Paul, an aching chasm of need.  Until today, he’d never once met his mother and now only wished he could remove today from that statement.  He’d always been a disappointment to his father, even before the embarrassment of his disastrously failed User examination.   It wasn’t a great stretch of the imagination to realize why he slept around, why he sought comfort and acceptance by any means possible.  In fucking he’d finally found something he was outstanding at.  His trysts might seek him out because of his Caste, but they left his bed screaming his first name, not his last. 

And yet all those times had been but a fleeting escape from the emptiness consuming his life.  It was a fact he was well aware of and yet one he deftly ignored when the next opportunity came around. 

Mentally shaking such thoughts from his head, when Paul looked at Keylee, all he was currently consumed with was a desire to protect, to keep safe from all and any harm, especially from him.  It wasn’t that Keylee was unattractive, quite the opposite.  In fact, Paul wondered if he’d ever seen anyone more beautiful, more perfectly made than his Facilitator.  Whether that was due to the bond they now shared or simply the fact Keylee had always been destined to be his bonded, Paul didn’t know and felt far too exhausted to even attempt figuring out.  What he did know, beyond any form of doubt, was that Keylee Donavan was his.  Paul had never in his life had something that belonged solely to him.  As a Stein, everything he had – from the money to the power and influence, was but a borrowed sin.  None of it was well and truly his.  He hadn’t earned a cent of their vast fortune, hadn’t performed any deeds worthy of recognition or respect.  Everything in his life was based off of those who’d come before him. 

But not Keylee.

Keylee was the one thing the Stein Caste hadn’t given him, the one thing they didn’t want and would never try and claim.  Keylee was his and by all that was holy, Paul would move heaven, earth and the deepest pits of hell to keep what was his. 

“I don’t want the numbing medication.”  Keylee’s answer to David’s earlier question pulled Paul from his dark thoughts.  “The faster it’s over and done with, the better.”

“Somehow I figured that would be your answer.”  Healer Talbot was already rummaging around in the bag David produced earlier.  “Honestly, this will be over before you know it.  Some of the female Facilitators, and some of the male ones too,” Levi added with a wink, “say it’s pretty similar to getting a piercing.  I’ve never had one of those either so I’m afraid I really can’t say.”

“I wouldn’t know either,” Keylee answered.  “No piercings here.”

“Well then,” Healer Talbot held out his hand while the Director dropped the packaged chip into it, “this will just take a quick second and the procedure will be done.  Well, everything but the paperwork, but we’ll get to that soon enough.” 

Paul stared at the small object in the Healer’s hand, the thing sort of resembling some type of gun with one wicked looking needle where the barrel would be.  Hands clenching by his side, Paul had to keep reminding himself this was needed.  A brief moment of pain might well and truly save Keylee’s life one day.  Powerless themselves, Facilitators were easier prey for those seeking to harm Users.  And unfortunately that particular list seemed to be growing by the day.  It wasn’t just traditional criminals with traditional motivations targeting Users.  Religious zealots were getting into the act, along with the increasing threat of terrorists and those claiming to be purist nationalists.  Capturing or killing a Facilitator was a death sentence to their bonded User. 

Blinking rapidly, Paul was amazed that thought hadn’t occurred to him earlier.  Having a Facilitator made him more vulnerable to attack.  That thought should have terrified him, but it didn’t.  All it did was make him angry and afraid, not for himself, but Keylee.  Taking out a Stein would be a major coup for any organization.  Mind whirling, Paul began running through security options, processing different scenarios, their possible outcomes, and ways to keep them from happening.  If Paul had to spend every last dime in the Stein Caste vaults, he would make sure Keylee had the security needed to keep him safe. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

“Shit,” the word was softly spoken; little more than a whispered oath falling from Keylee’s lips as he felt the press of the needle pierce the skin over his left shoulder.  He’d survived far worse but pain was pain and this warranted a little more than a grunt.  Thankfully the flash of pain was quickly followed by soothing warmth.

“There, that should do it.”

Head twisting over his shoulder, Keylee couldn’t see where the chip had been placed, but he knew the warm feeling spreading over the spot.  “You’re supposed to be resting, not using up more of your chakra.”

Healer Talbot scoffed.  “I believe David will agree this is nothing and well worth the miniscule effort involved.  Now,” Healer Talbot gave a brief tap on Keylee’s skin, “that’s all done so you can put your shirt on again.  I can scan it with your clothes on.”

Shrugging back into the white dress shirt he was finally getting used to, Keylee stopped buttoning when he reached the one closest to his neck, balling up the tie Mathis had insisted he wear and shoving in it into the pocket of his pants.  Over his shoulder Keylee heard the ping of a beep followed by Healer Talbot’s satisfied exhale of breath. 

“Paul, if you’d give me your phone, I’ll get the App downloaded and Keylee’s information put in.  After that I’ll get the paperwork finished up so he can be officially recorded.  That way if something happens to your phone, Keylee will still be able to be tracked.”

Keylee was wiggling into his suite jacket while they worked on Paul’s phone, Evan leaning over and surveying the happenings.  Keylee wasn’t sure if Paul’s father was well and truly that interested or if Evan simply had to have his hands and eyes on everything.  Evan Stein didn’t strike Keylee as the type of man who liked giving up control in any aspect of his life. 

“There,” Healer Talbot sounded pleased, “all you have to do is open up the App and it automatically connects to the map function.  All of it’s satellite controlled so you should be able to find Keylee anywhere in the world.  There’s even a function . . . “

Talbot’s voice babbled on in the background.  Keylee wasn’t all that interested, had never been impressed much by electronic gadgets and what they could or couldn’t do.  Besides, if he was the one lost, then he wasn’t the one who needed to be able to figure out the tracking mechanism. 

“Hey, you okay?”

“Hmm?” Keylee’s eyes were still focused on Paul, the stubble of his new hair growth filling in the top of his head quite nicely. 

“Keylee, are you upset about the microchip?  I know it seems invasive, but – “

“No,” Keylee finally turned his attention toward Mathis.  “I’m not upset.  I mean, I don’t know that anyone would like having one, but I understand why.”  Shrugging his shoulders, Keylee wasn’t exactly sure why he felt so zoned out.  “I think maybe I’m just tired.”

“More than understandable.  It’s been a long and rather . . . interesting, morning.”

“You’re always so diplomatic, Babe.”  Max tugged at his beard, more than agreeing with Keylee but for wholly different reasons.  “Now that the festivities are over, I’m gonna duck out for a minute.”  Without waiting for a reply, Max placed a quick kiss on Mathis’ forehead and headed for the door.

“He’s going out for a smoke.  The idiot actually thinks that wimpy ass kiss is going to make me forgive him for that.”

The pinched look on Mathis’ face sent Keylee chuckling, the laughter bubbling out from deep inside.  “How many years has it been?”

“What?  You mean how many years has he been a smoker?”

Keylee nodded and Mathis let loose a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping.  “Longer than we’ve been bonded.”

Cocking his head to the side, the smile on Keylee’s lips turned soft.  “And you think arguing with him all these years later is going to make him quit?”

“No, probably not, but that won’t stop me.  I love him, Key.  We’re bonded, but since Max’s chakra network was destroyed . . . well, the healer’s aren’t sure if we are as truly bonded as we once were.  They don’t know . . . I mean, it’s not clear if we’re still linked closely enough that I wouldn’t survive his death.  Max seems to think his dying early won’t affect me, that we aren’t bonded so closely that his death would mean my own.”  Head shaking, Mathis’ age showed through.  “It doesn’t matter to me if he can use his gifts anymore or not.  I want him to be healthy, for the both of us to live as long as possible so I can simply wake up to his face every day.  Truly bonded or not, I can’t bear the thought of losing him.”

The soft smile Keylee’d felt earlier dropped from his lips.  “Mathis, I – “

“Hush, it’s okay.  Those are Max and mines problems, not yours.  You’ve got enough on your plate and none of what is going on between the two of us is your fault.  Now, it looks like they’re about done with figuring out how to find you no matter where you are.  You’ll never be able to sneak off to the bathroom alone again,” Mathis winked, trying his best to lighten the mood. 

As if on cue, Director Raina began shuffling papers, spreading out what looked like a whole tree worth upon her desk.  “Okay boys, time to get signing so we can put this bonding to bed.”

The word bed made Keylee yawn.  He’d spent more time in bed these last few days then he figured he had in the last six months and yet he was still tired.  Maybe it had been too soon for the bonding ceremony.  But looking at Paul, his upper body bent over the Director’s desk, his latest posture pulling not only at his suite jacket but the pants covering his lower half, did something strange to Keylee.  It was a feeling he’d only experienced a handful of times, none of which were acted upon.  Had he been well enough to perform the ceremony?  The quick answer was, yes.  Should they have waited until he had a little more stamina for afterward?  Probably.  Was he sorry he’d agreed to it today?  Absolutely not. 

“Keylee, it’s your turn.”

Blinking behind his glasses, Keylee forced his lethargic limbs into motion.  Reaching out he grabbed the pen from Paul’s hand, their fingers briefly touching and sending soothing warmth through his chakra pathways.  Keylee wondered if the effect was the same for Paul but couldn’t read anything from his guarded hazel eyes. 

“You’re the purple sticky note, I’m the red,” Paul offered while pointing to the brightly colored tabs stuck near various lines on several different pieces of paper.  “I’ve already signed mine.  We just need you’re signature and we can get out of here.”

Pen in hand, Keylee hesitated.  His exhaustion was increasing by the minute and although he wanted this to be over with as soon as possible, he didn’t think he had it in him to read through everything like he should. 

Seeing his hesitation, Raina tapped one of the lines and offered, “It’s a standard User and Facilitator contract, Keylee.  I read through it earlier, just to make sure nothing was added,” the Director threw a look Evan’s way, her eyes narrowed as if there had actually been some type of discussion earlier Keylee’d been unaware of, something Director Raina derailed before it had a chance to get off the ground. 

“Yes, well,” Evan’s voice held only a slight hesitancy.  “My lawyers are still working up a few amendments – “

“Father,” Paul’s tone sent a shiver down Keylee’s spine.  “We’ve already had this discussion.”

“And we will be having it again.”  Evan Stein had taught his son well, but he was still the reigning king of harsh authority.  In one way or another, Keylee’d grown up in government funded, often underfunded, care.  His caregivers were underpaid and overworked, his last name making his life all the more lonely and adrift, their harsh words like small never ending paper cuts spread throughout his body.  Hearing Evan Stein speak, Keylee thought he’d take his upbringing any day of the week compared to what Paul must have been put through. 

Desperately trying to ignore whatever silent war the Steins were currently participating within and trusting the Director, without a word, Keylee put pen to paper, signing the different slots as quickly as possible.  Within a matter of minutes he’d signed his name a final time. 

“That should cover it.  I’ll notarize these as well as the microchip papers Healer Talbot finished and get them sent in.  The two of you should be getting an official license within a few weeks.”

“Well, if that’s all you need from David and me, I think we’ll be taking off.”  Healer Talbot was already gathering up his bag and leading David from the room, a round of thank you’s and well wishes following him through the open door.

With two less in the room, Director Raina got back to the previous topic.  “That’s a license recognizing your bonding, not your capabilities.”  Focusing in on Paul, Director Raina’s eyes pinched in concern.  “You failed your User test.  We all know why now and I’ve spoken with Captain Ellis and he’s being very understanding.  You’ll be allowed to retake the test.  Like any newly bonded User and Facilitator pair, your not expected to be flawless.  There’s a learning curve involved for everyone.  However, unlike the others, Paul hasn’t been trained regarding needing a Facilitator to use his abilities.  You seem like a quick learner and I don’t expect many problems, but it will be tougher for you than the others.  You’ll need mentors – teachers and I can help you find – “

“That won’t be necessary,” Mathis interrupted.  “Well, as long as Key and Paul wouldn’t mind, Max and I would be happy to train them and offer any advice they might need.”

Despite his doubts about Max’s willingness, Keylee’s shaded eyes lit up at the thought. 

“Given Max’s injuries, I fail to see how the two of you would be the best instructors for my son.  If Paul requires a teacher, then we will find the best in the country to do so.  Money is not – “

“I don’t want to put Max out,” Keylee completely ignored the words coming from Evan’s mouth.  “It’s a kind offer Mathis, but have you even discussed it with him?”

“Discussed what?”  Max asked while walking through the door, the scent of cigarette smoke following closely.

“Director Raina was just saying that since Paul hasn’t been instructed in the use of Facilitators, he – “

“He needs someone to help out, and you offered us up?”

Mathis nodded, not a hint of regret in his actions.

Not used to being ignored, Evan stood slightly behind his son, his dark eyes smoldering.  “As I’ve already said, we will be looking for the best possible choice.  Whether Maxwell does or does not wish to do so is a moot point, we – “

“Shut up, Evan.  You want the best for Paul?  You’ve got that here in this room.”  Max said it as if there were no question.

Keylee swore he heard Evan’s teeth grind.  “Maybe that was true once, but it hasn’t been the case for going on twenty years.  You’re as common as any other human now, Maxwell.  Don’t let your pride hamper my son’s future.”

“My pride?”  Max’s laughter boomed throughout the small room, the sound equal to the figure the man struck.  “Pride, huh?  You think I’ve got any of that left at this point, Evan?”  The laughter left Max’s face, his lips pulled into a thin line.  “I gave up pride a long ass time ago.  Keylee and Paul are bonded now so the actual current abilities of their teachers don’t mean shit.  What your son needs is someone to explain what he’s feeling, how to best use his Facilitator without short-circuiting Keylee’s chakra pathways, and how in the hell to function in this world now that he’s found his other half.  He needs guidance, not a fucking leash around his throat.  I know that might be a hard concept for you to understand, but get over it.”

Hands shoved into his pockets, Max turned his attention away from a fuming Evan and back on Keylee.  “It’s no secret it’s hard for me to look at you, but that’s on me, not you.  I figure I’ve been a right shit to you these past few years and while there’s a lot I can never atone for, I’d like to do this for you, that is, if you want me to.  I’ll understand if your answer is, no.”

Keylee’s mouth opened, his lips parting with an instant, yes, but closing just as quickly.  He was bonded now and this was no longer a unilateral decision.  Actually, given the fact he’d had thirteen years of training and was more than ready to fulfill his role as a Facilitator, Paul was the one truly in need.  In the end, this was more Paul’s decision than his and if Paul wanted to take up his father’s offer, Keylee would abide his decision. 

With all those thoughts swimming throughout Keylee’s mind, he looked up and back, tilting his head and whispering a quiet, “Paul?”

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Paul knew what Keylee was asking.  He also knew what Keylee wanted him to say and couldn’t truly find a reason to deny him.  He’d only met Maxwell Haines a few short days ago and that meeting hadn’t been entirely cordial.  But what it had been was honest.  Paul was all too used to people pandering to him due to his last name.  There was every chance whoever his father hired would be far too placating, wanting to gain Stein favor and therefore less willing to be as harsh on Paul as was truly needed. 

Paul didn’t want that.  If he planned on protecting Keylee, he needed to get a handle on his own abilities and stop pushing Keylee to the breaking point.  So far his Facilitator had been able to bend with him, but Paul didn’t want to keep pushing the limits.  Paul both wanted and needed to get his shit together, to be the best possible User he could be and if that meant someone getting in his face and telling him what was what then so be it.  Paul already knew Maxwell didn’t have a problem with that and so without further thought, he gave the okay.  “I think Keylee and I would both appreciate your help.”

Paul felt Keylee relax beside him and knew he’d done the right thing. 

“I won’t go easy on you.”

“I don’t expect or want you to, User Haines.”  If there was one thing Paul had definitely learned while growing up under Stein rule, it was that the best way to start off a relationship you hoped would hold value was to be respectful. 

“Good answer.  Maybe there’s a little hope for you after all.”

Slapping Max on the shoulder, Mathis shook his head at his bond mate’s continued antagonistic ways.  “We’ll be more than happy to help, no payment needed,” Mathis’ final comment was directed toward Evan, “but let’s wait to get started in a day or two.  I think Keylee could use a little more rest.”

Mathis’ words sent Paul’s head tilting down, his eyes raking over Keylee’s body while a frown pulled at his lips.  “Do you need to sit down?”  Paul cursed the dark shades covering Keylee’s eyes as well as the reason for them.  He’d been trained to tell what a person was thinking, what they were feeling and what actions to anticipate by looking in their eyes.  The fact he couldn’t see Keylee’s was messing with his confidence. 

“No,” Keylee shook his head, but the word didn’t completely convince Paul.  “I’m okay.”

“We are going to have to revisit what that phrase means to you, along with all the other things we discussed in your hospital room,” Paul answered, his hand slipping easily to the small of Keylee’s back before turning his attention to the Director.  “Is there anything else?”

“No.  I believe we’re done here.”

Keylee felt a brief wave of relief wash through him, quickly followed by uncertainty.  He was more than ready to leave but had no idea where he was actually leaving to.  Now that he was bonded, he didn’t think he could keep staying within the Facilitator dormitories.  As unbelievable as it sounded, Max actually seemed to be warming up to him but the man had already agreed to be their instructor and Keylee loathed the idea of asking if he could stay with them.  Despite Max’s words, Keylee knew everyone needed a break now and then and the thought of forcing Max to be around him twenty-four seven was pushing it.  Head down, Keylee reached into his back pocket, pulling out the phone Helen had gotten for him, scrolling through the contacts until he hit upon her number. 

“Why are you calling my sister?”  Paul’s voice was close enough he could feel the warm gush of air tickle his ear. 

“I . . . uh, well . . . “ Keylee didn’t know what exactly to say.  According to Evan, Helen was already back to Washington D.C. so she wasn’t around and Keylee was pretty sure she’d already checked out of the hotel room she’d been staying in.  It was a long shot, but he was hoping she might be able to recommend someplace for him to stay because he sure as hell wasn’t going back to the Stein Compound, not if it meant having to deal with Evan and all the bullshit that came with the Stein Caste.  Keylee just wasn’t ready for all that. 

Sucking in a deep breath, Keylee finally answered, “I thought maybe she’d have some suggestions where I might stay.”

“Where you might stay?”  Paul sounded both perplexed and irritated.  “We’re bonded.  From what I understand most User’s and Facilitators live together afterward.  Am I wrong?”

“No,” Keylee shook his head, “you’re not wrong, I just didn’t want to assume . . . I mean, I’m not exactly sure where you live and . . . “ Keylee’s voice trailed off, unsure how to ask what he was truly wondering while at the same time desperately trying to control the flush lighting up his skin at the thought Paul might actually want to be near him, to have him close and live together.  Never in his wildest imaginings, in his most desperate of hopes, had he allowed himself to actually believe something like that could happen – especially to him. 

Up until yesterday, Paul hadn’t been exactly sure where they were going to live either.  He’d been released from the hospital three days ago and the first thing he’d done was get on line and start looking for rental properties.  Paul’s money wasn’t truly his.  He had an account he was allowed to draw from, but it wasn’t his, not really.  Part of Paul halfway expected his father to tell him any minute he’d been exiled from the family – that he was no longer considered worthy of the Stein name and they were cutting him off immediately.  In fact, Paul was pretty damn certain that’s exactly what his father and grandmother had been arguing about two days ago.  Once upon a time, he would have relished the thought.  Oh, it would have scared the life out of him, but he knew, deep down in his soul that it would have also been the most freeing thing that could have ever befallen him. 

But now . . . now things were different.  Now he had Keylee and as far as Paul could discern, his Facilitator had nothing.  Less than nothing really.  It didn’t take much effort to find out that all of his parents’ finances and belongings had been seized after Maggie’s death – sold off and confiscated to pay for the damages Jeremiah’s actions caused.  Keylee was a ward of the state and if anything, Paul was fairly certain the state of Virginia figured Keylee owed them something, not the other way around. 

Paul was determined to keep Keylee protected and doing that well would take money.  Paul had spent the last two days thinking over all the stupid things he’d wasted their family’s money on, wishing he had it all back to actually put towards a worthy cause.  But he couldn’t change the past and all he could do was hope his father’s pride fell on the side of not excommunicating his only son.  Paul figured doing so would actually cause more bad press than good and if there was one thing Evan Stein excelled at, it was preserving the Stein Caste’s public reputation.  Somehow Evan had kept the press in the dark about what had happened, a feet even Paul was in awe of, but that couldn’t last.  On the car ride over, he and his father had discussed that very topic.  Paul hadn’t been happy to learn Evan had already scheduled a press conference for the following morning, but he’d understood it and done little more than scowl at the news. 

“I don’t have to move into wherever . . . wherever it is you call home.  I just need to figure a couple of things out.  Helen gave me a phone, so you can get in touch with me, I . . .  “ Keylee’s words faltered, his mind buzzing with Paul’s silence. 

Shaking the dust from his mind, Paul suddenly realized he’d never answered Keylee’s earlier question, if that’s what it had even been, and now his Facilitator was even more uncertain.  “I’m glad Helen got you a phone, but I won’t be needing it to contact you.  You’re room’s right down the hall from mine.  I took the liberty of renting us a condo yesterday.  It comes furnished so we shouldn’t have to do much and it’s just a month to month lease so it won’t be a problem moving when everything becomes more settled.”  What Paul didn’t say, what he didn’t think he needed to say, was that once he was properly licensed as a legal User, he’d be placed within the Department and neither of them had any idea where they’d actually end up living.  It would be somewhere within the United States and most likely in one of the larger hubs in the D.C. area or possibly the L.A., Chicago or New Orleans locations.  There were smaller satellite groups spread throughout the country and there was the International Division, but those options were less likely and even when placed in one of the larger hubs, every licensed and employed User was at the beck and call of the Department.  Consequently, one didn’t have to be in the International Division to go overseas now and then on a contractual basis. 

Director Raina was right though, first Paul had to pass his User exams and become a fully licensed agent.  That was the only way he was ever going to be able to support he and Keylee on his own dime, without the looming shadow and possibility of disinheritance hanging over their heads. 

Keylee’s immediate silence made Paul wonder if he’d overstepped.  He might need a Facilitator, but Paul was still a Stein and stepping in and taking control of a situation was in his blood.  Stein’s led, they didn’t follow; ask for opinions or even advice.  Maybe he should have actually consulted Keylee before finding them a place to live.  At the time, Keylee hadn’t seemed to be in any type of condition to go house hunting and Paul didn’t want to bring his newly bonded Facilitator into the viper’s den, otherwise known as the Stein Compound.  

Paul cleared his throat, ready to plead his case when Keylee finally nodded, a quiet, “Okay, can I ride with you?  I could call an Uber or something.  I don’t have a car.”

“You can take the car we came in.  The driver should still be waiting,” Evan offered before Paul had a chance to answer.  “I’ll call another driver to come and pick me up.”

For a minute Paul wondered at his father’s unusual hospitality.  “That’s kind of you, Father.”

Eyes on his phone, Evan never even looked at Paul, instead waving a disinterested hand in the air while answering a clipped, “There are some things I’d like to stay and discuss with Maxwell.  I hardly need the car immediately.”

Ahhh . . . so that was it, Paul concluded, an odd sort of relief easing its way through his body.  He didn’t know how to deal with a kind hearted Evan Stein, but this . . . this version of his father he knew all too well. 

With an acknowledging nod in his father’s direction, Paul looked to Keylee only to see his Facilitator staring up at Max and Mathis, some form of question unspoken but evidently understood when Max simply grunted out, “Don’t worry about me.  I’ve been dealing with this ass hat for over thirty years.  Mathis and I will be fine.”

“Eloquent as always,” Evan chastised but Paul found it curious his father’s words held less bitter venom than usual.  In fact, it was teetering on the edge of friendly.

“Go on,” Mathis made a kind of shooing motion with his hands.  “You look about ready to fall down.  Get some food and rest and we’ll talk in the morning.”

Instead of answering, Keylee just sort of gave a confirmatory head nod before turning and heading for the door, pausing long enough when he got near Evan to offer a brief and oddly sincere, “Thank you for paying for the ceremony.”

Paul watched in muted fascination as his father’s eyes faded from the glacial hardness they normally held, shifting from slight confusion to something infinitely softer, something he hadn’t even seen directed at his sister, Helen.  “You are welcome, Keylee.”

Barely able to process what he’d just seen, it took Paul an embarrassingly long amount of time to move, following Keylee toward the door and bending over to grab the umbrella he’d come in with.  Somehow reaching the door first, Paul opened it for Keylee, the smaller man hesitating for a moment before turning around and offering a second round of thanks to Director Raina, the prickly woman barely looked up from the paperwork she was currently sorting through, a dismissive hand waving in the air as she answered a quick, “It was nothing.”

And with nothing else to do or say, Paul shadowed his Facilitator, his bond mate, the one being on this earth supposedly created for him and him alone.  It was a heady, terrifying thought.  Yet despite the shear terror of it all, something in Paul felt more alive than ever.  The power coiled within his body rumbled and churned, but it wasn’t chaotic or painful.  No, Paul’s chakra wasn’t the barely leashed monster he’d been living with all his life.  Instead, there was an oddly warm sense of contentment.

Walking outside, the rain was still coming down in sheets, the wind pulling against the umbrella Paul clutched over both he and Keylee.  Soon enough he’d have enough control over his wind abilities that, should he wish it, the rain would never again touch his body.  But for today the umbrella would have to do.  Right now, it was enough.  More than enough, Paul thought.

Chapter Ten

Keylee woke up to the sound of a soft voice somewhere beyond his door.  Snuggling down within the comfort of the sheets and blanket piled upon him, he had no intention of getting up, at least not yet.  Years of practice taught him how to ignore both the ache in his belly and the pressure of his bladder.  Both needs could be put off if only to give him a few more moments basking in the comfort of the bed he was now curled up on.  Keylee’d never dreamed a mattress could be so welcoming, sheets so damn soft and the room so very warm. 

Yes, Keylee could ignore most everything else, except the quiet, almost hesitant knock at his door.  Forcing his head up and out of the cocoon he’d nestled comfortably within, Keylee somehow managed to push a, “Yeah?” through his scratchy throat.

A moment later, Paul’s buzzed looking head of fresh hair growth peaked through the cracked opening.  “Do you feel up to breakfast?  I wasn’t really sure what you might like and I’m not much of a cook, but I’ve got bagels and cereal out here if you’d like.”

Bagels and cereal sounded great to Keylee’s rumbling stomach.  “Orange juice too?”

“I think so.  Or at least I asked Marie to pick some up yesterday when she went shopping for us.”

Keylee could only assume Marie was yet another one of the seemingly endless Stein employees.  “I’ll be out in a minute.”

Paul just kind of nodded, the motion a little awkward leaving Keylee with the impression Paul had more to say.  Turns out, he did.  “Unlike yesterday, the sun’s out and shining pretty bright today.  I’ve got the curtains pulled and just a few lights on so you shouldn’t have to wear your glasses.  I wasn’t sure what was comfortable for your eyes.”

Keylee really wasn’t sure either and said as much.  “Me either.”

“We’ll figure it out.  We uh . . . I’ve gotta leave in about thirty minutes and there’s a couple of things we need to talk about before, if you’re up to it.”

“I’ll be out in less than five,” Keylee answered, already pushing the covers from his torso.

In way of answer, Paul simply shut the door, giving Keylee a modicum of privacy while exiting his warm nest.  Normally doing so would have sent a shiver racing through Keylee’s body.  The boy’s dormitories hadn’t been the most temperate of places.  Freezing in the winter, scalding hot in the summer, the large room was neither insulated nor ventilated well.  The fact that leaving the bed didn’t send his body into some type of shock was a new type of luxury Keylee thought he wouldn’t mind getting used to. 

Just as he’d promised, Keylee was dressed, his suite of yesterday forgotten in favor of the standard gray sweatshirt and pants the government provided, within less than five minutes.  Exhausted yesterday, Keylee barely remembered his trip through the apartment the day before.  But it wasn’t so big he got lost making his way down the hall and into the kitchen. 

Exiting the hall, Keylee’s eyes were relieved to find Paul had been telling him the truth and the lights were dim enough they didn’t sting, not even a little bit.  With no impediment to his vision, Keylee had an excellent view of Paul in all his glory.  Keylee may have left his suit draped over a chair in his bedroom, but Paul was already dressed to the nines in one of his own.   Once again Keylee felt a strange dip bottom out his belly.  Bonded normally found their other halves attractive but Keylee figured one didn’t have to be bonded to Paul Stein in order to find the man handsome.  The sudden images of others touching Paul, of being around him in more intimate ways, sent Keylee’s stomach churning for other disturbing reasons.

He’s mine.  The thought filtered through Keylee’s mind completely unbidden and for the life of him he couldn’t decide if he should be upset with it or not.  Paul was his – his in ways he would never belong to another.  Was it so wrong to verbally admit what was already known?  Keylee didn’t know and thinking about it was starting to make his head hurt. 

“So, cereal, bagels or both?” Paul asked, his back still turned toward Keylee.

“What kind of bagels?”

“Looks like Marie picked up blueberry and plain.  We’ve also got some cream cheese here.  There’s coffee in the pot if you’d like.”

Keylee wasn’t much of a coffee drinker.  In fact, he couldn’t stand the smell of the stuff and yes, he was well aware that made him even more of an outcast in many people’s minds.  “I’ll take a plain one and no coffee, just some juice if we’ve got it.”

Still turned away, Paul complied.  “You want it toasted?”

Keylee shook his head, even though Paul couldn’t see it as he started making his way into the kitchen.  “You don’t have to fix it for me.  I’m capable.”

Paul just waved a dismissive hand his direction.  “I’m already fixing my own so it’s no big deal.  It’s not like I’m really cooking anything so don’t worry about it.  So, toasted?”

“Just warmed up in the microwave is fine.”  Keylee kind of wondered at the service he was getting but figured if Paul was fixing breakfast, lonely bagels or something grander, then he could clean up.  Settled in his mind that he’d eventually help, Keylee shuffled over to the bar, picking one of the three stools and heaving his body up into it.  Whoever built this place evidently had taller people in mind. 

Soon enough the microwave beeped and Paul turned, a plain bagel in one hand and a cup of OJ in the other.  If Keylee’d thought the man looked good from behind, it was nothing compared to the front.  Quickly lowering his flushed face, Keylee offered a muffled, “Thanks,” before shoving a piece of bagel into his mouth.  Furtively glancing up, he noted Paul had chosen the blueberry bagel, cream cheese slathered on top and a cup of stinky coffee sitting on the counter beside him.  What he also noticed was the fact Paul remained on his side of the counter. 

Desperately trying not to watch Paul’s Adams apple jerk as he followed a bite of bagel with coffee, Keylee shoved another piece of bagel into his mouth before any of the embarrassing thoughts raging through his head had the opportunity of turning into equally embarrassing sounds. 

Forcing his focus onto eating his breakfast, Keylee barely noticed the silence consuming the kitchen until finally Paul cleared his throat.  “Is the lighting okay?”

Keylee nodded, the last of his bagel sticking like lead as it ached down his throat.  With a final wash of orange juice, he was finally able to form a few words of his own.  “Yeah, it’s good.  Healer Talbot said he thinks they should keep improving, at least the sensitivity.  He’s not sure they’ll ever look . . . normal, but I probably won’t need the sunglasses inside for much longer.  Outside . . . “ Keylee shrugged, “there’s a good chance the sun will always be an issue.”

Keylee heard Paul give a grunt he couldn’t really interpret and all of a sudden yesterday’s conversation came barreling back into his brain.  Head snapping up, Keylee’s eyes were wide, his voice an attempt at reassurance.  “But it won’t interfere with anything, I promise.  I can still do my job as your Facilitator.  It won’t be a hindrance or anything.”

Heart rate spiking, Keylee felt his limbs go cold and clammy.  Coffee cup half way to his lips, Paul’s body was frozen, his hazel eyes narrowed and awash in anger.  Heated chakra began swirling just below Paul’s skin, something only Keylee would probably be able to feel and without a whisper of thought, his body immediately began molding it, evening out the flow and intensity.  Everything in Keylee wanted to shrink back into his seat, to appear as small and unthreatening as possible but he fought that instinct with everything in his body.  He wasn’t exactly sure what had made Paul so angry, but shirking in the face of it now would set a bad precedent for the future – a very bad one indeed. 

“You think I’m worried about that?  You think that’s what bother’s me about your eyes, the fact you might be handicapped as my Facilitator?”

Despite his determination, Keylee flinched at the flat coldness in Paul’s voice.  “I . . . I know you have concerns about me . . . my last name alone and then this,” Keylee waved at his eyes. 

“Fuck your last name,” Paul slammed his coffee cup down on the counter.  “Fuck mine too for all that it matters.”  Suddenly the ire in Paul deflated, the fire under his skin abating.  “Listen, I’m not gonna stand here and say I was all smiles and joy when I learned your last name, who your parents were.  In fact, that’s probably putting it in a lot better light than I deserve.  But thankfully Helen and Maxwell were there to set me straight about a few things, to point out the bigger picture and get my head pointed in the right direction.  Did I come around as quickly as I should have?  No, but I got there nonetheless.”

Keylee watched, his eyes large and round as Paul took less than two strides across the kitchen, his large hands splayed out on the counter in front of him, his flexed muscles pushing at the seams of his burgundy shirt.  “For the record, Keylee, what bother’s me about your eyes isn’t what they look like or the fact you need a little shade now and then for them.  What bother’s me is how they got that way.  The fact you were hurt, permanently damaged, by dissipating the shitstorm I created.  You got that way saving my life and that is something I never want happening again.  Do you understand that?”

Honestly, Keylee wasn’t exactly sure he did and said the only thing he could think of.  “But I’m your Facilitator.  How could I do anything less?”

Keylee watched as Paul hung his head, one hand restlessly running over the short bristles of his growing hair.  “I know and although I never in my life thought I’d say it, I’m damn grateful.  You’re my Facilitator and I’m your User.  Can you understand why I don’t want to hurt you?”

Lips opening and closing, Keylee finally settled on a gasped, “Oh.”  With the exception of Mathis, no one Keylee had ever known had ever truly cared if he’d been injured or not.  The simple truth of the matter was he’d never once thought Paul would and he should have.  For the first time in his life, Keylee held value.  Head nodding once, Keylee finally pulled himself together enough to answer a clipped, “I see.”

“Do you?  Do you really?”

Keylee wasn’t sure he understood it all, but he thought he got it well enough and gave another nod.  If something happened to him, Paul would die.  He was important now and had to stay as well as possible. 

“Okay.”  Paul visibly relaxed, a second, quieter, “Okay,” whispering through his lips as he moved away, leaning against the counter on the other side of the kitchen.  “I never got a chance to ask how your feet are doing?”

Feet?  Keylee’s brain churned before finally remembering the bottom of his feet had been blister burned after dissipating Paul’s fire in the hospital.  “They’re fine.  They kept me sedated for a few days while my chakra pathways stabilized.  By the time I was taken off the meds, they were healed.”  Keylee didn’t think telling Paul that the all consuming pain firing through his chakra pathways had kind of made him ambivalent to anything else would really help the situation and wisely kept that fact to himself. 

“Good,” Paul cleared his throat.  “I mean, I’m glad it wasn’t painful for you.”

Keylee wiggled his bare toes, the soles of his feet resting on the metal rod of the bar stool.  Yup, no pain there at all. 

Paul looked down at his watch and frowned.  “I’ve just got a few minutes before the driver gets here and there’s a couple of things I need to tell you so you’re prepared.”

Keylee didn’t like the sound of that any more than he liked the grumpiness settling over Paul.  Wherever he was going, his User wasn’t happy. 

“My father’s called a press conference.  Me needing a Facilitator is gonna be media fodder.”  The smile twisting Paul’s lips was anything but humorous.  “He’s managed to keep everything out of the press so far.  Evidently there was a mental manipulation User on the examination grounds when I blew myself up.  He put a temporary mind wipe on almost everyone there.  As soon as they hear or read about what happened, they’ll start remembering, but it bought us some time.  As far as the hospital staff’s concerned, I’m not entirely sure, but I think cash was probably the weapon of choice in that information suppression war.”  Paul shook his head while rinsing out his coffee mug in the sink.  “The bottom line is that all that’s about to change today.  The memory blocks only last so long and they’re unpredictable at best.  We’re probably lucky they’ve lasted this long and sooner or later someone who saw what was happening at the hospital is going to wise up and figure out they can get even more money for their story.  I don’t like it, but it’s better for us all around if we get out ahead of the story and form the framework for the narrative.”

Keylee felt his bagel harden in his stomach.  “So, how big of a thing is this going to turn into?”

“Honestly?  I’ve got no idea.  If it weren’t for my last name – “

“And mine.  Are you going to tell them who your Facilitator is?”

Paul nodded.  “Yes.  They’ll find out sooner or later and it’s better if it’s from me.”

Once again Keylee felt like apologizing, but he was who he was and if he wasn’t then Paul might very well be dead right now. 

“Anyway, I’m telling you this because once this gets out, the press will be looking for you and in this day and age, it won’t take them long.  There’s a good chance that phone Helen gave you is gonna start ringing off the hook before I even get a chance to get back.  As far as the condo’s concerned, they’ve got pretty good security here.  It’s one of the reasons I chose this place, but my experience is that people get down right creative and sneaky when there’s a big enough payday at the end and pictures of you are gonna go for a mint.  So, I don’t want you opening that door for anyone you don’t know.  In fact, if it’s not me, Helen, Mathis or Max, then you don’t open it.”

Now his bagel felt like lead.  “Would it be better if I went with you?”  It was the last thing Keylee wanted to do.  The press had hounded him a little when he was younger, but Director Raina was a tyrant when it came to that kind of thing and incidents had been few and far between when he’d been on the Facilitator training grounds.  Although he had nothing to compare it to, Keylee had heard on numerous occasions that security within the Facilitator Institute was second only to the President of The United States.

Paul hesitated before finally shaking his head.  “No.  Father and I talked about it.  There are going to be lots of cameras, lights brighter than the sun.  I know you said your eyes are getting better, but honestly I’m not sure even the darkest shades would keep away the pain.”

“I can handle a little pain.  Besides, I’m your Facilitator; I don’t have to be out in front of the press.  I could hide somewhere close by.  What if you loose control or – “

“No.”  Paul’s voice was harsher now, full of the conviction it had previously lacked.  “I can handle a few hours away from you, I’ve got enough control for that.  We don’t have to be stuck together twenty-four seven.”  The disgust in Paul’s voice at such a thought made Keylee’s blood cold.  “As far as the press is concerned, you don’t know my father, not well enough to realize this is his field.  There’s a lot of bad I can say about Evan Stein, but when it comes to manipulating the press, he’s the master.  Chances are you’d slip up and say something that would make the situation worse.  Let us handle it.”

Keylee bristled at the dig, although the way Paul kept going he doubted his User even registered how insulting he’d just been.  A buzzing by the door, quickly followed by Paul’s heavy footfalls, interrupted whatever comeback Keylee may have wanted to say. 

“Yes.”

“It’s Alan, Mr. Stein.  I’ve come to pick you up.”

“I’ll be down in just a minute.”

Shuffling clothes were heard somewhere behind Keylee and by the time Paul made it back into the kitchen; he’d already shrugged into his suit jacket and was fiddling with the cuffs.  “I’m not sure how long this will take but while I’m gone take some time to look through the cupboards.  I made a list of a few numbers, employees you can trust.  Call Marie if there’s anything you’d like that isn’t here.  Since I don’t know what you like to eat, I really didn’t have any idea what to tell her to get.”

Keylee watched Paul’s dispassionate gaze sweep up and down his body.  “It doesn’t really look like they were feeding you enough at the Institute.  We’ll see what can be done about that too.”

Paul either ignored or didn’t notice the instant stiffening of Keylee’s body or his silence.  “Remember what I said earlier.  Be sure to lock the deadbolt behind me, just in case.  I didn’t have time to go over the security system and codes with you.  For now I can set them remotely from my phone.  I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

And with that, Paul left, the sound of the lock snicking behind him quickly followed by a low hum and an autonomous voice declaring the alarm activated.  Silently fuming and stunned into inactivity, Keylee just sat there, time ticking by in the dead silence of the cage he was now trapped within.  Suddenly the cozy warmth of this morning vanished, the cost of such simple luxury now known and far too high. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

“Calm down.”  Evan’s command did little to actually calm the fire pushing against Paul’s chakra pathways.  Dear God, how he hated the press.  No, that wasn’t exactly true.  Paul didn’t hate the legitimate press, the ones who reported the facts without the hype and extravagance the public now seemed to crave.  Fact was secondary to the sensationalized rhetoric thrown into the feeding frenzy that was now touted as legitimate news. 

“They’ll crucify him.  Keylee doesn’t stand a chance against those vultures.”  That thought more than any was what was currently threatening burning a hole through the steel car they were riding within. 

“I have found it unwise to underestimate Mr. Donavan,” Evan shifted in his seat, not nearly as upset with the way the conference had progressed as his son.  “They’re curious about him and that’s to be expected.  Director Raina did an admirable job protecting the boy from this side of public life but she didn’t keep him locked in the fishbowl she could have.  Keylee’s had to live with his last name for twenty years, being ostracized for it will hardly be news to him at this stage.”

Paul wanted to scream at his father, Keylee was no boy.  Although small of frame, Keylee was definitely all man – beautiful ebony hair, pale moonlight skin and the most magnificent eyes Paul had ever seen.  The fire within Paul swirled, swiftly shifting forms and moving towards a more discrete target.

Desperately trying not to get hard in front of his father, Paul focused on Evan’s other words.  “He shouldn’t have to deal with it.  He is not his mother, or his father.”

“Just as you are not yours,” Evan agreed. 

“Much to your disappointment.”  Paul’s voice sounded crass, even to his own ears. 

“Do you want me to lie?  I would never want you to be like your mother, but as much of a horror as you believe it to be; I don’t think it would hurt you to be a little more like me.  You’re far too soft, you always have been.  For that, I blame myself.”

Paul was thankful for the privacy separation fully in place between the back and front of the car.  Alan didn’t need to hear the hurt laced insanity infusing his laugh.  “What?  Didn’t knock me around enough?  Didn’t tell me enough times to toughen up, to stop complaining about the pain eating me alive when I tried using my gifts?”

Evan gritted his teeth, his gaze slipping from his son and focusing on the buildings streaming past their speeding car.  “The past is the past, Paul and there is little either you or I can do to change it.  What we must focus on is both the present and the future.  Your future,” Evan added with emphasis, “yours and Keylee’s.”  Turning from the view outside, Evan angled his body so he could better address his son.  “Now, as irritated as you were with the press conference, it actually went better than expected.  Keylee’s last name was an asset, not a detriment.”

Paul snorted, an unpleasant sound.  “Due to your manipulation.”

“Stop making it sound so sinister, Paul.”

“You used Keylee’s last name, his parentage to make it sound like a Stein needing a Facilitator was fated to restore the Donavan name, that my needing a Facilitator at all was Fate’s way of restoring and absolving Keylee’s lineage.  You made it sound as if we were the ones making the sacrifice with Keylee the benefactor.  If I’d known that was the direction you were going to take things – “

“What?  You would have done what exactly, Paul?”  Evan’s patience was dwindling.  Yes, he may be better than great when it came to dealing with the press and all that entailed, but that didn’t mean he found it pleasant.  In point of fact, Evan found it down right exhausting.  “I was faced with an impossible situation and I turned it into something tenable for everyone involved.  Stein’s do not require Facilitators.  Period.  End of story.  So then, how do I explain the fact that you, a Stein in every way possible, require one?  I could have blamed it on your parentage.  I always knew it would be a risk when I picked Clara as your mother.  Clara herself was not a User but beyond that point, her genetics were impeccable.  The Missangers are a strong User Caste and I’d hoped to bring that into the Stein Caste.  The decision was mine and mine alone and thus I shall take the blame for it.”

Paul wondered when Gifted breeding had become so very fucked up.  His father was discussing his conception and birth much like one might a prized racehorse. 

“I believe, after meeting your mother – “

“She’s not my mother.  She’s just a genetic donor.  Nothing more.”  Paul couldn’t stand hearing Clara referred to as a mother.  Much as he might disagree with how his father had raised him, Evan Stein had been a father – a shitty, and sometimes abusive father, but he’d been there.  Clara had not. 

Evan paused for a moment before nodding slightly.  “On that we can agree.  From now on I will simply refer to her as Clara.”

“Fine.”  Paul wondered if he and his father had ever agreed so readily on something before in their lives.  

“As I was saying, I believe after meeting . . . Clara, you can agree adding verbal fuel to that particular fire would be unwise and although Clara herself holds little importance, the Missanger Caste would not be pleased if I took to the media verbally insulting their genetic core.  That is a bridge not worth burning.  At least, for now.”

“So, it was Keylee who took the blame for my not meeting Stein standards.  Is that it?”  Paul just couldn’t understand it.  No, that wasn’t entirely true.  Paul could understand what his father had done and maybe that’s what truly bothered him.  But more than that, whether Keylee knew it yet or not, he’d been hurt again because of Paul.  Maybe not physically, but this was bound to wound him on a whole other level. 

“As I said earlier, you underestimate your Facilitator.  Keylee will understand.”

“Damn-it!  He shouldn’t have to understand it.  That’s the whole fucking point!”  The fire under Paul’s skin pulsed again.  Bonding with Keylee had done wonders for his control, he’d known that almost instantly.  Even now, with the heat pushing through his body it wasn’t the same wild, untenable thing it’d once been.  But he was beginning to see that thinking he didn’t need Keylee close, that he could now control things, was more than a little naïve.  It was better, but not without risk, unless Keylee was there. 

“Paul – “

“I know,” Paul seethed, forcing his breathing to slow, his anger to dissipate, “just give me a minute.”  Slowly the heat cooled to something just below a simmer. 

Evan remained quietly contemplative, his eyes and senses tracking Paul’s progress until finally his son calmed enough for him to speak.  “You had better hope Keylee is stronger than you give him credit for.  You need him, more than I hoped you would.”

Paul didn’t know what to make of the curious sadness lacing his father’s words.  Taken alone, they sounded harsh and condescending, but Paul got the impression that’s not at all the way his father had meant them.  Head shaking, Paul looked away from his father, his thoughts scattered but beginning to reform.  “He wanted to come – would have if I’d let him.  Keylee would throw himself in front of a raging wolf if it meant saving me, protecting me from myself.”

“I know.”  Again, there was the low sadness or maybe regret pulsing around those few words.  “As I said earlier, Keylee will understand why I did what I did today.  He’ll understand and approve.”

Realization dawned through Paul’s thick skull.  “Oh my God . . . you used his Facilitator nature to your advantage.  Everything in Keylee, everything regarding me is geared to protect and he’d do anything to do so.”

“Correct.”  Evan nodded, his eyes cold and solemn.  “Keylee’s willing to sacrifice everything he is, even his very life, to save yours.  I’ve seen it.  I . . . I’ve never seen anything like what he did both during your exam and in the hospital.  No regard, no thought for his own safety.  When I heard what his last name was, whom his mother had been . . . I couldn’t accept him, but Paul . . . “ Evan’s voice trailed off, his eyes closing for a brief moment before inhaling a deep breath, pulling his shoulders taught and straightening his back, “Keylee Donavan is worthy of you, worthy of us and despite how you feel about what I said today, how I handled things, you must understand that this was not my choice.  A choice implies there were options and there were none.”

Paul’s heart hammered, his father’s words and the meaning behind them short circuiting something in his brain.  All his life Paul had been raised to believe there was nothing and no one equivalent in value to the Stein Caste. But here his father was, admitting Keylee wasn’t only worthy but . . . “There had to have been other choices.  You could have just said I was a fluke, a genetic mishap.  You wouldn’t have had to blame the Missanger Caste, you could have – “

“Could have what?  Blamed our Caste?”  Leaning forward, Evan made sure he had Paul’s attention.  “And what, exactly, do you think your grandmother would have said about that?”  At Paul’s wide, confused eyes, Evan reached over, grasping his son’s chin within his fingers and pushing hard, hoping the pain would focus Paul’s attention.  “Listen to me, Paul and pay attention.  Do not make the mistake thinking every threat to Keylee is from the outside.  The most important, the most deadly is far closer to home.  You’ve already made the mistake of underestimating your Facilitator.  Do not make the same one when considering the head of the Stein Caste.  Eva Stein is not a force to be taken lightly.  Give your grandmother no quarter, no reason to notice you any more than she already has.  Shifting the blame, if you want to call it that, for why you require a Facilitator onto Keylee was necessary.  I didn’t do it just to save face for the Stein Caste, but to save Keylee.  There was no choice Paul.”

The ache his father’s fingers left on his jaw was nothing compared to the fear slamming through his soul.  “She wouldn’t, she – “

Evan sat back in his seat, pulling at his suit jacket, taking the opportunity to clear his mind and regain his stoic control.  “Never underestimate her, Paul.  If there is but one thing in your life you learn from me, that you actually listen to, that is it.”

Stunned into silence, Paul didn’t know what to say, didn’t even know what to think.  He’d spent precious little time with his grandmother, the matriarch of the Stein Caste.  He’d known his father didn’t like her visits, that the tension within their home would ratchet up whenever she appeared, but this . . . what exactly was his father implying?  Just what kind of a woman was Eva Stein?  Helen didn’t know it, but she was getting a phone call as soon as possible.  No more had that thought crossed his mind than his own phone rang, the tone associated with it telling him to actually answer.

Still attempting to process his father’s words, Paul fumbled for the phone tucked in his back pocket, finally locating it just before the call went to voice mail.  “Helen.”

“Paul,” Helen’s voice was just as pleasant and warm as always, no hint of the bombshell she was about to unload.  “Why did I just get a call from Keylee asking me to find him new lodgings . . . away from you?”

Chapter Eleven

Keylee wavered, his bottom sore by the time he finally pushed his body off the bar stool he’d found so inviting earlier that morning.  Pulling his thoughts together had taken more time than Keylee wanted to fully admit.  Coming up with a plan of action had been somewhat swifter. 

He could call Mathis, but his earlier feelings on the matter still held true.  Max would have to spend enough time around him in the coming days to weeks and there was only so much Keylee was willing to put him through.  The Facilitator Institute was out of the question and as much as he’d just like to head out the door and find his own way, he had to consider his physical importance to his User.  Paul might not need him around twenty-four seven, but he couldn’t risk anything happening to his User.  Their lives were now linked, permanently and irrevocably.  It was possible Keylee could survive, at least for a little while, after his User’s death, but Paul wouldn’t survive more than a few hours to days without him and no matter how angry and hurt he currently was, he could no more threaten Paul’s life now than before their dreadful morning talk. 

Given those constraints, Keylee could think of only one option, the same one he’d thought of yesterday after the bonding ceremony. 

Legs numb and prickly from sitting too long, Keylee somehow made it to his bedroom, quickly digging the cell phone Helen had gotten him out of the suit jacket pocket and hitting contacts.  There were only two: Helen and Paul.  Keylee knew which number he wanted. 

“Hello?  Key, is everything all right?”

From the snippets of conversation he’d been able to overhear between Evan and his daughter, Keylee figured Helen held a very important position within the Department and wasn’t sure she’d answer right away.  Much to his relief, Helen answered on the fourth ring. 

Taking a moment to clear his throat, Keylee nodded, knowing Helen wouldn’t be able to see but somehow the motion reiterated that he was indeed okay.  “Yes, everything’s fine.  I was just wondering . . . well, I was kind of wondering if you might be able to help me find somewhere to stay.”

“Stay?  Are you not with Paul?”  Helen’s voice was steady, more confused than upset.

“Currently, but I think it might be a little too early for us to live together.  I think that maybe we could both use a little more time to get to know each other . . . maybe not rush into anything too quickly.”  Keylee wasn’t sure how to convey his true feelings without blurting out all the hurt churning his insides.   He’d learned from an early age never to reveal too much, especially what might be used against him later.  The way Paul had hurt him, the piercing pain lancing through his emotions, was definitely a weapon he didn’t want placed into anyone else’s hands, even Helen’s.   

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, so long Keylee worried Helen had either hung up or maybe didn’t understand.  Finally Helen’s soft, soothing voice filtered across the line.  “Key, can I speak with Paul for a moment?”

“He’s not currently here.”

Another pause before a barely audible, “I see,” filtered through the line.

Did she?  Did she really?  Keylee wasn’t sure how, but he thought if anyone could figure out what was going on with so little information, it might just be Helen Stein.  “I’m sorry to bother you with this.  I know you must be busy with work and you’ve already taken so much time off, I – “

“Nonsense.”  Helen made Keylee feel like it really was no big deal he’d called and interrupted her day.  “Listen, Key, I’m going to start looking into some possibilities for you but I want you to do something for me, okay.”

Keylee wasn’t sure why, but his immediate answer was agreement. 

“Good.  Now, I’m not sure what Paul’s said or done, but before you leave, I want you to give him an opportunity to explain.  In the meantime, I’m going to do some investigating on my end and after you’ve spoken with Paul, if you still wish to leave, I’ll send a driver over today to pick you up and move you somewhere close by but not under Paul’s roof.  Does that sound reasonable to you?”

Of course it sounded reasonable, adult and responsible.  What it also sounded like was something Keylee absolutely did not want to do. 

“Key,” Helen’s voice was honey soft, a light pleading tone weaving through its core, “I promise if you still want to leave I’ll help you.  I don’t know what happened, but knowing Paul, he’s said something crass and hurtful but also knowing my brother, I doubt he meant his words the way they came out.  Paul works off of emotion, that’s probably why . . . well, that can wait for another time, but my point is that he doesn’t always think through his words or actions.”

Keylee didn’t think there was a lot open to discussion or interpretation.  Paul hadn’t just implied he didn’t need Keylee around all the time, he’d flat out said it.  He’d also been very blunt in his assessment of Keylee’s intelligence and inability to hold his tongue when needed.  Add on the fact he was now essentially a prisoner in his own home, and he used the term home very loosely, and Keylee wasn’t feeling much in the discussion mood.  Still, if this were his ticket out, then he’d agree.  “I’ll listen.  But my bag will also be packed and ready to leave.”

“Fair enough.  I’ll have a driver and car sent over and waiting in case you need them in a hurry.”

That offer did surprise him and Keylee swallowed a lump of shear gratitude.  “Thanks.”

“Okay.  Hang in there.  I’m not sure where Paul is.  Father informed me they would be holding a press conference, was that today?”

“This morning.”

Keylee heard Helen blow out a deep breath.  “Well, better them than me.  I hate to say it, but chances are Paul won’t be in a very good mood when he gets back.  Hopefully it won’t take them too long and we can get this all straightened out as soon as possible.”

Unsure how to answer that, Keylee remained silent.

“I’d better get going so I can start looking into safe places for you to stay.  Call me after you’ve spoken with Paul, okay.”

Again, Keylee nodded before answering a quick, “Sure.”

“All right, Key.  Take care and I’ll talk to you soon.  And, Key – “

“Yeah.”

“Thanks for calling me.  I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to let me know when you need help.”

Keylee was glad Helen hung up after that, completely unsure how to answer such a statement.  It wasn’t like he really had a lot of options but even still, he had felt comfortable enough to call Helen and he wasn’t entirely sure why.  Still, even thinking about it now and contemplating the ins and outs of the situation, Keylee couldn’t find even a hint of regret to his actions.  Whether it made sense or not, he really did trust Helen Stein. 

Deciding it maybe didn’t matter why, Keylee tossed his phone on the bed.  He’d told Helen he was going to pack but what did he really have to do?  He hadn’t really unpacked yet, not that he had a lot.  Just a few government issued sweatshirts, pants, underclothes and toiletries – most of which he hadn’t even gotten out.  Really the only thing was the suit Mathis had purchased for him, still hung over an odd little side chair tucked in the corner of his bedroom.  Keylee didn’t think he was supposed to roll that up like he had his sweatshirts and stuff in his bag.  Doing the best he could, Keylee grabbed his tennis shoes out of his bag, stuffing his feet inside and arranging everything else to the best of his abilities. 

Sitting on the bed beside the sum total of his worldly possessions, Keylee waited for Paul’s arrival.  All he really wanted to do was leave before his User got back, but the more he thought about it, he wasn’t even sure he could leave before Paul returned.  Not knowing the security codes, Keylee wondered if he’d even be able to get out the front door.  Somehow that thought did little to actually ease Keylee’s anxiety.  Instead, all it did was make him feel increasingly trapped, caged and suffocated. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Leave?  What the fuck is Keylee thinking?  Paul’s heavy footsteps echoed across the pristine marble floor of the condominium complex lobby he’d chosen as their temporary home.  Out of the corner of his eye he caught a quick shot of movement, a man with a camera, lens already snapping, coming at him from a far corner. 

“Mr. Stein!  Mr. Stein!  Is it true . . . “

Paul didn’t even pause on his way to the elevator.  As predicted the vultures had already found him and thankfully just as predicted, the complex’s security was already moving in to intercept.  In the background Paul heard the security guard informing the paparazzi this was private property and he wasn’t allowed inside.  Paul didn’t really care what was said as long as it got the man and his camera out of the building and further away from Keylee. 

Stepping into the elevator, Paul punched in the code for the penthouse suite, the elevator doors quietly humming closed before he’d managed to hit the last number.  Twisting his head from side to side, Paul attempted deflating some of the stress and anxiety pushing against his control.  By the end of the day he was going to need of one hell of a masseuse.  Thankfully, that was also one of the perks his monthly condo dues were going toward. 

As the floors ticked by, Paul thought over his sister’s words, Helen’s sincere threat that if he didn’t fix whatever was wrong, and do it quickly, that she would follow through with her promise and move Keylee out – away from him.  In fact, the car Helen promised to send was already sitting, idling down in the parking lot.  He’d seen it as soon as they’d arrived and had a hell of a time explaining to his father why it was there.  Whether Evan believed the story he’d concocted or not, Paul didn’t know and didn’t really care right at the moment. 

Everything was fine this morning so what the hell happened?  What had gone wrong?  Backtracking, retracing his steps and words, Paul thought everything had been fine.  He’d even fixed breakfast – okay, so he’d just heated up a bagel and poured some OJ, but still, didn’t everybody say it was the thought that counted? 

The elevator door dinged and he was in the hall in front of their condo door and was no closer to the answer than he’d been before.  As far as Paul could figure, he’d done everything he’d been expected to do.  Provide shelter – check.  Provide food – check.  Provide security – check and double check.  Move his Facilitator in with him – evidently temporarily checked. 

Disabling the alarm via the App on his phone, Paul pushed the door open, his anger slowly building.  “Keylee!”  Paul hadn’t meant to say his Facilitator’s name like that, with such animosity and . . . fear.  Swiftly looking around the living room and kitchen revealed no Keylee and soon panic began fueling the anger.  “Keylee!  Where the fuck are you?”

Paul didn’t give Keylee the chance to answer, instead he was already barreling through the condo, immediately heading toward the room he’d deposited Keylee into the night before.  The door wasn’t closed and as soon as he rounded the doorframe, he saw his objective.  “Where the hell have you been?  I’ve been calling for you since coming through that door.”  Paul pointed down the hall and toward the outside door. 

Scrunched up on the bed, clutching his phone, knuckles white, Keylee sat – legs pulled up and travel bag tucked tight against his side.  Eyes wide and uncertain, his Facilitator looked ready to bolt at any moment.  But more than that, Paul saw something in Keylee’s eyes he never wanted to see, especially when instigated by the sight of him – fear. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

By the time Paul made it into his room, Keylee was visibly trembling.  He’d heard his name called like that before – with anger licking it’s edges, as if the letters making up his name were a curse upon the planet.  He’d learned long ago that nothing good ever came of actually answering that kind of call, of letting them find you.  If he’d had somewhere to run and hide, make no mistake, Keylee would have been long gone. 

Sitting there, clutching his life tightly against his chest, Keylee could feel the angered chakra swirling within Paul’s body, his own instinctually tempering and calming it.  Swallowing hard, Keylee watched confusion wash over Paul’s face, his User taking a step forward, a halting, “Keylee, what’s wrong?” summing up his ignorance. 

Also on instinct, Keylee flinched, jerking back from the towering man currently blocking his only means of escape. 

“Shit,” Paul’s body deflated.  “You’re scared of me?  Is that it?”

Keylee no more wanted to admit fear of his User than he did anyone else in his life, but that didn’t negate the feeling.  Throat closed up tight against any and all words, Keylee could only sit there, his thumb hovering over Helen’s number, itching to press down and push the send button. 

“Fuck.”  Paul scrubbed both palms over the growing stubble on his head.  “Fuck.”  Evidently one wasn’t enough.  “Okay.”  Holding both palms out in what he thought was a nonaggressive manner; Paul began backing out of the room.  “I’m gonna go sit in the living room.  You come out when you’re ready.  Okay?  I’m not going to hurt you Keylee.  I promise, I . . . shit.”  And with that, Paul left, stumbling over one of his feet as he turned and headed down the hall. 

With Paul gone, Keylee was able to breath, the shaking thumb hovering over Helen’s number slowly easing back, although he still wasn’t sure he shouldn’t just press the damn thing and get the hell out of there.  Obviously Paul had some type of anger management issues going on and Keylee was torn between feeling the need to stay and make sure he didn’t loose control enough to burn himself alive and wanting to run.  His survival instincts were currently at war with his Facilitator ones.  But if something happened to Paul . . . suddenly both his warring instincts were on the same page. 

Pulling in a deep breath, Keylee repeated the process until his hands were no longer shaking.  Grabbing his bag, suit jacket and pants draped over the top, Keylee finally pushed himself off the bed, carefully peeking around the corner of his bedroom door and down the empty hall.  Quiet as a mouse, Keylee snuck down the hall, coming to the end and looking into the living room.  Back to him, sitting on what looked to be a leather couch, Paul sat, shoulders slumped, head in hands while staring a hole through the floor. 

Physical abuse cases between Users and Facilitators were near unheard of, but Keylee and Paul weren’t typical bonded pairs.  Paul had never expected to be bonded, probably didn’t even want to be if Keylee read the initial situation correctly. Keylee had been around the block enough to know that when it came to him, all bets were off.  The normal rules and traditions rarely if ever gave Keylee the benefit of the doubt and he wasn’t at all sure what he would do if Paul became violent with him.  As far as he knew, his father had never even been that way with his mother.  Jeremiah Induwe was just sadistic and violent when it came to everyone else in the world. 

“Paul?” Keylee finally managed, his voice barely audible. 

Barely a movement, but Paul made a sitting motion with his hand, his eyes still trained on the floor.  “Please.  Sit.  I won’t hurt you, Keylee.  I may be upset and I’m sorry I scared you, but you have to know . . . I would never intentionally . . . I mean, I know I’ve hurt you before, but I didn’t mean it, I couldn’t control that, I . . . “

Keylee sat, the misery in Paul’s voice erasing his earlier fears.  “Do you think I blame you for that?  For getting hurt when I dissipated your chakra?”

Paul let loose a painful laugh.  “No.  But you should.”

“Why?”  Keylee asked, knowing this conversation wasn’t going anywhere near where he thought it would.  But even still, it was necessary, of that he was sure.  “Why would I blame you?  It was all my decision.  You never asked me to do it.  You weren’t even conscious of what was going on – either time.”

“And you think that makes me feel better?”

Shit, Paul sounded miserable.  “Yes?  I don’t know, but I know it shouldn’t make you feel worse.”

“Keylee,” Paul sighed, finally looking up and leaning back into the couch, the leather giving an odd squeak and groan, “If you understood, then it would help you realize that I could never, ever hurt you intentionally.  Certainly not in the way you looked like you expected when I found you in your bedroom.”

It was Keylee’s turn to stare at the floor.  “You sounded so angry.”

“Yes,” Paul readily admitted.  “I was.  But I was also scared.  When I couldn’t find you . . . I thought maybe you’d already left, that it was too late to talk to you.”

“Helen called you?”

Paul paused a moment before nodding.  “Yeah, she called.  Does that upset you?”

Keylee thought about it for a minute before shaking his head.  “She’s your sister, so no.  I should have anticipated it.”

“She was only trying to help, to give me a heads up to try and figure out what in the hell I’d done to make you want to leave.”  Head shaking, Paul still didn’t know and said as much.  “But all it did was piss me off because I couldn’t figure out what in the hell I’d done to upset you and the more I thought about it, the more confused I got.”

Keylee was beginning to understand, at least a little.  “So by the time you got to the door – “

“I was already pretty worked up and then I didn’t see you and you didn’t answer when I called your name.”

“The way you called my name didn’t make me want to answer.”

Paul gave a slow nod.  “Okay, duly noted.  Now, since I can’t seem to work out what I fucked up this morning, and I’m guessing it was sometime this morning because you seemed okay when you first woke up, then I’m gonna need you to lay it out for me.”

Keylee squirmed a little in his seat, his travel bag rustling next to him, the remnants of his suit no doubt wrinkling as it was pressed into his thigh.  Easing the phone from his hands, Keylee ignored the cramping in his fingers as he set it down on a nearby side table.  Given the panic of Paul’s reaction when he hadn’t been able to locate him immediately had Keylee second-guessing his earlier reasons for wanting to leave.  He’d thought . . . “You said you didn’t need me around twenty-four seven.  I thought . . . you sounded so disgusted from the very thought.  I know this is all pretty new for you.  You never expected . . . well, you never expected me.  It’s a lot and then we moved in together right away, and – “

“Don’t Users and Facilitators normally move in together immediately?”

Keylee felt his cheeks flush.  “Well, yes, at least as far as I’ve heard, but not everyone does and since you weren’t even used to the idea . . . “

“It takes me some time to wrap my head around a new idea, something unexpected, but once I do I can roll with it.  I wouldn’t have moved us in together if I didn’t want to.”

“Oh,” Keylee rubbed at the back of his neck.  “But you sounded so upset about the idea of needing me around.”

Paul sighed, rubbing his hands over his face, deciding he needed a long, hot shower when this was all over.  “Yeah, well . . . that’s still something I’m trying to get my head wrapped around.  You have to understand, Keylee, I was raised as a Stein.  It’s not just about being Users that don’t need Facilitators, it’s about not needing anyone else – gifted or plain human.  Needing others is a weakness.” 

Keylee didn’t know how to answer that.  All his life he’d only had Mathis and even that relationship was littered with little mines, Max’s name firmly affixed to each and every one.  In retrospect, he might be able to call Director Raina . . . well, not exactly a friend, but maybe more of an ally.  He’d been forced into a life where needing someone wasn’t really an option on the table.  Did he find it a weakness?  No, not really.  Just a few minutes ago he’d needed Helen and although he’d hesitated a little calling her, in the end he’d done it without much of a second thought.  The fact Paul had been taught otherwise didn’t sit well with Keylee.  The fact Paul now needed him and didn’t want to either admit it or believe it was more than an inconvenience, it was a problem. 

“Paul,” Keylee’s voice was soft, almost hesitant, “I’m not a coat you can decide you like and want to wear one day and not the next.  If you value your life, I’m not disposable or exchangeable.”

“I know,” Paul’s head dropped a little further, “and I’m sorry if that’s the way I made you feel.”

Wanting to get everything out in the open, Keylee added, “And I’m not stupid either.  I may not have the type of training or experience you have when dealing with things like the media, but I learn pretty quick and I’m not prideful enough to publically fight with you when you tell me to do something I may not understand.  That doesn’t mean I’m always going to roll over but I know enough to understand that showing any weakness at all to the public, especially right now, isn’t smart.  If . . . if you don’t think I can even manage something like that, then our future together isn’t looking very promising.”

Head snapping up, the rest of Paul’s body quickly followed and soon his back was ramrod straight, his hazel eyes bright and burning.  “Why do you think I find you stupid?”

“You told me you didn’t want me around the press because, and I quote, ‘you might slip up and say something that would make the situation worse’.  I realize we haven’t had a lot of time together, but if I’m not sure of a situation or what to say, then generally I just don’t say anything at all.”  Shoulders shrugging, Terran’s hateful gaze flashed through Keylee’s mind.  Sometimes no words at all could grate more than a litany of curse words.

“Shit.”  Leaning back into the couch, Paul let his hands dangle between his lightly spread legs.  “I didn’t mean it like that.  Or maybe I was projecting my own issues onto you.  I’m normally the one spouting off something stupid, and not just to the press.  They can be damned persistent and seem to have a knack for saying stupid shit just to get a rise out of you.  With me that’s not always a difficult task.”

Thinking back on his brief conversation with Helen that morning, her words sang through Keylee’s mind.  She’d said Paul let his emotions rule him, implying he was more reactive than some.  Maybe this was just another symptom of what he was sure the Stein’s would consider a problem.  “Well, I’m not that way.  I normally have pretty good control.  Not always.”  Keylee thought back to a couple of times when he’d let his emotions, his anger, get the better of him and the consequences that followed.  They weren’t pleasant memories.  “I don’t think anyone can have control all the time.”  The last was spoken with a hint of regret. 

“No wonder Father likes you.”  There was an edge of annoyance in Paul’s voice, but it didn’t last long.  “Honestly I don’t know you well enough to make a judgment call on your intelligence.”  Tilting his head back, Paul stared up at the ceiling before blowing out a deep breath.  “Personally I’ve got my doubts considering you risked your life, not once, but twice, to save mine before we were bonded.”

Keylee’s mouth dropped open, his brain struggling to keep up.  “We’ve been over this before.  You’re my User – “

“And you were that sure of it, even the first time when I was going up like a roman candle?”  Paul didn’t even attempt to hide his disbelief.

“Yes.”  Keylee didn’t hesitate.  “I heard you – heard your pain, your call for help.  There was absolutely no question as to who and what you were to me.”

That answer brought Paul’s head up, his eyes narrowed in thought and confusion.  “You heard me?  What, like in your head or something?  You heard my actual voice?”  Admittedly Paul wasn’t the most knowledgeable when it came to User-Facilitator bonds but he’d only heard of something like that happening with User’s gifted in the psychological arts and even then it was rare and only happened after a bonding took place. 

Shifting in the minimal space between his packed bag and the arm or the chair, Keylee squirmed while trying to put his feelings into words.  “It wasn’t . . . I mean, it wasn’t so much words as kind of a feeling?  I don’t know how to put it.  It wasn’t like I actually heard your voice, but . . . “ Keylee sighed, “It’s hard to explain.”

With the back of his head still resting on the couch, Paul turned just enough so he could get a good look at Keylee, his Facilitator’s head bent down as the man fiddled with his fingers.  It looked like maybe a nervous gesture or maybe something Keylee did to focus his thoughts.  Still confused but figuring he wouldn’t get much more out of Keylee, Paul let it go with a totally underwhelming, “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah,” Paul shrugged while sitting up and changing the subject.  “So, anything else I managed to royally fuck up?”

Keylee’s mouth twisted, his top teeth worrying his bottom lip for a few seconds before giving a hesitant nod.  “Is all this security really necessary?  I don’t know if I can live like this.  When you left I heard the doors lock and the security system come on.  Maybe I should be used to it.  I mean, we weren’t allowed to leave Facilitator grounds unless it was a guarded excursion, but the Institute’s grounds are so large and I could go outside whenever I wanted.  I suppose it was more of a prison than I ever let myself believe but this is just so . . . small.”

Paul let his gaze sweep the room.  He’d gotten the penthouse condo so by those standards, the place was anything but small, but he wasn’t going to play ignorant to Keylee’s concerns, especially when he was getting the distinct impression Keylee wouldn’t be leaving in that car Helen had idling down in the parking lot.  Even though he could see the problem, Paul didn’t know how to fix it.  The paparazzi waiting for him in the lobby earlier was a good case in point. 

“My phone hasn’t rung like you were afraid it would,” Keylee pressed, “maybe things won’t be as bad as you thought.”

“No,” Paul shook his head regretfully, “they’ve already found us.  There was a man with a camera in the lobby when I got back.  Security shooed him out, but paparazzi are like fleas, where you see one there’s bound to be at least a hundred more.” 

Keylee felt the air leave his lungs, a burning ache taking up residence.  “I suppose it’s not unexpected, just maybe disappointing.”

“I know.”  And Paul did know.  “It won’t last forever.  We’ll be the most interesting thing out there for awhile, but it’ll blow over as soon as something shinier catches their attention.  But Keylee,” Paul leaned forward, the action pulling Keylee’s attention to him just as he’d hoped, “the paparazzi aren’t really my fear.  You’re right; you’re more than capable of dealing with them.  Just keep your head down and on task and most likely they’ll get bored.  The pap’s are annoying, but mostly not dangerous.”

“Unless you’re Princess Diana.”

Paul gave a sad kind of smile.  “Yes, unless you’re the Princess of Whales.  But what I mean to say is that mostly they’re out for a story and a buck.  They might have loose morals, but overall they’re harmless.  It’s the organized nut jobs I’m more worried about – the ones we’ll have to be on our guard for, the ones that won’t go away when something shinier comes along, the ones that don’t want the story of your life, but of your death.”

“Our death,” Keylee amended and clarified when Paul looked at him with confused eyes.   “It’s not just me, Paul, but you too.  Whether you like it or not, or maybe even just don’t want to admit it, we’re a team now.  We may still be individuals, but our fates are locked together and the only way to tear them apart is through death.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Paul blinked as the harsh realities of Keylee’s words hit him squarely in the chest.  They were words he knew, words he’d already accepted and yet when put so bluntly by his Facilitator they somehow landed much heavier than anything he’d thought of previously.  He’d been so very worried about keeping Keylee safe, to the point he’d actually placed Keylee in danger if only because he wanted to get away from his overprotective User.  But what he had to get through his thick head was that if something happened to him, if Paul himself were ambushed and killed, then Keylee would be just as dead as if the bullet had had Keylee’s name on it. 

Oh, Keylee might live a bit longer than Paul would without his Facilitator, but the end result would be the same.  Kidnapping Paul without Keylee was the only area where the danger was lower for Paul.  There were a few cases over the past few decades where a Facilitator was captured and used as a hostage to get the User to do the bidding of the kidnappers.  All but two of those cases had ended badly, both User and Facilitator lost.  If the end goal of the assaulting group was to kill the User, then most wouldn’t go through the bother of actually kidnapping the Facilitator, they’d simply kill them.  Paul supposed that wasn’t always the case.  The truly sadistic minded might do it simply to torture them – mentally, physically, or both.  But the bottom line here was that he couldn’t be so damn cavalier with his own life anymore. 

There was a reason almost every licensed User and Facilitator joined the Department and it wasn’t necessarily for the money.  The Department had the best security, the best back up and the absolute best track record for keeping their employee’s safe.  That wasn’t something private contractors could boast and since the formation of the Department, almost all the incidents of terrorist violence against the Gifted were against those not under the protection and employ of the government.  One of the few to claim otherwise was Maxwell Haines, injured by another User under the employ of the Department.  But that incident was so remote, so out of the normal sphere of possibilities as to be deemed an unpredictable outlier.  Sometimes Paul wondered if Jeremiah’s fall off the deep end was well and truly that unpredictable and if maybe the fact the Department found the incident so outrageously rare was a recipe for future disaster. 

Shaking thoughts of the past away, Paul struggled to deal with the here and now.  “I don’t know what to say about the security.”  Paul had grown up with it, had lived with security alarms and personnel.  There were always armed men and women surveying the Stein Compound.  Despite his desire to get away from his father and family, Paul had seriously considered taking Keylee back to the Compound and living there for a time.  But in the end, he’d had to balance physical and emotional safety and figured staying with his father wouldn’t do Keylee any favors in the latter category.  “I need to keep you safe.”

Paul watched Keylee’s face, his expression momentarily blank.  In that instant Paul realized Keylee may have had a rather good, earlier point.  It seemed as if Keylee did have a fair amount of control over his facial expressions.  Unfortunately Paul knew from experience that control came at a cost. 

“I understand, but maybe don’t leave me here feeling like a caged animal.  I think I can deal with it if I have a way out, if I know I can leave when I want.”

Paul wasn’t really sure he could promise Keylee that, or at least the part where he could leave whenever the mood struck him, but he could probably agree to take Keylee with him in the future.  His lack of control in the car with his father was a harsh reminder that yes, he probably really did need Keylee with him twenty-four seven.  “I won’t leave you here alone again, or if I do, we’ll talk about it first and agree upon something.  How does that sound?”

Honestly Keylee wasn’t completely certain but figured it was a good enough place to start.  “Okay.”  Simple, succinct and to the point.

“Okay,” Paul mimicked, his voice a little bit more breathy and a whole lot more relieved than it had been a few short minutes ago.  “Think we can call Helen and get her to call the hounds back in?”

Keylee blinked while digesting what Paul was trying to get across to him.  Finally understanding he pulled up his phone and pressed the send button. 

Helen answered on the second ring.  “Key?”

“I’m sorry to have bothered you earlier.  It looks like I won’t be needing that ride.”

Paul felt true relief flood his body, his muscles finally relaxing.  Although he couldn’t hear Helen’s side of the conversation, he knew enough from Keylee’s words and could probably fill in his sister’s answers. 

“You’re staying then?”

Keylee looked into Paul’s eyes and nodded before answering, “Looks that way.”

“I’m glad to hear it, but if you ever need anything – “

“I’ll call.  And Helen . . . thank you.”

“I’m happy to help anytime.  Please tell Paul I’m glad he got his head out of his ass, or maybe in this case, his foot out of his mouth.  Maybe there’s still hope for him yet.”

Keylee could hear the smile in Helen’s voice, the love driving the otherwise hurtful words.  “I’ll let him know.”  Keylee disconnected the call to Helen’s laughing voice. 

“She called me an ass, didn’t she?” Paul asked, although he had no idea why considering he already knew the answer.

Keylee just kind of shrugged his shoulders while dropping the phone into his bag.  “That word was in there somewhere.  You want me to get specific?”

“No,” Paul shook his head, “I think I can fill in the blanks fairly well.”

“I wish I had a sister, or brother who cared about me the way Helen does you.”  The words were out of Keylee’s mouth before he had time to truly consider them.  Once he had, he decided he didn’t really mean them, or at least not entirely.  “But that’s pretty selfish.  Any sibling I had would have the same parents, or at least one of the same.  I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

Paul stared at Keylee, a frown pulling at his mouth.  He had no idea what it would be like to grow up with the kind of stigma Keylee had.  The weight of his own last name was of a different variety.  Unsure what to say, Paul finally settled on the simplistic truth.  “I got lucky with Helen.  Trust me, in my family, she’s an anomaly.”  When all he got in return was a thoughtful head nod, Paul slapped his thighs with his hands, the sound immediately drawing Keylee’s eyes up and into focus.  “I’m betting you didn’t even bother looking in the cupboards.”

“Didn’t open a single one.”

“Or the refrigerator?”

“Or that.”

Paul let loose a heavy sigh.  “You hungry?”

“I could eat.”

Getting up, Paul walked into the kitchen, Keylee not far behind.  “You should have checked things out.  I don’t know what we might have in the way of lunch but if there’s nothing here then we can always order out.  The condo also has a restaurant downstairs and they’ll bring it up if we don’t want to go down.”  Selfishly Paul hoped Keylee wanted to stay in.  He’d had enough of the human population for one day.  But hearing Keylee’s earlier complaint about feeling imprisoned left Paul doubtful he’d want to stay in.

“I’m not all that picky.  I’m sure there’s something in there for me.  I’m just going to put my things back in my bedroom first.”

Once again Paul felt relief swamp his body, making his muscles feel like wet noodles of peace.  Throwing a look over his shoulder, Paul watched Keylee pick up his bag and realized what that statement meant, not that he hadn’t noticed the little Keylee’d brought into the condo last night, but seeing that small bag, the suit he’d worn yesterday draped over the top, brought a few things home.  “Do I need to have someone go by the Institute to pick up the rest of your things?”

Keylee hesitated, the bag awkwardly pulling more at one side of his body.  “No.  This is it.  There isn’t anything more.”

Nothing more?  Those words brought Paul to a full stop.  He’d only managed to bring about a fourth of his things over from the house.  He had plans for another trip or two, but most likely he’d wind up leaving several things behind.  But, they were still his.  Was this truly all of Keylee’s possessions? 

Silent too long, Paul hadn’t realized Keylee’d been waiting on him to say something until his Facilitator hesitantly explained, “I’m a ward of the state, Paul.  I’m lucky to have what’s in this bag.”

Fuck, Paul mentally scolded himself.  He’d done it again; somehow he’d made Keylee feel like less.  Clearing his throat, Paul nodded toward the bag.  “We’ll go shopping soon or maybe just get some things On-line.”  Unsure how to say what he needed to without sounding like a complete and utter asshat, Paul pulled a deep breath of air into his lungs, finally letting it out in a near combustible exhale.  “I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a jackass, but you’re a Stein now and government issued clothes won’t cut it.”  Thinking back on his father’s words regarding his grandmother squeezed something tight in Paul’s gut.  He needed Keylee to fit, to at least look the part of someone worthy of Paul’s esteemed heritage and clothes were the perfect first line of defense.  “We’ll need to get you something better.”

Shifting the bag from one hand to the other, Keylee kept his face neutral.  “I don’t like taking money from you.  Mathis already bought me the suit and everything for our bonding ceremony.  I meant what I said to Evan, I don’t care about your money.  That’s not why I’m here.”

“I know,” and for the life of him, Paul was truly amazed at how well he actually did know that fact.  Keylee was perhaps the first person he’d ever met who saw the Stein name and fortune as a detriment, not something to be coveted and lusted after.  “You may not care about my money, but everyone else does.  Besides, you said it earlier, we’re a team.  There is no my money, your money.  It’s our money.  And if you really want to get technical about it, it’s not my money either, it’s Stein money.  I haven’t earned a cent of it either.”

Keylee’s odd stare did strange things to Paul’s insides, the small grin twisting Keylee’s soft lips flipping those same insides on their head.  “All right, if that’s the way you want to look at things.”

Fighting down the butterflies suddenly swamping his belly, Paul just kind of nodded, a gruff, “Go put your stuff up and we’ll figure out lunch,” finally escaping the mess bubbling up within.

Without another word, Keylee scampered down the hall, his bag and suit coat and pants slightly swaying with the motion.  Palms flat against the counter, Paul counted to ten, willing his rapid pulse and heavy breathing into something a little tamer and a lot less noticeable. 

Chapter Twelve

Keylee could only wish Paul had been wrong about the paparazzi, but the next morning proved just how right his User was. He and Paul had spent a rather uneventful day putzing around their new, if temporary home, yesterday. After the drama of the morning, things had been much less eventful and enjoyable. They’d actually spoken very little, at least about anything important. They probably should have taken the opportunity to get to know each other better, but Keylee figured Paul avoided personal stuff for the same reasons he did and thought they’d work it out as things came. Besides, both of them had been exhausted by early afternoon. Keylee wasn’t sure if Paul’s tiredness stemmed from the same place as his own, but regardless, neither had been up for much more than a few words regarding food and furnishings. About the only thing of merit they’d actually accomplished was setting a time with Max to begin their training. That was the current reason Keylee was near running by Paul’s side, one of his User’s leather coats covering him from near head to toe as they both braved the chilly wind whipping at their coats while men and women with cameras and microphones crowded down on them.

Feeling a tug on his coat, Keylee let loose a surprised if not worried noise, his feet faltering, a small, dangerous gap beginning to form between him and Paul. Mouth open, Keylee was just getting ready to shout out his predicament when Paul’s large hand shot back, his fingers tightening down on Keylee’s wrist and pulling him forward, the force of the action nearly slamming Keylee into Paul’s body.

This close, Paul’s swirling chakra was even more potent; the turbulent flow troubled and upset. Calming it came naturally to Keylee, but given the current circumstances he almost didn’t bother. Didn’t these humans understand just how dangerous Paul could be? Were a picture and a little cash so important they’d risk their lives?

“Don’t, Paul.” Keylee raised his voice just high enough to make it through the throng of incessant questions pummeling them.

“Their damn cameras are hurting your eyes, don’t tell me they’re not.”

Keylee nearly recoiled at the anger lacing Paul’s voice. It wasn’t anger directed toward him, but over his safety and comfort. “Don’t worry about that, just get us to the car in one piece.”

Keylee felt that tug again, only this time Paul pulled him forward, pushing his body in front of Paul’s larger one, his arms wrapped tightly around Keylee as he bent over the smaller man. Still moving forward, Keylee shivered when he felt Paul’s breath on his ear. “I can create a bubble around us with wind, I – “

“Soon, but not yet,” Keylee tried to be the voice of reason. Paul could do that . . . one day, but Keylee wasn’t so delusional to believe Paul had enough control over his abilities, even with his help, to create a protective shell around them and not blow the paparazzi to tiny bits. The litigation over something like that would be a nightmare. “We’re almost to the car.”

No more had those words escaped Keylee’s mouth than a man opened the door to their salvation and Paul all but threw him into the backseat. Bouncing once on the seat, Keylee turned in time to see Paul struggling to get the door closed, finally managing it. Unfortunately their driver was having an equally disturbing time.

Finally everyone was tucked in, Paul’s harsh command of, “Get us out of here,” blowing through Keylee’s ears as heat licked along his chakra pathways. Paul was definitely pissed and Keylee was having a hell of a time taming the consequences.

“Fucking vultures,” Paul muttered for the umpteenth time as he turned and grabbed Keylee’s chin, pulling his head around and inspecting his Facilitator for damage. “Christ, I knew it would be bad, but not this fucking bad. One of those assholes stuck his camera right in your face, I saw the flash go off in your eyes.”

Dark glasses still firmly settled on his face, Keylee stared up into Paul’s rage filled eyes. It wasn’t like Keylee wasn’t upset, but Helen was right, Paul was far more emotional than he was. Chances were pretty good that strong emotion was tied up with his User’s gifts. Fire and wind were volatile forces of nature; it only made sense those wielding such magnificent abilities would be similar.

Unused to having someone so worried over him, Keylee felt his face flush with warmth. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not fucking okay. I should have – “

“Should have what?” Keylee asked, somehow managing to cock his head within Paul’s hand. “You’re not ready for something so precise, especially given how angry you are. Did that flash hurt? Yes, but I will be and am okay. No permanent damage.”

No, Paul silently thought, that was already done by me. Rubbing a thumb down Keylee’s jaw, Paul finally released the face he was becoming far too fond of. Sitting back in his seat, Paul shifted his lighter coat around his body. Since coming into his gifts, Paul’s body always ran a little warmer than most. The leather coat he’d thrown over Keylee’s tired attire had always been more for show than actual warmth. Of course the coat dwarfed Keylee’s smaller frame, but given the fact he was attempting to not only hide the man below, but also the clothes he was currently wearing, that fact actually worked out well. The oddly content feeling he’d had seeing Keylee wrapped up in something of his own didn’t hurt either.

“You okay? You’re being pretty quiet.” Keylee wanted to rub the tips of his fingers over the area Paul’s had just touched, his skin feeling warm and tingly, something far different than the warmth constantly pulling at his chakra pathways.

Ignoring the question, Paul leaned forward, tapping their driver on the shoulder and gaining his attention. “I’m not sure how long we’ll be at the Institute. You’re free to go elsewhere but keep your phone handy. The condo manager told me there’s an underground delivery lot. From what I understand it’s not for resident use but I want you to get in touch with him and see if we can use it for pick ups and drop offs from now on. Be sure to let him know that if the answer’s no, then I’ll be looking for new lodgings.”

“You got it, Mr. Stein.”

Leaning back into his seat, Paul rubbed the palm of his hand over the stubble of his growing hair. “You’d think after this morning they’d want to boot us out, but you’d be wrong. Being able to claim a Stein in residence is the kind of advertising money can’t buy. When we move out they’ll be able to rent our condo for twice what we’re paying. It’s crazy but true.”

Keylee wasn’t so sure, but didn’t know enough to argue and so he didn’t. Instead he simply sat, shifting around in the oversized coat, warm and comfortable despite the craziness of earlier. The coat even smelled like Paul. “You think they’ll still be there when we get back?”

“Definitely. Probably more of them.”

Something in Keylee’s belly dropped. He’d never liked being the center of attention. In fact he’d done almost everything in his power to be as invisible as possible. Silently he hoped the driver was able to convince the condo manager to let them use the underground facility.

“So, how long do you think it will take for me to get up to snuff enough to retake the exam?” Paul asked.

“W-what?” Paul’s question threw Keylee for a mental loop. “Oh, well, I’m not sure. Most Users don’t get a lot of actual training prior to being paired with their Facilitators. Most of what they learn is theoretical since they don’t generally come into their full, usable gifts until around the age of twenty.”

That was a little tidbit Paul found easy to forget. Unlike typical Users, Steins came into their gifts at a much younger age, although those abilities did continue to grow and expand as they aged and kept increasing in strength well past the ripe old age of twenty. When he was younger, Paul’s gifts had been present, painful but weak enough to manage on his own. But as he’d aged, his fire and wind had grown in strength, hitting an exponential burst in the past few weeks. He’d known, somewhere deep in his soul how disastrous things could get, but he’d been so damn stubborn, convinced that his Stein genes would kick in and save the day. Obviously he’d been wrong.

Keylee’s words actually made Paul feel a little better. If that was the case, he wasn’t so very far behind. “And what about Facilitators.”

“What about us?”

“You’ve been at the Institute for thirteen years. Seems like an awfully long time.”

“Oh,” Keylee turned his head, grateful for the tinted windows of the car. “I suppose it was, but I think it was probably harder on those who actually had a family to leave.” When Keylee had arrived at the Institute he’d found it better than the group homes he’d been tossed around in. At least the food was more consistent and he knew he was there to stay. “Most of our training was just normal school stuff but some of it wasn’t. When I was younger, our training revolved around opening our chakra pathways, learning how to stabilize them and accept foreign chakra into our bodies. The younger that starts, the better. As we got older, they fed us increasing amounts of chakra. Since we weren’t bonded, all we could do was transform and dissipate it, not give it back.” Keylee didn’t bother telling Paul that many of the User’s paired with him over did it, burning his chakra pathways and making the experience more painful than for others.

Paul took a minute to consider Keylee’s words before answering, “That’s how you were able to help me.”

“Yes,” Keylee nodded realizing Paul had no way of knowing just how right he was. “Until we were bonded, that’s all I could do.”

Paul felt that uncomfortable stab of guilt knife into his gut. Dissipating his fire and to some extent, his wind energies had damn near fried Keylee’s chakra pathways. “And now that we’re bonded?” It was a question Paul thought he knew the answer to and yet wanted to hear Keylee say it.

“Now, with me around, you’ll never build up that level of chaotic chakra. As long as you allow me to help, I can control it, harness your abilities and turn them into the gifts they’re supposed to be.”

“As long as you’re around,” Paul’s voice was quiet, barely audible over the hum of the car’s engine.

Keylee was silent for a beat. “Yes, I’m sorry, but – “

“Don’t apologize. I’m not used to needing people, Keylee, but somehow I think if it’s you then it will be okay.”

Keylee wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not, but he did think it was progress.

“Mr. Stein, we’re coming up to the security gait.”

“Thank you, Mark.”

Staring through the tinted glass, Keylee let the sight of the Institute he’d spent the majority of his life within wash through him. After entering, he’d hardly ever left and for the life of him, Keylee didn’t remember the place looking so much like a prison. With high wire fencing and barbed wire rolled around the top, the perimeter looked like a cage, the signs warning people from touching the electrified fencing doing little to dissuade that image. And Keylee knew for a fact there were extra levels of near invisible security both within and without the perimeters he could currently see.

As the gate guard ushered them through, Keylee wondered if they truly had needed those thirteen years of training. Facilitators presented at the age of seven, much younger than Users presented, and were quickly moved to Virginia and ushered into the Facilitator Training Institute. Given the level of the security he had to wonder if that fact wasn’t so much to do with training and everything to do with keeping them safe. After all, if someone wanted to truly damage Users, then attacking and killing vulnerable Facilitator children would be the most expedient way.

“Anything wrong?” Paul’s worried voice made Keylee realize he’d just visibly shuddered.

“No, just thinking.”

“Something you’d like to share?”

“No.” And Keylee really didn’t. The thought of Users coming into their gifts, their given Facilitators long dead and unable to help . . . it was beyond horrific.

______________________________________________________________________________________

“Stop worrying. They’ll be back before you know it.”

Paul wanted to believe Maxwell, but didn’t like it, didn’t like the fact Mathis had taken Keylee off Institute grounds even if it was for just an hour or two and to do exactly what he’d said needed to be done just yesterday.

“They’ll just get enough to get him by until you can take him shopping properly, get him all the overpriced stuff the public expects to see on a Stein.” Max let loose a grunt indicating exactly what he thought of those overpriced things he was talking about while lighting up a cigarette.

Ignoring the noxious smoke, Paul argued, “You didn’t see what happened this morning.”

“No,” Max flicked his lighter closed, one eye squinting as he took a drag of his cancer stick, “but Keylee looked okay when they left.”

Paul knew Keylee looked fine. In fact, Paul thought Keylee was probably handling the whole incident much better than him. “I know, but we were mobbed outside the condo, if they find him – “

“Mathis would guard that kid with his life.”

“I know that,” Paul bristled.

“But Mathis isn’t you, is that it?”

Paul opened his mouth to argue, but Max had hit the nail on the head.

“Hmm . . . possessive little shit already, aren’t you?”

“And you’re not? Are you telling me if you felt Mathis was in danger that you’d let him out of your sight for even a second?”

Rolling the cigarette from one side of his mouth to the other, Max thought over the question and finally nodded. “Point taken, but I’ve also learned to trust him over the years. Mathis was trained at this very Institute,” Max let his arms sweep around the classroom they were currently using. “Do you think book learning is the only thing they’re taught?” Getting up, Max strode to a nearby window before shaking his head and walking to the opposite wall. “I get turned around in these places, but you see that building over there?” Max pointed, his cigarette tucked between his fingers. “That’s the physical training grounds and not just like your typical school gym classes.”

Getting up from his seat, Paul followed Max’s line of vision, a large, rather nondescript building standing off in the distance. “What are you getting at?”

“Keylee might be small, but I’ll bet he could take your ass down if he really wanted, if he well and truly felt threatened. They’re Facilitators, Paul. Precious, rare, and necessary to every User without the last name of Stein. Present company excluded. From the moment they present, they’ve got a big ass target on their back. Most of the time bonding with their User actually decreases that target a bit as most won’t risk the wrath of a bonded User. For Keylee I would imagine that doesn’t necessarily hold true, what with bonding with you and all, but believe me when I say he’s no wilting daisy. And neither is Mathis, especially with the piece he’s packing. Not to mention the knife he’s got sheathed in his boot and the smaller one strapped to his wrist.”

Moving back into the room, Max leaned against the desk, his large frame pushing the structure back just a little. “You’re right, I don’t take Mathis’ safety lightly and neither does he. We may not be . . . well, no one’s really sure if we’re truly bonded or not anymore but that doesn’t change the fact I can’t live without him. If I truly did survive his death and that death was at the hands of anything other than natural, then whomever did the deed better run and hide in the deepest fucking hole they can find. Even then I’ll find their sorry ass and skin them alive.”

Smirk tilting his lips, Paul gave a quick, “Possessive old shit, aren’t you.”

“Damn straight and no denying it, but you’ve gotta learn to balance it. Trust me when I say Keylee’s gonna get real sick of that overbearing crap real quick.”

Looking back out the window, Paul thought Keylee already was getting sick of it, or at least didn’t like the security measures he was taking. Frustrated, Paul shook his head. “I need to keep him safe.”

Putting out his cigarette, Max felt a satisfied smile pull his lips, head bent and hidden from Paul. Mathis had been worried, but his Facilitator didn’t understand the pull User’s felt, the need and desire. Oh sure, Mathis loved him, needed him and would never dream of leaving, even after everything that happened, but it still wasn’t the same. Max had known, down to the deepest part of his soul, Paul wouldn’t be able to deny Keylee, wouldn’t be able to ignore him or dismiss him. It might take Paul a little time to get over himself, but if Keylee really were Paul’s Facilitator – something no longer in doubt – then it would be inevitable.

Pleased, Max pointed to a nearby chair. “You wanna keep him safe? Then let’s get started on mitigating his biggest threat.”

Paul looked at the small chair, refusing to sit in it and instead leaning on the desk, mirroring Max’s position. “And that would be?”

“You.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________

“I still can’t believe you’re not furious, Key. What Evan did during that press conference, what he implied . . . “ Mathis voice trailed off, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary.

Continuing staring out the passenger side window, all Keylee could do was shrug. They’d already been over this, more than once since going on their little shopping excursion. He hadn’t really wanted to leave Paul, but Max had assured him they wouldn’t be doing any actual experimentation. Today was mostly talking and Max figured Paul could handle that without Keylee. But the more he learned about Paul, the less nonthreatening talking seemed. Paul was emotionally volatile and Keylee knew better than most just how powerful words could be.

Keylee had thought Mathis truly wanted to take him shopping, get him a few new things (on Paul’s dime of course) but his oldest friend started fuming the instant the car doors were shut and had continued doing so on and off throughout their mini excursion.

“He laid all the blame on you, as if it was your fault Paul needs a Facilitator. That’s the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard. Fate doesn’t work that way, it – “

“Mathis,” Keylee’s voice, once tired sounding, grew increasingly impatient, “there is no blame. Paul is the way he is and that’s the end of it.”

Mathis shifted in his seat, his hands loosening and regripping the steering wheel. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“It’s what you said.”

Mathis huffed. “You’re getting stuck on the details and besides, I’m just rephrasing what Evan said. The point here is that arrogant man managed to turn this into something it’s not. He made it out to be like the Stein’s are victims in some type of cosmic reboot of your family name.”

“So you’ve said, many times. And I’ll say just as may times, I don’t care.” While that wasn’t strictly true, Keylee thought it summed things up fairly well. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be that he didn’t care enough to make it into the issue Mathis was.

“Maggie doesn’t deserve that.” There was true anger and indignation in Mathis voice. “She didn’t deserve to be maligned back then and certainly not now.”

Ah. So that was it. Understanding dawned through Keylee’s mind. This wasn’t about him, not really. This was about Mathis’ best friend. A friend he probably felt he’d failed yet again. Reaching across the small distance between them, Keylee put a hand on Mathis’ knee, gently squeezing. “Mathis,” Keylee’s voice was gentle, careful, “you knew her better than me, but I think maybe she would understand. He’s my User, Mathis. If this is what it takes to protect him, to get the press off our back and move attention away from us sooner rather than later, then I’ll take it.”

Coming up to a stoplight, Mathis eased the car down, taking a moment to breath deeply. Key was right and maybe that’s what gnawed at him more than anything. Maggie would have done anything for Jeremiah, anything but watch him kill innocents. It was how Facilitators were hardwired. They weren’t pushovers, but when it came to their Users . . . “Evan shouldn’t have used you like that, used your past, your lineage . . . it was wrong.”

“Maybe it was,” Keylee nodded, “and I know you don’t like Evan Stein – “

“That’s putting it kindly.”

Keylee smiled, “Even so, I understand why he did it. Evan’s not stupid – arrogant, blind and a shitty father, but not stupid. There was a reason why and I’ll bet Paul knows it. I’ll also bet Paul isn’t happy about it.”

The light turned green and Mathis took off, his eyes drifting to the rearview mirror with practiced ease. So far there were no signs they were being followed, nothing in the store they’d gone to indicating there was anything amiss, but he kept looking, just to be on the safe side. “You might be right. Paul hardly said a word throughout the press conference and the few close-ups there were he didn’t look happy. Most likely the media thought he was unhappy about needing a Facilitator, but I don’t think that was it. Do you?”

Keylee thought about it for a minute before answering. “I think he’s getting used to the idea but it’s not easy for him. I don’t think he resents me so much anymore. It’s a work in progress.”

“And we’ll soon see just how much progress he’s made.” Nodding toward the windshield, Mathis added, “We’re coming up to the Institute now.”

Keylee felt an involuntary shudder run through him. The Institute had always felt safe to him, at least safe from outsiders, and in many respects it still did. That’s why they’d chosen it as the spot for Paul’s training and thankfully Director Raina had graciously agreed. But it wasn’t home, not anymore. Maybe it never had been. Home was with Paul.

They passed through the security gate with little fanfare. Lunch was just finishing up for the students housed within Institute grounds and Keylee could see groups and snatches of girls and boys pulling their coats close, their footsteps hurried as they made their way to their next class.

“Glad that’s no longer you?” Mathis asked.

Before meeting Paul, when he’d feared there was no User for him, the thought of leaving the Facilitator Institute had been the stuff of Keylee’s nightmares. But now that he had Paul . . . “Yeah,” Keylee answered, surprised by just how much he meant it.

“Well, good for you, but I still have classes to teach.”

It was sometimes easy for Keylee to forget Mathis was actually an employee. “Are you cutting out on them today to be with me?”

“No,” Mathis answered before pulling into a large, rather empty lot. “I’ve got a class starting at two-fifteen, but I’m free until then.” Putting the car in park, Mathis turned in his seat, his face a little stern if not unreadable. Unsure what to say or what was going through his head, Keylee silently sat, waiting for his mentor to say whatever was on his mind. He didn’t have to wait long. “I know you weren’t really comfortable leaving Paul alone, but I’ll admit it wasn’t just Max wanting a few private hours with Paul, but me wanting them with you as well. I . . . how are you doing, Key? I mean, really doing.”

Keylee wasn’t sure he understood and said just as much. “What are you asking?”

Mathis gave a small, honest smile. “You’re newly bonded. I know what that means and what it feels like. Or at least I know what it felt like with Max.” Mathis’ face flushed with memory. “It can be a little, well, a little overwhelming. How are your chakra pathways doing? Are your eyes any better?”

“My eyes are about the same.” Keylee hadn’t bothered even attempting to remove his sunglasses from his face, even when they were shopping in the store. “As for my pathways . . . “ Keylee really thought about it, taking the time to just feel before smiling, “they feel good. Warm. Full. They feel comfortable, even when Paul’s upset and I’m being hit with more chakra, it’s not too much. It feels right.”

“Good,” Mathis sighed with relief. “I wasn’t sure, what with the trauma your pathways took before the bonding and then with Paul being so, well, for lack of a better word, powerful. That’s a lot of energy to harness and control. I was afraid it might be too taxing or overwhelming.”

Keylee shook his head. “Not so far, although we really haven’t tried anything yet so it may be too early to tell.”

“True, but I think it’s a good sign that his chakra feels good to you.”

Nodding, Keylee hoped Mathis was right. He thought so. Taking Paul’s energy into his own body just felt too damn right for him to worry. Keylee was just getting ready to attempt putting his feelings into words, but stopped short when he noticed Mathis’ increased fidgeting. The increased red tint to his cheeks also another warning sign something was amiss. “Is there something else, Mathis?”

“What? Oh, well,” Mathis tapped his fingers along the steering wheel desperately trying to decide whether or not to go where his mind truly wanted, where his curiosity and parental need were guiding him. Finally coming to a decision, Mathis whispered a none to quiet, “Fuck it,” and asked, “Has he made a move on you yet?”

“Move? What kind of move?” Keylee was genuinely confused and curious.

“You know,” Mathis twirled his fingers, “a move. Has he come on to you? Kissed you? Pushed you up against a wall and – “

“No!” Keylee flushed, understanding making his blood heat. “He hasn’t done any of those things. I don’t think he’s interested in me that way.” And Keylee wasn’t entirely sure what he’d do if Paul were.

“Oh, trust me,” Mathis smirked, “he’s interested.”

Keylee shook his head. “I don’t think so.” Head down, Keylee felt a weird little tendril of hope lick against his perpetual realism. “Do you think so?”

“I do.” Mathis gave a firm nod. “He’s your User.”

“Not all Users and Facilitators have that kind of relationship.”

“No, not all, but most do and I’ve seen the looks he gives you.”

Keylee shook his head again, that little tendril of hope flickering into almost nonexistence. “I think you’re confusing that with his current need to keep me safe. Paul’s feeling a bit overprotective at the moment. He’s just worried something’s going to happen to me.” Keylee had barely allowed himself to dream of having an actual User, someone who needed him, someone he was important to. To actually desire more . . . to think he could have that, with Paul . . . it was too much to expect, too much to allow his fragile mind to imagine. The painful realization that was sure to come was too much of a risk.

Reaching forward, Mathis cupped Keylee’s chin, tilting his downturned face up, wishing he could look into those Caribbean blue orbs. “You think you’re not worthy of being loved in that way?”

Keylee tried pulling away but Mathis’ grip was too strong. “I think I’m lucky with what I’ve got. It would be foolish to expect more, to – “

“To want Paul the way you already do?”

This time Keylee did manage to pull away, snapping his head back, his covered eyes wide with uncertainty. “I . . . I don’t . . . I mean, I –“

“Been there and thankfully done that,” Mathis answered, a rare glint in his eyes. “I know what it’s like, Key and trust me when I say my love for Max doesn’t blind my eyes to other men’s beauty and Paul isn’t hard on the eyes. Neither are you, my dear. It’s only natural.” Leaning in a little closer, Mathis asked, “Have you ever – “

“No,” Keylee shook his head with vigor. “I mean, I’m not ignorant about it or anything.” Thinking back on all the slimy innuendoes, from Terran and others left Keylee cold. He’d felt mild arousal watching celebrities on T.V. or in movies, but it was such a distant feeling, something so out of reach he never truly considered it. Still, he was a young man and arousal was far from foreign. But that didn’t mean Paul would . . . “Paul’s probably not even gay.”

“Gay and straight mean nothing to the bonded. It’s more than that, something soul deep, Key and there’s no reason to believe just because Paul’s a Stein that he’s any more immune to it than the rest of us.”

Keylee thought Mathis might be right, but he could also be dead wrong and right now he didn’t want to think about it. Turning, he stared down at his fingers, pushing at the cuticles and twisting an errant thread. “Can we not talk about this?”

Although Mathis never wanted to cause Keylee distress or harm, he still thought the conversation had been warranted and was most likely far from over. “If you ever need to talk about it, you know you can call. Anytime, anywhere.”

“I know,” Keylee’s voice was small, something Mathis couldn’t stand and so he did the one thing he knew would lighten Key’s mind. Pushing his troubled thoughts away, Mathis let a mischievous grin light up his face. “So, you want to practice your driving skills?”

Keylee immediately perked up. “Really? You’ve got time?”

“I do,” Mathis nodded before opening up his door and climbing out, Keylee following suit on his side.

Scrambling up behind the wheel, Keylee felt nervous energy twitch his muscles. They’d gotten some basic training in Facilitator school, but not enough to apply for a license. The Institute thought it important for them to know the basics of driving – both a stick and automatic. It was a matter of safety if nothing else. Keylee had loved the lessons and wished he’d been able to drive more often. It was a secret wish of his to get his license.

Barely waiting for the click of Mathis’ seatbelt, Keylee put the car in drive and hit the gas.

Chapter Thirteen

“Me?”  Paul asked with disbelief.  He could think of a hundred and one threats in desperate need of contemplation where Keylee was concerned.  Paul wouldn’t begin to argue he wasn’t on that list somewhere, but at the very top?  

“You.” Putting out his cigarette in a small cup of water, Max leaned back on the desk, balancing his large frame with his equally impressive hands. 

Giving a noncommittal grunt, Paul mimicked Max’s position, his eyes trained toward an outside window.  Had he come into this room with the limited knowledge he’d once had regarding Maxwell Haines, Paul would have dismissed the accusation with barely a batted eyelash. If he wasn’t beginning to understand the complicated relationship and feelings Max had for both Mathis and Keylee, he’d have accused the man of wrapping him up with Max’s obvious distrust and dislike of his family.  But Paul did know better, or at least he knew enough to understand Max hadn’t just said what he had to be an ass.  

Watching Paul, Max was pleased his pupil actually appeared to be thinking on his proclamation instead of blindly reacting to it.  It was promising enough for him to continue.  “And I’m that for Mathis.”

Head swinging around, Paul’s eyes widened, long lashes blinking over confused hazel eyes.  Mouth pulled down in a frown, he finally asked, “Because if we die, so do they?  I get that, but it kind of works both ways and contrary to recent events, I’ve got no intention of meeting my maker just yet.”

Max’s lips quirked into something close to a smile, the action falling short.  “I suppose that too, but it’s more than that, so very much more.”  Head bent and shaking, Max let loose a deep sigh, years of his bad habit making the air in his lungs rattle.  “I suppose that’s one of the obvious answers.”

“And the others?”

“All that chakra you’re packing would be another example,” Max answered, his hand waving in Paul’s general direction.  “That one’s diminished since you’ve bonded with him, but it’s not eliminated, not completely.  I’m not into stroking anyone’s ego, let alone a Stein, but I haven’t seen so much raw, wild chakra in all the years I’ve been alive and that’s including Keylee’s dad.”

The mention of Keylee’s father perked Paul’s attention.  “I’ve heard stories, but I always assumed they were exaggerated.”

Max’s eyes hardened, the rich brown color turning to glassy amber.  “Hard for me to say since I’m not sure what stories you’ve heard, but I suppose I’m probably the best authority on the matter. Most likely the stories you heard actually downplayed Jeremiah’s gifts.” Max said the last with more than a touch of contempt.  “He was scary as fuck.”  Tapping a finger against his temple, Max made sure Paul was paying attention.  “You probably know his official licensing was as a User of electricity, but that’s just tapping the surface of what Jeremiah could do.  Maybe it wasn’t just that he was powerful, but also smart as fuck.  I’ve known electrical Users.  They manipulate electrical particles and currents . . . outside the body.”  Staring down Paul, Max saw the moment realization began lighting his eyes. “Jeremiah could do that and so much more.  As you know, perfecting our gifts takes practice and Keylee’s father practiced – a lot. More than any of us knew or understood until much too late.  The man could kill, turn your body against you in a matter of seconds.”

“Shit.”  Paul sounded breathy, almost in awe.  “That kind of thing is banned, or at least to all but those with healer gifts to go along with it.”

“You think the law meant anything to Jeremiah Induwe?”  Max chuckled before lighting up another cigarette. Sucking in deeply and blowing out a large puff of smoke, Max shook his head.  “But that wasn’t the half of what that man could do.  Remember, I said he was a licensed User of electricity but that didn’t mean it was all he could do.  Electrical manipulation was the only power we knew about – the only one Jeremiah declared.”  Once more looking pointedly at Paul, Max added, “I would imagine that’s something your sister is familiar with.”

Paul’s back stiffened, knowing exactly what Max was both talking about and implying.

“Don’t worry.  I’ve no interest in outing Helen, or even suggesting something to those that actually act like they give a damn.  She seems like a better egg than most and I’m hoping I’m not wrong about that.”

Max’s words diffused a little of Paul’s anxiety.  He’d long suspected Helen’s gifts were not limited to those she’d officially registered.  To an extent, all Users’ gifts increased and improved with time.  Paul truly believed that whatever psychological gifts Helen might be hiding had most likely manifested, or at least become more evident, after she’d already officially registered her abilities.  As far as Paul was concerned, it was his sister’s business and no one else’s.  Paul had never heard anyone suggest Jeremiah Induwe was hiding something as well.  “If he was so damn powerful, how are you still alive?”

“A good question,” Max answered, his eyes tilted toward the ceiling and the ever-growing cloud of smoke hovering there.  “I spent a lot of time thinking on it.  I probably would be if Maggie hadn’t intervened.  Mathis thinks it has something to do with the fact that I’m . . . was, an earth User but I don’t think that’s it.  Honestly I don’t think Jeremiah ever used his electrical abilities on me.”

“But if he was trying to kill you – “

“It would have been too quick.”  Snapping his fingers, Max added, “Over, just like that if he’d simply stopped my heart.  No, Jeremiah didn’t want me dying quick and easy.  Instead, he blew out my chakra pathways, destroyed everything that made me who I was.”  Somewhere along the line, the bitterness that always seemed to lace Max’s voice when discussing the end of who he’d once been relented, at least a little.  “His mistake,” Max shrugged.  “Jeremiah might have been smart as fuck, but what he never understood, what he was probably incapable of understanding, was the depth of Maggie’s moral compass and the will that came with it.”

Paul thought he understood.  “Maggie just couldn’t stand there and do nothing.”

“No.  Jeremiah lost sight of the one, immutable fact all Users and Facilitators share – we are each other’s greatest strength, but also our Achilles heel.  Jeremiah never considered the fact that his Facilitator’s conscience ran deeper than her connection and love for him.”  Standing, Max wandered toward one of the many windows, leaning against the edge he looked over what he could see of the training grounds, visions of a younger version of both Mathis and Maggie running through his head.  “We are bound to each other.  We love each other, need our other half like the air we breathe but that doesn’t make the bond impervious.  The bond is strong and will hold against almost any outside force, but it’s the threats from within that are its true enemy.”  Turning from the window, Max was glad to see Paul so enthralled by his words. The boy was paying attention.  “I said earlier you’re Keylee’s biggest threat. Are you beginning to understand why?”

“You think just because I’m powerful I’ll end up like Jeremiah?” Paul felt his anger begin rising, along with the heat lying just below his skin.

“No . . . maybe, honestly I don’t know you well enough yet to know, but that’s not what I’m getting at.”  Seeing the confusion on Paul’s face, Max fully turned his back on the window, all his energy focusing in on his pupil.  “A bullet to the head, a knife to the heart or a punch to the gut could not have hurt Maggie Donavan half as much as what Jeremiah forced her to do. Jeremiah’s actions destroyed that woman. Keylee’s mother died long before her actual body gave up the fight.  Lost to my own misery, I’m ashamed to say I only visited Maggie twice before her death, but in retrospect, I doubt it made much difference to her.  She was gone, long before they lowered her body into the ground.  And you have that same power over Keylee, same as I have it over Mathis.”

“I would never, I mean . . . I could never . . . “ Paul was at a loss. True, he’d only known of his Facilitator’s existence for a little over a week, but in that short time he couldn’t fathom doing anything like that to Keylee.

“No?  I wish I could say the same because I can’t.  Standing here before you all I can say is that my action, as well as my inaction, have hurt Mathis far more than any assignment we were ever given while working for the Department.  My words and lack there of, have pushed my Facilitator to the brink of mental breakdown. At best, I didn’t realize I was doing it.  At worst, there were moments I didn’t care.  Standing here, right now, even with my chakra blown to hell, I can finally understand that I’m one of the luckiest son’s of bitches currently breathing the air on this planet.  Mathis is one hell of a man, just as he was one hell of a Facilitator.”

Paul could understand what Max was saying but thought the man was being hard on himself.  “You were injured, your life purpose stripped away – “

“No excuse and don’t you try and turn it into one.  I put Mathis through hell.”

“And yet he’s still standing by your side.”

Max gave a small smirk, a pleasant little chuckle escaping his lips. “That’s the blindness of love I suppose. It’s true we always hurt the ones we love the most.  Maybe it’s because those we love, love us back and don’t just tell us to fuck off when we’re being asshats.  They stick by us, tough it out when anyone sane would have hauled ass across the country.” Chuckle turning into a full-blown laugh, Max just shook his head.  “But I suppose that’s something you’ll be figuring out on your own soon enough.” 

The heat simmering below Paul’s skin drew closer to the surface, flushing his neck and cheeks.  “I just want to keep him safe.  That’s all I can concentrate on, all that’s important.”

The mirth left Max as he contemplated Paul’s words.  “You do know what kind of relationship Users and Facilitators typically have, don’t you?”

“Of course,” the flush on Paul’s cheeks deepened.  “But as I said, my first priority is figuring out how to keep Keylee as safe as possible.”

Max could read between the lines with the best of them.  “And being with you, in that way, isn’t safe?”

Paul’s mouth opened and shut with equal speed, his father’s words and warnings regarding his grandmother pinging through his head like a red flashing light.  Thinking of his family, all Paul finally managed was, “I’m a Stein.”  It was the wrong response.

“And what?  Keylee’s not good enough?”  There was true anger in Max’s voice, a fury Paul had yet to hear.

“What?  No, of course not,” Paul shook his head.  “That’s not at all what I meant.”

“Then clarify.”  It wasn’t a request.

“Listen,” Paul slumped back in his seat, the palm of his hand running over the bristles of his freshly growing hair, “I’m not entirely sure what I meant, but I can guarantee it wasn’t that Keylee’s not good enough.  Most likely it’s the other way around.”  Paul respected Max, hell, he was even beginning to like the man, but his upbringing wouldn’t allow him to speak to someone outside the Stein Caste regarding their personal business.  Picking through his words carefully, Paul finally settled on, “There are some things I need to investigate.”

“Investigate huh?  Well, you better get your shit together quick because I doubt Keylee’s gonna buy that excuse when the time comes.”

“What makes you think Keylee wants that kind of relationship with me? He could give two flying fuck’s about my Caste.”

Max’s head snapped back.  “You think he’d only be interested in you because of your Caste?  Shit, Paul.  What kind of people have you been hanging out with?  You know I’ve said it before, that I pity the Stein Caste, but recently I’m beginning to understand why on a whole new level.”

Paul couldn’t answer, didn’t know how.  So instead he just turned his head, nameless, nearly faceless encounters and bodies swimming through his brain like some cheap porn film.  

“Listen Paul, maybe you should let Keylee be the judge of that and let go of the rest.  You damn near cremated yourself a few days ago, think of this as a rebirth, your second chance at life – a fresh start.  None of the past matters.  You’ve got a Facilitator, a soul handed to you by Fate, God or whoever the hell you believe in.  All the rest has been a dress rehearsal.  Now’s when you don’t wanna fuck it up.”

“Fuck what up?” Mathis asked, the door to the room swinging open and revealing two men laden with shopping bags.  “Christ, it smells like a hookah room in here.”

Coughing by way of agreement, Keylee shuffled in behind Mathis, his eyes already starting to water.  

“Hey baby, you guys get what you needed?” Max asked, ignoring Mathis’ quelling look.  He’d seen it before and would see it again in the future.  Thinking back on his most recent conversation with Paul, Max wondered if maybe he’d missed his own lesson somewhere along the line.  

Leaning in for a kiss, Max was pushed back, a hand firmly placed over his surprised mouth.  “Not while you smell like a chimney.”

Max’s body snapped back, his frame straightening as his muscles pulled taught.  Mathis had never denied him before.   Did it truly bother him that much?

Settling Keylee’s bags on the floor, Mathis moved past his lover, dismissing Max until they were alone later and he could truly light into the man. Max’s habit had been a bone of contention between them for decades and it was wearing increasingly thin.  Mathis didn’t know why it was bothering him more recently.  Maybe it was being around a newly bonded pair.   Maybe it was simply rehashing the past.  Maybe it was being blatantly reminded how much he loved Max, how much he needed the man and how devastated he’d be when death finally came for one of them.  As far as Mathis was concerned, Max’s smoking was like holding out a calling card, offering up another soul far too easily.  

Pushing thoughts of his bondmate from his mind, Mathis walked over to a nearby window, cracking it open despite the cold air beyond.  Finally a little bit mollified when fresh air crept in, Mathis turned toward Paul.  “Was today fruitful?”

The tension between Max and Mathis made Paul uncomfortable.  Despite not being able to see Keylee’s eyes, a quick look in his Facilitator’s direction let him know he wasn’t alone in that sentiment.  “It was very . . . informative.”  Scary, intimidating and worrisome also came to mind, but Paul kept those words to himself. 

“Good,” Mathis nodded before looking at Keylee, the smaller man’s knuckles whitening against the handle bags he still hadn’t set down.  “I think Key and I had similar success.  Of course he’ll still be needing a few more things,” Mathis offered while handing Paul back the credit card he’d borrowed.  “We just got enough to get by for the next few days.”

“I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

Halfway to the wallet in his back pocket, Paul stopped, his head twisting toward Keylee.  “We’ve already talked about this.”

“I know, but this is important to me.”

Paul didn’t like it – didn’t like the fact Keylee felt the need to pay him back for something that meant next to nothing to him.  Whatever they’d spent today would be less than petty cash to the Stein Caste.  It was truly insignificant and yet Paul wisely snapped his mouth closed against those words.  Unknowingly taking a page from Mathis’s book, Paul finally answered, “We’ll talk about it more later.”

Keylee nodded, his stomach taking that exact moment to protest its emptiness, a small flush of red coloring his normally milk pale skin.  

Keylee’s embarrassed shuffling did funny things to Paul’s insides.  Christ. Fuck Maxwell Haines for being right. The tumbling feeling currently stirring up his insides might be foreign to Paul, but it wasn’t unrecognizable. Paul had felt attraction before. He could appreciate a beautiful man or woman and he had no problem sticking his eagerly appreciative dick into either one.  But this . . . this was different.  The body on the other end had meant nothing more than a quick release, a receptacle for his pent up needs and deep-seated neurosis.  Keylee was so very much more.   Keylee was not simply a body to be used and discarded.  Keylee was something Paul had no compass for, no way of knowing how to precede, no pre-forged map.  In short, Keylee Donavan scared the shit out of him.  

“Well,” Mathis broke the silence following Keylee’s digestive needs, “I think Key’s stomach’s got the right idea.”  Finally turning back toward Max, Mathis asked, “Is there anything more for today?”

“No,” Max shook his head.  “I think I got my point across.”  Turning to the desk behind him, Max grabbed a hefty book, turning and tossing it in Paul’s direction in one fluid movement.

Paul fumbled the book for a hot second but quickly got it under control. “Chakra Pathways and a Facilitator’s Purpose?”  Paul looked genuinely confused.

“Why are you giving him a book meant for Facilitators?  And one that’s given to us during our first year at the Institute?”  Keylee asked, the bags in his hands shifting slightly while his head cocked to the side. 

“Easy,” Max pointed a finger in Paul’s direction, “you’ve gotta understand how Keylee works before putting his body to use.  It’s the only way to truly understand what you’ve got and how you can and can’t hurt him.”

Paul’s muscle’s stiffened, the line of his jaw sharpening with the nod of his head.  “Understood.”

“Good.  We’ll start practical training tomorrow so that needs to be read, comprehended and burned into your memory by then.  You think you can manage that?”

The book wasn’t thin, but it wasn’t too thick either.  In the end, it didn’t much matter.  Max could have thrown him Moby Dick and Paul would insert an IV of coffee so he could stay up all night and commit the thing to memory. “No problem.”

Some of Mathis’ earlier anger towards Max ebbed.  The book was perfect.  “If you have any questions, I’m sure Key would be able to answer them.”

“Of course,” Keylee automatically answered, “but are you sure this is the best way to start?  Shouldn’t Paul be reading up on Users and – “

“Paul already knows how to use his gifts, Keylee,” Max argued.  “Using his abilities isn’t the problem, controlling them is and you’re the answer to that little conundrum.  Understanding Facilitators and how they work is what Paul needs now.”

“Oh,” Keylee’s voice was small, his eyebrows pulled tightly down over the dark lenses covering his eyes.  And then, his stomach growled again.

“Okay,” Mathis chuckled, “let’s call it a day for now and get out of here. Keylee needs to eat and Paul’s got some homework to do before tomorrow.”

Paul couldn’t agree more and wasted no more time making his way toward Keylee, something he’d wanted to do since the smaller man walked through the door. It seemed like the closer he was, the calmer his body became.  It was like the best type of aromatherapy.  “You ready?”

Instead of answering, Keylee reached for the bags Mathis had set down earlier, his hands already laden with shopping bag straps cutting into his palms. 

“I can get those,” Paul immediately reached down, his fingers brushing against Keylee’s, instantly warming his skin.

“No, you paid for them, you shouldn’t have to carry them too.  I may be smaller than you, but I’m more than capable.”

Paul could tell by the gruffness of Keylee’s voice that he’d somehow managed to sound insulting.  “I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t, but we’re going in the same direction so let me help some.”

Paul held his breath while waiting for the soft, “Okay,” to finally slip through Keylee’s lips.  As they both walked out the door, neither of them saw the suspicious, knowing glances Max and Mathis threw their way.  

Chapter Fourteen

They were back in the car, their driver the same as this morning; someone Paul had called Mark, if Keylee remembered correctly.

“You want to just go through a drive thru? Or we could order something from the restaurant downstairs when we get back. I don’t think we’ve got much back at the condo to cook and right now I don’t think going into an actual restaurant to sit down and eat is a good idea.” Paul offered a few suggestions, his own stomach beginning to protest its emptiness.

“Drive thru is fine,” Keylee answered. “That would be quickest, I think.” Given his rather sheltered upbringing in the Institute, Keylee wasn’t actually that familiar with drive thru’s and restaurants. Mathis had taken him out a few times, always somewhere on his birthday, otherwise he probably wouldn’t have the first clue beyond what he’d seen on T.V.

“Any requests?”

Keylee thought about it for a minute before finally shaking his head. “Wherever is fine.”
Nodding, Paul leaned forward and told the driver something Keylee didn’t care to listen to. He probably should have considering it regarded food and he’d need to tell them what he wanted. But Keylee’s mind wasn’t on eating, but the car around them and more importantly, the fact neither he nor Paul was driving it. Without much more thought, Keylee asked, “Do you have your license?”

“License?” Paul looked confused. “That’s what I’m getting training from Max for, so I can – “

“Not that license, your driver’s license.”

“Oh. Sure. Of course.” Paul’s confusion didn’t abate but instead only grew. “Doesn’t everyone?”

Keylee shook his head. “I don’t, but I’d like to if you don’t mind.”

“Mind? Why would I mind?”

Shifting in his seat, Keylee kind of wondered why he’d phrased it that way too. Maybe it was because he was currently depending on Paul for just about everything, from his food to his housing. Add on the fact he’d been either a ward of the state or a student at the Institute for all his life and figured he simply wasn’t used to being allowed to make those kinds of decisions on his own. He’d always needed permission for damn near everything. Instead of opening that particularly nasty can of worms, Keylee offered up a different excuse. “I don’t have a car to practice with and take to the test in.”

“You want me to buy you a car?” There wasn’t an ounce of disbelief in Paul’s voice. In fact, it was less of a question and more a statement of possibility, something Keylee found horrifying.

“No! I could never afford to pay you back for something like that.”

“Keylee – “ Paul sounded genuinely tired.

“No. This is not up for discussion. I do not want you buying me a car. I don’t care if you can afford it, that it’s nothing but pocket change to the Stein’s. That’s not what I was aiming for at all.”

“Okay. So what, do you want to borrow mine?”

“You have a car?” Keylee shouldn’t have been surprised; it was just that he had yet to see Paul drive. Then another thought hit him. “Is this your car?” Maybe Paul just didn’t want to drive.

“This big thing?” Paul sounded strangely hurt. “Hell no. This monstrosity is part of the Stein armada.” Tapping along the side panel, Paul began pointing around the inside of the car. “This is one of three retrofitted with the latest safety features. The doors are bullet proof, the windows too, along with being tinted so no one on the outside can see in. This thing’s got tracking, radar and has an engine rivaling the fastest thing on the road. If it comes down to it we can either ram or run our way out of anything and if that’s not an option we can always just hunker down and wait for the cavalry to arrive.” At the last Paul pointed towards a minifridge. “And to answer your question, I have several cars in my name. They’re all currently biding their time in the Stein Compound’s garage.”

Several? That shouldn’t surprise Keylee either. “So, you like to drive?”

“Love it,” Paul nodded, “but sometimes it’s impractical. Lot’s of places we go it’s hard to find parking and walking to the event is just another opportunity for someone to gain access to us. Having a driver and car like this is kind of a necessity in my family. Mark here can drop us off, come pick us up and get us the hell out of there quicker than driving myself.”

“Oh.” Sitting back, Keylee considered Paul’s life, a life he now shared, and felt his heart drop a little. Money and power were all well and good but they came at a hell of a price.

“But I think it’s a good idea for you to get your license.” Paul easily conceded. “I can’t predict the future and there might come a time when you need to get out of somewhere and a car’s your best option. I don’t want you getting hurt because you don’t know how to operate the damn thing.”

Paul sounded a lot like the instructors at the Institute. “I already know the basics.”
“Good. As soon as things get settled, we’ll see what we need to do to get you licensed.”
Before Keylee had time to respond, the car slowed to little more than a crawl and Paul asked, “You know what you want?”

Keylee didn’t even know where they were and without a second thought answered, “Just get me whatever you’re having.”

_______________________________________________________________________________

Keylee decided he needed to pay a little more attention to what his User actually liked to eat. Greasy food hadn’t exactly been normal fair at the Institute. He might have been a pariah in the Facilitator world, but he was a Facilitator none-the-less and had been fed the same meals as the others. He’d heard once nutrition wasn’t something the Institute skimped on. Facilitators were precious and keeping them healthy was top priority. Keylee had often wondered at the double standard regarding their health and housing. Living in large, cinderblock frames – bunk beds lined up in rows while wind whistled through poorly caulked windows and water seeped through cracks in walls seemed at odds with feeding them top quality, nutritious food.

Keylee didn’t understand the politics behind it all, or how funding got approved. The small snippets of news he’d managed to watch on the vids in the common room occasionally had discussions regarding government funding of not only the Facilitator Institute but the Department as well. So far the majority supported the gifted. The dissenters voices were few but they were loud and Keylee understood all too well how difficult it was to ignore the most annoying voice in the room.

“You gonna eat that?”

For reasons he didn’t understand, Keylee’s body tensed. For a brief moment he’d thought himself alone. Well, that wasn’t one hundred percent true. Keylee doubted he could ever really ignore Paul’s presence. He’d felt it before being bonded and since then the pull had only grown. Or maybe it wasn’t really a pull anymore, but soothing warmth. Keylee wondered if every Facilitator felt the way he did or if it had something to do with Paul’s affinity for fire. Did a User’s natural gifts influence how the bond felt? Silently he filed that bit away for later. It was a question maybe Mathis could answer.

“Hey, you want me to order you something else from the restaurant downstairs?”

The worry in Paul’s voice finally pulled Keylee from his mental fugue. “No,” he shook his head, “I think maybe I’ll just warm up one of those bagels from this morning.”
Getting off the barstool he’d planted himself on when they’d gotten back, Keylee made for the cabinet he knew the bagels were hiding in.

“Not a fan of burgers?” Paul sounded genuinely perplexed.

Throwing a glance over his shoulder at the colorful mass splayed across crinkly paper, Keylee shook his head. “I’m not sure there’s a hamburger in there.”

“Huh?” Paul immediately set to work, disassembling the parts of Keylee’s meal, easily finding the slim disk of browned beef.

Turning with his bagel halfway to his mouth, Keylee blinked, the vision of his User’s tall frame bent over the now macerated hamburger lying on the counter striking him as more than a little humorous. Seeing the evident confusion on Paul’s face, Keylee offered, “I’m not used to all that other . . . stuff.”

“What? You mean like the lettuce, tomato, mayo, onions . . . and whatever the hell this sauce is?”

Keylee thought there was more unidentifiable stuff on his hamburger but figured Paul was getting the point. “I normally just get it with ketchup.” At Paul’s look of disappointment, Keylee added, “It’s not your fault. You asked and I didn’t tell you. I suppose that’s something else we’ll figure out soon enough.”

Nodding, Paul sat back in his own seat, stuffing the rest of his burger into his mouth. After a few minutes of chewing he pointed to the massacre that was now Keylee’s belated lunch. “You sure you don’t want any?”

“Positive.”

Fascinated, Keylee watched Paul shuffle the hamburger back into some semblance of order before taking a large bite. “I still think you’re missing out, but I guess it’s just more for me,” Paul mumbled through a swallow and smile.

Something in Keylee’s gut warmed and it didn’t have anything to do with Paul’s affinity for fire. Why in the hell did seeing Paul so pleased by something as simple as a bonus hamburger make his insides dance and tingle?

Trying to hide the flush of his cheeks from Paul, Keylee turned his back, reaching into a nearby cupboard for a glass and filling it with water. “I think the food we were fed in the Institute might be a little different than what you’re used to,” Keylee offered by way of explanation.

“Then I’m beginning to feel even sorrier for your lot.” Paul sounded honestly dismayed. “My Aunt Natalia’s on the Senate. This might be something I need to bring up the next time I see her.”

Choking on his water, Keylee turned from the sink, eyes wide as he stared into Paul’s laughing face. “You can’t be serious.”

“Of course not. Besides, my Aunt Natalia’s a Stein. You think she really gives a damn about Facilitator rights or abuses?”

Paul’s casual comment brought Keylee up short. He’d never really considered that. “Is your family really that against Facilitators?”

Setting down the remainder of Keylee’s hamburger, Paul took a quiet moment to truly think over that statement before shaking his head. “Not against. More like kind of apathetic I suppose. If push came to shove they’d side with Facilitators over normal humans any day of the week. Honestly I don’t think my family spares much thought about them expect to think they’re superior for not needing one. Well, evidently except for Helen.”

Keylee wasn’t so much surprised as disappointed. As a Stein, Paul would have had that very same upbringing. Nodding once, Keylee swallowed the bitter taste settling on his tongue before finally managing to ask, “What about Helen?”

Staring down at the food he no longer wanted, Paul thought about his answer, wondering if telling Keylee about Helen’s confession in the hospital was betraying a confidence. Unsure, he finally settled on, “Helen’s different.”

Keylee figured there was more to the story but chose to agree rather than push. “Yes, I kind of figured that out.”

Paul was silent for a few heartbeats before wadding up what was left of Keylee’s hamburger, standing and heading for the trash. “She’d have been better for you.” Paul’s voice was soft but full of a low boiling anger.

“Who? Your sister?” Keylee was genuinely confused by both Paul’s words and the malice behind them.

“Of course. Helen would know what to do. She would never have hurt you. You would have been safe with her.” With choppy, frustrated steps, Paul stomped out of the kitchen toward the living room, his hands fisting the back of the couch, his head bent down and mind somewhere Keylee couldn’t reach. “She’d know what to say. Helen always knows what to say. She would be able to control that hoard of paparazzi staked out in the parking lot. She . . . she’s so much better than me.” Head shaking back and forth, a broken laugh whispered through Paul’s lips. “You’re luck really is shit, Keylee. You don’t deserve – “

“Deserve what?” Keylee interrupted, Paul’s obvious pain too much for him to simply stand there and listen. “To have a strong User who needs me? To actually have a purpose in life, to be needed.” It was on the tip of Keylee’s tongue to throw out that he was needed even if he wasn’t wanted. Paul had stated that very thing while Keylee had been lying in the hospital, his chakra pathways crawling with constant pain.

Turning from the couch, Paul’s face looked grim, his hazel eyes bright with unshed tears and full of barely suppressed pain. “But you got me.”

“Yes,” Keylee blew out, the word full of the immense relief he felt. “I got you and I’m fucking over the moon about it. I thought . . . Paul, do you have any idea what it was like? What I went through on matching day? I was the only one . . . the only one left. We were one User short and everyone knew, everyone understood even before the matches were made I’d be the one left over – the unneeded one, the useless Facilitator. There was no one. I was left there, completely and utterly alone just as I’d always feared and everyone else had always suspected. I didn’t know if my User had died, if I’d never had a match to begin with or if they’d chosen death rather than bonding with a Facilitator with the last name of Donavan. Any of those were very real possibilities.” Reaching forward, Keylee cupped Paul’s chin within the palms of his hands. They’d kept the lights low, Keylee’s sunglasses long gone so he could look into Paul’s deep hazel eyes without his dark lenses distorting their brilliant colors. “When I heard you call, when I knew I was needed, I was on my way out of the Institute – slinking out when everyone else was busy, determined to loose myself in the throng of humanity. I had no plan, no home, no purpose. My greatest fear had been realized and I was resigned to my fate.”

“And then I tried to burn myself to a crisp,” Paul’s voice was soft, but lighter than the subject deemed.

“And then you tried to burn yourself to a crisp,” Keylee parroted. “I would never wish that on you and yes, it hurt to dissipate so much chakra, but you have no idea the relief that came over me. I hadn’t been forgotten. My User wasn’t dead and they hadn’t abandoned me. The answer was so much simpler than anything I could have imagined. My User simply hadn’t realized I was needed.” Momentarily closing his eyes, Keylee fought the images his nightmares still brought. “I wouldn’t give you up for anything Paul – not for another User and certainly not for your sister. Helen’s nice and I like her far more than I like most people, but she’s not you. Things aren’t going to be easy, let alone smooth, but that’s okay. I’m tougher than I look.”

Paul was beginning to think there was absolutely no one in the world tougher than his Facilitator and that thought brought an odd sort of pride bubbling up from deep within. “I guess with Helen you’d still be a part of my fucked up family. And, if you think my dad’s been an ass where I’m concerned, I think it might have been three times worse if Helen had been compromised.”

Without thinking, Keylee let his hands ease down, his palms and fingertips ghosting over Paul’s neck before settling on his chest. “He was plenty pissed about you but I think more than anything it was my last name he found so offensive.” Below Keylee’s fingers he could feel Paul’s muscles flex and relax, each and every breath raising his hands just a little. The strength lying below his flesh fascinated Keylee and without conscious effort all he could think was that it belonged to him.

Paul’s breathing quickened, the feel of Keylee’s hands pressed against his chest . . . the previous whisper of flesh against flesh as his Facilitator dragged his fingers down Paul’s neck stroking the coals of his banked fire. Having Keylee this close felt so damn good. “I think you’ve somehow managed to win my father over,” Paul finally managed, his eyes drifting to mere slits of pleasure.

Keylee was silent until he finally settled on answering, “I don’t care about your father.”

“You’re probably one of the only ones.”

“I don’t really care about that either.”

Fuck, Paul took a deep breath. Keylee’s hands were on the move, skimming across the thin fabric of his dress shirt while his fingers danced a little further down, the exploration somehow retaining its innocence despite the path Keylee was taking. Better reasoning skills deciding to step out for lunch, Paul asked, “And what do you care about?”

Keylee took a hissing breath, his answer automatic. “You.” Head tilting up, Keylee’s Caribbean blue eyes flashed, the strange spidering of magenta chakra lines radiating out and around his sclera nearly mesmerizing. “Only you.”

Only you. Throughout the whole of his life, Paul felt like an afterthought, the spare Stein heir to his father’s empire. Helen loved him, cared for him and deep in his heart Paul knew she’d stand by him to the bitter end, but he wasn’t everything to Helen. But this man, this deceptively fragile Facilitator standing before him, fingers tracing small nonsensical patterns across his chest, was different. For the first time in his life, Paul felt not only needed but well and truly wanted.

Breath caught in his throat, Pau’s voice was hoarse. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“I do,” Keylee nodded. “I got spooked yesterday, and I’m sorry I actually thought about leaving you. I can’t promise it won’t happen again but even if I do run, I won’t go far. I don’t think I could even if I wanted.”

Paul knew that feeling and the soul searing terror it brought. It was the same conclusion he’d come to the day of their bonding, the knowledge that he could travel halfway around the world and Keylee Donavan would still be the thrumming base of his heart – two halves of a whole, from now until death. Thickly swallowing, Paul’s fingers wound their way into the thick ebony waves of Keylee’s hair. “I’ve never needed anyone. I was trained to rely on no one but myself.”

“Different teachers, same lesson.” Keylee’s voice was soft, little more than a ghostly whisper.

“Scared?”

Keylee’s fingers stopped their wandering ministrations, his body unconsciously leaning into the hand tugging at his hair. “Cautiously optimistic.”

Those two words struck Paul as funny and soon a deep, rumbling chuckle made its way up and out of his chest. “Very cautiously.”

Keylee shrugged before finally dropping his hands to his sides, forcing his body away from the vortex of warmth constantly calling to his soul. “Maybe.” Looking up, Keylee’s eyes finally found their focus, the hazy fog he’d been lazing in dissipating with the scant distance he’d placed between them. “You’re more than I ever dared hope for, Paul. You can push me away all you want, and sometimes, you might even succeed, but I’ll always come back. I’m a sure bet.”

And that right there was exactly what Paul was afraid of. Max’s words came back to haunt him. What was the biggest threat to Keylee? Paul need look no further than the closest mirror.

Suddenly shy with the realization he’d just been feeling up his User, Keylee backed away; his face flushed a light pink with embarrassment. Looking for some form of distraction, Keylee’s eyes landed on the book Max had given Paul. Quickly swiping it off the coffee table it had landed on upon their entry into the condo, Keylee shoved the book in Paul’s direction. “You better get reading if you don’t want to be up all night. Let me know if you have any questions.” Needing to get out of the room before he did anything else he might regret later, Keylee darted towards the bedroom he’d claimed. After all, those new clothes weren’t going to hang themselves.

Lips parted, unspoken and unknown words trapped deep inside his brain, Paul watched Keylee scramble away. Breath quick and heavy, everything in him wanted to follow. Having Keylee out of visual range was painful, but he was still close enough Paul’s soul felt eased. Too bad the rest of his body was anything but peaceful. Taking a step towards the couch, Paul hissed as his pants pulled tighter around his now swollen cock. “Shit.” Readjusting himself, Paul managed the uncomfortably short walk, settling his large frame down upon soft cushions below. Staring down at the unwanted and uncomfortable bulge laughing up at him, Paul’s mouth twisted into a grimace. Keylee Donavan was one of the sexiest creatures he’d ever laid eyes upon and that was without the bond playing havoc with him.

Leaning his head on the back of the couch, Paul settled his book on his lap, visually removing his pulsing problem from his brain. Max was right, damn the man. How long could he ignore this desire, this overwhelming need? Like so many other things in his life, Paul didn’t have a fucking clue. What he did know was that he’d made a promise to himself to protect Keylee, to keep him safe and that included from his own lust. Keylee deserved better and Paul doubted either one of them were truly ready for sex to complicate their already turmoil filled existence. But would it just be sex? Paul didn’t think so. If it were, then he’d already be in Keylee’s room, buried to the hilt in that gorgeous body. If it were just about releasing tension, no strings attached, it would be far easier. But it wasn’t just about that and Paul wouldn’t deceive himself into thinking differently just so he could get his rocks off.

“Fucking Hell,” Paul cursed while opening the book on his lap to chapter one. “Lighting myself on fire didn’t hurt this damn bad.” And with that final lament, Paul put his nose to the grindstone, focusing his brain on something other than the firm ass and soul soothing presence in the next room.

Chapter Fifteen

“Again.”

Paul stared, his eyes at first incredulous but quickly narrowing into disbelief.  “He’s had enough.”

“Bullshit,” Max threw a finger in Keylee’s direction.  “Ask him if he’s done for the day.”  Max was becoming increasingly irritated with his pupil. While he could understand and more than appreciate Paul’s desire to keep his Facilitator safe, the way he was going about it was not only stupid, but also dangerous.  

“I don’t need to ask him.”  Paul’s anger grew and along with that anger so did the wind and fire stoking his internal chakra furnace.  “It’s enough.”

“Max is right, I can handle more,” Keylee tried protesting, but just as in the previous days, his words were either falling on deaf or stubborn ears. 

“No. We’re going home.”  Paul turned, slipping into his coat while desperately ignoring the pressure pulsing just below the surface of his skin.  His gifts hadn’t hurt since bonding with Keylee, at least, not until the past two days.  Skin slick with sweat, Paul didn’t notice the increased wind speeds whipping across the training field, nor did see the look of concern followed by abject determination Keylee threw Max’s way.  

Keylee’d had enough.  They’d been working on controlling and using Paul’s gifts over the past week and with each passing day Paul was increasingly holding back.  And each day, the power within his User grew increasingly trapped. Keylee worried Paul was going to do something stupid soon, like trying to release it himself.  Just last night Keylee had used every trick, every excuse he could think of to keep Paul in their shared condo.  Paul had been restless, constantly looking to the door and Keylee was positive his User was thinking about trying it on his own again, of going off somewhere secluded, somewhere he thought he couldn’t hurt anyone just to release what was building inside.  Keylee was quickly learning Paul could be a stubborn idiot.  Keylee was also beginning to think Paul had a death wish.

And now it was past the point of choice, past the point where it wouldn’t hurt when Keylee was hit with Paul’s power, and past the point where it was safe for Paul to hold it inside. By trying to protect him, Paul was setting Keylee up for a shit ton of pain.  

Flipping his head, hair flying away from his cheeks in the face of Paul’s increasingly uncontrolled wind, Keylee moved closer, his weapon of choice – words. “You must think you really got screwed, huh Paul.”

“What are you going on about now?”  Paul’s anger and irritation were synergistically linked with the uncontrolled power build-up his body was currently undergoing.  “Get your coat on so we can go home.”

“Home?”  Keylee shot a brief look in Max’s direction, silently begging him not to interfere. “You call that place swarming with paparazzi home?  That’s not a home, it’s a prison and I’m tired of going there, tired of battling our way through cameras, afraid to even go to the grocery store.”

Paul’s eye lids pressed down tight, a vein in his forehead pulsing angrily. The coat he’d just slid his arms into sliding right back off, the back of his shirt drenched in sweat despite the cool late autumn temperatures.  “We’ve had this discussion before – “

“Discussion?  Is that what you call telling me what to do?  That’s not a discussion, Paul, it’s an ultimatum and I refuse to live like that anymore.”  Pulling out his phone, Keylee pulled up his list of contacts, his eyes trained on the screen in front of him but his attention one hundred percent focused on his nearly out of control User.  “I don’t even know why you want me there.  Obviously you think I’m a shitty Facilitator.”

“What are you doing?”  Paul’s anger quickly crossed the line into uncontrolled rage, his painfully growing chakra making rational thinking nearly impossible.  “And what do you mean?  I don’t think you’re a shitty Facilitator.”

“I’m calling Helen.”  Without a doubt, Paul loved his sister, but threatening to leave him for her was the quickest way Keylee could think of to get Paul to let loose his control.  “You obviously don’t need me and I need to get away from you for awhile.  And if you didn’t think I sucked as a Facilitator then you’d damn well be using me for the purpose I was created.”

The rage in Paul spiked into a blazing inferno, little wisps of smoke beginning to curl around the edges of his shirtsleeves.  “Helen?  You’re running off to my sister?”  Paul was beyond fury.  Two steps closed the distance between them.  Fisting his hands at his sides, the last bit of Paul’s self control was spent on not grasping Keylee, throwing him over his shoulder and forcing him to their awaiting car.  “After everything I’ve done!”

“Everything you’ve done?  And exactly what would that be Paul?”  Keylee kept his voice light, almost sarcastic in its antagonizing tone.

Paul’s mouth twisted into something ugly, the short hairs on his head held aloft by the wind swirling around his body.  “Do you even know what I’ve been protecting you from?  The pain I’ve been saving you?”

Keylee scoffed, his stance widening to withstand the wind pushing at his body. “Right, protecting.  Maybe it’s not me that you think’s weak, but yourself.”  Keylee hated the next words he was going to speak but knew he had to push, had to hurt Paul enough to make him lose control, to allow him to release the power bottled up inside.  “You are the sorriest excuse of a User I’ve ever met.  No wonder your father – “ and thankfully, that was all he needed.

The damn in Paul broke, his chakra releasing in one gigantic push.  Everything in his body ached for the release, to silence words which, spoken by any other, would never hurt so very bad.

Keylee felt the rush, the push filling his empty chakra pathways.  Paul was letting loose, emptying everything he had into him.   Doing what he was born to do, Keylee accepted the power, bending it into will and purpose.  Before they’d been bonded, all Keylee had been able to do was dissipate Paul’s overwhelming chakra, but now . . . now he could do so much more.  While inside Paul, all Keylee could do was temper Paul’s chakra, soothing it and placating the power with the promise of eventual release. Paul’s chakra was akin to a wild animal. It was meant to be free.  Caged and restless the beast became untenable, even to the most masterful keeper.  

Head thrown back, Keylee let loose a scream, the pain of so much power hitting his near empty chakra pathways too much for him to maintain his silence. Their bonding made the chakra not as raw and bitter as before.  Instead it was more familiar, as if it recognized its new host, flowing in gushing torrents instead of fighting the given pathways and channels.  But even still, it hurt.  That much power . . . so desperate for release.  How in the hell had Paul been holding that inside?

Keylee couldn’t ignore the pain, but he could move past it.  Forcing every inch of his body to relax, Keylee accepted the raging chakra, welcoming it and filling his own pathways to near bursting. On and on it came, as if Paul’s chakra was desperate for Keylee’s calming influence – begging to be harnessed and controlled into something usable.  And Keylee didn’t disappoint.  Within seconds he’d done what only Keylee could do for Paul and instead of the hurricane of violent chakra he’d welcomed into his body, Keylee sent it out and back to Paul with intent and purpose.  

As a Facilitator, all Keylee could do was either dissipate chakra or mold it and send it back to its original User to be directed and used for an actual purpose. It was one of the two known flaws of a Facilitator – no chakra of their own and no ability to purposefully direct that of another.  He might be able to hold Paul’s chakra and he could even release it, but he couldn’t actually do anything meaningful with it.  

But Paul could.

Almost as quickly as the wild chakra flooded his pathways, Keylee felt Paul’s body pulling it back in, now tamed and usable Paul let his power loose – controlled chaos and with that control Paul threw it all at a nearby cinderblock wall, not just a singular piece but the entire thing.  The wind fed inferno crumbled the wall to the ground, but didn’t blow it into the next county, the fire following close behind disintegrating the blocks into little more than dust and powder. 

It wasn’t exactly pretty, but it wasn’t the uncontrolled shit-storm of Paul’s exam either.  

Staggering a few steps, Keylee started to go down but was caught in Max’s enormous arms.  “Fuck,” Keylee panted.  “That . . . that . . . “

“Stung a bit?” Max downplayed the impact upon Keylee’s body.

“Yeah . . . a bit.”

Keylee wasn’t the only one stumbling.  Emptied out, Paul’s body calmed, the terrible pressure and pain he’d been building suddenly gone, leaving an emptied but relieved shell behind. Panting, legs shaky, Paul took a questionable step, desperately attempting to right his depressurized body. 

“Paul?”

That one word, spoken almost too softly to hear and with more concern than anyone had ever said his name with . . . those simple four letters snapped Paul from his daze, immediately silencing the all too brief relief he’d been enjoying. 

Fuck.  

Keylee.

___________________________________________________________________________________

 Paul stared in horror.  Not fifteen feet away, slumped within Max’s arms, was his Facilitator.  Chakra pathways lighting up his pale skin once again, Keylee’s face was pinched with obvious pain.  Eyes still covered by those damn sunglasses, Keylee’s true expression wasn’t completely apparent but Paul didn’t think he needed to see those orbs to know he’d just fucked up – again.  

With the fire raging inside him now banked to little more than a simmer, the cool air began licking at the sweat coating Paul’s skin.  Even still, he wasn’t sure the shivers beginning to rack his body were due to external forces.  

Eyes shooting up, Paul caught Max’s gaze, the look in those dark brown eyes impossible to interpret.  He knew what should be there – anger, accusation, disappointment . . . all those things should be shining back at him, but instead, there was nothing.  A great void of emptiness that was somehow so very much worse.  

“Oh my God.”  They were the only words Paul could think of, the only words that even came close to fitting the situation.  “What . . . I mean, what did I do?”  Staring down at the palms of his hands, Paul was only beginning to realize the tenderness of his skin, the raw pink tones once more decorating his body.  

“What you had to,” Max answered instead of Keylee.  “What you should have been doing all along.”

Head snapping up, Paul swallowed against the pain settling into his chest. He’d done it again – done what he’d promised he’d never do, what he’d been desperately trying to avoid.  He’d lost control.  He’d hurt Keylee.  He was such a fuck-up.

With his mind and heart spinning out of control all Paul could do was replay the last few minutes of his life, Keylee’s words freshly slamming into his fragile emotional control.  He wasn’t sure how much of it Keylee had meant, how much had been voiced complaints he’d been harboring these past few days, but what he did know and understand was that his Facilitator had been baiting him.  While it was true he’d known Keylee less than a month, Paul knew enough about his Facilitator to understand Keylee’s nature wasn’t as antagonistic or cruel as he’d just been.  

Anger was such an easier emotion than guilt and Paul embraced his rage with gusto.  “You did that on purpose!  What in the hell were you thinking?  Do you like pain that much?”  Soundlessly screaming at the cloud filled sky, Paul spun in a circle, his raw fingers scrabbling at his short lochs of hair.  “I can’t believe you.  How am I supposed to protect – “

“Stop it.”

Paul rounded on those acidic words, his mouth open in a ready rant, snapping it closed when he saw the rare fury racking Keylee’s body.  Swallowing down the litany of words spewing from his guilt riddled rage, Paul could only blink, his taught muscles now limp with both physical and mental exhaustion.  

_________________________________________________________________________________

Keylee couldn’t let Paul continue.  If he’d had more time to contemplate the outcome of his actions, he wouldn’t have been surprised to think this would be the most likely one. Keylee knew how Paul felt, at least to a degree.  Harming each other was so anathema to their very existence that Keylee found it increasingly difficult to believe his mother had actually been able to kill his father.  Paul hated the fact he’d hurt him, hated the fact he had the capacity to do so and had been so damn afraid of doing exactly this that he’d actually brought the situation on. 

It hadn’t been a mystery.  Keylee had been well aware Paul was holding back, could feel the increasing build-up of power stirring restlessly within his User.  It was far too much for him to quiet and Paul had become increasingly terse and grumpy these past few days.  Keylee could even understand it, to a certain degree.  But the more time passed, the more frustrated he’d become. While his earlier words had been spoken mostly to provoke Paul into action, he hadn’t been lying when he’d accused Paul of thinking him a shitty Facilitator.  Paul was treating him as if he weren’t capable, as if Fate would have paired him with a Facilitator unable to handle the powerful chakra pulsing within. 

That’s what all this training was for.  If Paul kept holding back they’d never know just how much Keylee could take and how often.  They’d never know how long it took Paul’s chakra to regenerate.  They’d never be able to pass Paul’s User exam or get a position in the Department.  And more importantly than any of that, Paul risked his life by holding back.  Keylee figured Paul hadn’t actually considered that little fact, or perhaps he was still under the vague fugue known as Stein pride. Admitting he needed a Facilitator and actually accepting it as fact was proving to be a difficult concept for one Paul Stein.  

He probably should have let Max keep holding him steady, but Keylee wanted to make a point and talking to Paul while someone else was holding him up wasn’t about to diminish his User’s foolish notions that he was weak.  

Pushing at Max’s arms, Keylee was silently relieved the man understood and let him go without protest.  Discretely, just out of Paul’s visual range, Keylee could feel Max’s fingers lingering under one of his elbows, ready and willing to jump in if Keylee should sway. Hopefully the thoughtful gesture wouldn’t be needed.  

With his chakra pathways stressed again, Keylee could feel the all too familiar tingling just below his skin, like ants crawling below the surface.  It was irritating but workable.  Doing his best to ignore his own discomfort, Keylee studied his User; Paul’s shoulders slumped, head down and eyes focused on some unidentifiable spot on the ground.  What Keylee also saw was the flushed tone of Paul’s skin.  His User hadn’t come out of this episode any more unscathed than Keylee.  

“Paul,” Keylee closed his eyes behind his dark lenses.  The sky was cloudy but already he could feel the increased sensitivity in his eyes.  It would fade, just like before, but for now it was an added pain and distraction. “For the record, no, I don’t especially like pain.  But sometimes its benefits outweigh its discomfort.”

Paul gave a disbelieving grunt.

“I wouldn’t mind if we could avoid it in the future, but I also understand that there will be times where it will be unavoidable and that is something you are going to have to come to terms with.”

Paul gave an even more disbelieving grunt. If Keylee’d had his own eyes open, he’d have seen the incredulous look Paul focused on him.  “You have got to be kidding me.  You don’t truly expect me to willingly cause you pain?”

Keylee thought about his answer for a few seconds before nodding his head. “I do.”

 “What the – “

 “Paul, listen to me.  Hopefully we’re going to have a job to do very soon.  The Department is going to send us into situations where your gifts are needed and to use them you’re going to have to use me.  That’s what User’s do.”

“Maybe so, but that doesn’t equal hurting someone else.  If that’s the case then we never should have bonded.  You should have just let me roast myself.”

 Keylee was at a loss, his mouth opening and closing in rapid succession. Why on earth was Paul having such a difficult time with this?  Was it because of what happened before they were bonded?  Maybe, but if so Paul had to find a way to get over it.  Users should be protective of their Facilitators but this . . . this was far too extreme.  

Keylee felt Max shift behind him, his large frame tilting ever so slightly before a gruff voice spoke up to clarify the situation.  “You never had to consider it, did you?”

“Consider what?” Keylee asked.

“Not you, him.”  Using his free hand to point a finger in Paul’s direction, Max shook his head.  “I get it.  As a Stein, you’ve never been faced with this situation, never even considered it. Think about it, Keylee.  You’ve known you were a Facilitator damn near since birth.  All your life you’ve known this would be your destiny, that one day you’d be matched. You spent the last thirteen years in the Institute.  You’ve been through this before, learned to live with it.  To you, this is simply part and parcel for the whole User-Facilitator bond, but for Paul – “

“Oh,” Keylee cut in, realization dawning and the feeling of stupidity quickly following suite.  “I see.” Cracking his eyes open behind his dark lenses, Keylee fought the pain so he could well and truly seehis User.  “I’m sorry, Paul.”

 By the way Paul’s head snapped up, Keylee figured that had been the wrong thing to say.  “Don’t apologize.  Christ, Keylee, you’re the last one here that should be saying you’re sorry.”

Leaving the comfort of Max’s steadying hand, Keylee forced his legs to move. Everything in him screamed the distance between them was too far.  Both of them were raw, in different ways their skin screamed at them and touch was the last thing he should want, but Keylee couldn’t’ help it, he needed to be closer to Paul, to feel those strong muscles flex beneath the tips of his fingers. 

Finally close enough to touch; Keylee lightly placed the palms of his hands against the damp surface of Paul’s shirt.  “This is all so new to you.  I’ve been judging you for your inability to let go of who you’ve always thought you were, the way you always assumed things would be and yet I’ve been unable to do the same thing.  I keep expecting you to act like a User who needs a Facilitator, but you can’t. Users know, as soon as they realize what they are, they know they’ll need one of us – know what we’ll be needed for and exactly what that means.  They’ve had years to come to terms with that knowledge, to understand exactly what that means.  But you’ve only had a few short weeks, read a few books on the concept.  I should have taken that more into consideration.”

“Don’t make excuses for me.  I – “

“It’s not an excuse, Paul.  It’s an explanation and a way for the both of us to start understanding each other better so this doesn’t happen in the future, at least not to this extent.  I will get hurt.  You will hurt me, but that’s the nature of what we are.  I don’t hate you for it and I don’t blame you either.  If we do things right, if we learn what each of our limits are, then most of the time it’s not going to hurt, not even a little.  I like the way your chakra feels while it’s running through my pathways. Far more often than not, channeling your power feels fantastic.  I’d gladly take the few times when there’s actual pain for all the other ones where there’s not.”

Keylee’s skin prickled under the weight of Paul’s hands, the pressure of his User’s skin pressing down on his upper arms should have been uncomfortable, and on some level, it was.  But the overriding sense of comfort far outweighed the unpleasantness skirting below his skin.  

“I fucked up.”

Keylee shook his head.  “We fucked up.  But that’s what training’s for.  We’ll figure it out.”

Paul didn’t say anything, didn’t utter a single word.  By way of answer he pulled Keylee tighter into his body, trading the physical pain for the emotional comfort.

______________________________________________________________________________

“Your eyes are worse again, aren’t they?”  Paul noticed Keylee hadn’t taken off his glasses, even with the lights in their condo turned down.  Not waiting for an answer, Paul moved to the windows, lowering the blinds and shutting the heavy curtains.  The day had only gotten cloudier, darker with autumn’s dwindling existence.  But despite this, what little daylight still streamed in was evidently enough to keep Keylee’s eyes covered.

“If you keep shutting everything up, neither of us is going to be able to see a foot in front of our faces.”

“Seeing’s overrated,” Paul answered before yanking on another curtain.

“And if you keep doing that, we’re not going to have any curtains left. You’ll probably take a loss in your security deposit too.”

Paul didn’t understand how Keylee could sound so placid, so light hearted. Not after what happened today. Paul could handle condemnation – judgment and disapproval were the building blocks of his youth.  What he couldn’t understand, or even grasp was not only Keylee’s nonchalance but Max’s as well.  He’d screwed up and that was being kind.  He’d known things were getting out of hand, known and floundered, in the end adding one bad decision on top of another until the only way out of the hole he’d dug for them was yet another sacrifice by his Facilitator.  

With the last window in the living room covered, Paul moved to the couch, stubbing his toe on the coffee table in between.  “Fuck!”

Somewhere off in the kitchen Keylee hummed an, “Are you all right?”

Paul figured he was pretty fucking far from all right, but understood Keylee was more asking about what had just happened and figured a throbbing toe was the least of their worries. At least the damn coffee table was taking him to task for what had gone down earlier.  Somehow the pain radiating up from his foot felt deserved and actually helped mitigate a tiny fraction of the guilt eating away at his insides.  

“Here,” Keylee suddenly appeared, glasses gone and a cold beer in his hand, “I think maybe you could use this.”

Easily wrapping his hands around the cool bottle soothed a portion of Paul’s raw skin.  Leaning back into the couch, Paul took a swig, downing a third of the bottle in one long pull.  Pulling the long neck away from his lips, Paul noticed Keylee just kind of standing there before the smaller man seemed to make a decision and turned, heading for a nearby chair and plunking down.  Although it was too dark to make out exactly what Keylee was holding, Paul knew enough to know it wouldn’t be something alcoholic and was most likely little more than water.  The fact Keylee chose to sit so far away instead of on the couch next to him made Paul’s skin crawl.  He’d gotten used to having Keylee close these past few days, his Facilitator somehow always nearby, eagerly answering whatever inane questions Paul threw his way as he devoured the books Max gave him to read.  

The distance Keylee placed between them hurt.  It hurt far more than angered words ever could.  “I wish you’d just yell at me.  Scream and tell me what a jackass I am.”  Head tilted back, Paul stared at the ceiling, just barely making out the white structure in the darkness.  “At least I’d know what to do with that.”

There was a long pause, the sound of the heat kicking on the only noise brave enough to encroach upon the tomb-like atmosphere.   “I’m not going to yell, Paul.  I’m sorry, but even if that’s what would make you feel better, I just can’t do it.”

“Now that I can believe,” Paul grunted, his free hand rubbing over the short growth sprouting from the top of his head.  Letting loose a soul deep sigh, Paul raised his head enough for another swig of beer before dropping it back in place.  “I don’t know how to deal with someone like you.”

“Someone like me?”

Paul didn’t need to see, he could easily imagine Keylee’s head tilted in confusion.  “I don’t mean that in a bad way.  It’s just you’re so unlike anyone in my family, anyone I’ve ever dealt with.  You should be pissed with me.  Hell, I’m pissed at me.  How can you forgive what happened so damn easily?”

“Paul,” and there it was again, his name spoken with such reverence, such caring and affection. “You’re pissed enough for the both of us and punishing yourself far more than anything I could ever do.  And, for the record, I think your self-deprecation has gone on long enough.  I understand why you did what you did or maybe in this case, why you didn’t do what you should have.  But it’s done, in the past and we both need to learn from it and move on.  People live in the past too much.  Learn from it, but get over it.”

“Are we still talking about us right now?”

“Mostly.”

Paul let it go. Keylee’s past was a mine field, one he’d barely toe tapped into and one he knew eventually would need to be explored further.  There was a lot buried there, a lot of emotional hurt Keylee had suppressed long ago. Paul understood that need, maybe better than most, but what he also understood was that those feelings needed airing out and one day or another he’d need to push.  But what he also understood was that day wasn’t today.   

Pushing up a little, Paul sat up enough to finish his beer, setting the glass bottle on the side table that hadn’t attacked him a few minutes ago.  Shifting, Paul felt the drag of his clothing over his sensitive skin. His hands were the worst, but even that was manageable.  He’d declined a Healer when Max had asked.  It wasn’t that bad, just a little tingly and raw.  Paul’s skin wasn’t what was truly hurting him right now.  “You gonna sit over there the rest of the night?  Is that my punishment?”

Keylee made a noise Paul couldn’t interpret beyond sounding distressed.  “I’m not punishing you . . . I just thought . . . I mean, your skin looked a little painful, I wasn’t sure . . . “

“My skin can handle it, what about yours?”

In answer Keylee jumped up from his chair, quickly crossing the distance and sitting on the couch – the opposite end of the couch.  

“For fuck’s sake, get over here.”  Paul waved his hand, tilting his body so his chest was an open invitation.  Again, Keylee made a kind of whining noise, something that lit an entirely different kind of fire inside Paul.  Soon enough he had his Facilitator wrapped up in his arms, Keylee’s cheek resting on his chest, his arms tightly tucked around his torso.  Damn but it felt good.  

Chapter Sixteen

Keylee felt the beat of Paul’s heart; heard the steady pumping of blood just below his ear. Skin tingling, it should have felt uncomfortable being in that close of contact, but it didn’t, at least not uncomfortable enough to pull away.  Keylee was coming to learn his User was a world-class worrier.  Paul worried about their safety, their bond, the media, his family . . . anything and everything, Paul worried over it.  But most of all, Paul worried about hurting him and that was something Keylee still had a hard time wrapping his head around.  After a lifetime of having no one but Mathis in his corner, Paul’s single minded determination never to cause Keylee one iota of undue pain left him reeling in a sea of uncertainty.  Just as Paul had no idea how to deal with Keylee’s reactions to things, Keylee was just as lost when it came to his User.  

But this . . . this was something he could understand, something he could loose himself to, something that felt so right it was frightening in its own way.  It was also something he knew he’d fight tooth and nail to preserve.  

“You’re finally relaxed.”  Keylee let one of his hands dip a little lower, his fingers ghosting between two buttons on Paul’s shirt, finally finding the skin he so desperately sought and earning a shaky inhale of breath in return.  

“Hmm . . . you keep doing that and I’m not sure that’ll be true.”  

Earlier in the week, before Paul’s chakra had gotten so damn full, so hurtful, they’d been doing this – teasing, playfully bantering back and forth.  Laughing softly, Keylee didn’t remove his fingers, the contact felt far too good and this time the ensuing silence was anything but uncomfortable. 

“You really feeling okay?” Paul finally asked, his voice soft and unsure.  “I want you to tell me the truth, Keylee.  I know you don’t want to worry me, but when you tell me you’re okay and I know that’s not true, my mind starts coming up with all kinds of horrible scenarios, most of which are probably worse than the truth.”

Another worry. “My chakra pathways are singed and tingling.  Since you want to know, they do hurt, but not as bad as I’ve had before and that includes when I was at the Institute.  In a day or two it will be fine so stop worrying.”

One of Paul’s hands wound its way into Keylee’s thick, ebony locks, the pads of his sensitive fingers gently grazing over his scalp.  “Was that normal?  A User overloading your chakra pathways while training?”

Keylee stiffened. “It’s in the past and you know how I feel about that.”

“I do.” For half a second, Paul’s fingers stopped their ministrations. “But you and I both know the past influences who we are today.  You told me earlier that training was about learning our boundaries.  Well, it seems to me there was a hell of a lot of training going on with you I need to know about if I’m going to get past all my hang-ups.”

Keylee took a deep breath; hating the fact Paul actually had a point.  Pulling his hand free of Paul’s shirt, Keylee started to sit up, to pull away, only to have Paul’s arm tighten around him, the hand on his head applying just enough pressure to keep him exactly where he was.  

“Don’t.  Don’t do that.  Don’t pull away.”

And just like that, Keylee couldn’t, not when there was so much need, so much desperation clinging to Paul’s words.  Easing back down, Keylee tried keeping his body loose, failing miserably.  Paul was right to ask, Keylee could see that, but it didn’t make talking about it any easier.  Director Raina had told the truth, he’d never been hurt badly enough to cause lasting pain or disfigurement, but that didn’t mean he’d gone through his training unscathed and it sure as hell didn’t mean he’d had fair treatment.  

Letting loose a rattling breath, Keylee pushed his head deeper into Paul’s chest, something not entirely possible given the rock-like muscles residing there.  “I don’t want to get into specifics, at least not now or not unless I think they’re actually pertinent.  What I will say is that a lot of Users didn’t exactly care for me or the fact I was being trained.  I know the Director took heat about that.  Honestly, I think most of them thought, as I did, that I didn’t actually have a User out there, that Fate wouldn’t be so cruel and if it were then whatever User I’d been paired with was better off dying than actually bonding with me.”

Keylee felt Paul’s chest expand with the disbelieving breath he took.  “That’s bullshit.”

“Maybe,” Keylee shrugged as best he could given his current position, “but I believed it too, possibly even more than they did.  Regardless of that, or probably because of it, the Users brought in to help us train hated being paired with me.  I think . . . I think maybe many of them, not all, but many, tried their hardest to see just how far they could push me.”  Tilting his head, chin now settled on Paul’s chest so he could look up into his User’s eyes, Keylee added, “And that’s how I know just how unusual you are, Paul.  How powerful you are.  Don’t you see, they threw everything they had at me, made me dissipate their full power and none of them even came close to what you can do.”

Paul was beginning to think this incredible power of his was more of a curse than a thing to be admired. After all, what had he managed to do with it other than try and fry both he and Keylee’s bodies to crisp.  

Keylee could see it in Paul’s eyes, the disbelief, the question regarding his worth.  Chin still planted on Paul’s chest, Keylee shook his head, the action just barely enough to be seen.  “I know it’s hard to see right now, what good can actually come of things, but it will.”

“How can you be so damn sure?”

Shrugging, Keylee maneuvered his head, cheek now resting against Paul’s chest.  “Just a feeling I suppose.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a believer?”

“In what?  Fate?”

“Fate, God, Buddha, pick your poison,” Paul grunted.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. I suppose if I had to pick one, I’d choose Fate, after all, she gave me you, didn’t she?”

“Not sure that’s a positive endorsement.”

“Depends on your point of view,” Keylee answered, his lips forming into a contented smile.  To his mind, Keylee couldn’t understand how Paul could even question how fortunate Keylee felt.  No one had ever held him like this, simple touch and comfort. Keylee could feel Paul’s hand gently rubbing circles along his back, every once in a while alternating and sneaking up his arm.  Keylee’s body and soul were filled with a sense of belonging and he refused to question it. 

______________________________________________________________________________

Figuring out what someone else was thinking, what they were feeling and what kind of decision they were likely to make were all part of Stein training and although Paul never thought he was the master his sister and father were, he also wasn’t half bad either. At this point in his life, figuring out what made another person tick was damn near second nature, but when he was with Keylee . . . it was different.  There was no deep seeded agenda, no plot or ploy.  When he was with Keylee, just like this, he damn near felt what his Facilitator was feeling soul deep.  It was feeling just to feel, to know the other person you were with was happy and content simply being.  Keylee had no ulterior motives.  He didn’t want money, power or prestige.  All Keylee wanted was him and for the first time in his life, Paul felt like the king he’d always been groomed to be.  

There was something to be said for taking care of someone else, for putting someone else’s happiness and well being above your own.  And it was that line of thinking that led Paul to ask, “Are you hungry?  We kind of skipped out on picking anything up on our way back.”

“I could eat, or we could just stay like this.  I’m good either way.”

A couple of weeks ago, Paul would have distrusted that kind of answer, but he’d moved past it, at least where Keylee was concerned.  “How about we stay like this for a bit longer and eat later.”

In answer, Keylee snuggle deeper into Paul’s body, fitting like no other ever could.  Sucking in a deep breath, Paul pulled Keylee’s calming scent deep into his soul.  The stirring in his cock couldn’t be helped, but it was like a low-banked fire, simmering but ready to ignite at a moment’s notice.  It was a feeling he was becoming increasingly accustomed to.  It seemed like whenever Keylee was within close proximity, be it visual or tactile, he was always half hard.  Paul had never been one to deny the sexual side of his body and was fairly certain he hadn’t gone this long without sex since he was old enough to understand just what his dick could be used for.  

And yet he withheld. It wasn’t that he thought Keylee would deny him, not at this point, and it wasn’t even that he was still holding back for fear of hurting Keylee.  He’d known almost from the beginning Keylee was different – would be different should they take their relationship to that next level.  The thought had scared the hell out of him, but the fear was being eaten away by the shear rightness of how it felt having Keylee near.  At first he’d been worried he wouldn’t be able to stay true, that after the novelty of his Facilitator wore off, he’d return to his tried and true standard ways of fucking whatever beautiful, eager body came his way, but that was no longer even a hint of concern.  Staring down at the top of Keylee’s dark strands of hair, the faint pattern of blue and magenta chakra pathways crossing his pale skin, visible even in the dark of their apartment, Paul knew with a certainty he rarely felt about anything that he would never want another soul the way he wanted Keylee.  Hell, he doubted he could even get hard around anyone else and as of yet he hadn’t done more than hold the smaller man.  

No.  Keylee was it and this was enough – more than enough for now. Head tilted back, Paul was just beginning to fully relax, his mind emptying of thought while his eyelids drooped. Snuggled into his chest, he could feel Keylee’s breaths evening out, his Facilitator well on his way to nap time when his phone rang, his sister’s ringtone cutting into the quiet of their safe little haven.  

Paul let it ring.

“You’re not going to get that?”

“If it’s important Helen will leave a message.  Or she’ll hang up and call again.  Go back to sleep.”

Paul thought he’d take his own advice until his phone started ringing again.  “Fuck.”  Helen was calling again.  That was never a good sign.  Keylee was already pushing himself up and off Paul’s body when he reached for his phone, a clipped, “What’s happened now?” harshly said into the receiver.  

“Where are you?” Helen’s voice didn’t sound panicked, but it didn’t have the soft cadence it normally did either.

“The condo.”  Paul almost said, home, but thought better of it. Helen would probably think he was talking about the Stein Compound if he said that and while the condo itself wasn’t home per say, as long as he was with Keylee, he felt like he was home and that was a concept he doubted his sister could readily relate to.  

“I’m assuming Keylee’s with you.”

Paul began wondering where this was going.  At first he’d thought maybe Helen had found out what happened earlier that day.  He was pretty confident Keylee hadn’t called her, but he didn’t know about Maxwell.  “Yeah, he’s right here.”  Paul said the words while arching an eyebrow in Keylee’s direction, his expression clearly indicating he still had no idea why Helen was calling.

“Hearing how calm you are makes me think you haven’t had the television on.”

Television? “No,” Paul answered while frantically looking around for the remote.  At Keylee’s questioning look, Paul mouthed the word, “remote,” and soon both of them were searching.  Keylee found it first.  “Do I even want to know?” Paul asked before taking the offered remote and pressing the power button.  Immediately HGTV came on and Paul felt a warm gush of mushy goodness briefly battle back the increasing weariness his current conversation was bringing forth.  Keylee loved home improvement shows; something Paul found interesting considering his Facilitator had spent almost all his life at the Institute. 

“Probably not, but regardless, you need to see.  Paul . . . “ Helen’s voice grew soft and oddly uncertain sending warning flags flying in Paul’s mind.

“Spit it out, Helen.”

Paul was greeted with a long sigh.  “I’m not sure if you want Keylee seeing this.”

Paul’s mouth thinned, his lips becoming nearly invisible within the hard planes of his face.  Eyes glancing Keylee’s way, Paul thought about asking him to leave, to give he and Helen a little privacy.  Most likely Keylee would do it, with little to no question. But that’s not what Paul wanted and it wasn’t what Keylee deserved.  A few days ago he would have asked, but he was learning, slow as it may be.  

Echoing Helen’s earlier answer, Paul said, “Probably not, but regardless, he’s staying.  What channel.”

Helen let loose a mirthless bark of a laugh.  “Any of the news vids.  Take your pick.”

Paul knew which ones he would avoid and picked what seemed like the lesser of evils and punched in the numbers for CNN.  Less than five seconds later he let loose a heartfelt, “Shit.”  Swallowing, Paul’s eyes darted toward Keylee, glasses now firmly back on his face, covering his sensitive eyes.  The stiffness suddenly invading Keylee’s body told Paul all he needed to know. 

Turning the volume up was the last thing he wanted to do, but if there was one thing Paul was becoming accustomed to it was things he didn’t want.  With the sound up, Paul leaned forward, muscles straining so hard he was surprised the remote control in his hand didn’t shatter.  

            “ . . . Missanger, the biological mother of Paul, youngest child of Evan Stein, has just filed a lawsuit against the Stein family claiming breach of contract.  It seems that since Paul’s catastrophic failure during his User exams and the realization that he is the first Stein in over seven generations requiring a Facilitator that the Stein family is refusing to pay the remaining five hundred thousand dollars Clara Missanger says she is due.  

            Miss Missanger has retained the legal council of Mr. Erik St. Valentine.  As many of you know, Mr. St. Valentine is the same attorney whose represented many high profile cases in the past, winning an astounding eighty three percent and millions for his clients.  Miss Missanger certainly means business and claims she was wrongly accused of producing an heir falling short of Stein standards.  According to Miss Missanger, the recent press conference given by none other than Evan Stein himself supports her claims in that it is Mr. Stein’s belief his son Paul is as much a victim of Fate as the rest of the Stein Caste.  As you are all aware by now, Mr. Stein said, in no uncertain terms, he believes the fault most likely lies with the Facilitator Paul is now bound to, none other than the son of Maggie Donavan and Jeremiah Induwe.  Miss Missanger is claiming that by Evan Stein’s own words, she is not at fault for . . . “

Paul blinked at the sudden quiet in the room, the pictures on the television continuing to play but the sound muted.  Shell shocked and confused, Paul looked down at his now empty hand, unsure when Keylee pried the remote control out of his stiffened hand.  

Bent over, elbows on knees and head in hands, Paul stared down at his feet. He’d never spoken with Keylee about the press conference his father held a little over a week ago, never said one damn word about how disgusted he was or even bothered mentioning the fact he thought his father was full of utter bullshit.  Maybe he’d taken the coward’s way out, but honestly he’d been more concerned about hurting Keylee’s feelings than protecting his own.  It was but another decision coming back to bite him in the ass.  

“Keylee – “

“What is your mother thinking?”

“Helen, I’ve gotta go.”  Not waiting for an answer, Paul hit the end button on the phone.   It shouldn’t really surprise him Keylee was focused more on Clara.  “Money, obviously.  Specifically about five hundred thousand dollars, but I don’t give a shit about that woman.  Keylee, what that reporter just said about why I need a Facilitator, about why – “

“I already know, Paul.”

Sitting back, Paul turned enough on the couch so he could see Keylee a little more clearly, the glow of the television lighting up his pale skin and eerily highlighting his visible chakra pathways.  “You know about the press conference?  About what my father said?”

“Of course.”

Keylee answered as if Evan Stein’s previous accusations were little more than whispered complaints on the wind, as if Paul hadn’t thrown his Facilitator under the bus.  “Of course?  How?  Did my father call you?  Or Helen?”

Paul couldn’t see it but given the arched eyebrows skirting just above Keylee’s dark glasses he could imagine the eye roll going on underneath.  “I do watch more than HGTV, Paul.”

“Oh.”  Sometimes the simplest answers really were the easiest.  “But you never said anything.”

“What was I supposed to say?” Keylee cocked his head to the side, his face a mask of indifference.  

“What. . . I don’t know.”  Palming his forehead Paul felt at a complete loss. “Sometimes I really wish you were the screaming type.  Don’t you ever get pissed?  Fuck, Keylee, what my father said during that conference . . . all the disgusting accusations, the lies and excuses – “

 “To be fair, we don’t know he lied.”

Paul’s head snapped up, his eyes incredulous.  “You don’t honestly believe that crap, do you?  For the love of . . . Keylee, my needing a Facilitator isn’t your fault.  You’re not the reason I’m so damn fucked up.”

________________________________________________________________________________

Keylee lied, or at least he wasn’t being completely honest.  What Evan Stein said had upset him, at least to a degree. But what was also clear to Keylee during that news conference was Paul’s obvious disgust with his father.  No, it wasn’t voiced and most likely those snapping the pictures hadn’t been able to tell, but it was painfully obvious to Keylee that Paul hadn’t had a clue what his father was up to until Evan opened his mouth.  Keylee didn’t expect Paul to jump in and defend him or his so-called honor.  Hell, Keylee doubted at this point he had any honor left to protect.  What he also understood was that, although he didn’t like it, Evan had chosen a path that most likely led to the least amount of resistance.  Keylee was used to playing the misfortunate soul card, Paul was not.  

All of that made him irritated, but not truly angered.  But this . . . this continued belief on Paul’s part that he was somehow defective . . . that needing Keylee made him less . . . that was really beginning to grate.  If Paul well and truly wanted to see him pissed then all he needed to do was continue down this idiotic pathway.  

Pulling in a deep breath, Keylee held it for a fraction of a second before allowing it release.  “Paul, you keep claiming you don’t want to hurt me but I’m beginning to wonder if that’s true.”

Paul’s lips thinned, his face tightening down.  “So, now you’re mad about what happened today.”

“Depends on which part of today you’re talking about.  If it’s about earlier, then no.  If you’re talking about the words you spoke less than three minutes ago, then yes.”

“Me? Don’t you mean what my father – “

 “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it as many times as I have to, I don’t give a damn about Evan Stein or what nonsense falls out of his mouth, at least where I’m concerned.  What I’m talking about is your consistent belief that needing a Facilitator, needing me, somehow constitutes a defect on your part.”  Pulling a leg up onto the couch, Keylee turned the whole of his body toward his User.  “Paul, if you’re defective for needing a Facilitator then what exactly does that say about me?”

Paul’s mouth opened, closed, then opened again, the words he was fighting for gaining and loosing traction with equal measure.  “I . . . my faults have nothing to do with you.”

“Your faults?”  Keylee’s temper grew.  “And I am one of those perceived faults?”

“What?  No, of course not.  You’re perfect.”  Paul shook his head.  “I’m the fucked up one here.”

The growing anger Keylee was building banked a little at Paul’s vehement denial.  The fact he’d just called Keylee perfect hastening its exit and flushing his pale cheeks.  “It’s nice you seem to think so highly of me, but what I need for you to understand is that needing a Facilitator, needing me, doesn’t make you less.  I know by Stein standards you see yourself as the black sheep, but you’re not and painting yourself with that kind of brush, thinking you’re some defective product for having me in your life hurts.  It hurts far worse than anything that happened this morning or anything your father spews out of his twisted mouth.”

Across the couch, Paul was silent before a deep breath pushed through his nose, the sound almost pained.  “I see your point, Keylee but I don’t know what I can truly promise here.  I . . . your asking me to throw away twenty years of Stein training, of how I’ve been taught to view myself and the world.  I can’t just do that on your say so.”

“Fair enough.”  Closing the distance between them again, Keylee leaned in, laying his hand on Paul’s thigh.  “But you need to try.  There is nothing wrong with you, Paul.  You are a powerful User, possibly the strongest we’ve ever seen and eventually the world will see that.  And – “ Keylee took a moment to analyze his thoughts, to truly contemplate whether or not he wanted to say what he was about to.  Finally pulling up the courage, Keylee slid the glasses from his eyes, squinting against the filtered light still coming from the television. “If you didn’t need a Facilitator, then you wouldn’t need me.”  Sliding his hand up Paul’s thigh, Keylee applied just a little more pressure.  “We wouldn’t have each other.”  And that’s where Keylee’s bravery met its end. Pulling his hand away but remaining close, Keylee let loose an awkward kind of cough.  

Soon Keylee found himself pulled in tight, more or less sitting in Paul’s lap, his User’s hands wrapped snuggly around his waist.  “No, we wouldn’t.  If you’d told me a month ago I’d be this fucking happy not living up to Stein standards I’d have laughed in your face.”

Leaning back into Paul’s chest, Keylee let his eyes slip closed before placing his glasses back on.  Eyes somewhat shielded from the glare of the television, Keylee stared up at the screen. The sound was still muted but instead of the reporter from earlier, there were alternating pictures of Paul’s birth mother, the current one of Clara’s perfectly coiffed figure standing atop a row of courtroom steps, more than three microphones shoved in her face.  

Paul’s issues with his self-worth were a work in progress – something Keylee thought might be a lifelong project.  What wasn’t a work in progress, or maybe something Keylee had little hope for, was Paul’s mother.  Going back to his earlier thoughts, Keylee wondered out loud, “How will your father react?”

_______________________________________________________________________________

“You’re worried about her?”  Sometimes Paul really couldn’t figure Keylee out.  

Keylee shrugged within Paul’s arms.  “I’m not sure worried is the right word, at least not about Clara.  But I remember what Evan said during our bonding ceremony, something about your grandmother – “

“Eva,” the word fell like a stone out of Paul’s mouth.  

“Eva,” Keylee’s use of his grandmother’s name didn’t sound nearly as noxious and full of trepidation.  “Will there be repercussions?”

“Repercussions might be taking the subject too lightly,” Paul answered before thinking.   However, further thought only reiterated he was speaking honestly, maybe too honestly. 

“What do you mean?”

In answer, Paul tightened down his arms, pulling Keylee in a little closer. He didn’t want to hurt his Facilitator, but Keylee didn’t utter an ounce of discomfort, not even a deeper inhale of breath.  “I’m not sure, but Keylee . . . you don’t fuck with the Stein family, especially out in the open for all to see.  We hide our dirty laundry, we don’t air it.”

“And I’m part of that laundry?”

“To some you’re the dirtiest part, but to me you’re the only truly clean thing our family can claim.  Regardless, neither my father nor my grandmother will take this well.  What that means, I’m not entirely sure, but whatever it is won’t be worth the five-hundred thousand Clara believes she’s entitled to.”

As if on cue Paul’s phone rang again, this time the tone telling him it wasn’t Helen.  Lifting the phone to his ear, Paul was pleased Keylee didn’t try and get up – didn’t pull away from him.  Hitting the accept button, Paul didn’t even get a word out before his father’s voice asked, “Did Helen call you?”

“Yes.”

“And are you seeing this?”

“If you’re talking about Clara’s latest stupidity, then yes, Keylee and I are watching CNN as we speak.”

“If you believe the media’s been hounding you before, it will be nothing compared to the coming days.  The Stein Compound would be a more private location for the two of you.”

Paul smirked into Keylee’s neck; his breath ghosting across overly sensitized skin. “Is that an invitation, Father?”

Across the line Evan grunted.  “One I doubt you’ll accept.”

“For once we are in agreement.”

“I assumed as much and have already sent extra security to cover the complex you’ve settled in.  And before you complain, I’ve already been on the phone with the manager and far from upset the man actually sounded giddy with anticipation.  It seems he’s already seen a spike in interest and is anticipating a fully occupied facility within the next two weeks.

No longer holding his head back, Paul let his cheek rest against Keylee’s soft skin, a fine shudder going through his Facilitator at the contact. “Well, at least someone is profiting from the situation.”

Evan ignored his son’s attempt at levity and instead asked a question that nearly floored Paul.  “How is Keylee handling things?”  Or maybe it wasn’t the question but the rare, honest concern coloring its edges.  

“Better than he should.  Better than I have a right to expect.”

“Hmm . . . perhaps he has some Stein heritage somewhere in his past.  Then again, Jeremiah was many things but a coward was never one of them.” 

Paul marveled at the odd sense of admiration he heard in his father’s voice. Evan Stein rarely if ever indicated respect for any not in their immediate Caste.  Unsure how to answer, Paul remained silent, fully aware his father liked to speak and would soon fill the dead air.  

“This most likely goes without saying, but don’t speak to them.  Say nothing no matter how badly they hound you for a sound bite.”

 “I learned that when I was eight, Father.”

“As all Stein’s must,” Evan weighed in as if it were simply part and parcel of the burden of being born into such a weighty Caste.   

“Yes, and – “ Paul’s voice cut off when he heard an interruptive beep on his father’s end.  Evan was getting another call.

“I have to go.”

“Someone more important?” Somehow Paul couldn’t keep the petulance out of his voice.

“Your grandmother.”

Ah, well, it really was someone more important and also someone Paul was happy to let his father deal with.  “You better – “ but his words were unneeded as the phone clicked off, his father already having ended the call.   

Deep inside his gut, Paul worried.  It wasn’t that he cared about Clara, at least not since she’d made it abundantly clear the only reason she had any interest at all in Paul was because of the payday she believed herself gipped out of.  What he did wonder about was exactly how desperate Clara had to be for the money to risk the wrath of the Stein Caste.  Was his birth mother so very naïve?  Surely not.  But at the end of the day, Paul could only think his mother was either desperate, stupid or naïve.  Honestly he wasn’t sure what motive would be better.  

 “What did Evan have to say?”

Sucking in a deep, cleansing breath of Keylee’s scent, Paul pulled far enough away from his Facilitator’s tempting skin to rest his jaw on Keylee’s shoulder. “Mostly that he’s aware and on top of the situation.  He wanted to know if we’d be willing to move into the Stein Compound.”  Paul felt Keylee’s body tense and immediately worked to allay his fears.  “I already told him no.”

 “Good.”

 “You like the condo that much?” 

 “Not the condo itself per se . . . “

“Don’t worry, I understand.  You know, all my life I dreamed of a day when I’d be able to leave the estate.  The fact I call it that instead of home is probably more telling then I’m comfortable with.”

“And now that you have is it everything you always dreamed of?”

“Better.” 

“Better?” Keylee questioned while pulling away. “Not that this place isn’t nice and all, but with all the paparazzi surrounding us and the needed security . . . is this really better than what you envisioned?”

Placing a hand on either side of Keylee’s head, Paul let his fingers ease through those thick, dark strands of hair.  “Absolutely better, because in all those imaginings, I was always alone.”

Keylee felt his heart quicken, its pace little more than the race of a hummingbird’s wings inside his chest.  It wasn’t just Paul’s words but the look on his face when he said them.  Cautiously optimistic.  Those were the words Keylee’d said to Paul less than a week ago and for the first time since then, Keylee was almost willing to drop the Cautiouslyfrom that phrase.  

Chapter Seventeen

Despite all the bullshit Evan Stein spewed forth daily, Keylee found the man exceedingly accurate when it came to predicting the machinations of the media. Unfortunately, Clara’s ensuing lawsuit media blitz left all the Stein’s feeling hounded, including Hellen. From the snippets Keylee could hear on Paul’s end of the conversation with his father, that little fact was pissing Evan off more than anything.  Keylee didn’t comment on the hurt he saw shining through Paul’s eyes.  The fact Paul felt comfortable enough with him to allow such perceived weaknesses to bleed through was enough.  

“He acts as if Helen isn’t the world champion when it comes to bending the media to her will,” Paul grumbled while ending the call with his father, his cell phone shoved so hard into the pocket of his coat Keylee wondered how the fabric didn’t tear.  “The press loves Helen nearly as much as I do.”

Keylee began wondering if Paul wasn’t right, that there wasn’t a soul in the world immune to Helen Stein’s charms.  “She certainly has greater patience with them than I would.”  Thus far Keylee hadn’t said word one to a single reporter, not that the opportunity had really presented itself since Evan’s increased security at their condo combined with them now entering and exiting their car within the bowels of the condominium complex.  Not that it was for lack of trying on the paparazzi’s part.

“She does,” Paul nodded, his fingers now finding more purchase in his growing hair, “not that she likes it.  Honestly I don’t think any of the Steins really enjoy dealing with them.  When I was younger I thought my father did.” With a roll of his shoulders Paul leaned back into the seat of their car, their driver, Mark at the helm as they made there way once more to the Facilitator Institute.  “I sort of got the feeling he enjoyed both the mental and verbal sparing.”

 “But now?”  Keylee thought he knew what Paul was going to say and wasn’t disappointed.

 “Now I think he’s just sick and tired of it.”

Keylee gave a quick head nod in understanding.  Evan Stein was proving to be a far more layered man than Keylee originally estimated.  It wasn’t that Keylee thought a lot better of him, but perhaps he was beginning to empathize.  He still wasn’t sure whether or not that was a good or bad thing.  

Working his bottom lip between his teeth, Keylee debated asking what was on his mind, what had been rattling around his brain for the past couple of days. “Is Helen . . . I mean, is your sister the next in line to lead your Caste?”  Helen was older than Paul and given the fact the rest of the Stein’s now viewed Paul as somehow defective for needing a Facilitator, Keylee didn’t think he was really being that disrespectful to Paul for assuming it wouldn’t be his User taking over.  Honestly Keylee was more than grateful.

“She’d be the logical choice, not that she wants to hear that.  But as long as my grandmother’s alive, I don’t think Helen has to worry about it.  Eva holds onto power with an iron fist and the only way she’s giving it up is when there’s six feet of dirt covering her corpse.”

 “Or burned to ash,” Keylee mused out loud.  

“Doubtful, Eva’s got too much control for that,” Paul smirked. “Besides, as far as Stein’s go, I’ve got lighting yourself on fire cornered.”

 “That’s not – “

“I know.  Stop stressing.  I almost turned my body to ash twice.  At some point you’ve got to see the sick humor in it or go insane.  I’m attempting to take the healthier mental route here.”

Although he thought the humor a little dark, Keylee felt relief wash through him, that relief magnified all the more by the strong arm Paul had thrown over his shoulder. 

With the exception of the media, all in all, Keylee felt a wave of contentment he’d never imagined he’d be able to appreciate these past few days.  Paul had taken the harsh lesson they’d both learned to heart and was actually using Keylee as he should be.  As far as he was concerned, they’d made major strides the past nine days and Keylee didn’t think he was the only one feeling that way.  On more than one occasion, Max had actually looked pleased with the way they were progressing, at least when he wasn’t griping about wanting a cigarette.  It looked like Paul wasn’t the only one learning lessons recently.  

It was as if thinking about Max and Mathis brought them to the Institute’s gates. By now Keylee would recognize that small dip in the pavement the car lazily rolled through in his sleep.  

“How much longer do you think until they let me take the User exam again?”

“I think it won’t be much longer until they let ustake it together.”

“Sorry, I – “

“It’s okay, Paul.  It is considered the User exam, but that means me too.  You don’t have to do it alone this time.  You’ll never be alone again.”  Keylee left off the last part of his thoughts, neither of us will.

_____________________________________________________________________________

“Tomorrow?  Are you fucking serious?”  Paul paced the floor of the room they’d continued using, its four walls now forever imprinted into his memory.

“Not soon enough for you, princess?” Max grunted, the toothpick in his mouth spinning around before snapping in half, an irritated, “Shit,” falling from Max’s lips before quickly stuffing in its replacement.  

“Fuck you, Maxwell.”  Paul didn’t care if Max was in yet another pissy mood given his nicotine withdrawal. Wasn’t that what all those fucking patches decorating the man’s arms were for?  Not to mention the gum the man was chewing while somehow still managing to hold a toothpick between his lips.  “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“This is good news, Paul.”  Keylee’s voice came from across the room making Paul realize just how far away he’d paced.

Fuck, was it really?  Paul wanted to think so, wanted to hope it wasn’t too soon but he and Keylee had only been practicing together for a little over two weeks and officially bonded for only a couple days longer than that.  Was he really ready?  Were theyreally ready?  Paul doubted he’d get a third shot at this if they weren’t.

“Most User’s are tested within a day of being bonded. You two have had plenty of time,” Max offered.  

“But those User’s have been studying, planning and preparing for a bonded Facilitator for years, I’ve just had – “

“Paul,” Keylee’s voice was closer, the hand he laid on Paul’s arm showing just how near he’d gotten.  “We’ve got this.  You know it deep down.”

Pulling in a deep breath, Paul let the weight of Keylee’s hand, the simple pressure of that small appendage, sink into his soul.  From the first moment he’d laid eyes on Keylee, he’d felt the pull. He’d been later to the table than his Facilitator, but he was now comfortably sitting by Keylee’s side. Head shaking, Paul wondered at himself. His father never would have allowed him to get away with such weakness and for once, Paul was on his father’s side. He needed to pull his shit together and act like the Stein he knew he was.  

 Laying a hand over Keylee’s, Paul gave a gentle squeeze.  “You’re right.”  And deep down he knew Keylee was.  Since he’d stopped trying to protect Keylee and actually used him for what he was meant to do, things had been better – better than better in fact. He’d been so damn afraid of pushing Keylee too much, of releasing the brunt of his churning power, but turns out he’d been an idiot to feel that way.  He’d thought it before and he’d think it again and again – Keylee really was strong.  

 Keylee hadn’t been lying or even exaggerating when he’d told Paul he wasn’t hurting him.  In fact, Paul got the feeling Keylee actually enjoyed it when he pushed him.  When Keylee’d innocently said, “You feel good inside me,” when speaking of Paul’s chakra, Paul thought for a moment Max was going to choke on one of his broken toothpicks.  

 Letting Keylee’s hand go, Paul turned to face Max.  “Where will the exam take place?”

“Director Raina gave the okay to have it here.”  With a tilt of his head, Max indicated some distant place on Institute grounds.  “This place has a lot of land, more than most the general population know about.  It’s all protected and maybe more to the point, others will be far enough away to be protected from you.”

Paul stiffened.  “They expect a repeat performance from me?”

The grin on Max’s face was positively evil.  “Can’t say I blame them.  They haven’t been around you like I have.  Not sure they know what to expect but I suppose they’re banking on better safe than sorry.  From what I hear, there were a couple of the examiners who needed a splinter or two picked out of their skin after you blew up the tree.  Still pissed I missed the whole thing.”

“I didn’t peg you for the kind of guy who likes the smell of burning flesh.” Paul wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the idea Maxwell actually wished he’d been there to see him light himself on fire.  

“Been smoking for awhile so the sense of smell’s not what it once was. Besides, it might have been nice seeing Evan lose his shit.”

Paul didn’t think the cost to either he or Keylee was enough to warrant witnessing Evan Stein lose his shit, but given the amount of animosity Max appeared to harbor not only for his father, but the Stein Caste in general, he couldn’t say for sure.  

Beside him, Keylee cleared his throat, clearly as uncomfortable with where the conversation had gone as Paul.  “Did Director Raina give you a time?”

“Not her,” Max answered while turning towards the desk he was once again leaning on, a few papers quickly shuffling through his thick fingers. “The Director’s only letting us use the facility but she’s not actually in charge of anything.  Looks like they want us all here by one pm.  That work for you guys?”

Paul wondered if there was truly a question in there.  As far as he was concerned, and most likely the examiners as well, it didn’t matter if it was a good time or not.  Paul was playing to their mercy, and accordingly, would abide by their rules.  “We’ll be there.”

Although bonded, Paul wasn’t able to read Keylee’s mind, but if he had, he’d have realized that for once in his life, he’d said the right thing.  We’ll be there.  Not just him, but his Facilitator too.  He and Keylee – a bonded pair, a partnership that went beyond the bounds of pen and paper. They’d both be there; on that field, and this time Paul would pass his test and secure not only his own future, but Keylee’s as well. 

____________________________________________________________________________

The ride back to the condo was tense; Keylee could feel the heat in the air, the nip of wind pulling the loose edges of his hair.  It wasn’t the uncontrolled firestorm of Paul’s past, but more akin to the trickle of water gently cascading over a coffer dam – almost as if Paul’s chakra simply couldn’t remain where it was, like an excited or nervous child.  Keylee knew there was no danger, especially with him so close by, but he was concerned nonetheless.  Paul was nervous.  

“Paul?”

 “Hmm?”  Paul’s voice was distracted, his eyes staring at nothing and everything all at once.  

“It really will be okay.”  Scooting over, Keylee rested his hand on Paul’s thigh, his fingers kneading the tense flesh below.  “Those expecting a repeat performance of last time will be sorely disappointed.” 

Pulling his attention from the nothingness beyond their vehicle, Paul turned, his eyes cast down on the comforting weight of Keylee’s flesh upon his clothed leg.  “You think that’s what I’m worried about?  What those jackasses think?”

“No?” Keylee shook his head. “Then why don’t you tell me what’s got you so worked up.  I can’t help if I don’t know.”

Opening his mouth to answer, Paul was cut off by the flash of cameras lighting up the natural dusk of the outside world, their car barely creeping forward as the nose gently pointed down toward the lower level basement of the condominium complex.  “Damn vultures”.  Without thought, Paul pulled Keylee closer into his body, guiding his Facilitator’s head so that Keylee’s face was buried against his chest, shielding his delicate eyes from the bright flashes beyond.  

Keylee vaguely thought he should form some kind of protest.  He wasn’t a child in need of protection, but even as a child, he’d never had the kind of comfort and care Paul now lavished upon him.  Was it so wrong to accept what he’d always been denied?  Snuggling deeper into Paul’s hold instead of pulling against it was answer enough for Keylee.  

“I didn’t think it was possible for them to get worse.”  

Paul’s voice sounded muffled to Keylee’s protected ears and yet he could still hear the anger. Shifting his head enough so his voice wasn’t instantly swallowed in Paul’s coat, Keylee kept his eyes firmly squeezed shut.  “Maybe there’s just nothing more interesting happening in the world.”

“There’s plenty more interesting and more important, just not as salacious.”

Keylee wasn’t sure what was so salaciousabout he and Paul but figured the lawsuit filed by Paul’s biological mother wasn’t helping much. “Do you think Clara’s going through the same thing?”

Paul grunted something that was probably thankfully unintelligible, the dip and bounce of their car finally signaling they’d made it into the relative protection of the condominium’s garage.  “If she is you can bet your ass she’s enjoying it a far sight better than us.”

Keylee felt the car pull to a stop and actually felt disappointment knowing they’d reached their destination.  Without the flash of the cameras, there was no reason for him to continue huddling within the warm protection of Paul’s arms.  He’d expected Paul to release him right away, but instead his User did little to indicate he was actually preparing to leave the backseat of their current car.  

“Paul – “ 

“Mr. Stein, we should be in the clear for you and Mr. Donavan to exit the vehicle.”  Their driver, Mark’s, words cut through the pleasurable moment, stirring Paul to movement.  

“Well . . . “ Paul’s cheeks were flushed, his movements choppy and full of haste, “looks like we’ve managed to make it through the piranhas again.”

Reluctantly leaning back, Keylee forced a smile onto his face, eradicating the well of disappointment cutting an aching hole through his chest.  “Looks like.”  Not waiting on Paul, Keylee scooted over, opening his own door and hopping out.  In the empty cavernous underground garage, the sound of his door shutting sounded hollower than his heart.  

 Needing to shake off his own irritating desires, Keylee began walking toward the elevator that would take him to their penthouse condo, the place he and Paul were temporarily calling home, the self imposed prison Keylee hoped they would both be leaving soon.  Echoing off the walls, Keylee heard the closing of Paul’s door as he finally made to follow.  Keylee could only assume the delay had been due to Paul giving Mark instructions as to when to pick them up the following day.  Whether Mark would actually be their driver or not remained to be seen, but somehow instructions were communicated between the drivers and they’d never been left in the lurch.  

Knowing Paul would be there soon, Keylee reached out, his finger inches away from the glowing button of the elevator console when a flash brighter than the sun went off, his still covered eyes instantly burning with white-hot fire.  A scream he couldn’t contain ripped through his throat.  The blinding light eating at his eyes was nothing compared to the heat of Paul’s fire.

____________________________________________________________________________

It wasn’t exactly the warmth of Keylee’s body Paul missed when his Facilitator pulled away.  As warm as his body normally ran, Paul doubted that would ever be what he lacked.  No, it wasn’t heat Paul desired, but the comfort Keylee so easily brought and even more easily took away.  Simply having Keylee near was a comfort, but when they were actually touching . . . Paul thought he could easily get addicted to the feeling and wondered if it was an addiction he needed to fight against or simply give into.  He knew which one he favored, which one was easier, and which one would bring him the most happiness.  Unfortunately, it was also the most frightening decision as well.  

“Eleven am.  Anything else you need, Mr. Stein?”

Mark’s question pulled Paul from his internal thoughts, once more aimed in Keylee’s direction. “Only that you call me by my first name. I’m sure my Facilitator would also appreciate being addressed similarly.”

Paul caught Mark’s questioning gaze in the rear view mirror, the man clearly uncomfortable. “When you drive my sister, does she ask to be called Miss Stein?”

“No sir,” Mark flushed and Paul silently smirked.  Helen had a way with everyone – gifted and normal human alike.  Then again, one didn’t have to admire Helen’s talents to be enthralled with her natural beauty and charm.  

“Well then, I see no reason why we can’t be on similar terms.”

“Yes sir.”

Paul could still see Mark wasn’t sure and more than a little uncomfortable.  Most likely it came from years of driving his father around and the demands Evan Stein made upon their staff.  But as far as Paul was concerned, that was all the more reason to stick to his guns now.  “Okay Mark, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.”

“Paul.”

“Sir?”

“It’s Paul, not sir.”

Mark’s red cheeks deepened in color.  “Yes s- . . . I mean, yes, Paul.”

Flashing the his driver his most endearing smile, a grin that had gotten Paul out of trouble with almost everyone but his father, Paul gave a quick, “tomorrow,” before stepping out of the car and looking for Keylee.  Soon enough his eyes lit upon their objective.  Given their bond, Paul had known Keylee wasn’t far, but knowing and seeing were two different things and he couldn’t help the wave of relief assaulting his body when he saw Keylee standing near the elevator.  But two steps later that relief turned into unmitigated fear.  

Before his very eyes, in less than a second, a man rolled out from under a nearby car, both car and unidentified man much closer to Keylee than Paul.  A flash of metal, something Paul couldn’t identify, glinted in the stranger’s hand and without thought or hesitation Paul threw out his hands, a ring of fire bursting into life around his Facilitator, the flames roaring into place a fraction of a second after the flash of the stranger’s camera.  

“Keylee!” the name screamed through Paul’s lips nearly as fast as his feet pounded the concrete.  For a moment fear slammed into Paul, the sight of his Facilitator surrounded by fire, the thought that he might have really done it this time – harmed Keylee beyond healing and repair.  But that fear quickly dissolved into blissful relief. The flames dancing around Keylee arched outward, not in.  Like a wave pushing everything outside that protective circle away, leaving an eye of protective peace within.  

Reassured of Keylee’s safety, Paul’s fluctuating emotions quickly turned to rage.  Everything in him wanted to burn this intruder to ash, his waiting wind eager to spread the ashes of this piece of shit far and wide, his remains dispersed so none could ever gather him together again.  Within his body, his fire pulsed, his wind fueling those flames into something fearsome and yet, beating against that anger, was something cooling, something calming – Keylee.  

Briefly fisting his hands, Paul pushed his fire down, his wind following with a mournful internal howl. Paul’s chakra was under control, but that didn’t mean he still couldn’t beat the shit out of this asshole. Lunging forward, Paul’s hand shot out, his fingers grabbing the stunned man’s wrist and squeezing down tight. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Shit,” the pained curse pushed through chapped lips.  “I was just trying to get a picture.  Fuck, turn off the heat man.”

Paul could barely hear the man’s plea beyond the rushing blood in his ears.  “You do not come near him.  Do you hear me!  You do not have the right to be within ten feet of my Facilitator.”

“It’s still a free fucking world.  I’ve got – “

“You’ve got shit! This is private property and right now you’re trespassing.  You’ve got no rights.” Pulling the man closer into his body, Paul stared down into those frightened eyes, this interloper finally realizing the beast he’d truly awakened.  “You are a danger to my bonded Facilitator and by law I have the right to dispose of you as I see fit.”

“Dispose?  Shit, man, I was just trying to get a picture, to – “

“You hurt him, you – “

“Paul.”  Eyes closing, Paul listened to that voice, so damn soft and comforting.  He’d always thought Helen was the only one who could get through to him when he was seething with rage, and yet here was Keylee, little more than a slip of a man who could not only command him with a simple word.  It wasn’t just Paul, but all Stein’s seemed to be under Keylee’s spell. The brief thought of Keylee belonging to either Helen or his father sent a bolt of white-hot rage filled fear shooting through Paul’s chakra system, the flames around Keylee momentarily flaring with his sudden insecurity.  

 “Paul, it’s enough.  The flames are hurting my eyes, please let it go.”

Instantly the fire surrounding Keylee died, the circular scorched concrete ring encircling Keylee’s feet the only witness to its existence.  Not letting go of the paparazzi’s arm, Paul let his head drop, his voice choked with regret.  “Keylee, are you – “

“I’m fine.”  Paul felt the reassuring weight of Keylee’s hand on his shoulder, his muscles bunching and tensing momentarily before relaxing.  

“Let him go, Paul.”

A huge part of him wanted to agree, to simply go along with what his Facilitator wanted, but the fear still feeding his anger wasn’t so easily appeased.  “He hurt you.”

“It was just a camera. He didn’t know, couldn’t know it would cause me pain.  Paul, he didn’t come here to intentionally hurt me.”

“But he got close.” Head raising and eyes opening only for his lids to narrow, Paul stared down into the frightened brown orbs of a young man who was out of his depth and only now beginning to understand the foolishness of his actions.  “Today it was a camera but it could just as easily have been a gun or a knife.  You could have been killed.”

“But I wasn’t and that wasn’t his intention.  Don’t punish him for acts others might do.  This kid’s guilty of being an insensitive idiot.  Hardly a crime worthy of death.”  Paul felt more than Keylee’s hand on him, the whole of his Facilitator’s body snugging up to his back, Keylee’s arms encircling his waist and pulling him close as he whispered into Paul’s ear, “Unless he can afford a Healer, those burns on his face are going to be painful for a long time.  I don’t think they’re bad enough to scar, but they are going to be tender and hurt like hell the first time he goes to take a shower.”

Taking a deep breath, Paul unlocked his gaze from the brown orbs before him and began actually looking at his prey; the boy’s face quickly proved Keylee right.  The kid might not know it, but he’d gotten off lucky, he’d be leaving with little more than a bad sunburn.  It’d hurt like hell for awhile, but he’d live and chances were pretty good that within a month or two no one would ever be able to tell just how close to burning alive he’d come.  

“You’re a lucky son of a bitch,” Paul growled as he ripped the camera from the kid’s hand before dropping the arm he’d claimed.  Ignoring the faint, “Hey! You can’t do that,” uselessly dropping from their would be photographer’s mouth, Paul quickly yanked out the SIM card, throwing it on the ground and melting it with almost no effort.  

“What the fuck, man! That’s my property!”

Paul shoved the camera back into the man’s hands.  “Be thankful I left this in one piece.”

Snatching the camera back, the kid tucked it up under his arm before reaching an absent hand up over his face, instantly cringing and issuing a hiss of pain. 

“You’ll heal.” Keylee’s voice, harsher now and laced with reprimand echoed over Paul’s shoulder.  “I think you’re beginning to understand just how much worse today could have gone for you.”

Paul watched their stalker give his camera a mournful glance.  If this kid was smart, he’d figure out he’d still managed to snag a story, even without the picture.  Paul wanted to believe the kid was too stupid to realize that little fact, but wasn’t counting on it.  After all, he’d either been smart enough to make it past all their security or he was an even luckier son of a bitch than he’d originally thought.  

“Security’s on its way.”

Paul turned his head ever so slightly at Mark’s breathy declaration.  In all the chaos he’d completely forgotten about their driver.  “ETA?”

“Right fucking now.” Bursting through the stairwell door Paul recognized one of his father’s hired guards, the look on his face a strange combination of thunderous rage and embarrassment.  For the life of him, Paul couldn’t remember the guy’s name, his mind still too amped up to even attempt such trivial information.  In the end, did it even matter?  They guy had obviously failed.  

Paul opened his mouth, ready to lay into the man who’d been hired to keep shit like this from happening, but a squeeze around his middle silenced the angry words brewing deep within. 

“I’m sorry, Mr. Stein. I don’t know how this happened, I – “

“Can we go now, Paul?” Keylee’s voice cut through the security guard’s impending apology.  “I think Jason has everything under control now.”

Jason. Paul should have remembered the name, although it would be absolutely pointless now.  As soon as his father found out, Jason would be out of a job. And if his father didn’t fire the man, Paul would.  

“Paul?”

With a final look toward Jason and the petulant kid struggling against the tight hold he was now under, Paul turned, easily taking Keylee into his arms and guiding them both toward the elevator Mark was holding open for them.  

“You take care of Mr. Donavan . . . I mean, Keylee.  I’ll be here at eleven am sharp to pick you both up.”

“Thank you Mark.” Paul somehow managed a smile for the man and was surprised when he realized how truly thankful he was for their driver.  Mark could have made a b-line for the exit when he saw the wall of flames erupt around Keylee.  God knows what rumors Mark had heard about Paul’s lack of control during his initial User exams.  Fire was a dangerous element for any User to control, let alone one with Paul’s history. Paul wouldn’t have blamed the man for high-tailing it out of there, but Mark hadn’t done that – he’d stayed. He’d stayed and called for back up. Maybe it was time to consider requesting Mark as their permanent driver.  Somehow Paul doubted his father would be overly put out.

“See you in the morning,” Mark answered with a tip of his head, easily slipping out of the elevator and allowing the door to slide shut, closing out the partial realization of one of Paul’s greatest fears.  

Chapter Eighteen

Keylee could hear Paul’s heart thudding, the sound like a bass drum, its beat far too rapid. Pulling in close, Keylee knew the tightened arms around his body weren’t meant for his comfort, but his User’s. Paul was still shaking; in point of fact, the trembling had only gotten worse the higher the elevator climbed.  

Tucking his fingers underneath his tinted glasses, Keylee wiped at the drying tears streaking down his cheeks.  The flash of that damn camera had stung.  No, that was putting it too mildly.  The bright, white-hot light had seared his eyes and shot a lightening bolt of pain into his brain.  The intense light of Paul’s fire hadn’t done his already stinging eyes any further favors. He’d tried reassuring Paul that his damaged eyes wouldn’t be a detriment, that he was still more than capable of being a damn good Facilitator, but Keylee was beginning to doubt the truth of those promised words.  

As the elevator dinged and he and Paul stepped into the hall leading to their condo, Keylee knew now wasn’t the time to worry about his eyes.  No, it wasn’t him in need of reassurance, but Paul.  The very fact Paul was still gripping him tight while attempting to disarm their alarm system and unlock the door was testament enough. 

Somehow Paul managed to get them inside, immediately slamming the door and resetting the alarm. “Stay here,” Paul ordered, before slamming his lips onto Keylee’s parted ones, the kiss surprising in both its action and desperation.  

Paul’s lips pulled away far to quickly for Keylee’s rapid-fire pulse, his rushing blood decidedly picking a southerly direction.  “Paul, I – “ Keylee’s words evaporated, his hands outstretched, holding nothing but air as Paul released him, storming further into the condo, his body tight, muscles clenched and voice silent.  Standing there, leaning against the door blocking out the rest of the world, Keylee leaned back, his tingling lips pulled down and face puzzled as he heard rather than saw Paul go from room to room.  In the background of the otherwise silent condo, Keylee could hear doors opening and closing, Paul’s footsteps louder and softer depending upon where he was.  Curious, it suddenly dawned on Keylee what his User was doing.  

Ignoring Paul’s earlier order,Keylee pushed away from the door, following the sounds of yet another door opening and closing, finally locating his objective in the bathroom attached to Paul’s bedroom.  Leaning against the doorframe, Keylee cocked his head to the side before finally offering, “I don’t think someone can fit under the sink.”

Paul’s head snapped up, his normally tanned skin more ashen than normal.  Amusement turning into concern, Keylee straightened, a single foot stepping forward as he questioned, “Paul – “

“I thought I told you to stay put.”

Briefly stunned by the harsh reprimand, Keylee’s lips silently moved, the blood so previously venturing toward warmer climes quickly flushing back on a northerly route.  “Excuse me?” Keylee’d meant it to come out harsher and full of all the indignation he felt entitled to, but instead he’d more asked a question, the words and tone Paul was now using with him such a change from the way he’d been just a few short moments ago.  

Evidently ignoring the question, Paul stood from his crouched position in front of the sink, pulling his cell phone and hitting a couple of buttons while striding past Keylee’s position holding up the doorframe.  Blinking at the apparent brush off, Keylee stood there, not even sparing the barest effort to hide his confusion.  

Keylee was staring at Paul’s back, his User’s shoulders tense and muscles pulling at the fabric of his designer shirt when he heard Paul bark into his phone, “What kind of fuck-ups are we hiring?”

Instinctively Keylee pulled his arms up, wrapping them around his slender frame as he watched Paul pace and rant, his User occasionally using his free hand to pull at the short lengths of his hair.  

“I don’t give a shit what his resume said or what A-list, dipshit actress he headed up security for, I want his ass fired and if you won’t then I will.”  

From his vantage point, Keylee could just make out Paul’s fingers, knuckles white as they gripped the phone tighter.  Keylee didn’t need to see or hear Paul to realize his burgeoning rage. He could feel it.  Paul’s chakra was near boiling and only getting hotter and more volatile.  It was an odd thing to realize Paul had more control down in the basement than he did now. Only three weeks since being introduced to the Stein Caste and Keylee already understood that few could send Paul into this type of uncontrolled chaos like his father, Evan.  It was more than a minor miracle the Stein Compound was still standing.  Had Paul continued living there after his gifts had time to fully mature, and intensify, Keylee seriously doubted that statement would have held true much longer. 

 “He got close enough to touch him!  Touch him!  Do you even fucking realize – “

Keylee’s ears picked up the raised, angered tones of Evan’s voice and he struggled not to flinch.  As far as he could see, Paul wasn’t even affected.  

“I don’t give a shit.  It’s unacceptable.  You said they were the best, you assured me – “

More angered tones reached Keylee’s ears.  He couldn’t hear the words themselves but it was enough to understand Evan wasn’t backing down, not that he’d expected him to.

“I know he was just a photographer.  That’s all it was this time, but what about next time?  And you and I both know damn well there will be a next time.”

The tempest of chakra Keylee’d been silently calming, eased.  Whatever Evan said actually seemed to have some type of calming effect.  But the slumped shoulders and hung head Paul was now sporting spoke to something more – defeat.  

“He wouldn’t do well there.  You and I both know that.  I don’t want him subjected to that kind of – “

Keylee watched Paul’s body pull in on itself even more, the previously wild and furious chakra quieting into something far worse than it had been, something lifeless.  Within an instant the anger he’d been feeling toward Paul faded, worry taking its place. 

 “I understand,” Paul’s voice was quiet, little more than whisper, “I’ll think about it.” 

Unfolding his arms, Keylee let his hands hang by his sides while taking a step away from the doorframe he’d been calling home.  Just a few short feet away Paul stood similarly, or at least one of his hands was dangling at his side, fingers loosening and re-gripping his cellphone.  The other hand was out of Keylee’s view, but from what little he could see, he thought that one was now cradling Paul’s face.  

Although he was still angry about before, Keylee shelved that emotion for the time being and simply questioned, “Paul?”  He’d learned over these past few weeks that often times simply saying his User’s name was the most effective way to get Paul to open up to him.  

 “That will be the last mistake Jason makes for our family.”

In so many ways that was not the answer Keylee was looking for.  He wasn’t arguing that security had slipped up, but was it really worth firing someone over?  “I don’t know that he should loose his job, he – “

Paul spun, his hazel eyes wide and disturbingly uncertain.  “We can’t afford one, not a single damned screw up.  And before you say it, I know it was just a god be damned camera.  That’s all it was today, but tomorrow it may be something so much worse.  Christ, Keylee,” Paul threw his phone onto the nearby bed, the palms of both hands now furiously scrubbing over the short hairs on his head, those dirty blond strands forced into oddly incongruous angles. “Why am I the only one who understands the magnitude of what could have happened?”

“But what could have, didn’t.”

“No,” Paul shook his head, “it didn’t, but that doesn’t lesson the implications.”  Moving closer, Paul grabbed Keylee by the shoulders, his fingers tight but not painful. “I already said it, but I’ll say it again and again – not one, not a single person we don’t know, don’t trust, or doesn’t have a given reason for being near you.  I can’t take that risk.  You are too damn important.”

Something in Keylee eased.  He’d known this was the issue, the heart of Paul’s over the top response.  His User had been scared, down to the tips of his toes and the arch of his ears.  They’d covered this ground before.  Beyond Helen and maybe his father, Paul wasn’t used to worrying about anyone else, let alone fearing for their safety.  Armed with that knowledge, Keylee tempered his response.  “You don’t think I feel the same way?”

Paul released his hold and Keylee immediately missed the contact.  “I imagine so, but it wasn’t me they were after today.  It was you. Most likely it will always be you.” At the last, Paul sat heavily upon the bed, the memory foam mattress barely uttering a whisper of protest.   

“But you’re the Stein,” Keylee protested, not understanding why he was automatically assumed to be the standing target.  

“And they’ve been taking pictures of me since I was born.  All of America, hell, probably all of the world, knows what I look like.  Despite my father’s efforts, I’ve been caught in a couple of compromisingsituations, with my pants down around my ankles and tumbling from yet another nameless motel room – not nearly as many alcohol induced as my father led the press to think.  But you . . . “ Paul turned his gaze up, staring into Keylee’s darkened lenses, “you’re new.  You’re important.  You’re a curiosity and the press are like cats, they pounce on bright, shiny objects and often stick their noses where they don’t belong.”

Deciding to follow, Keylee sat down beside Paul, barely an inch between their thighs, but that inch felt more like a mile.  “Not all the press is bad,” Keylee defended.  They’re had been plenty of times where investigative journalism had done far more good for the world than bad.  

“I won’t argue.  Unfortunately the press the Stein’s garner isn’t that same ilk.  Probably a good idea not to even compare the two.  We’re more like celebrity gossip and right now you’re a juicy piece of steak.” Sighing, Paul leaned into his hands, elbows on knees as he cradled his face.  “But it’s not the press I’m really worried about.  They’re intrusive, but not normally dangerous, at least not physically.  But we can’t let our guard down around them either.  Pretending to be a photographer out for a quick picture and juicy story would be the perfect mask for someone with far worse intentions.”

Keylee sat up a straighter, his skin a little colder and clammier than a few short minutes ago. “You think someone would impersonate a photographer?”

“I think crazy people do crazy shit and that would be one of the easiest ways to wiggle their way near enough to do serious damage.”

Keylee’s mind traveled back to the crazypeople he’d met in his life, but figured they weren’t so much crazy as cruel.  He didn’t speak of it, could barely force himself to remember, the few times he’d been duped by the sheer cleverness and cruelty of others. It was one of the reasons he found it so difficult to trust.  He’d been fooled one too many times.  

Pushing his uncomfortable past back where it belonged, Keylee leaned back, lying on the bed, knees bent over the edge and feet dangling off the floor.  Staring up at the darkened ceiling, Keylee finally removed his glasses, tossing them somewhere on the bed. The soft thud of them landing on the floor lett him know his aim hadn’t been as good as he’d hoped.  Too comfortable to get up, Keylee simply laid there, his feet kicking back and forth ever so softly.  For most people, it was common, almost an instinct, to turn on the lights as soon as they got home.  Paul hadn’t done that, not today.  Not since bringing Keylee home. Blushing at the thought, Keylee felt his body warm, a gentle, pleasant heat.  Attempting to stave off the consequences of those warm and fuzzy thoughts, Keylee picked a name from his brain he knew would throw some cool water on the fire Paul’s thoughtfulness conjured.  “So, is Evan going to fire Jason then?”

“Most likely.”  Paul joined Keylee, their heads tilted towards one another as each stared upward, unknowingly warming his Facilitator even more. “Currently he’s gathering the facts.”

Keylee didn’t miss the sarcasm lacing Paul’s voice.  “What does that mean?”

“It could mean anything. He could be doing just that or simply putting me off.  Most likely I’ll never know.  I’d say it could be true in this case.  He was plenty pissed, but isn’t jumping to conclusions just yet.  He . . . “

“He what?”

“He did have a suggestion.”

There was more than a hint of hesitancy making Keylee wonder if they were finally going to get into what Evan had said towards the end of their conversation – what Paul’s father had said to make his son look so damned defeated.  “And that was?”

Paul sighed, a long and mournful sound.  “He said it would be far safer for you if we both moved into the Stein Compound and . . . I hate to say it, but I think he might actually be right about this one. Fuck, I don’t know.”

Keylee was silent.  While it was true he’d never stepped foot onto the fabled Stein family stomping grounds, he hadn’t been overly moved to attempt such a feet.  And that wasn’t just his observations.  Given the fact Paul had been literally chomping at the bit to leave, and Helen hadn’t stayed there when she’d been in town . . . well, those two little facts gave a Facilitator pause.  

Swallowing against the bile suddenly rising in his throat, Keylee knew this wasn’t just a matter of what he or Paul might want.  It sure as hell wasn’t a perfect world and the glasses Keylee was forced to wear were nowhere near rose tinted.  He had to take Paul’s concerns into consideration.  His User had tried keeping them free of Stein rule, but maybe that simply wasn’t possible.  At least not at the moment.  It was in Keylee’s nature as a Facilitator to try and ease his User’s tension and this was no different.  “If we did, it probably wouldn’t be for very long.  When you pass your User exam tomorrow, the Department will assign us somewhere.  We’re not teacher material so being posted locally is probably out of the question. If you think I’d be safer, if it would make you feel better . . . ” Keylee’s voice trailed off, unable to say more.

Paul’s grunt was nearly answer enough.  “I think saying I’d feel better moving back in with my father would be inaccurate, but . . . but it would ease some of my concerns.  I can only remember one incident where someone actually got through my father’s defenses.”

 “When was that?”  Keylee was genuinely curious.

“I was nine.  I remember because it was Helen’s sixteenth birthday.  Helen’s always been pretty even keeled, even when we were children, but not that day.  Helen knew she was getting a car and she couldn’t wait.  At the time I thought she was just excited about getting something so damn big and expensive.  In retrospect, I think it was more what it represented.”

 “And what was that?”

“Freedom.  Or, at least the promise of impending freedom.”  Keylee felt the sheets next to him shift as Paul shrugged his shoulders. “It was still a few years before she was allowed to drive off Stein grounds, and just like me, she always had a security tail, although unlike me, Helen seemed to have a knack for losing them.” Paul chuckled fondly. “It used to piss my father off and a lot of people lost their jobs over it.  When Helen realized our father was actually firing people, she suddenly became far more compliant.”

Keylee smiled into the darkness.  “That sounds like her.”

“Yeah.”  The word was wistful.  “I’ve been sitting here, wondering what Helen would do in this situation.”

Keylee understood Paul loved his sister, but hated the way he constantly compared himself to her, as if she were the pinnacle of a Stein bar he’d never measure up to.  “I think you’re doing just fine.”

 Again, Paul grunted.  “That’s debatable.”

“No, it’s not.  You’ve been so concentrated on this photographer and how he got through security that you haven’t even realized the really important part of what went down in the garage.”

 Paul’s head turned, his cheek resting on the sheets as he stared disbelievingly at Keylee.  “What are you talking about?  You’re what’s the most important – “

“I’m not talking about me,” Keylee hid the shudder racking his body, the feel of Paul’s warm breath on his ear tickling his skin.  “Think about you for a minute, what youdid.”

“What I did?  I damn near turned that kid into ash is what I did.”  Paul huffed, sending another potent puff of air onto Keylee’s skin. “And when I didn’t do that, it was all I could do not to bash the little fucker’s face in.”

Keylee shook his head before turning it to face Paul, his User’s hazel eyes darker in the poor lighting, but still heartbreakingly beautiful.  “But you didn’t do either.  The worst that photographer walked away with was a harsh sunburn and a burnt out SIM card.  Don’t you get it, Paul?  Even when you were frightened and mad as hell, you still had control.  WE had control.  You set up a protective ring of fire around me and then when you’d had time to calm, you extinguished it.  Just like that.”  Keylee snapped his fingers at the end.  “I’m still not sure how you did that so quickly.”  And that was true.  The more Keylee thought about it, the odder it seemed.  Paul had never been able to extinguish his fire as quickly as he had in the condo’s garage.  

Beside him, Paul blinked.  “I . . . I’m not entirely sure.  I heard your voice, registered the fact that the light from the flames were hurting you, and all I could think was that it needed to be extinguished – immediately.” 

“Hmmm . . . maybe we can ask Max.”

“Maybe.  He might know or it may be something we need to ask another fire User.”

“Or wind,” Keylee mused, not realizing he’d spoken aloud.

“Wind?”

Keylee nodded before shifting his head, his eyes focused on the ceiling once more.  “Your wind feeds your flame, but the opposite can be true.  You control wind – air, and what’s in air?”

“Oxygen.”

Keylee nodded.  “And if you take away the oxygen – “

“You starve the flame.”

 “Exactly.”

 “I’ll be damned.  If that’s what I did, it wasn’t conscious.”

 “That’s okay.  We can work on it.”

 “We don’t have time.  Our User exam’s tomorrow.”

“It’ll be fine.  Tomorrow’s not about you knowing everything, only showing that you’ve got control, which you do.  Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

The answering silence made Keylee turn his head, Paul’s eyes no longer staring at him but the emptiness above.  Without thought, Keylee shifted his body, turning so he was snugged up against Paul’s side, one arm draped over his User’s broad chest.  “Tell me what’s on your mind.  Please.”

Paul’s fingers wound their way into Keylee’s thick hair, their tips massaging against his scalp.  “What I’m thinking . . . that’s a far more loaded question than you think it is, Keylee.”

“Maybe, but I’d still like to know.”

Situated as he was, Paul’s ensuing sigh raised Keylee’s arm, the expansion of Paul’s chest lifting the limb as it if weighed nothing.  Compared to whatever mental strain Paul seemed to be under, Keylee doubted the physical weight of his flesh was what was really sitting on Paul’s chest.  

“All right, but remember, you asked for it.”

“I take full responsibility.”  Even if the lights had been on, given Keylee’s position, Paul wouldn’t have been able to see the tiny grin lifting his lips.

“All my life, I’ve hated my father.  No.  That isn’t true.  When I was younger, I worshiped him.  Evan Stein – both physically and verbally imposing, self assured and powerful. When I was a child, I thought my father could solve anything.  He was Superman, albeit a very twisted version of him.  But then I grew up, and my worship turned into distrust, anger and bitter resentment.  I was seventeen when I realized no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, I would never be able to live up to his expectations . . . I went on a three day bender.  I couldn’t legally buy alcohol, but legalities have never been an issue for a Stein.  Those three days are a fog of alcohol, sex and misery.  I’m still not sure how I walked away without an STD or a stint in the local hospital.  But either way, I was changed afterward.  I’d always been so damn afraid of disappointing my father, and all of a sudden I realized something important – Evan Stein was alwaysdisappointed in me.  It was almost like a full time state of mind for him.  And just like that, I decided if it was such an impossible feet, why try?”

Tightening down his hold, Keylee listened.  Somewhere in the back of his head, he figured there were words he was supposed to be say, something placating and reassuring, but for the life of him he couldn’t think of any.  And so Keylee settled on the default setting of his life, he said nothing.  

“I knew something was wrong with my gifts.  Honestly I think my father did too, although neither one of us wanted to admit it, and in his defense, he didn’t know the extent of just how wrong things were.”

Here Keylee couldn’t stay silent.  “They weren’t wrong – “

“I understand what you’re saying, really I do, but by Stein standards they were and that’s all I had to go by.  The day of my User exam all I could think about was getting through it without anyone finding out.  I didn’t think past that point, probably couldn’t.  I never considered I might hurt someone else.  I don’t even think I considered just how badly I could hurt myself. Those things simply didn’t exist in my brain, at least not then.  It was my last chance to prove myself worthy of my father.  And I failed.  Miserably.”

Once more, Keylee found words escaping his grasp and instead of his voice, he used his body to show his care.  Shifting a little more, he lifted a leg up and over Paul’s, wrapping his User within a warm cocoon of flesh.  

“And then came you – completely unexpected and unwanted.  When Helen told me what happened, that I needed a Facilitator, I stupidly wished you’d just let me die that day.  I was so very ashamed, and now my shame comes from that initial feeling.  It is amazing and stupid scary how tightly you’ve entrenched yourself inside me.  My emotions fluctuate so damn much within a single hour.  One minute I can’t imagine living without you, thanking the Fates or whoever is responsible for us, and the next . . . I’m scared shitless.  I’m scared of something happening to you, of hurting you, of somehow loosing you or someone telling me this isn’t real, that you’re not mine and they’re taking you away.  But most of all, I’m scared of disappointing you.  It’s funny.  I couldn’t care less what my father thinks of me now.  He still pisses me off on a regular basis, but it’s not the same as it once was.  You’ve changed all that.  You believe in me, have so much faith, something I haven’t had in years, and I’m afraid of letting you down.”

“Never,” Keylee emphatically answered while pushing himself up off the bed to lie completely upon Paul’s body.  Paul might have been a little firmer than the mattress, but Keylee doubted his flesh was any less comfortable.  Head on Paul’s chest, Keylee nuzzled in deeper.  “You may irritate me sometimes, just as I’m sure I do you, and I doubt we’ll never have another fight, but never think that means I’m disappointed in you, not in the way you’re thinking.  I’m over the moon the Fates gave you to me.  Even if it were a choice, I wouldn’t give you back. They’d have to kill me before I’d let anyone take you from me.”

 “Don’t say that, not even lightly, especially after what just happened.”

Keylee couldn’t stand the fear in Paul’s voice.  “You seem to think I’ll be easy to kill, Paul.  I assure you, I won’t.  I will always do whatever I can, whatever it takes, to get back to you. I’ll kick, scream, claw and murder my way out of whatever has me.  I’m tougher than I look.”

Paul’s gentle chuckle shook Keylee’s whole body.  “Of that, I no longer have a doubt.  That still doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect you with every fiber of my being.”

“And it doesn’t mean I don’t want you to do that either.  What it does mean is that shit happens.  Despite our best efforts, threats still get through.  It’s going to happen and we will make it through.”

“Fuck I like your confidence.”

Keylee’d never really thought of himself as a confident person.  Most likely it was simply another default mode. Besides Mathis, he’d never really had anyone to rely on but himself.  Maybe self-confidence was something that simply followed suit naturally.  But this wasn’t just confidence in himself, but Paul too.  “Stop worrying about tomorrow.  What will happen will happen.  Even if we fail spectacularly, which I don’t for a second believe, we’ll figure it out and be okay.  I’m not going anywhere.  I’ve waited too damn long for you, for this, to give up on it.”  Keylee regretted threatening to leave a few weeks ago.  He’d let his fear get the better of him and vowed never to let it happen again.  

“Well, I guess if tomorrow turns to shit, we can always go on the celebrity interview circuit.  Hell, maybe we can sue my father just like Clara’s doing.  We can always claim faulty genetics is to blame for the way I am.”

Without thinking, Keylee slapped Paul on his chest, the resounding laughter jiggling his body and sending the warmth he’d been experiencing earlier flashing like lightening through his veins, the blood in his body speeding toward his thickening cock.  

Hissing at the friction Paul’s quaking laugh was eliciting, Keylee twisted his hips, rubbing his hardening cock against Paul’s thigh.  Soon enough his hiss turned into a low moan of pleasure. 

Chapter Nineteen

Everything in Paul’s body froze, his muscles seizing while his mind blanked. He’d felt Keylee’s growing erection, his own semi-hardness waking in answer.  But it was the moan Keylee let slip that well and truly fried all Paul’s mental circuits.  Of course he’d heard similar sounds of passion before, but nothing that truly genuine, nothing that sounded so damned honest.  

Body still, the palm of Paul’s hand clamped down tightly upon Keylee’s head. Lying there, Paul’s mind was a whirlwind of battling thoughts and desires. Everything in him wanted to roll over, strip Keylee until there was nothing but flesh against flesh, before burying himself to the root inside the man who’d become everything and more to him.  He shared his chakra with Keylee, felt his Facilitator down to his very soul, and yet somehow, someway, it wasn’t enough.  How that could be, Paul didn’t have a fucking clue, yet it was true non-the less.  He’d been fighting the attraction, the need, too afraid of making Keylee feel like another conquest.  No, that wasn’t entirely true.  Keylee wasn’t a conquest.  But Keylee had given so much of himself up for Paul, given everything he had, was it really fair to ask for this too?  Did he have the right to expect so much?  

“Paul?”

Eyes squeezing shut, Paul shrank at the unsure sound echoing through Keylee’s voice, the slivers of unease and shades of embarrassment coloring the sound of his name.  And despite that, Paul still lay there, frozen to the sheets beneath him.  

“Paul, I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have assumed . . . “ Keylee’s voice faded at the end, a choking sound of regret before he began shifting within Paul’s arms, attempting to move by pulling his leg away.

Paul wasn’t sure what actually triggered his release from indecision paralysis.  Normally Keylee’s voice would have been enough, the sound of his name dripping from those tantalizing lips.  But not this time.  The cool feel of air where Keylee’s body should have been most likely finally woke Paul. 

Sucking in a harsh breath, Paul reached out, the move more frantic than suave, before rolling them both, pinning Keylee beneath his larger frame, a whoosh of uncontrolled air whispering past his ear just the beginning of his reward. 

“Paul?”

Ahhh, Paul thought, that’s so much better.  The sound of his name, the unease and embarrassment gone, anticipation with hints of excitement taking their welcome place.  

 Pushing up onto his elbows, Paul lifted his chest off Keylee, but left his hips pressing down, letting his Facilitator know he wasn’t the only one feeling their connection.  In the darkened room, Paul could still make out Keylee’s Caribbean blue eyes, faded streaks of magenta radiating outwards from his blown pupils like finely cracked ice. While he hated the reason for them, as well as the pain they caused, Paul wouldn’t even try to deny their unique beauty.  

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.”  The words slipped through Paul’s lips, verbal assent to all the feelings welling up within him.  “How in the hell has everyone missed this about you?”

Paul saw something shift within Keylee’s eyes, something dark he couldn’t interpret and knew needed explanation, most likely something from Keylee’s past that would send Paul into an uncontrolled rage.  

“I think my last name was ugly enough to deter most,” Keylee finally answer.

“Idiots.”  Paul mentally added another topic to the growing list he’d been tallying where his Facilitator was concerned.  Ever so slowly, Keylee was opening up to him, and he could only hope one day he’d be found trustworthy enough to share those dark secrets burdening Keylee’s soul. Paul prayed when that day came he’d have enough self control not to burn every one of Keylee’s human nightmares to ash. 

Staring down on Keylee’s face, Paul watched his Facilitator’s eyes shift, unable to stare him directly in the eye, Keylee’s bottom lip sucked between a set of worried teeth.  “We don’t . . . I mean, if you don’t want to . . . with me, I mean.  I know you kind of have your pick when it comes to, well . . . you know, when it comes to this kind of thing.”  Keylee blew out a heavy breath.  “It’s not like I’d probably be very good at it anyway.”

Keylee’s uncertainty made Paul’s chest ache.  “Anything with you will be better than everything I’ve had with anyone else, Keylee.  Fuck,” Paul mentally and verbally cursed, “I’m embarrassed to say I can’t even remember half the names of the people I’ve been with.  They were just nameless, faceless holes, an idiotic and completely ineffectual way of feeling wanted and needed.”

Keylee’s throat bopped as he swallowed hard and Paul felt the hardness pressing against his thigh soften.  “Is that . . . is that why you always pull back?  Because you can’t just leave me?  Because I’ll still be here in the morning?”

Paul wanted to say no, wanted to reassure Keylee’s misgivings before they led them down a darker path of misunderstanding. The problem was Keylee wasn’t entirely wrong, and Paul wouldn’t cheapen what they were building together with a lie.  He’d had enough of that in his life and refused to continue living that way with the one being in the whole world created just for him.  And so, with great effort, Paul answered a short, “In part.”

“Oh.”  Such a simple word, laced with more disappointment and hurt than Paul thought he’d ever heard.  “I see.”

“No, you don’t, at least not completely, but you will.”  Shifting his arm, Paul let his fingers card through Keylee’s thick locks, his ebony hair spread out on the pristine creamy-white sheets they were sprawled upon.  “I want you to listen, Keylee – not only listen but also hear.  I’m not going to lie to you and tell you my brain’s not a jumbled, fucked up mess when it comes to you – especially when it comes to you, me and sex.  But it’s not for the reasons you probably think.  Everything in me wants to be buried inside you, to feel your warmth around my cock and hear your voice begging me for more, begging me to pound into you, begging me for me.  I know that sounds narcissistic, but I get so damn hard thinking of you wanting me and only me.  I’m so God damn possessive of you it hurts, but that goes both ways.”

Paul could feel Keylee’s length firming under his thigh and ground down ever so slightly, relishing the gasp of breath and parted lips his actions elicited. “I love how responsive you are to me, and more than that, I love the fact that I know, deep down in my soul, that I’m the only one that’ll hear those breathy little moans of yours.  But as much as I love that, it’s also a big responsibility.  You’ve given me so damn much, Keylee.  In every way possible, you’ve saved my life.  You know how scared I am of hurting you, but that doesn’t just mean as your User.”

Keylee’s head tilted to the side, his eyes curious as he asked, “You’re afraid you’ll hurt me when we have sex?”  Paul watched Keylee’s cheeks flush and knew with better lighting they’d be an interesting shade of pink.  “I know it’ll hurt some.  I mean, from what I’ve heard and read.  Especially the first time.”

 “Oh, baby,” Paul smiled, the look more fond than lustful, “I know it’ll hurt some and I’ll do my best to prep you enough so it’ll be more pleasurable than painful, but that’s not the type of hurt I’m talking about here.”

Keylee’s heavily lashed lids blinked once, then twice before he finally answered, “I don’t understand.

Leaning his weight onto one arm, Paul raised the other and placed the palm of his hand over Keylee’s fluttering heart.  “Here, Keylee, I don’t want to hurt you here.  I have a really bad feeling this has been damaged enough already, and I don’t want to break it anymore.”

In the dark of the room, Keylee’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, his voice caught in silence.  

“This is too precious to risk.”  Paul added, the palm of his hand pushing down a little harder over Keylee’s heart.  

“You-“ Keylee’s voice sounded rough, almost choked, “you mean to say that I won’t be the only one, that you’ll still want to do this with other people?”

Paul jerked back as if physically slapped.  “No.  God, no.” Head shaking, Paul leaned down, pressing his forehead against Keylee’s.  “I’ll admit that at first I was afraid of that, but I realized a couple of weeks ago that you’re it, even if you never wanted to pursue this side of our bond.” Paul let loose a mirthless chuckle. “I would have gotten pretty damn friendly with my right hand, although in my mind, it would have always been you touching me.”

Keylee looked relieved but confused.  “Then what’s the problem?”  Lifting his hips from the bed, Keylee pressed his hardness into the meaty flesh of Paul’s thigh.  “Obviously, I want this.  Maybe not all of it, at least not tonight, but I want you, and – “ Wiggling a hand in between them, Keylee palmed the growing thickness behind Paul’s increasingly tight dress pants, “obviously you do to.”

“Fuck,” Paul didn’t think he’d said that word so much in such a short amount of time in his life.  Head spinning, blood pounding not only through his brain, but somewhere further south, Paul felt his chakra stir – a pleasant warmth filling every cell, every atom, every single bit of his essence.  Mind fuzzy, it took Paul a minute to register Keylee’s words, and for the life of him, he couldn’t come up with an answer.  What was his problem?  Keylee wanted this, wanted him.  Yes, he’d be taking from him, but he’d also be giving too.  While it was true he’d used the people he’d fucked, Paul was also certain he’d reciprocated.  To his knowledge, he’d never had a lover leave unsatisfied, and if he could do that with someone he couldn’t care less about, then it stood to reason he’d be even better with someone he loved.  

 “Paul.”

Shit.  Paul’s brain could barely function.  He’d never heard Keylee say his name like that, so filled with lust and want.  He’d have to make sure no one ever heard his Facilitator’s voice like that.  Pressing down into Keylee’s working palm, Paul grunted something incoherent, Keylee’s repeated whispered words of, “What’s the problem?” finally spurring him into motion.  

“None I can think of.”  Finally, Paul’s brain caught up with his body, both in one hundred percent agreement for the first time in what felt like forever.  The floodgates now open, Paul closed the little distance between them, slamming his mouth onto Keylee’s.  Their mingled, desperate sounds echoed throughout the otherwise empty space around them.  

Paul couldn’t think, didn’t want to think.  His father used to say that not thinking before he acted was one of Paul’s greatest weaknesses, but where Keylee was concerned, it was his continued thoughts that stood in his way.  Letting those worries go was one of the most freeing experiences Paul could remember. Thankfully Keylee appeared to be just as eager, opening his mouth and allowing Paul’s near vicious attack.  

Thrusting his tongue into Keylee’s mouth, Paul relished the taste, the warmth and the feeling of finally finding home.  Nothing in the world had ever felt so damn right.  Pulling away just long enough to allow each of them a breath, Paul dived right back in, all the while his hands were busy unzipping and pushing Keylee’s pants and boxer-briefs down, just enough to expose his throbbing cock. Something in the back of Paul’s mind gratefully clicked when he realized Keylee had been just as busy as him and they were both blessedly exposed, nothing but flesh against flesh as Keylee began frantically humping up against Paul’s leg.  Shifting lower to align them, Paul swallowed Keylee’s groan when their pulsing cocks finally rubbed up against each other.  Their leaking slits creating enough lubrication to make the experience more pleasurable than painful.  

_______________________________________________________________________________

Keylee couldn’t believe the unmitigated pleasure slipping into his veins, throbbing in his very core.  He’d never been this close to anyone, this intimate and exposed.  Although he’d had vague dreams of what desired sexual contact would be like, he never imagined it could be like this, and right now, all they were doing was rubbing off against one another.  

Paul kept saying Keylee’d gotten the raw end of the deal winding up as his Facilitator, but as far as Keylee was concerned, Paul couldn’t be more wrong. It wasn’t easy, but little in Keylee’s life had been, and no matter what the difficulties, Paul was worth it – more than worth it.  For all Paul’s worries and concerns, what his User failed to realize was that the very fact he was worried was what pulled Keylee in, what snared his heart and filled the aching emptiness deep inside him.  Maybe he was being too simple, maybe Keylee’s past and overall neglect made him too easily pleased the moment someone showed the smallest inclination of caring.  Keylee didn’t think so, and in the end doubted it mattered one way or the other. His feelings were what they were, so to speak, and he didn’t want to doubt them.  Not now, not ever. 

A twist of Paul’s hips had Keylee tilting his head, back arched off the bed and desperate with need.  “Keylee,” Paul’s breathless whisper floated across Keylee’s neck a moment before teeth and tongue nipped his exposed flesh.  Sucking in harsh, short gasps of breath, Keylee keened something completely unintelligible, words long gone and impossible to form.  

“So damn beautiful.”  Paul’s words floated over and through Keylee’s consciousness, only adding to the ecstasy of heated flesh.  “Want to feel you more.

Keylee’s body almost flew off the bed when he felt Paul’s fingers take both of them in hand, squeezing and stroking in a way that had Keylee’s body ready to ignite.  It wasn’t just his flesh on fire, but his chakra pathways as well.  Paul’s internal fire wasn’t painful, not to Keylee. Instead it was a warm, pulsing pleasure adding fuel to the scorching desire Paul was so expertly pulling from him. 

“Gonna make you come.  Gonna make you scream my name.”

God, please, please, please, please . . . it was a begging mantra ringing through Keylee’s mind, the words themselves stuck somewhere deep in his throat.  Suddenly Paul’s strokes sped up, his hand twisting and tugging with a knowing assurance Keylee didn’t want to question, and with a final tug and twist, Keylee let go, an explosion of quaking need violently forcing its way not only from his cock, but through his overfilled chakra pathways.  

“P-Paul!”  His User’s name stuttered past his gasping mouth, pulled taught with an almost silent scream of release.  The answering grunt and warmth splashing across his belly and neck let Keylee know he wasn’t alone.  

Panting, heart racing and body settling down into something languorous, Keylee only now realized the death grip he had upon Paul’s shoulders.  No doubt his User would have bruises come the morning.  A fact Keylee found far too satisfying.  

Releasing his grip, Keylee began running his hands up and down Paul’s arms, muscles pulling taught and relaxing as his fingers brushed across sweat soaked skin.  “Paul?”

“Fuck, I love the way you say my name,” Paul answered before rolling over, pulling Keylee with him, settling Keylee across his abdomen.  “One of these day’s you’re gonna make me come just from saying my name, and that will be all kinds of embarrassing.”

The jovial, happy cadence of Paul’s joking voice eased something inside Keylee he didn’t even know was tense.  This evening was full of firsts – his first wanted sexual experience followed by his first afterglow.  It had been obvious Paul wanted him, but a part of Keylee had been afraid of the after – the part Paul admittedly had issues with.  

Needing an extra bit of reassurance, Keylee asked, “Are you okay?  Do you want me to leave?”

In answer, Paul squeezed his arms tighter, grinding cooling cum deeper into their already sticky bodies.   “You think I’d let you go now?  You should be scared shitless by just how not willing I am to let you leave.”

Keylee found that statement elicited quite the opposite emotion.  “I’m not scared of you wanting me.”

Paul let loose a grunt Keylee couldn’t interpret.  “That ain’t the problem and never will be.  How about you?  You doing okay?”

Splayed out across Paul’s body, chin resting on Paul’s still heaving chest, Keylee thought he’d never been better in all his life and said just as much.  “I’m good.”

“Just good?” Paul asked with a quirked eyebrow.  “I know we didn’t go all the way, but if that was just goodthen I obviously need to up my game.”

Keylee wanted to laugh and found himself doing exactly that.  There’d been enough teasing in Paul’s voice to let him know his User wasn’t really serious.  “It was great.  The best I’ve ever had and looking forward to more in the future.”

“Best news I’ve heard all day,” Paul gave another grunt, his hands easing up and down Keylee’s back, shifting ever lower until those large paws were squeezing his taught ass cheeks.  “We’ll get to this sexy bit later.  You were right earlier, your first time’s probably gonna hurt some, but most likely it’ll hurt more the day after.  Tomorrow’s – “

“Too important for either of us to be distracted,” Keylee finished, completely understanding and more than happy Paul had taken this into consideration.

“I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable and self-conscious tomorrow, but make no mistake, I want in here ASAP.”  

Keylee felt the pad of one of Paul’s fingers slip between his cheeks, tapping his hole and making Keylee’s dick twinge with renewed life.  Sucking in a breath, Keylee felt his body arch back in response, pressing against that finger and wishing they had at least one day between now and their coming exam.

“Shit,” Paul groaned, “you keep doing that and you’re gonna tempt me into changing my mind.”

 “Then you shouldn’t have put your finger there,” Keylee argued back.

 “True, but how could I not?”

Laughter bubbled out of Keylee’s mouth at the ridiculousness of that statement, his happiness fading into a quiet kind of pleasant mirth.  “I see restraint isn’t one of your virtues.”

 “It’s sad you’re just now figuring that out.”

Keylee laughed again and wondered if this was what afterglow was always like. He’d never seen Paul so relaxed, so funny and at ease.  Keylee liked it, probably liked it a little too much to be truthful.  As a Facilitator, it was in Keylee’s very nature to do everything he could for Paul, to try and make his User’s life more pleasant, joyful and all around better.  Knowing sex did such wonders for Paul was like throwing fuel on Keylee’s need to please.  If he weren’t careful, he’d let Paul use his body any way he liked as long as his User found pleasure in it. Not that such a thought disturbed Keylee much, which in and of itself, should have disturbed him. 

Room quiet once more, Keylee reveled in Paul’s touch – fingers carding through his hair while Paul’s other hand made constant sweeping motions over his cooling flesh.  

“We should probably get cleaned up before we’re stuck together permanently.” Paul’s soft voice broke through the muffled sound of the heat kicking on.  

 “We’re already stuck together.”

Paul’s stroking fingers momentarily stopped before he answered, “True enough and I’ve never been happier, but I think we’d both feel better with a shower.”

Keylee didn’t want to agree, but knew Paul was right.  With great effort, Keylee pried himself off, the already drying semen between them sticking and pulling uncomfortably in some rather unmentionable places.  “Ugh, that’s icky.”

“Exactly my point.”  Paul swatted Keylee’s ass, making him jump and let loose an embarrassing squeal. “Nice and firm.”  Paul darkly chuckled while pulling Keylee off the bed, holding him close as they both made their way to the bathroom.  “It’s a good ass to be stuck with forever.”

Paul’s words made Keylee blush madly, the joy in his heart near the breaking point.  How in the hell had he lived all his life without this man?  Head shaking, Keylee pushed those thoughts away.  The point wasn’t how he had lived, but how he would start living.  Paul was his, now and forever, and Keylee pitied the person fool enough to try and take him away.  Paul wasn’t the only possessive one between the two of them, nor was he the only one capable of bodily harm.  Keylee hadn’t been lying to Paul when he’d told him he’d crawl, scratch and kill his way back to him.  But that also went the other way.  Keylee wouldn’t hesitate to take out whatever, or whoever, was necessary to keep Paul safe – both physically and mentally.  Maybe there was more of his father in him than he’d previously thought.

Chapter Twenty

Paul woke up in an interesting state of battling wills.  On the one hand, having recently been so satisfyingly sated, his body was languidly relaxed and yet the feel of Keylee’s warm, naked flesh against his own definitely had one part on his body far from relaxed.  Unfortunately his mind was more in tune with his cock, but the source of that stimulation was far from the same.  

“You’re tense.”  Paul’s eyes snapped open at the soft, sleepy tones of Keylee’s concerned voice.  “Are you already worried about today?”

Burying his nose in Keylee’s thick hair, Paul took a deep and calming breath.  Was he worried?  “I don’t doubt you,” Paul finally answered.

“I know you don’t. You doubt yourself.  You shouldn’t.”

Paul knew that and thought he was slowly coming to the same conclusion, but it was damn difficult to fight so many years of self-loathing.  Arms wrapped around Keylee’s waist, Paul felt his Facilitator’s hands tighten down on his own a fleeting second before Keylee’s ass pressed back into his growing erection.  A gasp of air hissed between Paul’s barely parted lips.  

“I know what will help take your mind off things.”

Paul didn’t doubt that for a second.  Pulling one of his hands free from Keylee’s grasp, Paul took his Facilitator’s thickening cock in hand, teasing lower until he was rolling Keylee’s firm balls between his fingers.  “I’m gonna want you every second of every minute of every damn day at this rate.”

“You say that like it’s a problem.”

“It will be, but not right this second.”  Hefting his body up, Paul leaned over Keylee, tugging at the bedside table’s drawer, his searching fingers finally finding the bottle he needed.  Snicking open the cap, Paul put a healthy dose of lube on his fingers, rubbing them together – warming them up.  Reaching his hand down, he just realized Keylee had stopped all movement and that everything but his cock was stiffer than before.  “Hey, you okay?”

There was a quiet pause before Keylee’s voice broke through.  “I thought you weren’t going to do that yet.  I mean . . . it’s okay if you want to, but I just thought you said – “

“I’m not putting it in here,” Paul’s slicked finger tapped against Keylee’s tight hole. “Lift your leg a little and trust me.”

The quickness with which Keylee responded made Paul’s dick pulse.  “That’s it,” Paul praised while rubbing the slick lube on the inside of Keylee’s thighs before pushing his hard flesh in between, nestling below Keylee’s balls and riding up against his Facilitators flesh.  Breathing harder, Paul wondered if there was enough air in the entire world to sate his current needs.  “Squeeze a little tighter.”  Paul’s voice was hoarse with need.  

“Like this?”

How Keylee could sound so innocent and seductive at the same time would be a conundrum Paul would probably be struggling with the entirety of his life.  “Just like that.  Now, keep them pressed tight together as I move.”

In answer Keylee simply did as told, increasing the pressure on Paul’s cock.  “Feels so fucking good.  Gonna move now.”  With one arm tightly wrapped around Keylee’s waist, Paul began rocking back and forth, using Keylee’s tightened thighs as a sheath.  With every thrust, he brushed up between Keylee’s balls and under his hardened cock.  

“Oh . . . oh . . . “

Those little pants, soft and yet so damn full of need made Paul move faster, his free hand snaking under Keylee so he could start jacking him off as well.  

Soon there were only grunts of pleasure filling their room.  Paul hadn’t been lying when he’d told Keylee he’d had a lot of sexual encounters over his brief twenty-year life span.  Paul figured his dick had been inside more flesh than he should ever freely admit to. None of them had felt even half as good as this.  Fucking was just that – fucking.  It satisfied a physical need, but only dimly touched on Paul’s emotional desires – a hollow echo of what he truly needed.  This was no echo, no dim light as to what was possible, this was the real deal.  Paul was committed in every way possible.  He’d thought his fear would override the beauty of it all, but instead he found his fear diminished, beaten by the overwhelming joy and peace that came from holding Keylee close, of experiencing something so enticingly intimate.   

“You close?” Paul didn’t think he could hold out much longer and desperately hoped Keylee felt the same.  The gush or warmth and breathless cry of, “Paul,” answered his question and sent him flying over the edge of the abyss.  

“God, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this.”  Paul moved his cum covered hand over Keylee’s tightened abs, rubbing the fluid in before dipping that same hand down to Keylee’s slickened thighs, combining with his own fluid before continuing to smear it all over Keylee’s body.  If he knew it wouldn’t be so uncomfortable, Paul would have begged Keylee to stay like that all day.  

Thankfully Keylee didn’t seem to mind, or at least his body certainly wasn’t tense.  Instead Paul reveled in the limp form he held close, Keylee’s body leaning heavily into his own.  Nuzzling into Keylee’s hair, Paul laid kisses on his head, murmuring words and phrases he was sure would have embarrassed him to death with anyone else. 

Keylee released a contented sigh.  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish we didn’t have to take the exam today. If it were just another training day, we could call Max and beg for a day off.”

Paul waited for the rush of anxiety to hit him at the mention of repeating his User exam. It never came. Every day he was beginning to wonder how on earth he’d ever survived without his Facilitator.  “Hmm,” Paul hummed against Keylee’s hair, “the sooner we get it over with, the sooner we can start our new life.  Hopefully away from here.  I think I’d like to start over somewhere new.  How about you?”

Keylee’s fingers gently traced over the back of Paul’s hand, his voice soft and somewhat distant when he answered, “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind.  As far as I know, I’ve never been out of the state of Virginia.  I think I’ve lived all my life within a fifty-mile radius of the Facilitator training grounds.  Even when I was a ward of the state, I lived about thirty minutes away, or at least I remember that’s how long it took when I moved into the Institute. It might be nice to see more of the country, or maybe even the world.  Not that it’s not beautiful here, but . . . well, I see so many places on the vid screen. Sometimes I can’t believe how big the world really is.”

Being a Stein, Paul had traveled the world, probably been around it more than ten times in his life, but doubted he’d really experienced it.  Pass or fail today, Paul made a promise to himself that he’d do everything within his power to show Keylee that big, beautiful world and had little doubt that in doing so, it would be as if he’d never set foot in a foreign country before.  Seeing everything through Keylee’s chakra tainted eyes would make it so much more real. Confident in his plans, Paul entwined his sticky fingers with Keylee’s, squeezing down tight.  “If that’s what you want, I’ll make sure it happens.”

“Not sure the Department will go along with that plan,” Keylee sighed.

“Everyone gets vacation time, not everyone takes it.  We will.”

“I’m guessing you’re talking about Helen.”

“Mmm-hmm.  My father thinks Helen works so hard because the Director believes she’s indispensible and I’m guessing that is part of it.  The other part is she’s a workaholic, or at least that’s what I always thought.”

“But not now?”

Paul took a moment, attempting to put his scrambling thoughts together.  “No, or at least not completely.”  Resting his chin on the top of Keylee’s head, Paul frowned as a sudden realization hit him.  “I think Helen’s lonely.  I think she works because she doesn’t have anything else to come home to.”  Paul could see it clearly, his body still racked with pain, his mind a mess of embarrassed disappointment knowing he’d failed so utterly as a Stein, Helen sitting beside him in that hospital room telling him how damn lucky he was.  At the time he’d thought his sister had lost her mind, or at the very least she was simply attempting to placate his battered pride.  But now that he had Keylee, now that he understood the bond between them and all that entailed . . . now he understood.  Helen hadn’t been consoling him; she hadn’t even been trying to make him feel better.  Helen, his perfect Stein sister, was jealous – jealous of him.  

“Paul?”

Keylee’s questioning voice made Paul realize he’d been quiet too long.  “Sorry, I just figured out that I’ve been a shit brother.”

“What?”  Keylee squirmed and wiggled until he turned, facing Paul.  “Helen loves you and I know you love her too.”

“Yeah,” Paul let loose a deep sigh before reaching up and cupping Keylee’s face, “and that’s why I feel like such a shit brother right now.  I should have realized Helen wasn’t happy.  Not really happy.  I really am an idiot.”

Instead of frowning, Keylee’s lips turned up in an indulgent smile.  “You know, I think you and Helen need to have a heart to heart one of these days.  It seems you’re both suffering from similar issues.”

“What do you mean?”

“I recall a similar scene to this one.”  Keylee’s face flushed a deep scarlet, something Paul could see even in the darkened room.  “Well, maybe not exactly like this.  There were probably more clothes involved and I don’t remember there being a bed . . . well, there was a bed, but you were laying in it still unconscious and . . . well, the point is, Helen was equally worried about you or more that she’d missed seeing the signs you were in trouble.  She was very disappointed and angry at herself.”  

A flare of jealousy shot through Paul’s body at the idea of Keylee naked and alone with anyone else, but that feeling was swift and fleeting.  Paul had never been as certain about anything in his life as he was Keylee’s fidelity.  Why? He didn’t know for sure, but figured if Keylee felt even a fraction for him the way he felt about his Facilitator, there would be absolutely no way he’d ever stray.  

“She was really worried about you, Paul.  I hope wherever we end up, we’ll still keep in touch with Helen.”

Given that his sister was the only other person in the world Paul gave much of a damn about, it warmed his heart knowing Keylee liked her too. For the first time in his life, knowing his sister was liked didn’t so much as make his internal green monster grumble with mild discontent.  “Of course we will.  Even if I’m a dumbass about it, Helen’s not.  I couldn’t shake her off with a stick.  Well, and then there’s you.  Sometimes I think she likes you better than me so I’d imagine you’re stuck with a second member of the Stein family.”

Keylee smiled.  “I don’t mind being stuck with your sister. Although, that’s probably as far as I’d go with the members of your family.  Maybe that’s not being fair considering I’ve only met the three of you.”

“And Clara,” Paul couldn’t keep the low growl from his voice when speaking his mother’s name.

“She’s not a Stein,” Keylee easily answered, his shoulders doing this odd kind of shrug motion as he lay on his side.  

“No.  She definitely isn’t.”  Silently Paul wondered what was going on behind the scenes of the Stein Caste machine.  He could only imagine how angry his grandmother was.  Clara was a fool.

“You know,” Keylee’s voice was soft, almost hesitant, “if we do wind up being posted somewhere else, I would want to keep in touch with Mathis.  I’m not sure if we’d be able to see him very often, I suppose it just depends on where we land.  And maybe Mathis wouldn’t even want to see me, but – “

“Are you kidding? Mathis will be on the first flight out to wherever we end up.  And you know Max will bring his grumpy, nicotine withdrawl self with him.  Both of them will still be bugging the shit out of us on a weekly, if not daily basis.”

“Does that bother you?” Paul could hear the cautious tone lingering around that question.  On the one hand, Keylee probably hoped Mathis would continue to care that much. On the other, he was worried Paul wouldn’t want them there.  

“No, not really.  The people I respect are a pretty short list and both Maxwell and Mathis are on it.  As far as I’m concerned, they’ll be welcome in our home until you tell me otherwise.”

Instead of verbally answering, Paul was gifted with soft lips, plying his mouth with gentle nips and moist tongue.  Responding in kind, Paul pulled Keylee closer, entwining their legs and pulling a groan from both their lips.  Keylee pulled away first, heavily breathing for air, arching his neck and allowing Paul better access to the tender flesh there.  

“We . . . “ Keylee sounded perfectly breathless, “we have to stop . . . getting a posting and moving away won’t be an issue if we don’t show up and pass the User exam.”

Reluctantly pulling away, Paul gave a loud and disgruntled huff.  “You shower first.  If we take one together then I make no guarantee’s.”

Paul’s insides lit up like a Christmas tree at the smile splitting Keylee’s gorgeous face.  The quick peck and whispered, “I’ll be quick,” satisfying in its simple domesticity.  

Rolling onto his back, stretched out like a starfish, Paul smiled like a loon, his eyes taking in the darkened ceiling as the sound of the shower turning on met his ears.  For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out how he’d gotten so damn lucky.  He didn’t feel like he deserved it, but he’d be damned if he wouldn’t fight tooth and nail to keep it.  

With that thought in mind, Paul hopped out of bed, going to his closet and beginning to meticulously plan his wardrobe for the day.  One of the first rules of being a Stein, clothes are armor.  Always dress to demand respect for respect breeds success and Paul was determined to make today as successful as possible.  Nothing would get in the way of him passing that exam.

______________________________________________________________________________

Back in a Stein owned car, Keylee fidgeted with the tie wound around his neck.  He’d been a little disappointed when he’d exited the shower to find the suite Mathis had purchased for him, along with a dress shirt and tie, laid out like an offering.  As far as he was concerned, Paul was the star of today’s show, just as he would be every day of their combined lives.  Facilitators were akin to wallflowers, there but hardly noticed or seen.  It wasn’t a fact that bothered him.  Truth be told, he liked being unnoticed better.  

But Paul didn’t believe that.  Cheeks flushing, Keylee thought back to Paul’s words when he’d questioned the outfit. We are equals.  Dressing you less than me indicates I believe otherwise and others should to.  No one is ever to make that mistake about you. Without waiting for an answer, Paul had simply bounced off to the shower, leaving Keylee standing there, mouth hanging open and knowing there was no way he could refuse to put that damn tie back on.  Somewhere in the back of his mind, Keylee wondered if Paul had any idea what his words had just done to him.  

“You okay in there?”

Head snapping up and to the side, Keylee blinked behind his heavy shades.  His mind had been a world away.  “Sorry?”

“Nothing to be sorry about,” Paul answered while pulling Keylee in a little tighter to his chest. “Just wondering what’s going on in that head of yours.”

The strength of Paul’s arm pulling him close was a heady pleasure Keylee indulged within.  Riding in the back of their car, Keylee reveled in his closer position.  Given his current location, a seat belt wasn’t really an option, but for the life of him Keylee couldn’t find it in himself to care.  

“Want to share with the class?”

Keylee realized he hadn’t answered Paul yet and felt his cheeks flush.  He wasn’t about to tell him what he’d been thinking earlier, how much Paul’s consideration of him truly meant.  “I guess I’m just ready to get this done and over with.”

There was a long enough pause that Keylee thought Paul probably didn’t buy his answer. Whatever his User thought, he simply responded, “You and me both.”

Those words had barely slipped through Paul’s lips before Keylee felt that familiar dip in the road indicating they were approaching the guarded gate to the Facilitator Institute. The slowing of the car and the ensuing stop and inspection of their credentials the last step before becoming ensconced within another world – a world achingly familiar and yet strangely foreign.  

Coming to another stop, the dividing window separating Keylee and Paul from the driver lowered, Mark’s calm voice asking, “Do you want me to stay, Paul?”

The smile lighting up Paul’s face pulled a similar, but smaller one from Keylee.  Mark was fast becoming his favorite driver and given the fact he’d just called Paul by his first name without hesitation, Keylee figured Mark was fast on his way to finding himself in permanent employ.  

“I’m not sure how long this whole thing will take, so you might get kind of bored, but yeah, I’d like for you to hang around.  Never know when we might need a speedy exit.”

“I’m all prepared.” Mark waved a paperback he’d evidently stashed on the passenger seat.  Paper books weren’t completely foreign to Keylee, but most people used a tablet or e-reader these days.  

“Ready?”

Glancing up, Keylee gave Paul a confident smile.  “As I’ll ever be.”

“Okay.  Let’s do this.”

Stepping out of the car, Keylee pulled the edges of his coat closer, the late Fall wind whipping against the edges of his coat and seeping into his veins.  He’d no more pulled his coat in tight when he felt the warm breath of Paul’s fire filling his chakra pathways, the banked warmth heating him like warm cocoa.  Glancing up as they walked toward Director Raina’s office, Keylee wondered if Paul was conscious of what he was doing.  Sometimes Keylee wondered if Paul’s chakra was a creature all its own. It certainly felt that way at times – as if it were a separate entity simply sharing space with a larger host. 

Lost in his musings, Keylee was caught off guard when he realized they’d actually arrived at the Director’s office door.  Neither he nor Paul had been back to this place since the day of their bonding.  

Slightly at Paul’s back, Keylee followed his User inside, only to mutter a quiet, “Omph,” when Paul suddenly stopped, his body an impenetrable wall of coiled muscle.  The quiet warmth that had been flooding his chakra pathways spiked with heat, Paul’s fire riled up and defensive but still controlled.  Unable to see beyond the wall that was Paul’s body, Keylee tried canting his head to the side only to have Paul’s arm shoot out, wrapping behind his back and pulling Keylee’s body in tight.  Muffled against Paul’s coat, Keylee let loose a mildly protested, “Paul?”

Paul tightened his hold.

“Hey, what – “

But whatever Keylee was going to say was suddenly silenced by the frozen words falling from Paul’s mouth.  “Grandmother, this is a surprise.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Paul’s body might have been frozen, but his fire burned bright, the wind fueling it churning slow and deadly.  Narrowed eyes traveling the room, Paul stared accusingly towards his father only to shutter his unsure anger when their eyes connected. In that one look, Paul knew this wasn’t his father’s doing.  In fact, if Paul had to guess, he’d say Eva’s presence was as much of shock to her son as it was her grandson.

The click and snick of Eva Stein’s heels against the tiled floor of the Director’s office echoed through the tomb like silence.  Slight of form, one would have thought the oldest woman in the room would have been seen as the weakest, yet nothing could be further from the truth. There was something that radiated from Eva Stein’s slender body, something that demanded respect and incited fear. There was power there – tightly wound, expertly controlled power.  There were echoes of Eva in Helen.  From the tightly coiffed hair (Eva’s shimmering silver to Helen’s bloody crimson) to their love of elevating shoe wear and the immaculate trimmings in between. But where Helen’s eyes were warm, Eva’s were frosty.  Where Helen inspired loyalty through genuine affection, Eva demanded it through fear. Yes, his sister had inherited much from their grandmother, but thank every deity known to man Helen had escaped the hollow core beating beneath Eva Stein’s chest.  

 “Paul.”

Only through great will did Paul shut down the instant shiver wanting to run the length of his body.  How could his name inspire such warmth and greedy need when Keylee spoke it and such animosity and cautious distance when his grandmother did?

Pulling Keylee tighter into the back of his body, Paul squared his shoulders, lifting himself to the full of his height.  Physically he towered over his grandmother, emotionally, not so much. “Grandmother.  I was not aware you were in town.”

Eva made some type of clucking noise with her tongue, her expression somehow managing to look innocent and full of familial caring.  “Where else would I be on such an . . . interesting day.”  Paul watched his grandmother’s dark eyes narrow and briefly dart towards his father.  Until that moment, Paul had never felt the slightest inkling of sympathy towards his father.  “It took an exceedingly long amount of time for the details of your . . . situation to be fully explained.”  The smile tilting Eva’s lips was miles away from her eyes.  “It appears as if you are a bit of an anomalywithin the Stein Caste, Paul.  From what I am made to understand, your gifts require the use of a Facilitator.”  At the word, Eva’s smile turned positively brittle.  “Given that none of our family have required such an individual for several generations, I admit my knowledge on the subject is perhaps a bit . . . rusty, but I am given to understand such relationships are close and the two of you are rarely separated.”

Paul wasn’t exactly sure if his grandmother was truly asking a question or not and simply stated, “That’s true.”

Eva looked genuinely perplexed.  “Then might I ask where Mr. Donavan is?”

Every instinct within Paul told him to turn around and haul Keylee’s ass out of there.  Although his experience with his grandmother had been limited over the years, Paul was rapidly coming to the conclusion that was more his father’s doing than anything else. In Evan’s own, strange way, he’d actually been trying to shelter his children, to protect them from a potential threat within their own Caste.  Before failing his User exam and it becoming evident he required a Facilitator, Paul doubted that threat was of the physical kind.  The way Evan acted, the way Paul could always remember his father acting whenever Eva’s name was mentioned, it was painfully clear Evan had at least been attempting to protect his children against something.  

Paul was just beginning to truly embrace the idea of saying to hell with the User exam, that he and Keylee would figure out some other way to make a living and stay safe when the choice was taken away from him.

“What the Hell’s the hold up?”

 Eyelids slipping closed, Paul silently cursed Max.

“Why’s Paul blocking the damn door?”  Max’s voice raised an octave.  “Christ, if I’d known I wasn’t gonna get through the door I would have stayed in bed.”

“And done what?”  Great, now Mathis was chiming in.  

“I can think of a lot of – “

Not wanting to hear what Max was going to say next, Paul finally stepped further into the room, the arm that had been holding Keylee’s body tight to his own shifting, wrapping around his Facilitator’s waist and tugging him in as close as physically possible.  The arm Keylee snaked around his waist felt good, those slender fingers digging into his side more comfort than pain.  

“About damn . . . oh.  Now I see. Hello, Eva.  Been awhile.”  The cold contempt within Max’s voice soothed Paul’s frazzled nerves.  Paul had heard barely contained contempt in people’s voices before when addressing his family, but Maxwell Haines was the first one he’d ever heard speak it so blatantly.  

“Maxwell.”  Cold, shivering distain.  “Until recently I wasn’t aware you were still alive.  Pity when the reality of a situation does not hold true to our desires.”

To Paul’s ever loving surprise, Max let loose a rumbling laugh – not exactly joyous, but not derisive either.  “Always such a pleasure dealing with a Stein, especially the head bitch of the Caste.”

The collective gasp running through the room was followed by an eerie hush. Every time he’d seen his grandmother, Eva Stein had embodied tempered elegance and poise. Paul didn’t think he’d ever seen her look so . . . still.  It wasn’t anger filling his grandmother’s veins, but pure, unadulterated rage.  

Paul wasn’t sure how much time passed – seconds, minutes . . . he didn’t know. Suddenly Eva’s body relaxed, only her eyes retaining the pure fury of a few moments ago.  “Always such a pleasure, Maxwell.  Be thankful I view your position to be so . . . weak and insignificant.”  At the end, Eva’s gaze shifted from Max, settling alarmingly upon Mathis.  

“If you – “

“We haven’t met yet.  I’m Keylee.” 

_______________________________________________________________________________

Keylee could see it, could see the situation deteriorating.  The threat had been clear.  No, that wasn’t true.  The promise of a threat no longer needed was clear.  Eva’s message had been both insulting and insinuating at the same time. Max would never stand for that kind of disrespect toward him and he especially wouldn’t stand for any type of perceived threat against Mathis.  

Without further thought, Keylee shot an arm forward, holding out his hand towards a woman surprisingly shorter than himself.  His quick action tightened Paul’s hold on him.  “You must be Evan’s mother.”  

Keylee’s hand dangled in limbo a few uncomfortable seconds before Eva slid her perfectly manicured fingers into his own, gripping down just tight enough to barely be called a shake. “Mr. Donavan.”

Pulling his hand free, Keylee fought the urge to wipe it against his expensive suite jacket.  “I would prefer Keylee.”

“There are many things we would all prefer,” Eva cryptically answered, her gaze doing a long and critical sweep of his body before settling on his face, obviously staring at the shades covering his eyes.  “Evan tells me there has been some type of damage to your eyes.”

It wasn’t really a question but Keylee kind of thought of answering like it was one.  “Nothing limiting.”

Eva didn’t look convinced.  Keylee really didn’t give a damn what she thought, at least not when it came to his eyes and their function.  The tension and increasing warmth radiating from Paul hinted his User didn’t feel the same. There was so much damn tension in the room Keylee felt like he was drowning.  Eva’s presence clearly wasn’t welcome and from everything he’d heard Paul say, Keylee thought he could understand but he’d be damned if he’d let it interfere with Paul’s exam.  

Plastering on a smile he didn’t feel, Keylee thought about the best approach.  He’d had enough dealings with Evan to understand appearance was everything where the Stein’s were concerned.  Quickly formulating a plan, Keylee pushed down the uncertainty fueling his unease.  “It’s nice you came to support Paul during his exam.  I know we’re something of an anomaly within the Stein Caste.”  Head tilting up in Paul’s direction, Keylee let a genuine smile grace his lips.  “A united front is always a good idea.”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Eva still, her face a perfectly unreadable mask.  For the life of him Keylee couldn’t figure out if he’d insulted her or not.  Maybe Eva herself didn’t even know.  In the end she settled on a clipped, “Yes, well, we’ll see how today goes.”

Gaze settling back on Eva, Keylee gave a painfully wide smile.  “I think we’ll surprise even you.”

“Hmm.”  The sound was soft and humming and totally without feeling. “Evan.”

Keylee inwardly cringed at the coldness Eva said her son’s name with.

“Yes Mother.”

“Will Helen be joining us today?  I hoped to see her as well while I’m on this side of the continent.”

“No.  I’m sorry to say Helen’s in the middle of an important case within the Department.  She couldn’t be spared.”

Keylee didn’t think Evan was sorry at all.  Although Paul’s father had made multiple comments regarding how indispensible he believed Helen to be, Keylee thought Evan’s latest statement held more relief than pride.  Evan didn’t want Eva around Helen any more than he wanted her around Paul.

“How disappointing.  Perhaps I will need to extend my trip a day so I can travel to the D.C. area.  It’s been far too long since I’ve spent any time with my granddaughter.”  Heels clicking against the floor once more, Eva turned and moved toward Evan, giving Keylee a view of the back of Eva’s perfectly tailored suite jacket.  “One would think, Evan, that your children purposefully avoid me.”

Keylee felt Paul’s arm tighten down around him, something he’d thought impossible. Staring across the small room, Keylee shivered at the look in Evan’s eyes – fear laced determination.  

“For Christ’s sake, Eva,” Max moved further into the room, picking up the “No Smoking” sign sitting on Director Raina’s desk before dropping it back down with obvious disgust.  “The young always avoid the elderly.  It’s practically written into their DNA.  You’re lucky your own son still takes the time to talk to you, let alone your grandchildren.”

“Max,” Mathis scolded, the whack of his hand against Maxwell’s firm chest a dull ache.

“What?  You know it’s true.”

Beside him, Keylee felt Paul relax a fraction of an inch while the look on Evan’s face was both relief and shocked amusement.  Never before had Keylee been so very thankful for Max’s total lack of propriety.  Then again, looking at the mischievous gleam lighting up his eyes, Keylee thought Max knew exactly what he was doing and was more than pleased with the results.  

Turning her body ever so slightly, Keylee could barely make out the glint of Eva’s dark green eye.  “Yes, well, you’ll pardon me if I do not take the opinion of one who has no children of their own, and therefore no prospect of grandchildren, with much serious contemplation.”

Over the last few decades, breeding within the User and Facilitator Castes had become something of a horror in Keylee’s opinion.  Records and lineages were kept and documented like one might do with a prized racing horse.  Deals were made and genetics were chosen in an effort to produce a better product, especially within the User Castes, Paul’s own conception and creation nothing short of typical.  Before Keylee’s father fried Maxwell Haines chakra pathways, Castes would have been lining up with lucrative offers for his genetic contribution.  Had Max wanted to raise a child of his own, it would have been him offering up the finances.  But just as no one was certain what Jeremiah’s actions had done to Max and Mathis’ bond, they were just as uncertain if Max had been damaged on a genetic level, if his offspring would be just as unable to manipulate chakra as he now was.  

 Eva’s words had been crafted to both insult and wound and Keylee found his own anger raising.  Worried eyes traveling toward Max, Keylee’s muscles relaxed when he saw Max shrug, his fingers twirling a cigarette that would hopefully never meet its fate with a lighter.  

“Never was much one for kids.”  Pointing the unlit tobacco in Keylee’s direction, Max added, “And Mathis already had a kid of his own to take care of.  The only difference is that Keylee still likes to talk to Mathis which makes me wonder what you’re doing wrong, Eva.”

A collective hush rang through the room, finally broken by the opening of the door, Director Raina coming to a quick stop, a grumbled, “This room was never meant to hold this many damn people,” slipping into the silence with universal relief.  “What are all of you still doing in here?  The exam starts in less than ten minutes and you’ve all gotta haul ass to the field on the west of the grounds.  Transportation’s your own legs so you better get a move on.” 

When no one moved, Director Raina opened the door wider, her angered, “What are you all waiting . . . “ was interrupted by a clipped, “Ms. Stein, I wasn’t aware you were going to be here today.”

Keylee had grown up and around the Director of the Facilitator Institute and guessed since Stein’s didn’t need Facilitators, Director Raina had never actually met the matriarch of that particular Caste.  Even so, the Director knew Eva on sight and apparently by reputation as well if Raina’s response was anything to go by.  

Moving first, Eva’s heels broke through the thick air of the room, her small arms pushing through the sleeves of the coat she pulled off the back of the Director’s chair.  “I assure you, Director, there is no where else I would be on such a momentous day in my grandson’s life.  Now, if you would kindly lead the way considering I have never been to this . . . place, I would be most appreciative.”

Somehow Keylee got the feeling Eva wasn’t exactly referring to the field they were all heading towards when she said, place, but more the Facilitator Institute grounds themselves.  

“Evan.”  Clipped and commanding, that singular word had Evan Stein’s legs moving, striding after his mother like a man on his way to the guillotine.  As he passed, Keylee saw Evan’s eyes meet Paul’s and wondered what exactly that look conveyed.  He didn’t think it was as much apology as warning.  

Watching Evan’s back disappear through the open doorway, Keylee felt the heat of Paul’s breath near his ear.  “Don’t leave my side, not even for an instant.  Promise me, Keylee.”

Keylee didn’t like the fear in Paul’s voice and easily answered, “Consider me glue.” 

The lighthearted answer earned him an all too brief chuckle along with a heartfelt, “Good.”

Paul’s death grip around his waist shifted to their linked fingers, hands entwined as they followed Evan’s path out the door.  Along the way Keylee caught Mathis’ gaze, the worried look anything but settling.  

___________________________________________________________________________

It was a strange type of déjà vu.  Once more Paul found himself staring at a candle, tree, shack and cinderblock wall.  It was a near perfect mock-up of his first User exam and he was dismayed by the visceral reaction seeing it caused. Panic loomed just over the horizon. Visions of uncontrolled fire and ash, the feel of his skin bubbling and blistering before the excruciating pain of white-hot flame engulfed his entire being.  

As if in answer to the images racking his brain, the always-simmering fire within his chakra pathways ignited, pushing and burning for release.  

“I’ve got you,” Keylee’s soft voice drifted up, soothing the raging flame within.  “We’ve got this.  Needing me doesn’t make you less.”

Paul’s eyelids drifted and shuttered over his hazel eyes while shame roiled through him.  He hadn’t realized it until Keylee’d said it, but that’s exactly what he’d been feeling.  Seeing his grandmother, hearing the doubt, disappointment and mild condescension in her voice had unknowingly been working at his subconscious, planting little seeds of self-doubt and worthlessness.  And now that he realized that’s what he’d been doing, Paul was awash with shame.  Needing Keylee wasn’t a burden, it was a gift.  

Squeezing Keylee’s hand back, Paul looked at the shack in the distance and stated, “Needing you makes me more.”  The hushed intake of breath was Paul’s reward.  “I mean it Keylee.  I hate the fact Helen’s right most of the time, but right here, right now, I’m glad she was and so damn sorry she doesn’t have this too.”

Thinking of Helen, Paul’s mind traveled back to his grandmother’s words earlier regarding Max not having children.  Paul had never really wanted them but didn’t know about Keylee, it was something he’d need to ask about.  Regardless, he’d always dreaded the day when he’d be made to sire a kid.  Paul doubted it would be something he’d have much say in. That was a decision either his father or grandmother would make.  Given his little defect,that was one worry off the table.  His grandmother wouldn’t want him breeding, afraid to taint the Stein Caste any further. But Helen . . . Helen was a different matter all-together and suddenly the thought of his beautiful sister being bred like a prized mare made him sick.  

“Paul?  Are you okay?  What are you thinking about?”

Keylee’s concerned voice broke through the steamy haze clouding Paul’s vision.  The issues with his sister would need to be tabled and dealt with another day.  Paul was beginning to think he’d been a selfish, shitty excuse for a brother and was determined to change, but change would have to wait until after they passed their User exam.  

“Here we are again, Mr. Stein.”

Head swiveling, Paul was met with familiar ginger hair.  Blinking once, Paul quickly realized the shaky voice and bashfully quirked mouth staring up at him belonged to the same examiner he’d had the last time. Desperately sifting through his failing memory banks, Paul struggled to come up with a name.  “Oh . . . yes, well, I suppose so, Mr. . . . “

“David, of the Conwell Caste,” David’s freckled cheeks flared a quick pink.  

What Paul did remember was the brief disagreement he’d had with his father, accusing Evan of basking in the awe other Caste’s showed their family.  Paul still didn’t like the fawning but looking at David now, Paul got the feeling the shy awkwardness might not have as much to do with his last name as how he looked.  When he felt Keylee’s body lean further into his own, his Facilitator’s small hand shooting out while possessively pronouncing, “I’m Keylee, Paul’s Facilitator,” he figured he wasn’t the only one with those thoughts.

Immediately David’s blush faded, his eyes narrowing down on the pale hand hanging mid-air.  “Yes, Mr. Donavan, I am aware of who you are.”

Paul watched as Keylee’s hand instantly dropped, the coldness and contempt lacing that one sentence set Paul’s teeth on edge.  No one treated Keylee that way.  “Mr. Conwell, I – “

“Thank you for agreeing to be Paul’s examiner again,” Keylee interrupted, a firm squeeze of the hand he still held within his own silencing Paul’s angered words.  

“Yes.  Well, we all hope today goes better than the last time. Just in case it does not, we’ve contracted a water User for the duration of the exam.  We were fortunate last time there was one present.  Had there not been I am unsure Mr. Stein would have a second chance today.”

Although Paul hadn’t been told all that happened that day, it made sense he’d been saved not only by Keylee but someone able to harness water as well.  Keylee had drained off his uncontrolled chakra but wouldn’t have been able to put out the flames engulfing his body.  Both had been needed and Paul wondered if his father had already offered up some type of compensation for the one who’d helped him that day.  Paul made a mental note to find out their name so he could thank them in person.  

“It’s a good consideration,” Keylee chimed in, “but one that won’t be necessary today.”

David’s smile was brittle while looking at Keylee, a brief, “I sincerely hope not,” dripping from his lips before turning his attention once more on Paul, that insincere smile softening into something more genuine and to Paul’s mind, aggravating.  “We’re all anxious to see what you can do, Mr. Stein.”

For the briefest of moments, Paul contemplated the worth of blowing his exam in order to burn this insignificant User to ash.  He could always claim he didn’t have control of his gifts.  One glance down at Keylee’s upturned face, those damn dark lenses covering the eyes Paul had grown to love told him it wouldn’t be worth it. There was only one thing in his life now that truly mattered and it certainly wasn’t David Conwell.  Paul would not tarnish the sacrifices Keylee had already made for him.  

Leaning down, Paul pressed his lips into Keylee’s forehead, savoring the feel of that tender, pale flesh against his own.  Paul thought he heard a hissed intake of breath and wasn’t sure if it came from David or someone else in the growing crowd.  Either way, Paul could have cared less.  Fingers ghosting down a pale cheek, Paul tilted Keylee’s head up and to the side, giving him better access to his ear before leaning further in a whispering, “You ready?”

The full body shiver Paul felt Keylee take stoked the raging fire within, twisting his internal flame into something almost tender.  Paul had always thought of his fire as destructive, but Keylee tamed the undying flame within, bending it to his will, something his fire apparently craved. 

Although he couldn’t see it, Paul thought Keylee’s eyes were most likely shuttered when he finally answered, “Let’s get this over with.  I’m looking forward to having a couple of days off after this.”

The implication wasn’t lost on Paul, his eyebrows shooting up while a wide smile curved his lips. “I take it you’ve got some ideas for that time off?”

Keylee’s lips twisted into an almost evil smirk.  “Pass this exam and you’ll find out.”

Well, if that wasn’t incentive enough, Paul didn’t know what was.  “You ready to make good on that promise.”

“Ready and more than willing.”

A clearing throat drew Paul’s attention but not his eyes.  “Mr. Stein, if uh . . . if you’re ready to start . . . “

“You heard my Facilitator, David.  The sooner we get this started, the sooner I get my reward and that is something I’m very much looking forward to.”

“Yes, well . . . “

Paul finally pulled his eyes from Keylee, both eyebrows lifting in a questioning gaze while clearly staring at a very flustered and slightly confused David Conwell.  From what he understood, Paul’s burgeoning relationship with Keylee shouldn’t be a surprise.  “Is there a problem?”

David’s eyes widened before stuttering, “W-what?  No.  I mean . . . “ David appeared to get ahold of himself, his dull brown eyes quickly shifting toward Keylee before flashing back to Paul.  “No problem at all.  I believe you know the rules, but just in case you’ve forgotten, you are to light the candle, burn the tree and shack, and destroy the cinderblock wall.  The order is up to you and of course, this time your actions must be controlled and – “

“Not light myself on fire?” Paul finished.

“Yes . . . well, none of us would like a repeat of that.”

“Least of all me.” Keylee’s voice echoed Paul’s own private sentiments on the matter.

Paul didn’t like the way David ignored Keylee, almost like he didn’t recognize him as an integral part of their team.  It grated on his nerves and made him wonder if this was typical treatment of Facilitators in general or if it was more specific to Keylee’s last name.  As far as Paul was concerned, either reason was unacceptable.  

“If you’re ready, as soon as I’m clear of the field, you may begin.”  David didn’t wait for an answer, instead turning and walking away, quickly meeting up with a woman who dwarfed his size by at least six inches. 

“Is that his Facilitator?” Paul didn’t know why he was asking beyond curiosity getting the better of him.

“Most likely,” Keylee answered, “although I’ve never met either of them before today so I don’t know for sure.  Given that he’s a User, it seems likely considering he went directly to her.”

Glancing around the gathered crowd, Paul found it was rather easy to pick out Users and Facilitators. There was a closeness to them normal humans didn’t generally display unless newly or well married.  It was something completely absent when looking at Director Raina and the two lone Steins.  Knowing he’d never again be or look as lonely as what his father and grandmother looked settled something deep within Paul, something he hadn’t even known needed that knowledge.  It was like the click of a lock falling into place, a secure knowledge that no matter what, while within the proximity of his Facilitator, he’d always be safe. The emotional safety net Keylee offered was just what Paul had always longed for.  

Settling his eyes on his father disrupted the blissful calm Paul had been experiencing.  Some might think Evan Stein always looked stern and constipated, but Paul knew the man, possibly even better than Helen, and could tell when Evan well and truly had all his armor on.  Right now Paul bet his father had even managed to add couple of new layers to that protective shell.  There was more to it than that, something Paul couldn’t decipher and that more than anything had his own defenses raising.  

“What is it Paul?”

Keylee’s soft yet steady voice sliced through Paul’s musings.  “Something’s wrong.  I don’t know what, but my father’s worried.”

Beside him Keylee was quiet for a few, brief seconds.  “It could be he’s worried you’re going to fail or hurt yourself again.”

“Maybe.” but Paul didn’t think so.  There was something else.  Thinking back on his first exam experience, Paul realized what was partly bothering him. “Last time he came out on the field before my exam.  He basically told me not to fuck it up, that everyone was watching to see what a Stein could do.”  That thought now seemed laughable, but even so, Paul found it odd his father hadn’t come out to give him what passed for encouragement in Evan Stein’s mind.  

Keylee’s silence let Paul know his Facilitator didn’t have any more insight into his father’s mind than he did.  Eyes still on the man, Paul inwardly flinched when he saw his father’s form tighten even more.  “He’s tense.”

“How can you tell?”

It was a legitimate question; one Paul couldn’t answer and yet knew without a shadow of a doubt he was right about.  Paul’s mind kept screaming at him that his first thought on the matter was correct. Something was well and truly wrong. 

“Mr. Stein,” David’s unwelcome and rather loud voice drifted across the field, “you may start anytime.”  There was strain in those brief words, a hint of irritation as well.

Ignoring it, Paul finally pulled his gaze from his father, his eyes settling on his grandmother, the woman’s face and posture revealing absolutely nothing.  No, not nothing, there was something there, something . . . 

Chapter Twenty-Two

Keylee didn’t like Paul’s distraction, not on such an important day. He liked the fluctuating tendrils of discord singing through Paul’s chakra even less.  Paul was getting spooked and Keylee didn’t know why.  Keylee kind of thought Paul didn’t know either which was part of the problem.  What was also part of the problem was the impatience brewing within their prickly tester. 

Following Paul’s current line of sight, Keylee asked, “What’s Eva’s gift?”

“She’s a registered wind and weather User.”

Registered.  “What else can she do?”

Finally Paul turned from his family, the planes of his face harsh in the bright sunshine of the crisp autumn day.  “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows.”

“But you suspect?”

“I never gave it much thought until today. I think my father knows.”

Keylee didn’t really know how that affected today beyond making Paul jittery. “I think it’s a problem for another day, don’t you?”

Paul’s face softened, making Keylee feel oddly proud.  “Definitely.”

Across the field, Keylee heard their examiner asking again if there was a problem and if they were ready.  Instead of answering with words, Keylee felt a flair of Paul’s chakra spilling through him, weaving through his own chakra pathways, gaining purpose and direction as it spilled back out, returning to his User.  Without taking his eyes off of Keylee, Paul lit the candle on the field, its warm glow little more than a twinkle in the shimmering sun.  No one around the perimeter clapped but Keylee didn’t think he was imagining the collective sigh of relief filtering through the wind either.  

“Excellent,” David proclaimed. Keylee couldn’t tell from the tone how sincere that word truly was.  

“One down, three to go,” Keylee offered his support along with a comforting smile.  “What’s next?”

Paul grinned, something slightly wicked and very self satisfied.  “Let’s try something novel and actually go in the proper order.”

“Tree?”

“Not for long.”

No more had those words slipped through Paul’s lips than Keylee felt another rush of chakra, this one just a little more potent than the last but no less pleasant.  Keylee loved the feel of Paul’s chakra filling up his empty pathways, warming him from the inside out like nothing else ever could.  Eyes closing at the sheer joy of it, Keylee couldn’t believe this was going to be his life.  Paul’s chakra was a double-edged sword, capable of bringing him blissful contentment while at the same time able to deliver unimaginable pain.  It was a constant dance, a game he and Paul would hopefully be playing for decades to come.  

Finally turning from each other, Keylee and Paul stared down the field at the now leafless tree, Paul’s wind having already stripped it bare. Within a fraction of a second Keylee felt another tug and the tree was on fire, a neatly controlled burn, Paul’s wind acting in concert and keeping the flame not only contained but controlled, the currents pulling and twisting the fiery plum in a mesmerizing dance of yellows, oranges and blues – a torch on a slender trunk.  

“Paul,” Keylee caught the edge of breathlessness to his voice.  

“Thought I’d add a little extra.  Too much?”

Catching the impressed and properly awed looks on the gathered faces, Keylee simply shook his head.  “No, it’s beautiful.”  The smile truly lighting up Paul’s face was more than worth the simple praise.  If he lived to be a hundred, Keylee didn’t think he’d ever get tired of seeing that kind of happiness on his User’s face.

“How about the shack?  Are you going to go big bad wolf or something a bit warmer?”

“How do you feel about the Wizard of Oz?”

Mouth going slack, the tug on the chakra Keylee was taming came stronger, the pull flushing his fully pathways before filling them up again with Paul’s raw energy.  Across the field a mini cyclone spun, its path clear.  Soon the shack was gone, little more than splinters of wood swirling up into the sky before the wind died, bits and pieces of wood slipping to the ground with barely a whisper.     

“That was . . . “ Keylee didn’t know what to call what he’d just seen and as for Paul, he was already moving on.  

“You ready to destroy a wall?”  Gone was the anxiety plaguing Paul’s words, replaced by a confidence Keylee’d longed to hear.  

“You just want your reward,” Keylee teased, light and airy at the feel of being able to be so carefree with his User.  

“I’ll always be ready for that,” Paul answered before turning serious and facing the cinderblock wall.  

Within his body, Keylee felt Paul’s chakra stir, a larger push washing through him before zipping out almost as fast.  The rush was exhilarating and soon the concrete blocks began smoking, the mortar holding them together sizzling, little “pops” and “wheezes” echoing from across the field.  

“I’m going to melt the mortar then blow the blocks down.  After that we’ll light ‘em up and turn the to dust, we’ll – “ Paul’s voice was cut off by a louder pop, one of the blocks exploding, little pieces of concrete and rubble blowing off uncontrollably.  “What the – “ another block blew.

The peaceful, playful mood of earlier was blown away as quickly as those few blocks.  Inside, Keylee struggled to find the problem, to discover what was going on with Paul’s chakra and why he was losing control, but nothing felt any different.  Sure there was growing turmoil, an increasing sense of panic, but it was well within the bounds of their combined control. 

“I swear I’m not doing that.”  The panic in Paul’s voice rose, a hint of anger to it as well.  “What the fuck’s going on?”

It was an excellent question; one Keylee wished he had an answer to. Scanning the crowd, it was clear most didn’t have a clue something was wrong.  So far the destruction of the wall wasn’t so uncontrolled as to cause concern, but one glance at the knowing look in Max’s eyes and Keylee knew that wouldn’t last for long.  Unsure how to fix it, Keylee said the only thing he could, “Pull back for now.”

Keylee felt the minute Paul did, the chakra filling his pathways static, the internal pull gone.  And yet nothing changed, if anything, it only got worse as two more blocks exploded, their shards slinging through the air.  Breath harsh, a guttural sound of worry stuck in Keylee’s throat when he felt that indescribable tug pull the stored chakra within, Paul’s wind circling the uncontrolled shrapnel of concrete, whipping it into a whirlwind and safely settling them upon the ground and well away from seemingly innocent bystanders.  

And still the wall smoldered and groaned.  

Realization dawned on Keylee.  “It’s someone else.”

“What?”

Keylee’s eyes quickly ran the crowd, discarding possible interlopers as they passed over each and every User, Facilitator pair.  Maybe it wasn’t someone he could see, but near enough to interfere.  Later he’d figure out why someone would want to sabotage Paul’s exam but right now, that didn’t matter.  What did matter was that no one, absofuckinglootly no one was going to destroy the happiness Keylee was only now beginning to realize.  And more importantly, no one was going to mess this up for Paul. 

Gritting his teeth, Keylee began bracing himself for the pain he was about to welcome into his body.  “You’re going to need to hold onto me,” Keylee ordered and felt Paul’s arm twine around his middle, his User’s questioning words little more than discordant noise.  Keylee didn’t have time to explain what he was about to do, didn’t have time to argue with Paul regarding the stupidity of it.  

Before being bonded, what he was about to attempt most likely wouldn’t cause him more than a mild headache, but that was before his chakra pathways had bonded with Paul’s unique chakra.  Now any chakra not belonging to Paul would be seen as foreign, a disease which didn’t belong.  Regardless, it was the only way Keylee could see out of this mess. With that thought in mind, he began searching out the other chakra, the one that wasn’t Paul’s. 

It didn’t take Keylee long to find it, a swirl of static floating through the air that was oddly familiar to Paul’s.  Grasping hold, Keylee focused on that chakra, pulling it from its destined course and into his body.  Bonded to Paul, all he could do was pull it, dissipating the power into the ground around him.  Not that he really wanted to give it back to the User who was trying to thwart their exam, their future.  

“Keylee, what are you doing?”

Paul’s worried voice pushed through Keylee’s brain.  He desperately wanted to sooth Paul’s concerns, but there was only one thing Keylee could concentrate on and that was draining the interfering User.  Shaking, Keylee felt his chakra pathways burn, the feeling of fire ants dancing beneath his skin.  Sucking in heaping gulps of air, Keylee clung to Paul’s side, burying his face within the folds of his User’s jacket.  

“Keylee, talk to me, what’s going on?”

There was so much concern in Paul’s voice, but not only that, his chakra too.  Through the furious fire lighting up his pathways, Keylee began to feel something soothing take over, almost like a coating of sorts, protecting his already damaged pathways from further harm.  The pain was still there, but distant and manageable.  Whether Paul consciously knew it or not, he was helping, and with that help, Keylee began tugging on that foreign chakra even more, absorbing it and dissipating it into the ground below.  

What felt like hours most likely occurred in less than a minute and soon Keylee heard a gasp from the human gallery they’d managed to accumulate, a shocked, “Mother,” erupting through Keylee’s muffled ears as the chakra he’d been sucking into his body suddenly stopped, its absence nearly sending Keylee to his knees if not for Paul’s strong arms around him.  

Unsure how much more he could take, Keylee shifted his head, Paul’s strong chest now against his ear as the scent of a low banked campfire eased into his senses.  Gathering every bit of strength he had, Keylee tilted his lips up enough and ordered a clipped, “Finish this.”

________________________________________________________________________

At his father’s shout, Paul’s head turned, his mind desperately trying to process what his eyes were seeing.  Blinking once, Paul was surprised when opening his lids did nothing to change the picture – his father’s arms wrapped around Eva’s body, supporting his grandmother’s weight.

In all his life, he’d never seen Eva so much as sneeze, let alone nearly collapse.  Had it not been for the treasure he held within his arms, Paul would have been across the field if only to satisfy his own curiosity.   

“Finish this.”  The command leaked into Paul’s mind and body like a drug.  

Holding Keylee’s trembling body tightly against his own, Paul still wasn’t sure what had just happened but the heat bubbling up from the ground below his feet was beginning to tip him off.  If Keylee had just done what he thought he had, they’d definitely be having words later.  But just as he’d thought before, he refused to allow any of Keylee’s sacrifices to be done in vain, no matter how unbelievably stupid and reckless he thought them to be.  

Leaning down, Paul pushed the sweat dampened hair from Keylee’s forehead, his eyes narrowing down on the already fading chakra lines pulsing near the surface of his Facilitators pale skin.  “We’ll be discussing this later,” Paul whispered before doing as instructed. Given the wall’s already deteriorated state, it didn’t take much for him to finish off what someone else had already started.  Feeling Keylee relax, Paul was thankful using his chakra actually seemed to relieve Keylee more than stress him.  

The lack of verbal answer from his Facilitator worried Paul more than anything else.  Tightening his arms around the slender man who’d somehow managed to become the whole of his world, Paul caught his grandmother’s sharp voice as it traveled through the still air.  “Quit fussing, Evan.  As you can see I’m perfectly fine.”

Head turned enough to see the activities on the side of the field; Paul found he disagreed with his grandmother.  Face ashen, limbs shaky and perfectly coiffed hair no longer so very perfect, Eva Stein did not appear fine; at least not by the standards he’d come to know her by.  

Regardless, Paul’s father dropped his hands and took a step back. For the briefest of moments, Evan’s eyes caught Paul’s; the look conveyed something that shook Paul to the very tips of his toes.  And then Evan’s eyes shifted ever so slightly down and to the side, his gaze no longer settled on his son but the man held within.  Just like every other time he’d seen it happen, Paul stood in wonder as Evan’s eyes softened ever so slightly before returning to his son, the look in them shining with something Paul had only ever seen directed at Helen – pride. 

“Paul,” Keylee’s soft voice, muffled by the shirt covering his chest, pulled Paul’s attention away from his father.  “Did . . . is it over?”

Being careful to still support Keylee’s quivering body, Paul pulled Keylee’s face into the palms of his hands, cradling his Facilitator before dipping his mouth down, their lips touching with a fleeting kiss.  “Over and done with.”

“Did we – “

“Congratulations, Mr. Stein,” David’s voice cut through Keylee’s question, “it has been unanimously decided you’ve passed your User exam.  There was some debate as to the cinderblock wall but after the little show you put on with the tree . . . well, let’s just say it took a couple of us a bit to figure out you were doing a little more hot-shotting than strictly necessary.”  

Paul didn’t like the haughty, knowing look David gave him, seemingly proud of the fact he’d been the one to discern out what had happened and the stupidity of the other examiners for not figuring it out earlier.  Paul wanted to tell David he was the idiot but figured in this case it was actually working out well for he and Keylee.  Listening to the better angel in him, namely Keylee, Paul his mouth shut.  Let them believe what they wanted as long as it got he and Keylee their certification. 

Unfortunately keeping his mouth shut appeared to encourage David to keep talking.  “Pity about your Facilitator,” David shook his head with mock sympathy, “you’re a powerful User, obviously too powerful for your Facilitator.  He’ll have to toughen up if he’s going to be of any real use to you in the future.”  The frown on David’s face seemed sincere enough, as if he really did believe it to be a travesty of Fate.  

The growl rumbling through Paul’s chest was low enough David couldn’t hear.  If Keylee had just done what Paul suspected, then it was only further proof, proof Paul didn’t need, that Keylee was one of the strongest, if not the strongest, Facilitator currently living.  David was full of shit and needed reeducation in the worst way possible.  

“I think I promised you a reward,” Keylee’s voice whispered through the fog of Paul’s growing rage, soothing the primal, protective beast within. Attention successfully pulled from David, Paul’s face relaxed.  The chakra lines on Keylee’s face were almost gone, the ones on his hands fading fast. While he still didn’t like how tired and pale Keylee looked, Paul couldn’t deny the warmth of his words or the smile lifting his lips.  

“We did pass.”

“We did.”

Pulling Keylee in close again, Paul squeezed him tight, hoping that simple move would at least begin explaining just how much the man meant to him. With Keylee still held within his protective arms, Paul looked to David and asked, “Is there anything else you need us for?”

“No,” David shook his head, his sympathy laced eyes holding more than a hint of satisfaction at Keylee’s supposed predicament.  Rumors would soon be racing through the User, Facilitator world spreading lies regarding Keylee’s abilities and extoling the woes of not only a Stein needing a Facilitator, but being stuck with such a vulnerable one.  

Once again Keylee was being made the fall guy.  

“As the head examiner it is my duty to file the appropriate papers with the Department.  You’ll get a letter in the mail naming a time and location for both you and your Facilitator to come to the Department and sign the necessary forms.  After that you’ll get further training and your assignment.”  David didn’t even give not signing up with the Department as a choice.  It was simply understood that everyone did.  

“If that’s all then we’ll be going.”

Again David gave Keylee a look of mock sympathy, a heavy hearted, “I understand,” falling from his lips.  

Paul desperately wanted to rant that David most certainly did not understand, but held his tongue; his eyes narrowed and hackles still raised as he watched David walk away.  

“Most examiners are judgmental pricks,” Max’s low timbered voice grew as the man came closer.  “I think it must be a prerequisite.”

“Key, are you okay?”  Hidden by Max’s enormous body, Paul hadn’t even seen Mathis approach until he flew around the man’s side.  “Key?”

“I’m fine.  Or, at least I will be,” Keylee’s answer was exactly what Paul expected.  

Silence filled the space around the four of them, all but Keylee’s gaze sweeping around the now dispersing crowd.  For a moment, Paul’s eyes connected with his grandmother’s, Eva’s appearance still frazzled but the steel in her gaze had returned full force along with a curiosity Paul was sure he didn’t like.  With a single nod of her head, Eva turned and began the journey back toward the main buildings of the Facilitator Institute, Paul’s father not exactly hot on her heels, but keeping a consistent distance between.  He was close enough to catch her if she fell, but far enough away as to not catch anything contagious Eva might be carrying.  

The same sight must have been holding Maxwell’s attention.  “This isn’t the time or place, but I want to know what happened and I have a sneaking suspicion we both suspect the same thing,” Max offered, his head tilting in the direction of Paul’s family.  

“Max is right, but now I think it’s important to get Keylee out of here,” Mathis’ warm voice, so very different than Max’s harsh tones, soothed down Paul’s spine.  It was nice knowing he wasn’t alone in wanting to keep Keylee safe.  

“You ready to blow this joint?” Paul softly questioned, the edges of Keylee’s midnight hair tickling his nose.  

“As long as you don’t mean that literally, then yeah, I’m ready.”

Face snugged tight into Keylee’s hair, no one could see the grin pulling at Paul’s lips.  “The only thing I wanna blow right now is you.”  Keylee’s choked breath and full body shiver were Paul’s rewards for that naughty stray thought.

“You . . . you really want – “

“Keylee, I want my lips, mouth and tongue on every inch of your body and that goes double for that lovely cock currently firming up against my leg.”  To emphasis his point, Paul pressed his thigh deeper into Keylee’s thickening member, relishing the tiny earthquakes racing up and down his Facilitator’s body.  The limpness of Keylee’s arms, barely discernable lightening bolts of pale blue spiderwebbing across his all too pale skin, cooled Paul’s raging libido. Pulling back ever so slightly, Paul placed a kiss on Keylee’s head; nuzzling both his lips and nose into the scent of his shampoo.  “As much as I want to worship your body, I think it’s going to have to wait until you’re more up to the task.”

It was Paul’s turn to catch his breath when he felt Keylee press his groin forward, a hushed, “I’m plenty up to the task,” dropping from his seemingly innocent lips.  If it hadn’t been for the obvious exhaustion leaking around the edges, Paul would have been tempted to take him up on it.  

“Thank the Fates there’s not a sensory User around,” Max grumbled, little heat behind his annoyance.  “The way you two are acting they’d be in overload right about now.”  Head shaking, Max reached into his pocket, uttering a string of curse words when his fingers came up empty, not a cigarette to be found. 

Evidently used to ignoring the profanity, Mathis began walking away, attempting to give Keylee and Paul some well deserved privacy, a mumbled, “I always thought that would be one of the worst gifts possible, can you imagine . . . “ Mathis’ voice drifted off as he moved further away, a large Max shaped shadow dogging his steps.  

“They mean well,” Keylee’s voice was barely audible to Paul’s ears.

“Yeah, I know.  When I’m in the right frame of mind I even find Max kind of entertaining.”

“Really?”

Paul shrugged.  “It probably surprises me more than you.  Enough about our wayward teachers, can you walk or do I need to carry you back to the car? The truth, Keylee.”

The whole of Keylee’s body stiffened at the thought of being carried like some wayward child.  No way was he going to let the examiners see something like that.  It wasn’t that Keylee had a lot of pride, or at least not much of it left, but he’d be damned if he’d give David Conwell the satisfaction of seeing him so weak.  

Of course, collapsing suddenly would probably be worse.  

Sometimes Keylee hated his rational mind, the part of him that whispered words of practicality, tamping down on the wild bravado driving those braver or perhaps stupider than him.  So, while Keylee’s mind screamed that he should push Paul away and stomp a blazing path to the car, his body rebelled.  Swallowing the denial on his lips, Keylee made an internal compromise. “I can walk but maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea of you kept an arm around me.”

“Easiest request anyone’s ever made of me,” Paul quipped before Keylee felt the brush of his lips on his forehead.  “You’d most likely have to do battle to get my arms off you at this point.”

Keylee didn’t think he was up for much battling considering the one he’d just fought and won.  Taking a step forward, Paul’s arm tightly wound around his waist for support, Keylee’s thoughts traveled to what had just happened.  Calling it a battle wasn’t wrong; it was simply a battle between two individuals instead of two armies.  As his eyes caught on the distant figure draped in a deep burgundy overcoat, Keylee knew it was well and truly a fight that had taken place between two and not three.  There had been no other Facilitator involved, just a User and there were only two people on that field that could have claimed such a feet, both of them sharing Paul’s last name, both sharing a similar gift.  

Keylee would bet his last shred of sanity Eva was behind what had just happened.  According to Paul, Eva was a registered wind and weather User, but if the last few weeks had taught him anything about the Stein family, registered gifts were most likely the tip of the iceberg where that prickly Caste was concerned.  Not that Keylee thought such secrets were probably relegated to the Stein Caste alone.  In his youth and training, he’d been pushed beyond the limits of safety and comfort by many of the User’s he’d trained with.  He’d suspected it then and was now more convinced than ever that their community was awash in hidden gifts.  Keylee silently wondered if the Department was aware of this rampant lack of disclosure, of this systemic mistrust and secrecy and if so, why were they so complacent?  

Feeling the comforting weight of Paul’s fingers wrapped around his waist, Keylee was thankful he’d managed to disperse Eva’s chakra and if the cost was a lifetime of rumors and disrespect . . . well, been there, done that.  Eva would have to come at him with a lot more than hits to his reputation if she wanted to get at his User.  

“Awfully quiet down there,” Paul’s voice cut through Keylee’s internal mental war.  

Tired down to his very marrow, Keylee thought the cost of doing battle with Eva hadn’t just been idle gossip, but his body would heal, just as it had always healed.  Unwilling to discuss Eva Stein before they were alone, Keylee kept his thoughts to himself and fell back upon his habit of remaining silent when unsure of the right answer.  

“Looks like they’re waiting for us,” Paul continued, either used to Keylee’s silences or more understanding of this one.  “As long as we don’t have to sign anything right now, I’ll get us out of here.”

“They’ll want to congratulate you.”  Keylee wouldn’t take this moment away from Paul.  His User should be proud, feel pride in his accomplishments and be able to experience the praise that came with it.  

“They can send a card,” Paul answered before adding, “show time, smile and nod but keep working toward the car.  Trust me, I’ve seen this dog and pony show before.”

“I’m okay if you want – “

“Like I said, seen it before and the only one I care about is the guy I’m currently holding up.  Approval’s nice, but I’ve got more important things at the moment.”

Warmth bloomed through Keylee’s body, easing his aching joints and heart. “Smile and nod?”

“Works every time,” Paul shot back before plastering a big grin on his face, “I’ll have you home before you know it.”

Home.  As long as he was with Paul, Keylee was already there.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“We haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet.”  Paul tapped his fingers against the phone in his hand in an attempt to ease the cramping in his hand.  He’d been squeezing the life out of the thing and hadn’t realized it until his thumb decided to painfully cramp.  “No, he’s still asleep.”  Paul listened to Helen’s soft voice filtering down the line and for once opened his mind up to it, allowing his sister’s dulcet tones and suspected manipulation to ease into his soul without so much as a raised finger.  

“Will he be all right?”

“So he claims.  I’m inclined to believe him considering he survived dispersing my chakra twice before.  From what I’ve been told, what I was dishing out was something pretty far off the charts.”

“But he wasn’t bonded then.  From what I understand, once they’re bonded, dispersing chakra not of their bond mate is often fatal for Facilitators.”

Helen wasn’t wrong. At least Paul didn’t think she was. It had taken he and Keylee a little longer than expected to get through the well wishes and Paul didn’t think he’d ever been more thankful for Director Raina than when she basically ordered everyone off her lawn and out of her Facility.  The wink she’d thrown his direction at the end of her tirade let him know there was more than just her normal irritation behind the command.  As quick as he could, Paul had gotten Keylee home and into bed.  The fact there was very little fussing and complaining let Paul know just how drained Keylee was.  Within seconds of his Facilitator’s eyelids closing, Paul got on the computer and began looking up anything and everything he could get his hands on regarding what he suspected Keylee had done during their examination.  

Letting loose a sigh, Paul ran his hand over the top of his hair, unconsciously grateful the strands were now long enough to tug out his frustrations.  “Shit, Helen, you think I don’t know that, or at least suspect it. Keylee and I need to have a serious conversation about his self-preservation instincts.”

“I think his self-preservation instincts are okay until it comes to you, Paul.”

“Not helping sis.”

“Didn’t claim it would, little brother.  Simply stating a fact you need to come to terms with if you want to keep him as safe as possible.”

Again, Helen wasn’t wrong. Paul wished she were because the heavy burden of that responsibility currently felt like an elephant sitting on his chest.  

When he didn’t answer, Helen filled the silence.  “Do you really suspect our grandmother?  Not that I wouldn’t be all that surprised to hear she’d done something morally questionable, only that she’d choose to interfere in your exam.  What was she trying to do?  What did she hope to gain?”

“Not sure about the gain part.  My guess is we’d have to figure out the why of it first. All of this is assuming I’m right about what happened during the exam which I haven’t had a chance yet to confirm with Keylee.  As for suspecting our grandmother . . . “ Paul let loose another deep sigh, “you didn’t see her, Helen.  Christ, I’ve never seen Eva Stein like that.  She looked almost as drained as Keylee.  My guess is she only walked off that lawn by her own power because the woman would rather die than ask anyone for help, including her own son. Something happened to her out there. Either our grandmother’s got some horrible disease she doesn’t feel like sharing information about or Keylee drained out all her damn chakra.”

“I hate to say this, or maybe I hate that I really feel like this, but I wish it were the former instead of the latter.  Unfortunately I suspect my wishes don’t count for much.”

Paul quieted the harsh chuckle wanting to erupt from his chest.  “Couldn’t agree with you more, sis.”  Leaning back into the couch, Paul noticed he really was beginning to feel more relaxed and credited the fact more to his sister than the beer he was currently nursing.  “I’ll tell you what really has me worried though.”

“More than the fact you suspect our grandmother of trying to sabotage your exam?”

“Yeah, surprisingly more than that.  You didn’t . . . Fuck, Helen, you didn’t see the look in her eyes after it was all over . . . the way she looked at me and Keylee . . . “

“What kind of look?”

“Like an ant had suddenly grown wings and surprised the hell out of her, like she’d pressed the pause button on the heel she was getting ready to ground that ant to dust with.”

“Paul – “

“I know, stupid, right? I’m probably imagining the whole damn thing, making more of it than I should be.”

“Actually, what I was going to say was be careful.  I . . . there are things you don’t know Paul, things I don’t know either.  Father’s always been a touchy subject with you so I . . . I haven’t said much, but what I do know is that he’s kept her from us as much as he can, me in particular. I know Evan isn’t up for father of the year but in his own way – “

“He’s kept the wolf outside our door.”

“As much as possible, yes, I believe so.”

Humming quietly, Paul closed his tired eyes, the stress of the day beginning to take its toll upon him. “He’s still an ass, but . . . I agree with you.  Fuck, Helen, how could I have missed something like that all these years?”

Helen’s soft chuckle filtered over the phone, musical and soothing.  “I think you were too busy being angry at him.  And before you feel guilty, Paul, that’s not a judgment.  Father’s parenting skills leave a lot to be desired and were abusive at some points.  I wonder sometimes what his upbringing was like.”

Pinching the skin between his eyes, Paul’s lids fluttered open, although the action did little to improve his eyesight considering how dark he’d kept the condo.  “Yeah, I’ve had some recent thoughts on that subject too. Somehow I doubt we could pry much information out of him.”

“No,” Helen hesitantly agreed. “We all hold our own personal traumas close to the vest and I suspect our father even more so.  To admit something like that would seem like weakness to him.”

Because of Keylee, Paul was only now beginning to realize just how wrong that line of thinking was. Paul was one lucky son of a bitch and the realization brought him back to something he’d been thinking on earlier that day.  Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Paul took a few seconds to get his thoughts in order before finally stating, “I’ve been a shit brother to you, Helen and until today, I never realized just how badly I’ve let you down.”

“Paul – “

“No,” Paul interrupted, “let me get this out.  You’ve always been there for me and I’ve been so consumed with my damn jealousy regarding Father’s approval of you, of the way he always seemed to compare me to you and find me severely lacking, that I failed to realize just what that was doing to you.  It can’t have been easy being the golden child.  That kind of expectation has to do a number on your brain and you’ve been doing it all alone.  My God, Helen.  You were so right about Keylee.  When you chewed my ass out in the hospital I thought you’d lost your mind, but I can clearly see now you’re the only one in this family whose got it right.  Well, now I’m the second, it just took me longer to get there.”

“So, you’ve accepted him now?” There was a kind of sad satisfaction in Helen’s voice.

“He’s everything, sis. And I mean every damn thing. Maxwell was right; the Stein Caste isn’t lucky, we’re cursed.  Our grandmother would be shocked to learn that, although I doubt she’d ever believe it to begin with.  Users are meant to have Facilitators for a reason and I can’t tell you how much I wish Fate had seen her fickle way into giving you one.  God knows you deserve Keylee more than me.”

“Nonsense, Paul.  Keylee is right where he belongs.  Although mark my words, if you are ever a stupid git to him again, I’ll be more than happy to take him off your hands.  Don’t growl at me, you know there’s no other place you’d rather him be than with me in that case.  Besides, I can’t see you being that stupid again, not since you’ve finally figured out what you’ve got.  As for me . . . well, I’m fine, I – “

“Helen, do you remember when I just said I’ve been a shit brother to you?  Well, I’m damn well not going to be from here on out so woman up and don’t give me that load of bullshit.  I’m here for you, finally whole and present.  You don’t have to be so damn brave and stoic with me.”  Paul waited, breath held, fearing he’d gone a little too far.

“You think it’s bullshit when I say I’m fine?”

Swallowing hard, Paul released a tense breath before finally answering, “I do.”

“Hmm, little brother, perhaps I’m not the only one in the family hiding gifts.”

If Paul was right about their grandmother, then Helen most certainly wasn’t.  Somehow he didn’t think now was the time to bring it up.

“For now, let’s leave it as I’m as fine as I can be.  I won’t lie and say I’m not envious of your and Keylee’s relationship, but I’m not so blinded by the green monster that I’m not happy for you. I love you, Paul and all I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy.  For now, that’s enough for me.”

The craziest part was that Paul believed his sister.  Helen had a big heart, especially for a Stein.  Knowing his family, Paul was fairly certain she hadn’t gotten it from their father’s side and began wondering what Helen’s mother was like, if the woman was even still alive.  Paul thought it a fairly safe bet Helen’s mother was a damn sight better than his own. “If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, all you need to do is call.”

“And the same goes for you, little brother.”

Tension ebbing from his body, Paul took another pull from his beer before resting his head on the back of the couch, eyes closed once more.  “Do you think Keylee and I’ll see you around the Department?”

“I suppose it’s possible, but also doubtful.  The Department is . . . large.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t know considering I’ve never been.  Speaking with you now that seems weird to me.  How come I never came to visit you there?”

Once again Helen’s laughter eased across the line.  “I’m guessing you were a little too self absorbed at the time.”

Paul gave an unflattering snort.  “That would be funnier if it wasn’t so damn true.”

“Teasing aside, Paul, I am so very proud of you for passing your User exam, especially given the outside interference.”

“I couldn’t have done it without Keylee.”

“No, and the wonderful thing is that you’ll never have to try to again.”

“From your lips . . . “ Paul murmured.  

“Paul, who are you talking to?”

Pulling the phone away from his ear, Paul strained to look over the edge of the couch, his mouth momentarily going dry before saliva flooded his parched throat.  “Fuck,” Paul whispered.  Before settling him into bed, Paul made sure Keylee changed out of his suite and into a t-shirt and sleep pants.  Keylee’s clothing had been firmly in place when he’d put his Facilitator to bed but now . . . Keylee’s pants hung so low they looked as if the barest hint of wind would knock them down.  Add on the t-shirt now hanging off one pale shoulder and Keylee’s tired, exposed eyes, little hints of violet cracking his sclera’s, had all the blood in Paul’s body headed on the jet plane south.

“Paul, what is it?” Helen’s voice sounded a little panicked.

“S-sis,” Paul’s voice cracked before he cleared his throat, “I need to go, Keylee’s up.”

“Is everything okay?  You sound upset.”

“Not upset.  Pants are getting a little tight right now, but nothing that can’t be solved within the next few minutes, hours, days . . . years . . . “

“And on that note, I think I’ll agree it’s time for me to go.”  The amusement in Helen’s voice was a music all its own.  

“Yeah, good idea. I’ll talk to you later?”

“Definitely.  And Paul, if Eva does anything else . . . anything at all, you let me know.  Don’t keep it to yourself, even if you think you’re overreacting.  Nothing is too small and nothing, absolutely nothing with that woman is as innocent or meaningless as we might wish it were.”

The thought of his dangerous grandmother should have had Paul’s cock deflating, but when Keylee tilted his head to the side, his thick hair poking out at odd angles around the left side of his head.  God above, even thoughts of Eva Stein couldn’t quell the longing in Paul’s body and soul.  

“Paul?”

“Will do sis, and the same goes for you.”

“I love you Paul and once again, congratulations.  I’m so very proud of both of you.”

Helen’s praise meant more to Paul than every combined soul he’d been congratulated by earlier in the day. “Love you too, sis.”  For the first time in his life, Paul thought he might well and truly understand what those three words meant.  “Keylee and I will try and see you soon.”

“You better.” Silence fell across the line, followed by the tell tale beep of an ended call.

“Was that Helen?” Keylee asked while padding further into the room, his bare feet shuffling across the plush carpet.  Idly, Paul wondered when he’d come to find naked feet so damn alluring.  Or maybe it wasn’t feet in general, only the fact these were connected to Keylee Donavan’s body.

“Yup,” Paul tossed his phone onto the couch cushion next to him before reaching his arms up, hands open in welcome invitation, one Keylee thankfully accepted.  

“Is she okay?” Keylee asked as his body settled down on Paul’s lap, his legs splayed out on either side of Paul’s hips, ass cradled within Paul’s firm thighs.  

Eyes fluttering shut, Paul barely held in a groan.  Keylee’s body felt so damn good against his own, as if it had been made simply to mold and blend with his own flesh.  “Yeah,” Paul swallowed, “she’s good, or at least as good as always.  She wanted to congratulate us on passing today.”

Paul nearly swallowed his tongue when Keylee laid his head on his chest, snuggling up until his lips were but a hairsbreadth away from his neck, little puffs of warm air licking across his sensitive skin while Keylee’s soft eyelashes fluttered against his neck. “That was nice of her.  Anything else?”

Was there anything else? Paul’s brain short-circuited on that thought.  Somewhere in the deep of his consciousness he thought there probably was – that there was something he needed to speak with Keylee about, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember.  All Paul could concentrate on was the need pulsing through his body.  Ignoring a question he couldn’t even begin to concentrate on, Paul moved his hands, easing them under the hem of Keylee’s thin, cotton t-shirt, his fingers slowly drifting down and wiggling beneath the waistband of his Facilitator’s loose pants.  

“Shit, Keylee,” Paul groaned into the hair on Keylee’s head, “you feel so damn good.”  In answer, Keylee wiggled on Paul’s lap, pulling an even deeper groan, something bordering on animalistic growl, from deep within Paul’s chest.  “You keep that up – “

“And what?”

Paul threw a desperate attempt at trying to reign in the little pieces of fraying conscious he was barely clinging to.  “You’ve only had a couple hours of sleep, that’s hardly time enough for you to recover from what happened earlier.  I don’t want to – “

“Hurt me?” Keylee answered and Paul figured his Facilitator had heard him say that enough times now that it was near mantra.  “The only way you’re going to hurt me is by denying what I want, what I need.  So, if your goal’s not to do that, then you better get busy.”

Everything in Paul’s body tensed, his heart stopping for a full two beats before pounding out a new, life threatening rhythm.  “Do you know what you’re asking?”

In answer, Paul felt Keylee’s slender hand snake in between their bodies, his fingers easily finding their concrete goal, Paul’s cock thick and desperate with need, that need made all the more pressing when Keylee pushed the heel of his palm into Paul’s sex. “I do.  I want this,” Keylee made small, intermittent pressing motions along Paul’s thickness, “buried deep inside me.  I want to feel where you’ve been for days to come and I want to feel the heat of your cum filling me just like your chakra fills my pathways.”

Paul’s hands squeezed down tight on Keylee’s tensed ass, his fingers digging in deep enough to most likely bruise.  Paul had never been so thankful Healer Talbot had had the forethought to check him for STD’s when he’d been in the hospital.  At the time he’d wondered what that had to do with anything, but thinking back on it now, Paul could only wonder at the man.  Had Talbot known this would happen?  Paul wanted to slap himself, of course the Healer had known.  Talbot had his own Facilitator, David and would know the path nearly all bound Users and Facilitators normally found themselves going down – the path they were all drawn to.  Had his Healer not had such presence of mind, he would have had to deny Keylee something he so desperately wanted, something Paul was only too happy to comply with.  The thought of his cum coating Keylee – marking his Facilitator both inside and out sent shivers of pleasured anticipation racing down Paul’s spine.  

“Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

Paul felt the press of Keylee’s palm against the fabric of his pants, pushing down on his aching cock. “I think I’ve got a pretty good idea.”

God above, Keylee was flirting with him now, seducing him with a voice Paul couldn’t have imagined even in his wildest of fantasies.  It was a side of Keylee Paul hadn’t known existed, one he was damn thankful for and one he hoped like hell no one but him had ever heard.  

Without giving a thought to whether he was strong enough or not, Paul pulled Keylee’s body into his own, cradling him close before standing, Keylee’s weight firmly wrapped up tight into his own.  

“Paul,” there it was, that breathless need, that desperate desire Paul craved to hear.  No one said his name like Keylee did.   

“Just remember, in the morning, when your ass is aching, you asked for this.”

“I won’t forget.  I promise.”

Clinging to Keylee almost as much as the smaller man was to him, Paul carried his precious cargo to his bedroom, a room he figured no longer belonged only to him, if it ever truly had to begin with.  As far as Paul was concerned, neither of them would ever be sleeping in a bed alone again.

____________________________________________________________________

Paul was right, two hours sleep hadn’t been enough to heal him, but right now that hardly mattered, or maybe what mattered more was having Paul with him, inside him.  Waking up alone, in Paul’s shuttered bedroom, curtains drawn tight and light so low as to barely be visible, Keylee’d felt the ache of his User’s absence.  He could barely remember Paul undressing and redressing him into something more comfortable. Mostly his memories swirled around the feel of Paul’s hands on his naked flesh, those thoughts burning through his veins and plumping his needy cock.  

It wasn’t just the need of his flesh that had Keylee crawling out of that warm bed, but the needs of his soul.  Paul was his User, his other half and the part of his life he’d been so desperately missing until recently.  And after the taste he’d had last night, Keylee couldn’t wait for more.  

It’d been easy to find Paul.  Even before they’d been officially bonded, Keylee had been able to feel his User nearby and wondered if Paul could do the same.  Since they’d bonded, the pull had gotten even stronger.  If Paul could feel him half as easily as Keylee did Paul, Keylee wondered if the tracking chip implanted within his skin was even necessary. Then again, they hadn’t been far enough away from each other to truly test the range.  

Entering the living room, Keylee had found Paul on the sofa, speaking in hushed, but pleasant tones. Besides himself, there was only one other person Keylee had ever heard Paul sound so relaxed around and even though he asked who Paul was speaking with, it wasn’t difficult to guess it was Helen.  What would have been difficult to anticipate was the longing and lust pouring from every cell within Paul’s body.  The way Paul looked at him, those heavily lidded hazel eyes smoldering from the low banked fires deep within his body, that come hither welcome of open arms and the rock hard cock Keylee found waiting for him . . . made his head spin in the most welcome of ways.  

After a lifetime of being shunned, of being made to feel lower than the dirt upon nearly everyone else’s shoes, it was difficult to accept someone could want him that badly and yet the shear need he felt coming from Paul could not be denied or dismissed. Knowing that, feeling that naked desire, Keylee responded in kind, his body more than ready to welcome both the pain and pleasure.  

“Christ, you’re beautiful.”

Blinking far too rapidly, Keylee felt wetness clinging to his eyelashes.  The darkness of the room couldn’t hide the near worshipful look in Paul’s eyes, the awe in his voice a cocoon of warmth shielding Keylee’s heart. 

“I can’t believe you’re mine.  How did I get so damn lucky?”

Sucking in a quick, harsh breath, Keylee shook his head against the pillow cradling it.  “I think that’s my line.”

“Doubtful,” Paul protested. “Anyone that really knows the score realizes I’m the lucky bastard here, not you.”

Keylee felt the brush of Paul’s knuckles rake across his cheek, pulling the wetness from his lashes away, more stubborn tears quickly forming to take its place.  “Maybe let’s compromise and agree we’re both pretty damn lucky.”

“I can do that,” Paul offered, the hand not on Keylee’s face slipping under his thin t-shirt, the rough skin of Paul’s fingers dancing along his side and sending shivers of pleasure rippling through Keylee’s skin.  

Bottom lip sucked in between his teeth, Keylee’s body arched off the bed, his flesh seeking and searching for the cure to the growing flame licking through his veins.  “Fuck, Paul.  I need you.”

“You’ve got me. Matter of fact, you’re never getting rid of me.”

Keylee let loose something that sounded shamefully like a whimper when he felt Paul grip his pants, easily pulling both them and his boxer-briefs free of his body and leaving him blissfully naked from the waist down.  Up until a few weeks ago, the thought of someone so large looming over his naked body would have been the stuff of nightmares, but now . . . with Paul, it was every fantasy Keylee never knew he had come true.  

“I’ve never seen anyone with as pale of skin as you,” Paul’s voice trickled into Keylee’s consciousness, the words barely as important as the loving tone they spoken with, “Fuck, you practically glow.  It’s goddamn breathtaking.”

Another sound escaped Keylee’s throat, the noise nowhere near an actual word.  At some point Keylee’s hands found purchase on Paul’s biceps, those corded muscles flexing beneath his fingers as Keylee’s nails dug in deep.  Keylee wasn’t sure when exactly Paul had removed his shirt but was thankful nonetheless. What wasn’t okay was the fact Paul still had his pants on and Keylee gave a breathless, “P-pants.”

Keylee felt Paul’s lips nuzzle the flesh beneath an ear.  “Since yours are already gone, I’m guessing you mean mine.”  At Keylee’s whimper Paul chuckled a brief, “On it.”

There was a moment of panic when Keylee felt Paul’s body lift from his own, Paul’s heavy weight disappearing before coming back down, fully naked, the snick of a bottle Keylee was beginning to associate with lube sounding through the empty room.  

“We don’t have to be anywhere tomorrow,” Paul was back to whispering in Keylee’s ear.  “No reason to hold back.”

Those words were music to Keylee’s burning ears and in answer he let his legs fall apart, opening up his body in welcome invitation.  The sucking breath Keylee heard Paul take quickly followed by a string of harsh curse words were answer enough.  

There was a brief shuffle of noises; an embarrassing squelch of air from what Keylee presumed was the bottle of lube Paul was squeezing before Keylee jerked, the cool wetness against his ring surprising. 

“Shh, I’ve got you, remember.  I want inside you so damn bad but I will not hurt you any more than I have to.  Gonna slick the way as much as possible, baby.”

Somewhere in the back of Keylee’s brain, the part that was still making vain attempts at real communication, he understood what Paul said, but the more primitive part of his brain, the part that was currently holding the reigns, balked at the fact it was Paul’s fingers, not his cock, that were currently digging around inside him. Restless, Keylee’s hands were everywhere, grasping fleeting bits and pieces of Paul’s flesh until finding what he hadn’t even known he’d been seeking.

“Fucking Hell, Keylee,” Paul gasped, “I’m not gonna last if you keep doing that.”

The feel of Paul’s granite hard flesh, velvety soft in his hand did strange things to Keylee’s fragile state of mind.  “Need you,” it was more plea than request now, a desperate tinge of want Keylee’d never heard from himself before.  

“Don’t wanna hurt – “

“Do it.  Please, Paul.”

“Fuck, the way you say my name . . . “

Keylee’d heard Paul say that before and had no idea what he was really talking about.  But whatever it was worked.  With a move swifter than Keylee could follow, Paul had ahold of his calves, pulling his legs up and over his head, spreading his body wide before something hard and firm prodded at his slicked entrance.  

“Take a deep breath and push out.”  It was the only warning Keylee got before he felt Paul push inside, his own body spreading and opening to accommodate Paul’s hefty girth.  Eyes closed, back arched and head thrown back, Keylee couldn’t see Paul, but he could feel him.  There was burning, and although he wasn’t exactly used to this particular kind of pain, pain and Keylee had long ago stopped being strangers.  Just like any other pain, Keylee acknowledged it, accepted it into his being and pushed through it.  But unlike the other types of pain in Keylee’s life, this time a rush of lightening quick pleasure followed it.  

“Keylee, you all – “

“Again.”  That one word was barely spoken through a gasp of breath.

“This?”  Keylee felt another wave of exquisite pleasure pulse through his body, Paul’s throbbing sex pushing against just the right spot within him, the tug of Paul’s cock against the sensitive skin ringing Keylee’s hole sending pleasant aftershocks chasing those massive pulses of ecstasy.  

Words lost to him, Keylee nodded his head, pushing his hips up and meeting Paul’s next thrust in a combined moan he was sure rattled the windows or their posh condo.  

Sweat coated Keylee’s body, slicking them both as Paul set up a desperate rhythm of both movement and grunts.  Cracking open his eyes, Keylee looked up at the man thrusting against him, the man using his body in the best way possible.  Paul looked like a man possessed, his lower body pistoning back and forth, the look on his face a combination of pleasure and pain.  In short, Keylee had never in his life seen anything as beautiful as Paul Stein.  

Cock happily bouncing along his taught abs, Keylee’s eyes slammed shut when he felt Paul take his hard flesh in hand, stroking and jacking him off in time with his now erratic thrusts. Deep inside, Keylee felt his chakra pathways hum, Paul’s energy flowing into him, seeking out an even deeper connection.  Opening himself fully, Keylee welcomed every single part of Paul into his body, his own humming with pleasured satisfaction.  

“So damn good.  So perfect,” Keylee heard Paul huff out above him, a final twist and tug of Paul’s hand on his cock sending Keylee flying over the edge of mind numbing bliss.  Keylee was just feeling the last jets of his own cum hitting his chest and face when Paul uttered a garbled, “Fuck.”  Soon it wasn’t just Keylee’s chakra pathways lighting up with warmth, Paul’s cum pulsing deep within his body, claiming him, making them whole.  

___________________________________________________________________________

Paul’s release came swift and so hard it was damn near painful.  More than that, it was so damn perfect.  Exhausted, Paul’s body collapsed, cradled against and within the smaller frame of the man who meant everything to him.  Easily gripping Keylee behind his shoulders, Paul rolled them both, shifting Keylee’s body so it lay draped over the top of him.  There was a mixture of fluids slipping and sliding between them, covering both their respective chests and dripping from Keylee’s well used ass, leaking between his legs and settling on the coarse hairs surrounding Paul’s still half hard cock.  

Hand stroking down Keylee’s back, Paul drifted further south, grasping a globe of flesh before teasing a finger into a slickened crack and stroking Keylee’s fluttering hole.  

“Paul,” his name was more moaned than spoken, Keylee’s wiggling body and already firming cock letting him know his actions hadn’t gone unnoticed.  

“Shh, baby, just checking something.”  Pulling his finger back up, Paul was relieved to find it devoid of blood.  He’d planned on taking more time, opening Keylee up and prepping him better, but evidently there was only so much self-control he had. 

Releasing a heavy sigh, Paul wrapped his arms around Keylee, tucking sweat slickened midnight hair beneath his chin.  “You okay?”

Paul smiled at the bubbling laughter shaking Keylee’s body.  “Are you serious right now?  Am I okay? I’m so much better than just okay.  Why weren’t we doing this weeks ago?”

“Would you have let me do this weeks ago?”

“If it was what you needed, yes.”

And there it was, the answer to why they’d waited, why Paul had waited.  Keylee was a Facilitator; it was in his very DNA to do whatever his User wanted, to be whatever his User needed.  “But it wasn’t what you needed, not yet,” Paul answered with a kiss to the top of Keylee’s head.  

Nuzzling into Paul’s neck, Keylee felt his eyelids flutter, their weight blissfully heavy.  For the first time in his life, Keylee felt both body and soul at peace.

Chapter Twenty-Four

With the blinds and curtains pulled tight, Paul woke with absolutely no concept of time.  It could have been two in the morning or afternoon and he would have had no idea as to which.  The novelty of the experience was only overshadowed by the curious sensation that he didn’t care.  Time could take a flying leap off the face of the Earth for all Paul cared.  In fact, if Time stopped, simply quit moving forward, Paul would spend the rest of eternity gratefully holding Keylee’s body against his own, those soft puffs of breath forever teasing his own flushed skin. 

Paul wasn’t exactly sure when his hands began moving, most likely his flesh had a mind of its own, or perhaps his physical body was beginning to take its cues from the chakra flowing through his body and into Keylee’s.  It seemed as if every part of him craved the small man lying sprawled out atop his body.  Fingers deeply entangled within Keylee’s thick lochs of hair, Paul’s nails gently scraped along Keylee’s scalp while the palm of his other hand was occupied with continuously skimming over warm, creamy skin, Keylee’s firm ass cheeks contracting nicely when Paul’s hand ventured just a little bit lower.  

Without thought, Paul’s finger eased its way between those firm globes of flesh, along Keylee’s deep crack, teasing his still dampened hole.  Easing the tip of his finger inside that tight ring of flesh, Paul couldn’t believe he’d been buried there so recently and was even more astounded by how badly he wanted to be again.  

All Paul’s activity hadn’t gone unnoticed and soon Keylee was squirming, the once flaccid cock lounging against his thigh pushing a little more persistently against Paul’s flesh. It wasn’t so much Keylee’s increased fidgeting, as the lust filled, “Paul,” moaning through his lips that triggered the true heat within Paul’s body.  

“Fuck I love the way you say my name.”

“You said that earlier.” There was a questioning lilt to Keylee’s voice.

“Most likely you’ll get sick of hearing me say it.”  At least Paul hoped so. 

“But . . . you’ve had lovers before.  Surly they’ve called out your name too.”

“Not lovers, baby. Sex partners, fuck buddies if you wanna be crude about it, and often I was.  They were never anything like this and none of them said my name the way you do. Christ, no one’s ever said my name the way you do.”  Paul was relieved when Keylee remained silent.  He’d been afraid Keylee would want a deeper explanation and Paul wasn’t at all sure he’d be able to give one.  No, it wasn’t that he couldn’t, only that he wasn’t sure he wanted to, at least not yet. Most likely he’d wind up rambling, the words jumbled and confused, lost amongst all the emotion Paul’s brain was still trying to process instead of simply shutting down.  

Keylee’s wiggling became more intense, forcing Paul to loosen his grip as Keylee shimmied up his body, those gorgeous Caribbean blue eyes damn near glowing in the dark.  The magenta colored veining radiating out from their depths like fire filled cracks in the ice.  “My God, you are beautiful,” Paul whispered, both hands cupping Keylee’s face while it hovered over his own.

“You also said that before,” Keylee’s embarrassed voice broke through the rapid-fire beat of Paul’s pounding heart.  

“Probably something else you should get used to hearing, because baby, you are the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”  Paul doubted he’d ever said truer words.  “You wanna move in a little closer?”

“Why?”

Paul chuckled at the genuine curiosity.  “So I can do this,” Paul answered before placing the palm of his hand against the back of Keylee’s head, pulling him down and pressing their lips together.  

There was a moment of tension, a moment where Paul wondered if he’d surprised Keylee a little too much, that despite what they’d so recently done, Keylee wasn’t ready for this level of connection.  But his worries were unfounded.  Most likely he had well and truly surprised Keylee, but the open, pliant mouth now working against his own confidently let Paul know it had at least been a happy and welcome surprise.  And those mewling sounds permeating the room, floating around his head and oozing their way into his soul . . . Paul felt Keylee’s mouth part a little more and dove in, licking and tasting his way through every damn flavor available.  

“Oh, fuck,” Paul grunted, his lips momentarily parting for breath before rolling them both over, one of his hands hastily reaching down between them, easily finding two rock hard cocks.  For the briefest of moments, Paul thought about taking it further, of doing what he’d wanted to do earlier and bury himself deep in Keylee’s body, but there wasn’t time, not with the hair trigger he was currently riding.  

Through desperate pants, fevered kisses and a rapid fire tug and twist of both hand and wrist, Paul was well on his way to gaining both of them yet another earth shattering orgasm. And Keylee, Paul was happy to say, was doing his all in helping that plan along.  Back arched, legs spread, Keylee humped up into him, the bottom half of his body lunging up and down in a desperate bid for more friction.  

There were no words, only grunts of pleasure, need and want – a final muffled cry between locked lips as both of them exploded, hot cum slicking Paul’s hand and coving both of them in combined sticky warmth.  

Still panting, Paul rested his forehead against Keylee’s, both their eyes closed against the darkness and outside room.  

“Is t-that . . . is that what I can expect every time I wake up?”  Paul relished the warm joy in Keylee’s voice, a gentle teasing Keylee felt at ease enough to let loose.

“Every damn day if I have any choice in the matter,” Paul easily answered, his body rolling to the side but keeping an arm slung over Keylee’s cum coated stomach.  

“It’s a damn sight better than waking up to Charlie’s alarm clock.”

“Charlie?”

“He was in the same Facilitator class as me, he was one of the boys in the bunkhouse.  He had the absolute worst alarm clock.  I’m surprised it made it through to Match Day still intact.”

“You think he took it with him?”

The warm laugh Keylee let loose filled a hole in Paul he never knew he’d had.  “Not sure.  I know it was gone when I got back to the bunkroom.  Everything was gone when I got back.  Well, except for my things.”  Suddenly the joy was gone from Keylee’s voice, his words coated with uncertainty and sadness.  To Paul’s ears, it was like a film of slime that shouldn’t be there.  

“Because you weren’t matched?”  It had never really occurred to Paul to wonder what it must have been like for Keylee that day – to feel left alone, abandoned.

Keylee tried rolling over, but as soon as he felt the motion, Paul tightened down his arm, pulling Keylee closer instead of allowing him to pull away.  “Nice try, but remember, you’re stuck with me now, through the good times and the bad memories.  Don’t hide from me Keylee.  All that does is bring out my competitive nature and make me want to come find you as soon as possible.”

“I’m not entirely sure that sounds reassuring.”

“Wasn’t meant to be,” Paul answered without remorse.  “Now, talk to me.”

Keylee sighed. “There’s not much to talk about and it’s all so irrelevant now.”

“Not if it still makes your voice sound like that.  So, talk.”

The ensuing pause was enough to make Paul think he was going to have to resort to some other type of persuasive method, images and thoughts lighting up his brain like explosions of fireworks.  But those ideas would have to be tabled for another time because after a few tense moments, Keylee finally relented.  “It was devastating, Paul.  All my fears, all my nightmares were realized that day.  I thought . . . well, I wasn’t exactly sure.  I didn’t know if my User had died before we could meet, or if they saw me, knew who I was and chose death instead of taking the chance of bonding with me.  Hell, I didn’t even know if Fate had simply decided I wasn’t worth it, that maybe what happened with my mother and father was enough, that my life was a fleeting remnant of what was left of my parents and the sooner it ended, the sooner the balance of the world would be returned.”

Paul felt gutted. “Keylee, I’m – “

“No,” Keylee shook his head, turning so he could stare Paul in the eyes, “don’t do that to yourself. You didn’t know you even needed me.”

It didn’t really matter that Keylee was right, at least not to Paul.  “I should have.  I knew I wasn’t right.  Don’t make that face at me, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with me.  I’ve gotten over that, or at least I’m making some pretty damn good progress in that direction.  But that doesn’t change the fact that I knew there was a problem.  I should have been braver, Keylee.  My cowardice damn near killed me and left you abandoned.”

Paul welcomed the weight of Keylee’s body on his own almost as much as he cherished the fact that someone cared enough about him to offer true comfort.  “You were different then, living in a different world and I don’t think needing a Facilitator was even something you could have contemplated at the time.  I don’t blame you Paul.  I never have.”

Paul’s eyes slid shut at those words.  Keylee may not blame him, but Paul blamed himself and most likely always would.  Cradling Keylee’s body close, their combined cum now more sticky and unpleasant than warm and soothing, Paul was beginning to think a group shower followed by one hell of a breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending on the time, was in order.  “You feeling up to getting clean and fed?” 

“I could eat and although I like smelling like you, it’s starting to become a little uncomfortable.”

“How’s everything else?” Paul asked.  “We’ve been kind of busy with otherthings but don’t think I haven’t forgotten we need to speak about what happened during the exam.”

At that, Keylee finally did pull away, scooting his naked body to the edge of the bed and swinging his legs over the side.  “I feel pretty good and I don’t see what there is to talk about.  I did what needed to be done, what I had to do.”

Bending his arms, Paul eased his body up, perching on his elbows.  “And what exactly did you do.”

“I think you know.”

“I think I know too, but I’d like to hear it from you.”

There was another pause Paul wondered if he’d have to intervene in before Keylee finally answered, “I dissipated someone else’s chakra.”

“Fuck,” Paul flopped back down on the bed, scrubbing his hands over his face.  It wasn’t like he hadn’t already known, just maybe hoping he’d been wrong somehow.  “You know how fucking dangerous that can be, probably better than me.  In fact, I have a feeling if I knew just how damn dangerous what you did was, I’d be ready to burn the entire condo down.”

“It was necessary. We would have failed the – “

“Fuck the test, Keylee. There is nothing more important than your life.  Nothing. And I don’t just mean that because of how are fates are linked.  I’m fucking glad that if you die I do too because I can’t imagine living without you.”

“Paul, don’t – “

“No.  You need to get that through your head.”

“What’s done is done.”

“Yeah.  I just don’t want a repeat,” Paul huffed before moving on to the second part of this disaster.  “Do you know whose chakra it was?”

Paul heard the hissed intake of Keylee’s breath before he answered a quiet, “Yes.”

“Whose?”

“Eva’s.”

“Fucking shit,” Paul sat bolt upright, the sheets covering his chest pooling at his waist.  “I knew it.  I’m pretty sure my father does too.”  Head shaking, Paul had to ask, “Are you sure?”

“Sure enough.”

“How?”

“It . . . it’s hard to explain but the chakra . . . it was familiar.  I knew it wasn’t yours, but there was something about it that wasn’t as foreign as it should have been.”

“It could have been my father.”

“But it wasn’t and I think we both know that.”

Paul did know that and nodded.  “Do you think that’s why you weren’t hurt worse?  Because the chakra was at least similar to mine?”

Silence permeated the room long enough that Paul finally questioned, “Keylee?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?What aren’t you telling me?”

“I . . . I’m not sure exactly.  Only that when it happened, when I started funneling Eva’s chakra into my body, your chakra kind of did something different.”

“Different how?” Paul was sitting fully upright now, all the relaxed pleasure of their earlier lovemaking a distant memory.  

“I’m not entirely sure. The best I can describe it was like a coating.  It was as if your chakra coated my pathways, protecting me against the stuff that didn’t belong.”

“Seriously?  Is that normal for bonded?”

“I don’t think so.” Keylee’s voice was so small, so full of insecurity and fear.  “I don’t think that’s normal at all.”

__________________________________________________________________________

Keylee lay lounging within Paul’s thick arms, his mind peacefully wandering over the past two days – forty-eight precious hours spent doing nothing more than eating, sleeping and making love.  There were a few minutes of some movie Keylee couldn’t exactly remember the name of and couldn’t bring himself to care.  He and Paul had been left in a cocoon of dim light, greedy touches and lazy pleasures. Keylee had never felt so cared for, protected and happy.  It was too perfect to last.

“You going to answer that?” Keylee forced himself to ask.  By now he was well acquainted with Evan’s ringtone.  

“Do you want me to answer it?”

Wiggling deeper into Paul’s embrace, Keylee knew how he truly felt and still answered, “It might be important.”  

“Or it could just be something my father thinks is important.  There’s a distinction,” Paul grumbled but still kept on the task of actually reaching for his phone, a clipped, “Yes, Father,” harshly gutting the peaceful environment Keylee had been enjoying.  

Head leaning back against Paul’s chest, Keylee could hear murmuring coming through the distant echo of Paul’s cell, the corded muscles cradling his body tensing with each and every passing second.  When the arm slung around his middle tightened, Keylee turned his head, the firm set of Paul’s jaw anything but soothing.  

“What are you not saying?”

Keylee tried shifting so he could better see Paul, but his User wasn’t budging.  If anything, Paul only clamped down tighter, the security of earlier quickly replaced by hesitant worry.  

“Shit,” the curse blew against the top of Keylee’s head, ruffling his hair.  “Even grandmother wouldn’t be this reckless, would she?”

Keylee could hear more murmuring – rapid fire and clipped, the words still a mystery.  

“No, I get it.  No such thing as coincidence.”

There was a bark of laughter on the other end, or at least that’s the closest thing Keylee could compare the harsh sound to.  Trying harder, Keylee finally managed to loosen Paul’s death grip on his body, twisting so he was now sitting sideways within Paul’s lap, his legs draped over Paul’s thick thighs with feet resting on the couch.  Staring up into Paul’s eyes, Keylee saw the dread there, the deep-seated flood of quiet fear he’d hoped to erase from Paul’s life.  But his attempts had been fleeting at best, that old, constant companion back once more.  

“Keylee and I’ve been a little preoccupied.  I haven’t been keeping up with the news, I . . . no, I know.  We’ll check out the news feed now.”  There was defeat lingering within Paul’s voice, a sound to mimic the haunted look in his eyes.  Reaching up, Keylee skimmed his fingertips along Paul’s taught jaw, the muscle beneath the pads of his skin easing ever so slightly.  Paul offered up a weak smile, one Keylee returned.  

“I’m assuming Helen’s aware?”

Keylee could hear more murmuring, the tone softer and less angered.  Somehow just the simple mention of Helen’s name to either Stein man calmed the room.  

“I’ll call her later. I want to learn more first.”  Paul made a thoughtful humming sound before tensing again.  “She said what?”  Another pause where Keylee wondered if either he or Paul took a breath until finally Paul exhaled on a disbelieving, “Shit.”  When Paul looked down, connecting their eyes, Keylee’s pulse quickened for all the wrong reasons. 

Keylee didn’t know when he’d fisted his hands within Paul’s shirt, wadding up the fabric and clinging to the man as if the future of their lives depended on his hold.  Within his body, Keylee could feel Paul’s chakra flowing more fiercely, his User’s fire flaring and sparking with both fury and uncertainty.  So far Paul’s wind hadn’t joined in but Keylee figured it was only a matter of time. 

 “I understand, and Father . . . thanks for calling.”  Paul’s lips twisted into something slightly sour but more than that, for a moment Paul looked uncertain.  “Obviously it’s not what I wanted to hear, but . . . well, you understand.”

The murmuring on the other end softened, quieting into something Keylee could barely hear and if Paul still hadn’t been holding the phone to his ear Keylee would have thought the conversation over.  

Finally Paul gave a nod of his head and a simple, “Goodbye,” before lowering the phone, dropping it onto the nearby couch cushions, his head leaned back, a harsh, “Christ,” cursing the ceiling as Paul’s free hand mercilessly scrubbed across his face.  

Releasing his death grip upon Paul’s shirt, Keylee shifted, placing his knees on either side of Paul’s thighs, putting his face level with that of his User.  “Paul?  What’s happened?”

The nearly hysterical laughter bubbling up through Paul’s throat sent shivers down Keylee’s spine. “My family.  What else could it be but my fucked up family?”

Having no biological family left, and having lived with the judgment and prejudice regarding their memory, Keylee figured he was the last person to throw stones at that particular malady.  “What have they done now?”  Although he’d only heard Paul’s side of the conversation, he’d been able to glean enough to know it wasn’t Evan, Paul was angered with, Helen either, so that left either Paul’s mother – someone Keylee had yet to hear Paul refer to as family, or, “Eva?”

“The one and fucking only,” Paul answered, his hands leaving his face before wrapping around Keylee and pulling him close, Keylee’s cheek firmly nuzzled within the crook of Paul’s neck.

“What’s she done?”

“Something I doubt anyone will ever be able to prove.”  Keylee let Paul shift his body up and off, placing him on the couch cushion. “Where’d we leave the laptop?”

“Kitchen counter.”

Before Keylee could move, Paul was up, striding toward the kitchen before quickly returning with their laptop.  Sitting back down on the couch beside him, Keylee relished the dip in the cushions, Paul’s heavy weight beside him again.  

“This should be quicker than trying to find it on the television.  Although from what my father says, chances are pretty good clips are still streaming every so often.  It’s not the biggest news story, but it’s still hot.”

Keylee was still left wondering exactly what was so hotbut knew he didn’t have long to wait.  Within a matter of seconds the computer booted up and Paul was furiously typing.  The glare from the monitor was far brighter than anything Keylee’s eyes had been subjected to recently.  His eyes weren’t as bad as they’d been, but the light still stung.  Keylee was just considering getting up and retrieving his sunglasses when they magically appeared before his face.

“Thought you might need these,” Paul’s voice was warm, a desperate thread of caring linking those few considerate words together.  

“Thanks,” Keylee could barely hear his own voice.  Popping the glasses on his face, Keylee stared at the computer screen, the search words Paul had typed in pulling up a litany of offers.  Before Keylee had a chance to read them, Paul had already made his selection and clicked upon something.  Immediately a video popped up, the broadcaster’s voice overshadowing the images of a man whom vaguely looked familiar before popping to a combination of video cut with still images of a mangled car, flashing lights and somber emergency personnel. 

Forcing his focus on the words he was hearing instead of the images assaulting his eyes, Keylee listened, confusion settling in.  “-unclear as to the exact nature of the accident that took prominent attorney, Erik St Valentine’s life last night.  From what we understand the investigation is ongoing and will take several weeks to months to conclude.  As many of you may recall, Mr. St Valentine represented a number of high profile celebrity and political clients over the past two decades, his most recent client, Clara Missanger, biological mother of Paul Stein. Paul, as you may recall, is the most recent Stein to come of age and also something of a black sheep of the Caste. During his User examinations it was discovered that unlike other members of his Caste, Paul Stein was in need of a Facilitator.  It was this fact that prompted Paul’s father, Evan Stein, to withhold the remainder of the financial compensation Clara felt she was due per their standing contract for Paul’s conception and birth.  In response, Miss Missanger filed a lawsuit against the Stein Caste, retaining Mr. St Valentine as her attorney.”

Keylee’s breath caught in his throat as Paul closed the images on the screen, scrolling through the search engine results before rapid fire clicking on another link.  The images appearing on this one were just as unsettling as the last, but for totally different reasons.  Now it wasn’t twisted metal and flashing lights, but an immaculately dressed woman, hair smoothed into a perfect twist, her navy blue suite crisp against the white cuffed shirt beneath, matching navy pumps adorning petite feet.  “Eva – “ Keylee whispered on a gasp of air.  

“I heard about Mr. St Valentine’s tragic accident just this morning.  The condolences of the Stein Caste go out to his family.”

“Were the Stein’s involved in Mr. St Valentine’s accident?”

Keylee always marveled at the brazenness of the media.  Did they really expect anyone to say yes to a question like that?

“Of course not.  Our Caste would never resort to such measures, especially for a lawsuit as unfounded as Miss Missanger’s.  We were looking forward to meeting both Mr. St Valentine and Miss Missanger in the courtroom and proving their misguided lawsuit has no bearing whatsoever.”

“Bullshit,” Paul murmured.

“So you are categorically denying any involvement with the circumstances that led to the vehicular accident leading to Mr. St Valentine’s death?”

“That question is so absurd it does not warrant a response.”

Keylee marveled at Eva’s sureness, the confidence she exuded while at the same time shaming the reporter for asking something seemingly so ridiculous.  Keylee had thought that would be the end of it, but staring down at the timer along the bottom of the video clip indicated there was more and soon enough he knew why, the ensuing words coming from Eva Stein’s lips chilling his skin and freezing his very marrow.

“We understand that Paul managed to pass his second User examination.  Tell us, Ms. Stein, how do you feel about a Stein needing a Facilitator?”

“The situation is not ideal, but acceptable.  Every Caste has an anomaly now and again.”

Keylee stiffened, his anger rising.  Eva’s voice was cold, distant and uncaring.  It was as if Paul were a car simply out of tune with the rest of his models. 

“And his Facilitator?  The official registration claims your grandson’s Facilitator to be Keylee Donavan, son of Maggie Donavan and Jeremiah Induwee.  Are you concerned Keylee will turn out like his mother, betraying Paul and causing his death?”

“Not in the least.”

The quick response, full of the same surety Eva had spoken with earlier surprised him.

“And what about reports that during the examination, Keylee Donavan appeared to be far too weak of a Facilitator for your grandson, Paul’s abilities?”

“Too weak?”  Eva sounded surprised for the first time, but the emotion was fleeting, a twisted smile replacing it with alarming speed.  “My dear boy, wherever do you get your information?  In fact, I look forward to seeing exactly just how capable Paul and Keylee are.  I will be monitoring their progress closely. Now, if there is nothing further, good day to you all and again, our condolences to Mr. St Valentine’s family. Should Miss Missanger wish to retain another counsel and pursue this matter further, the Stein Caste will be happy to give the matter its due attention.”

Keylee watched the video blank, the next in line getting ready to upload before Paul shut it down. Stock still, muscles tense, Keylee couldn’t move, couldn’t even really think.  Seconds most likely turned into minutes before he finally said, “You think she killed him.”

“Not her directly, but yeah, I think she ordered it done.”

“Why?”  It wasn’t that Keylee actually disagreed with Paul, but more he didn’t understand the motivation.

“Because, no one messes with the Stein Caste.  Clara’s lawsuit would have been seen as a challenge – a public one at that and something my grandmother truly hates.”

“Then why not go after Clara instead of her attorney?”

Paul was silent for a moment before finally shaking his head.  “Killing off one of the genetic donors wouldn’t do much for the Stein reputation within other Castes.  Could you imagine?  If death were on the line, the Stein Caste would have increasing trouble getting others to sign on.  Plus, Clara might not hold much power in the Missanger Caste, but her Caste is fairly prominent.  Most likely my grandmother was trying to avoid further conflict.  Killing the attorney got her message across without starting a war or harming future genetic pairings.  It was brilliant, really.”

Keylee didn’t like his brilliance coming in that form but could see Paul’s point.  “He had a family,” Keylee’s voice softened.  “That man, that attorney, he had a wife and kids, they even mentioned something about grandchildren, he – “

“And you think those kinds of things matter to my grandmother?”  Paul sounded as disbelieving as his words.  “Sorry, Keylee, but that’s not the type of Caste you’ve bonded into.”

As if Keylee had ever truly had a choice in the matter.  

Swallowing the lump of saliva clogging his throat, Keylee thought on the last bit, his nerves even less settled.  “If there was any doubt it was Eva who tried to mess up your User examination . . . well, I think she settled that question.”

“Agreed.  As much as I hate it, most of the examiners and witnesses there really did view you as weak.  They had no idea why you were really so drained.  Eva wouldn’t have known either unless she was the cause of it.”

“Yeah.”  It was a weak agreement.  “And now she’s what?  Interested?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Keylee saw Paul’s jaw tense, a clipped, “Looks that way,” slipping past his tight lips.  

“Somehow I don’t see that going well.”  And Keylee truly didn’t.  “I think I’d like it better if Eva thought I was some weakling not worth her time or energy.”

“You and me both.”

The darkness around them was only interrupted by the dimming glow of the laptop, on its way to sleep mode.  “What did your father have to say?”

Paul let loose a heavy sigh, something Keylee felt he’d been holding on to for far too long. “Nothing helpful, only to be careful. Also . . . well, he said he’s looking into things.  And I’ve got a feeling Helen’s right.  Evan’s been running interference between Eva and me and Helen for longer than either of us has known.  Bottom line is that I think all of us need to have a sit down – you, me, Helen and Father. We need to know what he knows. I’ve got a feeling dear old dad has a lot of skeletons locked up in his closet and more to the point, he knows about the ones Eva has in hers.”

“And what?  You’re planning on releasing a few of those skeletons?”

“No,” Paul shook his head, “I’m hoping not to become one.”

Having absolutely nothing to say to that, Keylee did what he could, or at least what would make him feel better and leaned against Paul’s side.  He’d never envisioned himself the tactile type, but when it came to Paul, Keylee was completely off script.  

“Bet this isn’t what you fantasized about when you imagined bonding with your User.”  The sarcastic bite to Paul’s words couldn’t disguise the worrying lying beneath.

“I never allowed myself to dream such wild fantasies so you’ve got nothing to worry about.  No expectations here to blow.”  Keylee wasn’t lying, not really.  There had been the rare occasion – times when he viewed himself at his weakest, when he’d briefly entertained such things, but he’d squashed them as quickly as possible.  Having been disappointed far too many times in his life, Keylee refused to set himself up for the betrayal he imagined lurking around the corner. Maybe that’s what had kept him sane after not finding his User during the Pairing Ceremony.

Keylee’s body trembled against the laughter shaking Paul’s chest.  “We’re quite the pair, you and me.  I never even considered the fact I might need a Facilitator and you never allowed yourself to hope for a User.  I can’t figure out if the Fates really are sadistic or simply have a painful sense of humor.”

“Maybe a little of both, but right now I’m not complaining.”

“Even knowing I’m a prick, my father’s an ass and my grandmother’s most likely a murderer?”  

“Hey,” Keylee poked a finger into Paul’s ribs, “I like your prick just fine.”  Dipping his hand lower, Keylee rubbed his palm over the firming bulge in Paul’s pants.  “More than fine, really.”

Paul’s fingers played along Keylee’s scalp.  “Christ Keylee, will I ever get enough of you?”

Keylee smiled, one of those rare, truly heartfelt tilt of his lips.  “We’ve got time to figure out, but I sincerely hope not.”

Leaning his head back again, Paul let loose a contented sigh, his words drifting back to matters of his family.  “At least you’ve still got Helen, but I’m beginning to wonder just how many sins my sister can compensate for.”

“If there are sins, none of them are yours,” Keylee easily answered, his fingers easing off Paul’s now very firm cock, earning him a low growl of frustration.  “Easy,” Keylee shifted, sitting up and straddling Paul’s lap before sitting down, his hands landing on firm pecs that shifted and danced beneath his touch, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?”  It was a single word, the emotion spurring it nearly choking in its need and intensity.  

“Promise.”  It was the easiest promise Keylee had ever made, not a hint of lie tagging along for the ride.  “You’re stuck with me, Paul Stein.”

Keylee treasured the feel of Paul’s arms encircling his waist, pulling him in closer, Paul’s hips arching up and pressing into Keylee’s own growing need.  “Good to know ‘cause you’d have a hell of a time getting rid of me.”

The grin lighting up Keylee’s face was pure joy.  Throwing his dark glasses to the side, Keylee leaned down, connecting their lips, the fire surging through that simple touch a warm addition to the pleasant burn lighting up his chakra pathways.  Keylee never thought accepting another’s energy into himself could feel so damn good. He’d never even realized the key part of his life that was missing.  If he had, Keylee wondered if he’d have been able to retain his sanity, if any unbounded Facilitator could.  

Paul’s tongue slid into his mouth and Keylee welcomed the intrusion.  Flexing his ass within Paul’s large hands, Keylee relished the sensation. He’d never thought it possible someone else’s family could be more fucked up than his own, but the Stein Caste was.  Even knowing that didn’t matter.  What Keylee had said before was true, he was never leaving Paul.  Whether he could or not didn’t matter.  For the first time in his life, Keylee was well and truly whole, and nothing, absofuckinglootly nothing, was going to take that away from him.

Epilogue

“I thought it would be bigger.”

Paul started to turn, disbelief in his eyes until he realized Keylee was being sarcastic.  The more he learned about his Facilitator, the more Paul realized it wasn’t only Keylee’s body he enjoyed getting to know, but everything about the man, including his odd sense of humor. Deciding to play along, Paul chided, “I wouldn’t say that to the Commander.  That’s not something any man wants to hear.”

Unseen, Keylee’s eyes crinkled with amusement below the dark lenses of his glasses.  “I’m not talking about his dick.”

“Good.”  Wrapping his arm tightly around Keylee’s shoulders, Paul pulled the smaller figure tight against his body.  “There’s only one dick I want you thinking about.”

“That’s a little selfish, don’t you think?  I mean, there are two dicks involved in this relationship.”

Paul let loose a rumble of laughter, something he was in desperate need of, something only Keylee could pull from him.  “Christ, you’re priceless.  Do you know that?”

“Only to you.”

“I fail to see the problem with that.” Paul realized that was a truly selfish statement, but one he whole-heartedly agreed with and wouldn’t apologize for.  

Instead of anger or disgust, Paul watched Keylee’s lips curve into a small smile.  There were others who valued Keylee, but no one came close to the need fueling Paul’s greed.  

“Come on, we don’t want to keep the paper pushers waiting.”  Paul felt Keylee pull away and let him leave his embrace.  They still had about twenty minutes. Contrary to Keylee’s earlier claim, the Department was just about as opposite of small as one could get, and that was only the part visible above ground.  Paul figured it would take every bit of that twenty minutes to find the Registry Office.  

Keeping his fingers linked with Keylee, Paul took the lead, something he’d learned Keylee preferred. It wasn’t in a Facilitator’s nature to take point on a situation and Paul found it both endearing and frustrating that Keylee often found more comfort in his shadow than by his side. Paul didn’t know if taking the lead was ingrained in all Users or if it was more his Stein genetics and upbringing, but doing so wasn’t a hardship, if anything it put him more at ease.  Front and center was where he belonged, where he felt the most sure, and protecting Keylee in any way, shape or form warmed him from deep within.  

Contrary to what he’d anticipated, it didn’t take much searching to find what they were looking for and just as Paul had thought, the Registration Office wasn’t that difficult to find.  It simply took more time to get there due to the enormity of the building, not the location. Several long halls and a short elevator trip brought them to their destination, Keylee’s tight grip on his fingers never wavering and at times bordering on the verge of pain.  

“Talk to me,” Paul leaned down and whispered in Keylee’s ear, the glass door in front of them proudly sporting blocky, but somehow elegant letters proclaiming they’d reached their destination.  

Paul felt a shiver run through Keylee’s body and doubted it was due to their close proximity.  He thought he’d have to prod further but finally Keylee relented, a simple, “It’s just a lot,” giving Paul a hint, but not enough to work with.

“What’s a lot?”

There was a short pause before Keylee managed a frustrated, “Everything.  I’ll be all right, just stay close.”

It was a simple request, something Keylee never need ask for.  Paul figured Keylee’d have a much harder time getting him to leave than stay. Pulling Keylee in a little closer, Paul tried seeing things through his Facilitator’s eyes.  From what he understood, Keylee had been a ward of the state of Virginia all his life, the Facilitator Institute his home for most of it. Keylee had barely stepped foot outside the Institute until Paul came along.  Given the constraints of Keylee’s life experiences, Paul began understanding that this . . . all of this, must seem pretty overwhelming.  Not only was the building massive, but it was also teaming with bodies.  There were people everywhere and where there were people, there were eyes – those eyes trained and focused on them.  Besides holding Keylee close, Paul was at a loss how to help more.

Frustration began building within Paul until an all too familiar click-clack reached his ears, Helen’s light gait easing through his body with frightening speed.

Turning his head, the relieved smile curving across Paul’s lips was truly genuine.  “Helen, I wasn’t sure if we’d see you today.”

“As if I’d miss a chance seeing Keylee,” Helen teased, her green eyes sparkling with playful mischief. “I speak with you enough but hardly ever get the pleasure of seeing your better half.”

“It’s good to see you too, Helen,” Keylee saved Paul from whatever pathetic quip his mind had been conjuring.  “How are you?”

Paul marveled at the softening of Helen’s face, the small lines and grooves around her lips easing as her muscles relaxed.  “I’m doing well, Keylee.  I am very sorry I couldn’t be there for your exam.  From what I hear it was a bit more memorable than any of us would have liked.”

“Just a bit,” Keylee answered after a brief hesitation.  “Paul filled you in?”

Helen’s gaze flashed towards Paul.  “He did.”

Keylee’s head nodded in understanding.  He’d already known the two siblings had been discussing things.  The question had been more out of courtesy than necessity.  

“So,” Helen’s voice lightened, the tension from earlier still there but now only clinging to its edges, “you two are here to officially register.”

“We are, I – “ Paul’s words were interrupted when Keylee’s body toppled into his own, Paul’s arms quickly wrapping around his Facilitator, stabilizing and holding him close.  Eyes snapping up, Paul looked up in time to see what, or more importantly who, had run into Keylee.  Fire licked the surface of Paul’s skin, the sneering look on the man’s face as he reached for one of the doors they were currently standing in front of enough to spark the undying flame constantly simmering under the surface. 

Paul ignored Helen’s hand on his shoulder.  “I wasn’t aware manners were in such short supply at the Department.”  Contrary to the heat burning within him, Paul’s voice was ice cold.  “Normally people apologize when they run into someone else.”

Instead of the apology he expected, the man’s head tilted up, nose in the air and eyes slanted down, his gaze shifting from Keylee to Paul and back again as if Keylee was something foul he’d stepped in outside.  “That shouldn’t have been let through the front doors, Mr. Stein.  For that matter, neither should you.”

Paul saw red, Keylee’s calming presence the only thing keeping the Department from going up in flames. Everything within him screamed for a good roasting, with Keylee’s help he could burn this insignificant man to ash, leaving only a charred memory on the floor.  

“Paul, please . . . “ Keylee’s pleading voice, his hands tightly entrenched within the folds of his jacket lapel were all that kept Paul centered, all that calmed the raging inferno within.  

“Elliot,” Helen’s voice trickled down Paul’s spine like warm honey – sugary and sweet.  “I wasn’t aware you felt such things towards my brother and his Facilitator.  I suppose I will need to take that into account during your next evaluation.”

Helen’s tone didn’t just affect Paul but Elliot as well, the man’s features softening at first then eyes widening as realization sank in.  “Evaluation?  Timothy is in charge of the evaluations, he – “

Helen waved a single finger in front of her face, her head shaking back and forth, a light tsking issuing from her throat.  “Shame on you, Elliot.  It looks like someone hasn’t been paying attention to the interoffice memos.  Mr. Sheldon, or as you said, Timothy, has retired from the position and Commander Ellis has asked me to take point on the annual reviews and subsequent evaluations.  Of course I have a team at my disposal, but I believe I’ll be handling your review personally this year.”

Paul reveled in the ashen color overtaking Elliot’s face, his only regret was the fact he wasn’t responsible for it.  

“Helen, I – “

“I assume you actually have business within the Registry Office and I’ve kept you from it for long enough.” The saccharine tone in Helen’s voice was palpable, its sweetness a thin coating hiding the quicksand lying beneath. 

Paul didn’t know how Keylee felt about the unfolding situation but the wicked smile pulling at Paul’s lips spoke volumes regarding his own.  

“Oh, and Elliot,” Helen’s tone was empty, devoid of the honey moments ago, “the first mention in this year’s evaluation will be in regards to your obvious lack of self preservation.  I have no doubt you, like everyone else within the Institute, have watched both of Paul’s User tests and insulting his Facilitator, someone my brother cares for deeply, is beyond foolish.  One would almost think you had a death wish, Elliot.”

Satisfaction swam through Paul’s body as he watched Elliot stumble through the door, nearly falling on the floor on the other side before righting his treacherous feet and managing to stumble around a corner.  

 The silence surrounding them felt eerie, Paul’s voice finally breaking it.  “Is it wrong I found that so damn satisfying?”

“No.”

All three heads swiveled at that one word, falling into the emptiness of the hall, a sound that should have echoed in the hollowness surrounding them but didn’t.  

“Commander Ellis, Bonnie” Helen was the first to recover.  “I didn’t realize you had business in the Registry today.”

Paul felt Keylee pull away ever so slightly and fought his instincts screaming at him to pull Keylee back. Thankfully Keylee didn’t go far and remained tucked in tight, Paul’s arm still encircling his shoulders while one of Keylee’s own arms snuck around Paul’s waist.  

“Bonnie and I heard Paul and Keylee were coming in today and I have to admit, we were too curious to stay in our office.  Mr. Stein, Mr. Donavan, I’m Commander Ellis and this is my Facilitator, Bonnie.”

Clasping an offered hand was instinct for Paul; something so ingrained within his Stein upbringing that not doing so hardly occurred to him. When his body hesitated, however so slight, it sent a shot of warning screaming through his brain.  Tabling it for later, Paul did reach out, clasping the Commander’s hand, the flesh meeting his own as ordinary as it should be.  

“Commander, it’s nice to meet you.”  Paul found he and the Commander were almost equal in stature, the man before him looking almost exactly as he’d pictured him – riding the upper end of middle age, auburn hair peppered with gray and white, ruddy skin marked by the lines of living. Dressed in an impeccable bespoke suite, it was no wonder Paul’s father admired the man.  

Pulling his eyes away and down, Paul nodded toward Bonnie, a rather petite woman whose platinum blond hair had long ago turned silver, the up-do twist it was worked into something he imagined his sister was envious of.  Nodding once in her direction, Paul added, “And Bonnie, it’s nice to meet you as well.”  Fighting his instincts, Paul pulled Keylee forward ever so slightly.  “And this is Keylee.”

Paul caught the tightening of Bonnie’s face, the crows feet spreading out from the corners of her eyes deepening ever so slightly as Commander Ellis stepped forward, curious pleasure lighting up his hazel eyes.  “Mr. Donavan, a true pleasure.”

The truth emanating from that statement did little to calm Paul’s nerves.  

“I . . . uh . . . thank you?“ Paul felt Keylee’s fingers tighten down on his shirt.  

“I hope you will forgive the earlier unpleasantness.  I assure you such things will not be tolerated here within the Department, Mr. Donavan. The sins of your mother and father’s past are not your own and I will make that abundantly clear to every User and Facilitator within these walls.”

Paul felt Keylee squirm and knew the Commander’s words were making him increasingly uncomfortable. Keylee’s next words were expected. “Really, that’s not necessary.  I’m used to – “

“Used to things you should not be and will no longer need to be.  I will hear no more on the subject.  Understood.”

“Yes sir,” Keylee’s voice sounded soft and unsure and Paul hated it.  

“Well then,” Commander Ellis backed up, his arm settling around Bonnie, pulling her in close, “I will let the two of you do what you came here for.  It was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to seeing just what the two of you are capable of.  Helen, come to my office later.  I have a sudden urge to begin the yearly evaluations a little early this time around.”

Helen’s, “Yes sir,” was more confident than Keylee’s had been.  

Silently they all watched the Commander and his Facilitator’s backs until they turned a corner, disappearing from view.  

Several seconds ticked by until Paul finally asked, “Does he greet everyone that comes in to register?”

“No,” Helen answered, “at least not that I know of.”

“Helen?”  There was something in his sister’s voice, something Paul didn’t like.

More time ticked by, the three of them still alone within the hall, Keylee’s fingers digging ever deeper into the fabric of his shirt, twisting it tight enough Paul wondered if the cleaners would be able to restore it to its proper shape.

“Hel – “

“You two need to get going if you’re going to get registered before lunch,” Helen suddenly turned, the smile lighting up her face almost reaching her brilliant green eyes. 

“Helen, is everything all right?” 

“Everything’s fine, Key. I promise.  Now, you two really do need to get going.  Trust me when I say there’s a lot of paperwork and the sooner you get started on it the sooner it’ll be over.”

“Time to go sign our lives away, huh sis?” Paul halfway joked, the tightening of Helen’s face doing nothing for his already frayed nerves.  

“You’ve always had a flare for the dramatic, Paul.”  Helen leaned in, giving Paul a peck on the cheek before doing the same with Keylee. “Key, take care of my idiot brother. Make sure he doesn’t burn the place down before getting registered, okay.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Finally a genuine smile lit up Helen’s face.  “I’d better get going to.  I have a mountain of my own paperwork to get through today.”  Turning from Keylee, Helen looked to her brother.  “Paul, I’ll call you later.”  And with that the click-clack of Helen’s shoes began echoing down the hall.

“Paul?”

“Hmm?” Paul’s eyes were still fixed on his sister’s retreating form.

“Are we sure we’re doing the right thing?”

“What do you mean?” Paul looked down on the top of Keylee’s head, a heavy silence surrounding them once more.  “Keylee?”

“Never mind, it’s silly. I mean, this is what User’s and Facilitators do.  Right? They sign up with the Department.” 

Paul’s answer was automatic.  “It’s the safest option.”  And Paul would do whatever he had to do to keep his Facilitator safe.

Keylee tilted his head, a smile lighting up his pale face.  If the fluorescent lights hadn’t been so damn bright Paul would have lifted the dark glasses from Keylee’s face, the need to look into those amazing eyes almost more temptation than he could bare.  “Okay then.  Come on, let’s get this over with.”

Allowing Keylee to go first, Paul pulled open the door to the Registry Office, the hum of computers and the ever-present glow of overhead lighting greeting them.  Moving forward, Paul’s hand resting on the small of Keylee’s back, Paul kept the mantra up in his head . . . they were doing the right thing, what was expected, what was necessary and what would give them the most secure and safest future.  After all, Helen had been a member of the Department for over seven years.   

With that knowledge firmly planted in his brain, Paul stepped up to the front desk.  “User Paul Stein and Facilitator Keylee Donavan here to register with the Department . . . “

The End . . . for now . . .