It's Time To Go

[LIAM AVERY]

Six weeks without Flynn had proved to be the hardest of Liam’s life. All he could think about was how she was being treated, what was happening to her, was she healthy? Even worse, he knew none of those answers would be positive. She was the best thing that had ever come into his life and there was nothing he could do to protect her from the horrors she was probably suffering. If he had trouble sleeping before, it was nothing compared to how he was sleeping now. He researched ways to force sleep, finding several suggestions, but his sleep even then was never restful. When he woke his heart would be pounding for no reason and it would take several minutes of just staring at the ceiling to realize what was frightening him so much: Flynn was gone. What wouldn’t he have given just to see her? Though he went through the motions of everyday work, his heart and mind were elsewhere. He tried to help Marius and Abby with the protests, but not enough was being done.

Then he found out about the plan for the Gargoyles to take the camps. It was exactly what he needed. Being a Guardian, he knew how to fight and was well-versed in military tactics. He spent every day after that getting ready to break into the camps and finally get Flynn back. When he did, he would do whatever it took to protect her. Flynn was so sweet and fragile and she needed protecting. If only he could have kept her from the camps in the first place…He knew it wasn’t his fault, really, that he had no idea their “virus” scheme was a scam, but he still felt guilty. Had he not promised to keep her safe? A lot of good he’d done…All of these thoughts motivated him to push harder to prepare for this infiltration. He would find her…He was determined to get Flynn out himself.

Finally the night came to sneak into the camps. Watching the Elementalists blast the electric fences surrounding the camps with electricity was amazing. The power sources of the fences burst into sparks and flame and it quickly became obvious that the surge of electricity was too much for the fences. Throwing a stick at the fence registered no response and the squads of Gargoyles easily slid through the wires. Liam could feel his heart pumping as he ducked through the fence and made his way into the camps, his gun pointed toward the ground. It wouldn’t take long for the guards to notice them now. Sure enough, gunfire popped through the still early morning air. The gray morning light made it easier to register where the gunfire was coming from, but it was still relatively dark. Though it made it hard to return fire, it made it easier to hide from the raining bullets. As he rounded the corner of a building in the Avisaille camp, a guard approached him with a gun pointed directly at his face. Liam brought his own gun up and caught the muzzle from below. He then slammed the butt of the gun into the guard’s gut and as he fell to the ground, Liam smacked the butt of the gun into the guard’s face. The man was out cold and he continued on toward the barracks.

By the time he reached them, the Avisailles had been released. There was widespread panic and prisoners reuniting before running towards the woods. His eyes searched the crowd frantically, beads of sweat collecting on his brow. All he wanted was to find her…

There. His eyes caught hers as she spun around and the world stopped moving just for that second. She was thinner, worn, but the most welcome sight he had ever laid eyes on. His eyes were stinging with relieved tears as the weight in his chest finally lifted. She was alive and she was so close. Before he even registered it, he was running toward her at breakneck speed, closing the distance between them at long, long last. He threw the gun aside as he neared her, throwing his arms around her and pulling her into him tightly. “Flynn!” he breathed in a hoarse voice, his face burying in her hair and neck. He could feel how thin she was, the way she trembled, but she was alive. Nudging back just a bit, he cupped her face in both his hands, his fingers buried in her messy hair as he inspected her face. The camps left her weathered and worn but seeing those blue eyes gazing back at him put him at ease. His eyes were getting red rimmed from the tears stinging them as he looked her over. Even with the chaos around them, he pulled her in for a brief but passionate kiss, overjoyed that he was able to do it again. The world and destruction around them melted away and it was just he and Flynn again.

“Get down!” The yell came from so nearby that it jolted Liam from his kiss and caused him to look around frantically. Gunfire sounded around them, not far off, and he was reminded of why he was here in the first place. He needed to get Flynn out of here and protect her. Just for a second he released Flynn to pick up his gun and sling it over his shoulders once more. When he came back to her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to the side of the barracks, looking her dead in the eyes. “We’re going to make for the woods. You have to stay close to me and if you see any guards coming after us, let me know, okay? Once we’re in the woods, we’ll be okay. There are cars waiting to take us back into the city.” He could see how scared Flynn was and he sighed before cupping her face once again and kissing her forehead. She was the most important thing in his life—he couldn’t let anything bad happen to her again. He needed her to know he would keep her safe now. Pulling away again, he continued to hold her face as he looked in her eyes. “We need to move as fast as we can. Are you ready?” His blue eyes were an intense blaze as he watched Flynn through the dim light of dawn.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

The days at the camps felt like years slowly passing by as Flynn remained there, trying to keep her hopes high but they were quickly dwindling. The Avisailles were having a difficult time being cooped up in the barracks. They couldn't stretch out their wings, which were clipped, and in Flynn's case one was stiff. Her wing had been bandaged up, mending from when the horrid doctor had cut through the bone so that they could study the way an Avisailles' wings healed. Although it wasn't wrapped up anymore there was a dull pain that she felt whenever she moved it away from her body. It also bore a bald spot from where her feathers had been plucked. Her wings weren't as full as they'd once been anyway, between the duress that the camps had her under and the darkness that loomed up above.

Flynn hadn't been eating or sleeping hardly enough since she'd arrived at the camp. She definitely looked more gaunt, her jumpsuit hanging on her loosely and circles had formed under her eyes. She missed home. She missed the little boutique she worked for. But most of all she missed Liam. Boy did she miss Liam! At night she curled up on her cold cot, hugging her knees to her chest and shutting her eyes, pretending that it was Liam's arms around her and not her own. She'd asked incessantly when she would be released but nobody ever gave her an answer. It was her fate to remain here until they ran out of things to study or they died.

The morning of the breakout was like any other morning at the camps. She was sitting on her cot with Jenny, one of the little girls who had been imprisoned with the rest of them. Jenny had her back to Flynn while she braided the silky blonde hair of the child, getting her ready to start the day. But halfway through a fishbone braid Flynn heard the sounds of metal on metal crashing. Next came shouts followed by loud pops that she couldn't place. Panic hit the ward in a wave, starting from the front and ending at the back of the room. Women were scooping up children, Jenny included, and rushing around. Something had clearly happened and she didn't want to be left behind. Then again she didn't want to be trampled either, so she stood up on her cot and tried to look over the heads of the others to see through the crowd at what the fuss was about.

That's when she spotted him.

Flynn thought her eyes were playing a cruel trick on her at first.. but after he started to rush through the crowd she realized that it wasn't an illusion at all! Liam was there! He wasn't alone, either. She saw men and women that were unfamiliar to her piling inside, grabbing various women and pulling them into embraces before rushing out the exit. She didn't waste anymore time. Her heart began to race, pounding in her chest and in her ears practically making her deaf. It felt like it took hours to move through the room, getting knocked around by her fellow Avisailles, but the end result was well worth it. Her arms flew up and wrapped around the gargoyle as tightly as she could possibly hold him as she buried her face into his shoulder. She was greeted by his familiar scent reminding her of home and a time of happiness. She couldn't stop the tears from streaking down her cheeks. "Oh Liam!" She choked out as her fingers scratched at the back of Liam's shirt, trying to cling to him. All she could do was hope that this wasn't some sort of experiment.

When Liam leaned away she wanted to pull him back, but he reached up for her face and her eyes widened, seeing his bright blue hues staring back at her. Words escaped her but it didn't matter since he pulled her in close, their lips meeting for the first time in weeks making her whimper a bit against his mouth.

"Get down!" The shout made her jump and her eyes fluttered as she looked around, hearing the popping sounds once again but this time understanding that they were the sounds of guns going off. For just a moment she wished the firing would stop so no one would get hurt, but then she realized that there was nothing that she could do to prevent that. And the men and women who worked at the camp had hurt them enough already, hadn't they? Liam released her and she reached out to pull him back but he'd gone just out of her grasp. However it was only for a moment to scoop up a weapon and sling it over his shoulder before coming right back to her and keeping her close.

"We're going to make for the woods. You have to stay close to me and if you see any guards coming after us, let me know, okay? Once we're in the woods, we'll be okay. There are cars waiting to take us back into the city." Flynn didn't know what to say and her feet suddenly felt like cement. She understood what he said but fear was setting in and she couldn't move. Liam touched her face and then kissed her again which was just enough to melt away some of that fear and get her focused. "We need to move as fast as we can. Are you ready?"

"Y-yes.." Flynn stuttered softly with a nod of her head in case he didn't hear what she said. It was beginning to sink in that Flynn was going to be free and a heaviness began to lift off her shoulders and her heart, making her feel lighter than she had in weeks. "Yes, let's go," she confirmed with strength behind her words this time and started to make her way through the crowd in Liam's arms. She clung to him with one hand bunching up a fistful of his shirt while the other remained free to feel through the crowd and be sure that no one toppled into them.

Following the crowd through the escape route wasn't too difficult. But it was once they were outside of the walls of the prison that she realized things became frighteningly difficult. The pops of guns going off continued but in greater numbers. She could hear the bullets whizzing and watched as men and women were dropping to the ground as puddles of red pooled around them. "Liam?" She asked, needing some sort of confirmation from him if this was really the way they had to go. Would they need to run and pray that those bullets didn't catch them, or was there an alternate route to get to the woods? She looked up at him in hopes that he had a plan.

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam didn’t have a plan. At least, it wasn’t as clear-cut as he wanted it to be. The only plan he had was to get Flynn out of there. He figured the best place to start would be to follow the crowd. They fought their way to through the crowd, Liam’s arm tight around Flynn’s waist while she clung to his shirt. He’d missed the feel of her so close to him so much that it hurt. Liam kept his gun held tight to his body, his bright eyes piercing through the dim light for any signs for danger. It was surprisingly easy to get to the fences surrounding the camps and slip through the wires. He helped Flynn do so before he held her tight against him once again, his whole body tense with the need to protect her and get her to safety. Whatever it took…The popping of gunfire was sounding more frequently as they neared the woods and it wasn’t long before the bullets were whizzing by and men and women were falling to the ground around them. This wasn’t right…the guards has obviously focused their strength on the woods. They would need to get to a much more thinly guarded area. “Liam?” Flynn’s voice sounded through the panic and he looked at her, seeing the silent question on her face: what do we do? Frantically his eyes looked for an alternate route. Five hundred yards off to the left there was a dense line of trees that would provide good cover and there was no gunfire coming from the area. He moved without hesitation. Liam seized Flynn’s hand and made a mad dash for the tree line, making sure she kept up with him and didn’t let go of his hand. Bullets shot in their direction but they missed time and again, their feet carrying them too fast to be caught with the hundreds of other escapees swarming the guards. Gunfire was being returned from within the camp and Liam knew there were other Gargoyles defending them. A bullet came too close to Flynn for comfort, however, and Liam returned fire in a blind fury. No one was taking Flynn from him again. The shooting from that area of the woods stopped.

Finally they found cover in the tree line and Liam leaned against a large tree trunk, pulling Flynn into an embrace as he caught his breath. Adrenaline was shooting through him like liquid courage, but it made his heart race frantically. They were safe here for long enough to catch their breath and he wallowed in having Flynn there in his arms. He wasn’t sure if she was crying again, but he was close to tears himself. Liam did not cry—the last time tears stung his eyes was when his mother died. Now, he felt those tears getting dangerously close to falling as he held Flynn so tightly. “Flynn…” he said in a hoarse voice hardly above a whisper. His hand smoothed over her wild black hair, his cheek rested against the side of her head. “I’ve missed you so much…So, so much…” Words couldn’t even express the physical pain he’d felt every morning waking without her, every second that went by without hearing her soft, sweet voice or seeing her gentle, bright smile. His lips kissed the top of her head before he cupped her face and kissed alongside it, finding her lips with his once more. He’d wondered if he would ever feel her soft lips on his again. “They went this way!” The voice was still distant, but it was a reminder to Liam that they had to move. Just a thousand yards or so more and they would be safe in a car taking them back to the city. Pulling back from Flynn’s lips, he rested his forehead against hers and signaled her to be quiet with a finger pressed to his lips, his eyes looking directly into hers. They had to move as quietly as they could. He kissed her one more time and then took her hand, his other hand getting a decent grip on his gun once more.

Swiftly they moved as lightly as they could, but Liam was more focused on getting out of the area quickly than moving silently. Still, their feet made surprisingly little noise as they moved, eventually finding earth strewn with pine needles to soften their steps further. His heart was pounding in his ears, which muffled the sounds of his footsteps in his own ears, but he was pretty sure they were getting closer and closer to safety. That’s when he heard the voices about a hundred feet to the right of them. “You hear that?” Liam stopped, holding Flynn’s hand tighter so she would know to stop too. “Sounded like footsteps over there.” Shit! There were guards out here too. Quickly his eyes surveyed the area again and he spotted a large rock he and Flynn could hide behind. He pulled her over to it and jumped behind it, bringing her close to his side once again and flattening himself against the cold surface. Footsteps came closer and closer to them… “I didn’t hear anything.” “No man, I swear I heard it like really soft.” “Where?” “Over by that rock…in that general area.” “Well, let’s check it.” There were two of them from what Liam could hear. Peeking around the side of the rock slowly confirmed they were only thirty feet off now and heading directly toward them. He listened carefully…twenty…ten… “Careful, Clancy. It could be an animal.” “Yeah, I know.” The second voice was only a couple feet away from discovering them. Liam’s heart pumped hard in his chest, threatening to give him away. Finally he jumped out and slammed the guard in the face with the butt of his rifle, allowing the guard only a small noise of pain and surprise before he was knocked out cold. “Clancy?” The other voice wasn’t far, but Liam had a plan. He grabbed Flynn’s hand and edged around the side of the rock, looking out to the other side as the other guard walked over to check on his friend. The poor guy didn’t even see Liam sneak silently up behind him to knock him on the back of the head as hard as he’d done to his partner. Both men were out cold on the ground and he looked to Flynn, a little uncertain about her seeing this side of him. She knew he was a Gargoyle and a Guardian at that, though…she of all people deserved to know there was a darker side to Liam Avery.

“Come on…” he said gently, taking her hand again. They made their way through the trees once more, this time more confidently that there were no other guards around. Liam’s eyes were still peeled, but as the trees began to thin, he could see the line of getaway cars along the old road. One of them he knew had belonged to Abby, but he didn’t see her car among the line now. She must have already picked up some refugees and headed back to the city. That was fine because he found another familiar car in the lineup and he led the way toward it. “We’re almost there, Flynn.” His voice was soft and he even ventured to give her a small comforting smile. He couldn’t wait to get her safe at home and take care of her every need. At last they reached the car and he tucked Flynn into the backseat before he made his way to the other side and hopped in. There was another refugee whom he didn’t recognize in the front seat, but the driver was quite well known to him. Mrs. Jackson turned around with a bright smile on her chubby face as she looked back at Flynn. “Flynn, baby! It’s good to see you alright! Oooo, but you too skinny! I’m gonna fix you a feast as soon as we get you home and safe at Liam’s apartment. I hope you like chicken an’ biscuits and all the fixin’s that come with it.” Liam had to admit, Mrs. Jackson’s bright attitude was welcome after the adrenaline rush they’d just escaped from. He offered a weary smile, but he was more focused on Flynn. Liam sat right beside her as they hurried away down the winding back road, his arm tight around her small shoulders.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

Flynn was petrified. Not only for herself but everyone around her who was trying to escape. Some of them had escorts while others were just running in whatever direction they could trying to find a way out. She couldn't wrap her head around everything that was happening or how it was happening.. all she could do was run and be sure that she didn't stray from Liam. When the two of them headed for the woods she could hear the bullets ricocheting off the trunks of trees not far from where they ran. The trees would be great protection and hide them from the guards with the guns. Except she found herself proven wrong since men were swarming the woods. Dead leaves and twigs crunched under her heavy boots, their location being sent back to the hunters. A woman who was running close to them was struck down by a bullet to the leg and Flynn turned her head, wanting to stop Liam and tell him that they had to help her, until a bullet went whizzing too close to her own body. Between Liam pulling her along and the terror that filled her, she couldn't stop running.

It wasn't until Liam pulled her behind a tree that she realized her lungs felt like they were on fire. She hadn't gotten a lot of physical activity in a while between being cooped up in the women's barracks and taking prescriptioned pain pills, she'd done next to nothing for weeks. "Flynn..." The avisaille sucked in a sharp breath and pressed her face against Liam's shoulder, her arms hooking under his and coming up to grip his shoulder blades. "I've missed you so much...So, so much..." Flynn had missed Liam and she wanted to tell him.. she wanted to tell him how she'd thought of him every day and missed his warmth at night.. but the words were lost with her. She moved her hand up to the side of his face as their lips found each other and she brought herself up on her tip toes she could firmly kiss him. "They went this way!" The sound of another's voice made her jump and she pulled away just enough to look at Liam to see if he'd heard it as well.

The voice was enough to get them moving again, Liam as the guide to get them through the woods without any harm coming to them. When they hid behind a large rock Flynn clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound. She could hear men looking for the fugitives. That's what she was now.. a fugitive. Flynn had never broken the law before in her entire life.. but for the first time in her life she believed the authoritative figure who stuck her in that camp was wrong and she couldn't bow down and comply. Not this time. She recalled when she told Griffin that history had a way of repeating itself and that this would be the outcome of them going public about their species. If the late Mordecai’s plan had gone as intended then it would have prevented this whole situation from happening. Her kind wouldn’t be getting shot down trying to grab hold of their right to freedom. She felt a heaviness in the pit of her stomach. Did Griffin get out alright? What about the little boy who Griffin had taken under his wing? Little Jenny? She shut her eyes again and tried not to think about it too much or she would surely tear up again and she wanted to save those tears for when they were finally safe and sound. That way she could cry from relief and not terror.

The sounds of the men conversing left her clasping another hand over her mouth and partially over her nose so she didn’t give away their location with her raspy breathing. She didn’t chance peeking to see how close they were to being found. She didn’t move at all because she was afraid if she moved a single muscle it would make too much noise. Fortunately Liam was prepared. He took out the first man with swift ease, knocking him unconscious. The man would live but was going to have a very painful lump on his head from the hit. Liam grabbed her hand and Flynn followed his lead, doing her best to keep her boots from making too much noise with each step taken around the rock. When Liam moved to the next guy Flynn put her hands on the rock and chanced a good look, seeing her boyfriend knock this man out in the same fashion. It was quick and appeared quite easy. That had to be because of his gargoyle strength that he was able to do that.. Flynn could never do such a thing even if she tried. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Liam with astonishment in her face. It was clear she was amazed that he was capable of doing such a thing and even a little uncomfortable in that very moment. It brought Griffin’s warnings back to the surface in her mind, how he’d told her that he was a gargoyle and they weren’t considered to be as kind as the avisailles. She had known that but Liam had always appeared gentle and harmless. But even the kindest lamb could become a wolf if its loved ones were in danger, and that was what she told herself to remind her that this wasn’t Liam. This was a protective instinct that had set in.. he couldn’t do that sort of thing normally, could he?

”Come on...” Without hesitation Flynn reached for Liam’s hand and the two of them were off through the woods again, their steps brisk in case anyone was on their trail. But they didn’t have to go too far before the brush cleared out and the gunfire had become long distant. She saw a long line of vehicles parked up and down the path. Some were pulling out of the lineup looking full of passengers while others were trying to scramble into vehicles. ”We’re almost there, Flynn.” The vehicles were they to take them back to the city and away from the camps! She felt relief pouring into her as she returned a smile back to Liam, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze that everything was going to be fine now that they were together.

Heading to one of the vehicles with the help of Liam, Flynn climbed into the back of one of the cars and kept her eyes fixed on Liam the short amount of time it took him to round the car and get in on the other side before she squirmed to get herself comfortable. Her healing wing was at an uncomfortable angle and she had to lean forward so she could reach back and reposition it. After she was comfortable she looked up to see who was in the car with them.. there was the stranger in the passenger seat who she’d seen on the other side of the fence but never had the chance to introduce herself. And the driver was Liam’s wonderful upstairs neighbor! She couldn’t hide her surprise at seeing Mrs. Jackson sitting there in the driver’s seat, smiling back at her. ”Flynn, baby! It’s good to see you alright! Oooo, but you too skinny! I’m gonna fix you a feast as soon as we get you home and safe at Liam’s apartment. I hope you like chicken an’ biscuits and all the fixin’s that come with it.”

Flynn erupted in a fit of laughter as her emotions seemed to get the best of her. She had to laugh or else she was going to cry. But she’d done enough of that and laughter was what she needed right now. And even though she didn’t eat poultry of any kind because they bore such a large resemblance to birds, Mrs. Jackson didn’t need to know that. The biscuits sounded delightful after all the tasteless food she’d been served in the camps. “Thank you, Mrs. Jackson.. thank you so very much.” She told the woman before they drove off leaving the camp behind. Flynn didn’t even look out the window. She’d be happy if she never had to see that place again.

In the car Flynn’s pulse dropped back to normal, her breathing evened out and she felt weary from all the excitement of the escape. She leaned into Liam and kept a handful of his shirt tucked in her loose fist as if he was going to disappear on her if she didn’t keep a hold on him. Her eyes looked up to find Liam’s blue hues and a smile spread across her lips once more. “I’m sorry I left you.. I don’t understand what happened.” The smile quickly disappeared as she thought of questions that she didn’t have answers for. “Who orchestrated this morning? Are the leaders alright? Are you okay? How many made it out safely?” Even Flynn knew she was asking too many questions at once for Liam to answer and she wasn’t even sure he had all the answers. Their world had been turned upside down. Mrs. Jackson didn’t seem surprised to see wings sprouting out of Flynn’s back which just went to show that it was a whole new world out there for them. But just what did that mean?

[LIAM AVERY]

At Flynn’s laughter, Liam gave a sigh of relief. He’d missed that sound. His smile was wide and gentle and he suddenly felt so very tired. Now that Flynn was with him, safe under his arm, he could feel the exhaustion slipping into his very bones. “Thank you, Mrs. Jackson…thank you so very much.” Mrs. Jackson grinned into the rearview mirror. “You’re welcome, baby.” The aging woman behind the wheel had such a warm and soothing presence at the moment and Liam was truly grateful she’d offered her help. “My cousin is a Therian, you know. I’m glad she in California now ‘cause she’d be one of the first to go. She wouldn’t take no orders from any o’ those guards. Mm-mm! Don’t you worry, baby. I’ll help you get sweet little Flynn back.” Those were the words she spoke to him when Liam told her what had happened. She’d already figured out that Therians and Avisailles were the targets and to his surprise she had already guessed he was a Gargoyle. Mrs. Jackson knew a lot more than she let on, it seemed, and Liam was just glad to have her on his side. They fell into silence, but it was full of unspoken words. Everyone knew there would be repercussions in the end for what had just happened, but for now they were safe and the nightmare was coming to an end. Flynn’s hand kept a loose hold on his shirt and he was comforted by it. He never wanted to be so long without her again.

When Flynn turned to look at him, Liam’s eyes found hers, smiling gently at her kind smile. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen, even now. “I’m sorry I left you…I don’t understand what happened.” Liam’s brow furrowed and his smile fell a little. “No, Flynn…It wasn’t your fault,” he assured quietly, his hand smoothing over the top of her lank black hair. “Who orchestrated this morning? Are the leaders alright? Are you okay? How many made it out safely?” She was bombarding him with questions, but he only smiled wider, glad to see she was as curious as ever. “As far as I know, the leaders are alive and now free. They were being held in solitary captivity, but there was a separate plan on how to release them. Robert Snow was here this morning as well; he orchestrated this revolt. The Blurrs and witches were in charge of the peaceful protests outside the camp, but Snow wanted a full scale infiltration effort to free the Avisailles and the Therians. I’m glad he didn’t see us, though; I’m positive he wouldn’t approve of seeing a Gargoyle and an Avisaille in a liplock.” He grinned wider, teasing her softly. Liam was a little nervous of higher officials in the Gargoyle community finding out about his relationship with someone other than another Gargoyle, but he flew so low under the radar, it was likely no one would ever be the wiser. “I don’t know how many made it out safely, but I know we’re safe now. We can find out the total numbers later. I know you’ll have some friends you’ll want to call or see. We could even stop by your friend Griffin’s home if you wanted to make sure he’s okay.” All he wanted was to make her happy. She’d been locked up for six weeks and she deserved to have someone take care of her every need and fulfill her every whim, regardless of what it might be.

His fingers ran through her hair as he admired her once again. There she was, all flesh and bone and feather, right beside him. He couldn’t be happier. But then he noticed her wings, how one lay awkwardly against her back, a bald spot in one section. His brow furrowed in concern as he inspected what he could see of her wings. Gently his arm unwrapped itself from her shoulders to give him a better look at the wings beneath. They were molting and haggard, but it was that bald spot that worried him the most. It looked like there was a wound that had healed the more he inspected it. He felt his stomach fall to the ground. “What happened to your wing?” he asked softly, concern flooding his voice. His eyes searched hers for the answer, wondering what pain, physical and emotional, she had endured. He traced her jaw with his fingers gently, his worried eyes fixed on hers. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Now it was his turn to ask a million questions in rapid succession and he waited with a slightly elevated heart rate for her answer.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

”You’re welcome, baby.” Flynn still felt weird having her wings showing but there was no way for her to conceal them since they were sticking through the slits of the jumpsuit. It would be pointless anyhow since it was out of the bag that they weren’t just a myth anymore. She couldn’t help but feel violated and betrayed by the humans who forced her and her kind to show their wings. The only upside of the situation was that although people were poking and prodding their wings and experimenting on them, there had only been a regular group who saw them. They hadn’t been put on display in the middle of the city for everyone to come and gawk at. So aside from the humans at the camps and the Therian population as far as the rest of the world knew she could still be seen as just a regular person. She hoped it would be like that..

”No, Flynn...It wasn’t your fault,” Flynn knew that directly it hadn’t been her fault for leaving Liam but she still felt bad about it. She had missed him terribly and pondered ways she could have prevented getting caught, but she knew that there was no way she could have known. ”As far as I know, the leaders are alive and now free. They were being held in solitary captivity, but there was a separate plan on how to release them. Robert Snow was here this morning as well; he orchestrated this revolt. The Blurrs and Witches were in charge of the peaceful protests outside the camp, but Snow wanted a full scale infiltration effort to free the Avisailles and the Therians. I’m glad he didn’t see us, though; I’m positive he wouldn’t approve of seeing a Gargoyle and an Avisaille in a liplock.” Although Liam was smiling when he spoke about the Gargoyle leader she knew that Robert Snow was considered the hardest of the four leaders and she was just grateful that he wasn’t her leader. The Avisailles were always warm and inviting to other species, not discriminating in any shape or form.. but she knew not all leaders thought that way. She didn’t return the smile but she did nod her head, understanding that he didn’t say it to worry her, but she couldn’t help but feel a little timid. However, she decided to just push it to the back of her mind for now. The Gargoyle leader had more pressing matters to attend to rather than worry about what species one of his Gargoyle’s had a relationship with.

”I don’t know how many made it out safely, but I know we’re safe now. We can find out the total numbers later. I know you’ll have some friends you’ll want to call or see. We could even stop by your friend Griffin’s home if you wanted to make sure he’s okay.” She was concerned about whether Griffin made it out safely with the little boy who had been tailing him in the camps. There was also Melanie and Brandon, who she’d spent a great deal of time around during duties they were assigned. Not to mention the McLeester sisters who were on the other side of the fence who she knew Griffin had become very close to. There were so many people she wanted to see and just put her mind at ease to know that they all made it out safe. “After we go home first.. I don’t want to walk around in this jumpsuit..” She wanted to cover her wings up and she wanted to sleep.. but she’d have to be sure everyone was safe before she could settle down and rest. Maybe she could call Griffin. He’d likely be at his condo or Claire’s apartment, and she had both phone numbers.

Flynn laid her head down on Liam’s shoulder and shut her eyes, easing up on the tension that she felt and letting her body just relax against his. Although her head was filled with questions, terror and dread all pertaining to the camps she pushed it all to the back of her mind so that she could concentrate on the present. She could tell that they were getting ready to enter the city when the drive became smooth with less bumps and turns. First thing she wanted to do when they got home was take a shower and get the grime of the camps off of her.

When Liam moved his arm Flynn’s eyes shot open and she sat up slightly so she could look at him curiously. Never had she been a clingy, needy person but today any movement or shift that Liam made she couldn’t help but wonder why. When she looked at him this time he wasn’t looking into her eyes or even at her face. She followed his concerned gaze behind her back trying to see what it was he had taken an interest in. ”What happened to your wing?” She looked up and met his concerned gaze with one of sadness. She knew that her wing would heal up and apart from the feathers and the stiffness she felt in it she hardly noticed it anymore. ”Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Her head went up and down to nod quickly that she was in fact alright and then just as quick she started to shake it to signal that she wasn’t hurt. “I’m okay, Liam.” She assured him and reached a hand up to wrap around the back of his neck and pulled him closer so that she could give him a soft little kiss on the lips before pulling back. “They were experimenting on us in there.. they wanted to learn everything they could about us. They broke my wing and took pictures and x-rays of it while it healed. It’s okay though. It’s almost healed up. One poor girl had something done to her head.. when she came back from the infirmary her head was stitched up.” She didn’t think much about her wing anymore. At first she had nursed it and cried over it but as the weeks rolled by and she saw others come and go from the infirmary she realized she was one of the lucky ones who only had a broken wing.

[LIAM AVERY]

As Flynn nodded vigorously that she was alright, Liam breathed a sigh of relief and watched as she wiggled her wing. What had happened, though? Why did it look like she’d broken it? “I’m okay, Liam.” Her soft voice reassuring him eased his mind further and he gratefully leaned into her gentle kiss. Even the thoughts of what had happened were stilled with that loving gesture…until she pulled away. “They were experimenting on us in there…” His stomach sank to the floor of the car, the color draining from him at her words, and all of the comfort she had provided was gone in a flash. “They wanted to learn everything they could about us. They broke my wing and took pictures and x-rays of it while it healed. It’s okay though. It’s almost healed up. One poor girl had something done to her head…when she came back from the infirmary her head was stitched up.” The anger boiling in his gut made him feel nauseous as he thought about the men who had experimented on his love, made her bare witness to others being experimented on. It was like they had been transported to the nightmare visions that came to light in his youth of the prisoners in the Nazi camps. He had always believed that would never be possible in America. Yes, Japanese descendants had been placed in camps during the last stretch of the war, but they weren’t experimented on like lab rats. Apparently his belief in the moral superiority of America was misguided. He swallowed hard, trying not to let his fury flare in his eyes at the injustice of Flynn’s treatment. How could anyone harm such a beautiful, sweet creature?

Sighing heavily, he pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes, his hand sweeping through her black hair. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to protect you, Flynn. I’m so, so sorry. No one should ever have had the chance to do that to you.” He moved up and kissed her forehead, opening his eyes again. There was a rage making his heart burn, but he didn’t want Flynn to see it. Had Marius known this was going on? Has his friend kept that information from him? Before he could become too infuriated at the thought, he reminded himself that it was probably for the best if Marius had known and kept it from him. Marius was a good man and he was probably well aware that if he had told Liam about the experiments, Liam would have done something irrational and stupid in the heat of the moment. There were few times when Liam acted before thinking, but when it came to Flynn’s safety and well-being, he was blinded. Abby would have been aware of that too, and she probably would have encouraged Marius to keep that information from him. While it left a bitter taste in his mouth to think that two people he considered close friends would keep something so vital from him, he knew it was for the best and he shouldn’t be angry. When his lips pulled back from Flynn’s forehead, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips again. “I’m just glad you’re safe now.” And he would do whatever it took to keep it that way.

“We all are, baby!” came Mrs. Jackson’s voice from the front seat and Liam was reminded they weren’t alone. He looked in her direction again before allowing a smile to ease back onto his lips and looked back down at Flynn. “An’ I was just thinkin’, maybe fish fry would be better n’ chicken. I bet you ain’t too keen on poultry, is you, Flynn honey?” Liam actually chuckled a little at that, knowing it was true. Flynn didn’t eat any bird because, well, she had wings. But she liked fish and he knew she would be glad for the offer. Just thinking about food got him hungry too, though he couldn’t imagine how hungry Flynn must have been. He would cut up some fruit for them to munch on when they got back to his apartment while they waited for Mrs. Jackson to finish cooking. The rest of the drive went by smoothly and quietly, Liam simply enjoying have Flynn back with him. They arrived home and Liam took Flynn straight to his apartment, letting Mrs. Jackson know to come by whenever she was done. “It won’t take me but a hour or so to fix up a feast. Ya’ll be ready!” she warned as she walked away, leaving Liam to smile after her. Once inside his apartment, he scooped Flynn up in his arms again and held her tight, his nose buried in her hair. “What would you like to do, Flynn? If there’s anything you need, I’ll get it for you. Anything at all.” His assurances were spoken softly into the top of her head. She could ask for the moon and he would think of ways to get it for her.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

Flynn had grown accustomed to her mangled wing and although she wished it hadn’t been broken, her feathers plucked or clipped so that she couldn’t fly, she knew that she would be just fine in the long run. It was the least of her concerns at this point and all she wanted to do was get out of the jumper she had on and take a real shower. Although she didn’t have any concerns about being naked and showering with other women but they had a set amount of time to do it in and she liked to be able to bathe whenever she felt like it. The first thing she wanted to do when they got back into the city would be to throw out the jumper and wash the dirty camps off of her skin.

”I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to protect you, Flynn. I’m so, so sorry. No one should ever have had the chance to do that to you.” Flynn shut her eyes and smiled softly to herself. It felt nice to feel Liam’s lips on her forehead. It was like a calming presence to have him around. She wanted to just curl up into his arms and shower him with kisses and ‘I love you’s, but she was very aware there were two others in the car with them. ”I’m just glad you’re safe now.” The thought of being in real danger had never crossed her mind the entire time she was in the camps. She had imagined that they would be released eventually, but she didn’t expect it to be so soon. She had told herself that one day they’d be free again.. even if it took years she always had hope.

”We all are, baby!” Flynn didn’t know what it was about Mrs. Jackson but the sound of her voice always put a silly grin on the Avisaille’s face. Maybe it was because she was so eccentric to Flynn with the way she spoke and her mannerisms. She found it to be adorable. ”An’ I was just thinkin’, maybe fish fry would be better n’ chicken. I bet you ain’t too keen on poultry, is you, Flynn honey?” She shook her head and looked to the driver’s seat where Mrs. Jackson was. “That would be wonderful, Mrs. Jackson.. and you’re right I don’t eat poultry,” although she wasn’t a bird she still had wings and they resembled the avian species far too closely for her to feel comfortable eating chicken.

The rest of the ride went by in a breeze and before Flynn knew it they were pulling up to Liam’s building. She couldn’t help but wonder about Griffin again and hope that he would be coming home today as well.. she’d call him for sure. The walk into the building and up to Liam’s floor made her feel anxious, wanting to get inside before anyone saw her looking haggard in her jumpsuit. They said their goodbyes and thank you’s to Mrs. Jackson before she headed up to cook them a delicious meal and then the pair of them headed inside Liam’s place. When he scooped her up it startled her and she stiffened first before melting into his embrace and holding tightly to him. ”What would you like to do, Flynn? if there’s anything you need, I’ll get it for you. Anything at all.”

“I..” Flynn didn’t like to ask for things and she wasn’t used to someone wanting to wait on her. She’d grown up with a strict grandmother who made Flynn do everything herself and when she came of age she’d lived on her own and done everything for herself. “..a shower? And maybe some clean clothes?” She asked in a soft, timid voice almost like she was nervous about asking. Maybe it was the camps.. maybe they had affected her more than she thought. She didn’t know why she was so timid about asking him for clothes and a shower because he looked more than willing to do whatever she needed. Reluctantly she pulled away from him but not before planting a sweet kiss on his cheek and then heading for the bathroom. She was already pulling the zipper down on her jumpsuit before she even made it in the bathroom and turned on the light. What she was met with wasn’t what she expected. The reflection staring at her was gaunt and pale, her hair looked stringy and her frame far too small. She pulled the jumpsuit off, carefully pulling each wing out individually before kicking her dirty attire into the corner. The panties were simple enough to pull off but the sports bra was a little more tricky since the firm cotton hugged her chest. It took her a few tries before she wiggled her wings free.

Flynn stepped into the shower and twisted the knobs and was greeted with icy cold water that made her shudder trying to get used to it as it slowly started to warm up. She could hear Liam moving around outside as she dipped her head under the shower head to try to wash the grime out of her hair. After wiping the water out of her eyes she looked at the soaps and shampoos that he had momentarily, trying to figure out which one to use before deciding she wasn’t ready to lather up just yet. She just wanted to stand under the water, twisting the knob again to make it even hotter. When she was content with the temperature and the steam swimming through the air she poked her head out of the shower. She’d left the bathroom door open and hoped she could spot Liam if he hadn’t already come in. At least she hadn’t heard him come in. “Liam?” She called quietly, hoping she wouldn’t have to raise her voice too much for him to hear her. “..will you come in with me?” The hot water wasn’t enough.. she needed his warm arms right now.

[LIAM AVERY]

“I…a shower? And maybe some clean clothes?” It both pained Liam and warmed him to hear Flynn so hesitant to ask for a simple shower and some clothes. She never asked for much, and when she did it was almost as if she was asking for the Hope Diamond. He found this adorable, but what had made her so unsure? A smile curled the corners of his lips as he nodded at her request. She kissed him on the cheek and he smiled wider, warmed to the core by her sweet kiss. The beautiful woman slipped from his grasp and he watched her walk away as she unzipped her jumpsuit, making for his bedroom to grab her some sweats and a t-shirt. It didn’t take long for him to do so and by the time he headed back towards the bathroom, he could hear the water running and saw a couple articles of clothing spilling out from the doorway. He chuckled softly, warmed to see she was as comfortable as ever with stripping naked in front of him; it was a sign that she hadn’t changed all that much. The man was only planning to drop the clothes on the bathroom sink and then watch TV or something until she finished her shower, but before he even reached the door, he heard her call out. “Liam?” He quickened his step a little and peeked around the door frame. “…Will you come in with me?” How could he deny her when she asked in such a sweet and cautious voice?

He swallowed hard, realizing he hadn’t seen her naked in a month and a half. It would take some concentration, but he would try not to get too excited by it. She’d just escaped something akin to a concentration camp—he was pretty sure she wouldn’t be thrilled by the thought of sex at the moment. Standing in the bathroom now, he placed her clean clothes on the sink as planned and slipped off his boots. “Yes, I’ll come in.” His voice was soft but it reverberated in the bathroom. He stripped down to nothing steadily, the steam on his skin warming him up to the heat of the water. She obviously had the water on pretty hot, but he wouldn’t mind it. His skin was tough anyway. Finally he pushed back the shower curtain and found her skinny, boney form standing beneath the steady stream of water. He had to remind himself to calm his desires. With a gentle smile he stepped into the shower behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, standing between her beautiful though tattered wings. For a long moment he stood there holding her as the hot water cascaded over their bodies, his mouth pressed against her shoulder. He moved his lips across her shoulder and up her neck, planting soft and loving kisses on her pale skin. When he reached her jaw, his forehead pressed to the side of her head and he sighed contentedly. All he needed in the world was right there in his arms. “I love you.” He kissed her cheek after he spoke the words, letting her feel his love as well as hear it.

Silently he reached for the shampoo and poured some into his hand before smearing it in her hair with a grin. “Let’s get the camps off you.” With that simple statement, he lathered her hair with the shampoo, his fingers working gently into her scalp. He hoped it would relax her some to be pampered like this, knowing it always relaxed him to have the feel of her fingers in his hair. Her hair was thinner and lanker than when she’d left, but with a week or so of good food and rest, he knew its usual luster would return. She was beautiful either way to him. When he’d rinsed out her hair, he put conditioner in his, still smiling as he cared for her. He didn’t think he would stop smiling for days. The conditioner made her hair soft and smooth once it was rinsed out. When it was rinsed out, he gently turned her, stepping back some to make way for her wings between them. His eyes roamed over her body, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger in his stomach as he did so. He could see her bones protruding more and his fingers slid over the places where they showed a little too well, like her hips and her ribs. “We need to fatten you up some.” Though he had a sinking feeling in his stomach from seeing her so thin, he gave her a smile with his comment. He wanted her healthy again so that the camps wouldn’t haunt them every day. His fingers combed through her wet hair as he looked in her bright blue eyes. “I think Mrs. Jackson is going to try to do that as quickly as possible.” Knowing the way that Mrs. Jackson cooked, she probably planned to give Flynn three thousand calories in one meal. He reached for the bar of soap and gently ran it across her stomach, his forehead pressing to hers gently. “Would you like me to wash you, or would you rather do it?” he asked softly, feeling his blood rush slightly. He’d never washed a woman before, but with Flynn it could only excite him. He had to concentrate…

[FLYNN YOUNG]

”Yes, I’ll come in.” Flynn was happy to hear that he was going to jump into the shower with her. She wasn’t seeking anything sexual from Liam, she just needed his sensual touch. It calmed her nerves when she was still so unsettled by the camps. When Liam finally stepped into the shower she offered a smile over her shoulder feeling his arms wrapping around her exhausted frame. She leaned back into his warm, bare chest and let herself relax. Her hands slid over his arms to his hands and linked with her fingers between his giving a gentle squeeze. She could stand there under the hot water with him like this for hours and be perfectly content with it. ”I love you.”

“I love you too.. I’m so happy to be back here with you.” Too soon she felt his arms slip off of her. Was he done? Did he want to get out of the shower so soon? ”Let’s get the camps off you.” Once more she felt the relief flooding in and she let out a short sigh, nodding slowly. She heard the sound of the cap popping open on the shampoo and not a moment later she felt his hands working in the suds into her scalp. Her head tingled and she could feel the grime slipping out of her hair, down her shoulders and running down the drain. She dipped her head under the shower spout to rinse out the shampoo and then felt him working in the conditioner and then repeated the process of rinsing that out of her hair too. Even weighed down by the water she could tell that it was lighter.

Flynn could feel him trying to turn her around with a bit of light pressure and she was more than willing to comply, her wings folding lightly into her back so they wouldn’t brush up against the wall or the curtain of the shower. Her green eyes fixed on Liam’s face, watching his own hues roam over her body that looked like nothing more than skin and bones these days. ”We need to fatten you up some.” His words had her release a quiet giggle that made her whole body shudder. “I would like that very much,” she nodded and it was her turn to let her eyes wander with her hands following to make a visual trail. Her hands moved up to Liam’s shoulders, her fingers going up and down both of his arms and then over his chest. When she brushed her hands over his abdomen her fingers curled into her palms making two loose fists and rubbed her knuckles against his sides. ”I think Mrs. Jackson is going to try to do that as quickly as possible.” Again, Flynn nodded.

After grabbing the soap, Liam ran it across her stomach just enough to hit a ticklish spot and she flinched away with a little yelp. ”Would you like me to wash you, or would you rather do it?” She looked up at him, her forehead rubbing against his when she shook her head in a no. “I can do it. It tickles..” She took the soap from her boyfriend and rubbed it between her palms to lather it up nice before she started to wash herself up. When she was certain she had enough soap to cover over her whole body she handed the bar back to Liam in case he wanted to wash up as well. Flynn washed up mostly in silence. She’d always been fine being around others in silence and with Liam she enjoyed it. With him no matter what they did she felt comfortable doing it. “I haven’t asked.. what have you been doing these past weeks?” Her question was casual as if it were just ordinary to ask.

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam smiled at the way Flynn flinched away like he had tickled her. “I can do it. It tickles…” He watched as she rubbed the bar of soap between her hands vigorously to lather them up. When she handed the bar back to him, he took it and mimicked her. Together they washed up in silence, but it was a comfortable silence. The soap banished any of the sweat that had collected on his skin during their daring escape. When he had covered himself with soap, the water dripping over his body worked to wash it away and he reached for the shampoo once more. Just as he was squirting some into his palm, Flynn spoke again and caught his attention. “I haven’t asked…what have you been doing these past weeks?” He paused for a moment, just watching her. He didn’t want to think of the past weeks he’d been without her. All he wanted was to focus on having her with him again. Soon he was reanimated and he brought his hand up to his head to rub the shampoo into his scalp. “I’ve been focused on getting you back…every day since I found out Robert Snow was planning to break into the camps. Before that it’s a blur.” A painful blur. He’d never been so depressed and enraged at once that the world around him faded away, but that’s what he’d been through. Quickly he rinsed the shampoo from his hair and slicked his hair back from his face before he looked back into her eyes. He reached out to grab her hand and gently grazed his thumb over her knuckles. His eyes fell and watched as his thumb moved gently over her fingers, the water cascading over their hands.

“Marius told me the day it happened. He called me over to Abby’s house and showed me your feathers. He saved them just to prove it was real. I just about lost it. Not that I was angry at him…I was just angry that I couldn’t protect you. Abby started talking about protesting…she cried when she realized whose feathers they were. She was just as intent on getting you out, but the way she wanted to go about it wasn’t enough for me. It felt like it would take too long. I tried to work, but my head hasn’t been in it since you’ve been gone. All I could think about was getting you out. When I heard Robert Snow was staging an infiltration, I immediately got on board. My friend Eponine told me about it…and from then until today that’s all I prepared for.” Liam almost felt ashamed at the murderous rage that had been building up inside him over the past few weeks. Though he had been trained to kill and trained well, he was a peaceful man. But when it came to Flynn…he would kill anyone who threatened her. He’d been little more than a zombie the past few weeks and it showed in the bags under his eyes. Looking up into Flynn’s eyes again, he was still frowning, his blue eyes pained. “I haven’t slept much without you around.” He had trouble sleeping as it was, but without Flynn it was almost impossible. She kept him at ease and nothing felt better than having her tucked safely against him, warm and soft as they drifted off to sleep.

Finally he brought a hand up to her hair, running his fingers through the wet, black strands. “I’m just glad you’re here and you’re safe. I’ll do everything I can to keep that from happening again.” His thumb brushed across her well-defined cheekbone, slipping just below her beautiful blue-green eye, and he simply admired her for the hundredth time today. He leaned down and kissed her, really kissed her, like he hadn’t done in weeks. Their kiss was slow, deep and passionate. Every bit of desperation that he’d bottled up inside him poured out into his kiss and he pulled her tightly against him. This was how it was supposed to be between them. There wasn’t supposed to be pain, only happiness and contentedness, their bodies locked together like two pieces of a puzzle. Of course the kiss itself was sensual, but that wasn’t his intention—he just needed to kiss her, needed the feel of her mouth on his. That night they met by the tree, he never would have expected he could need her or anyone so much. One hand gripped the back of her head as he kissed and continued to hold her close even as his lips pulled away. His forehead pressed to hers, looking into her eyes with an adoring and almost sad look. “You’re my happiness, Flynn. Everything good in my life revolves around you. I’ve never loved anyone that much before.” His voice was just above a whisper, as though he were afraid someone else might hear his confession. It almost scared him how much he loved Flynn. He had never invested so much of his life in anyone, especially not so quickly, but Flynn had come into his life so suddenly and just as suddenly filled every corner of his heart. He couldn’t tell you when it happened or how, but it had, and he knew he couldn’t bear losing her again. What eased his worry was his knowledge that she loved him too and would never intentionally hurt him. Perhaps that was why he let himself fall under her spell. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and simply enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, exactly as they were always meant to be.