Ben stirs and blinks shoving some hair out of his face.
????
Silver???
“Hmm?” He quietly groans.
—
Kissa silently lands on a tall building, having made it to the heavily populated and very busy downtown area. Despite the late hour, the street still had many pedestrians and store lights still shone.
She rubs her eyes and blinks.
I miss outside.
With a sigh she looks over the place, her eyes caring sight of a group of men in dark colors in an emptier alley, speaking in whispers. She goes to ignore it but her attention spikes with the hushed mention of ‘Benjamin Stan’.
She slips down into the alley, standing a few feet behind them with her brow furrowed.
No way.
"Ben. BenBenBen." Silver said, growing more frantic as she became more awake. "Ben, Kissa's gone! She's not in her bed or in the house. I can't feel her at all. I don't… I think she left after… when we were downstairs with Miki. I haven't seen her since. Ben, wake up, Kissa's gone!"
Ben blinks hard and sits up, shoving her a bit with one hand.
“I’m awake! Shush, please!” He gripes.
Violet yawns and rubs her eyes. “What is it dear?”
He looks back to Silver. “Kissa’s gone. Okay, okay. Дитя, почему? я хотел спать.“
He huffs and shoves the blankets off, standing. “Let’s go, Sil.” He takes a robe from the bed post and slips it on as he makes his way to the door, stumbling once or twice.
Violet sits up as he opens the door, still blinking sleepily.
What?
—
Kissa blinks, watching the men exchange footage of Gabriel, struggling in a trap.
Her eyes widen and her face pales.
Gabriel….
She puts a hand over her mouth.
That must have been from earlier today.
She takes a few steps closer, watching the video as he lurches about under the heavy chains and a man attempts to control him, poking at him with a long spear that sends electric pulses through his body.
Her mouth hangs open in the slightest and her eyes gloss over.
He- he didn’t say anything about this though.
Silver leaped after him, wings outstretched to give her lift. She scrambled around to land in front of him and planted her hands on his chest. "Ben! Where are we even going? You're not dressed! How do we know where to go? How are we gonna find her?"
“I am dressed!” He argues, motioning to his robe and pants. “And… I don’t know I’ll call Diablo. Maybe she snuck along with them. Or followed them.” He turns around to ask Violet for his phone, but she’s already picked it up from the side table and chucks it at him.
He gasps, catching it and watching her snuggle up into the blankets again.
Fine then. I’lo leave. You have a fun time actually getting some sLEEP. Unlike me.
He rolls his eyes and closes the door, calling Dio.
—
Kissa wrings her hands, ignoring the men’s laughs and hushed comments as they watch Gabriel shriek in pain and bite around like an animal.
Gabriel….
A tear streaks down her cheek.
I’m so sorry.
He eventually takes hold of the electric spear, his hands burning, and forces it into the mans stomach. The men watching fall eerily silent and watch for only a few seconds more to see him escape the chains and glitch in and out of invisibility, lurching himself into the sky in pain, already hardly breathing. They shut the device off, and pass it around.
“We, uh, we’ve got a decent idea of the neighborhood they’re hiding in. Gavin followed a pretty obvious blood trail for a while, but it went cold after a bit. He was ya us on site tomorrow. We catch this guy in a group. He’s wounded and weak, so I doubt he’ll give much of a fight.”
Another man speaks up, “bones are hollow, they say. Easily broken like a twig. They’ll come at you with them teeth. Catch him by the hair and he should be helpless enough.”
The comment it followed up with a little laughter and a few dark jokes.
Kissa takes a step back, a dark look on her face.
They already know we’re in the city. If I kill them here it won’t give away our location. If they pounce on us in our home and turn up dead, they’ll know exactly where we are.
She grits her teeth.
You’re cold hands will never touch my brother again.
Silver sighed and dashed into her room, grabbing her phone and returning to Ben. While he called Dio, she texted Ryder, "Did Kissa come with you?"
-
Dio had just settled himself in his room with a cup of tea when his phone rang. He picked it up to see Ben's called ID.
"이건 좋지 않아." He muttered as he answered it and held it to his ear. "Hello?"
“Augh, Diablo? Did Kissa go home with you?” Ben asks, rubbing his forehead.
Please say yes so I can go back to bed.
—
Ryders phone dings and he picks it up, clicking on the message.
”Uh no? Check the roof of ur house.”
He texts back.
—
(I’m sorry but we all know Kiss is gonna have to make a dramatic entrance.)
Kissa raises her wings behind her, trapping the men in the alley with her, and brings wind up from the ground making her hair and feathers ruffle up, and making the men uncomfortable.
“What’s this? We ain’t on vents!” One calls.
She boxes them in with a barrier and turns everything inside their noisy box invisible.
A few of them gasp and they all yank their weapons out, taking wobbly steps backward.
“Don’t bother.” She demands, glaring intensely. “You’ll die either way.”
Silver shook her head even though Ryder couldn't see her, and texted back, "Nonono. I can't feel her at all. She's not anywhere near the house."
–
"Kissa?" Dio asked. "No… I haven't seen her. I just picked up Ryder and Gabriel in front of your house. I didn't go inside and I didn't see anyone else. Is she okay?"
Ben runs a hand roughly through his tangled curls and does his best not to growl. "I'm sure she's fine. She's not here, but she may have tried to follow you."
Why did Gabriel not take her too? I need one of the Kavi to find her. But… I don't really want to risk that. Ugh if only I had wings.
He glares at the ground for a second. "It's very dangerous for her to be out alone. I- I don't have anyone I can send out after her. And you know I can't go." He pauses for only a second before continuing. "Diablo, if she's not back in half an hour will you have the boys go out after her?"
__
Gabriel stares as Ryder texts back.
"?? She's not here. Hold up, I'll check around the block. I'll let you know if I see her."
He sends the text and stands, extending a hand to Gabriel. "They're worried that Kissa followed us so I'mma check the block from the sky. You should probably stay back here but I'll be b-"
Gabriel quickly stands, taking his arm. "No. I'm coming."
Kissa? Why would she leave? Is she really following us? Is she worried? I should have told her I was leaving. I didn't even think about it! Etienne shouldn't be able to see her anyways.
A chill runs up his spine and he shivers, worrying despite knowing she could take care of herself.
Silver nodded at her phone again and wrapped her arms around herself, shivering even though it was never cold in Ben's house. "What did he say?" she asked him.
–
Dio let out a slow breath, forcing his voice to stay even despite his racing heart. "Of course. I'll keep you updated." he hung up and threw his blankets off, diving into his slippers and robe, and raced downstairs. "Ryder!" he called. "Ryder–oh, dear, we woke Gabriel."
Ben looks down to Silver, noting her anxiety in the way she shivered. "The birds will go out if we haven't heard from her in 30 minutes. I'm only giving her that much time because chances are she'll be back home or at Diablo's in a few minutes." He sighs and gently pats her shoulder, trying to be as comforting as possible. "She's fine, I'm sure."
Violet creaks their door open, giving a big yawn and braiding her hair over her shoulder, wearing a nightgown.
"Ben, for some of us it's not a matter of is she's safe, but if she's tattled." She states quietly and softly, trying not to alarm Silver.
He freezes.
She wouldn't.
__
Gabriel stands beside Ryder, obviously having just woke up. He blinks sleepily but has a look of determination anyways.
Ryder furrows his brow, looking to Dio. "I was going to go check around the block from the sky. Guessing they called you?"
Silver opened her mouth, but said nothing for a moment. She knew Ben wouldn't like her idea, but… "I… I might be able to follow her." she offered quietly. "If she hasn't been gone for too long then I might still be able to feel where she went…?"
–
Dio nodded. "Benjamin said to wait about half an hour before looking for her, since she probably just followed us here. But I don't feel comfortable waiting even that long." He pursed his lips, glancing Gabriel up and down, and clicked his tongue. "I'd really rather Gabriel not go out, in his current condition, but I know trying to keep him here is futile. Both of you go out–cloaked. Please, stay invisible and do not interact with anyone other than Kissa. If something has happened then contact me before you do anything." He gave Ryder a hard stare. "Understood?"
Ben’s eyes narrow and he gives his head a quick shake.
“No. I’d say yes if we had someone here to go with you, but it’d be just adding to the bad situation to send you out there by yourself.” Clenches his jaw for a moment, “best option as of now, is definitely to stay put.”
Violet nods solemnly. “Are Cage and Miki asleep?”
-
Ryder gives a stiff nod. “Yeah, got it.”
Before Dio can even finish his sentence, Gabriel has gone invisible, his hands shaking.
Did she try to follow us? I should have just offered her to come along. It’s not safe to leave her be anyways.
Ryder glances to the empty spot beside him and turns himself invisible as well.
“We’ll be back in ten minutes.” He reassures dio, before heading with Gabriel out the door.
Silver nodded, having not expected anything different. "Okay. I'll… go wait for her. If I feel her I'll tell you right away." she turned and trudged down the hall, wringing her hands. She sat on the top stair and wrapped her arms around her stomach, trying not to rock or do anything else that would just encourage her anxiety.
Am I more afraid of Kissa getting hurt or of her betraying us?
–
Dio saw them off and locked the door behind them, then headed into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, barely aware of his actions.
Please keep them safe, he prayed to the universe. Keep all of them safe. Let Kissa come back soon. Don't let the boys do anything stupid.
Ben watches Silver retreat to the staircase, and looks from her to Violet.
“She’ll be fine.”
Violet sighs. “I’m not worried about Kissa’s wellbeing, she’s more capable than most of us on our own. Ben, you know there are still rather alarming chances that she’ll…” her voice fades and her brow furrows, only to see Ben glare.
“That’s not true. Etienne doesn’t have anything else she’d want.”
“Besides maybe the upper hand? Power? More freedom?” Violet adds in a whisper. “Ben, what do we have that will keep her…?”
-
Rude grips Gabriel’s hand and looks from him to the top of Dio’s house. “I don’t think you can fly.” He plainly states.
Gabriel sighs. “Can I try?” He asks, his voice quiet and squeaky.
-
Kissa gently plucks the device from the deadman’s hands, and wipes the blood from the screen with his shirt before pulling out her phone, starting up the video again and recording it on her phone.
She winces, ever blow they land on Gabriel.
Why attack one who is obviously so weak?
She draws her brow together and sighs.
Silver's eyes filled with tears and she sniffed, wiping her nose and trying to stay quiet so Ben and Vi wouldn't know she was crying.
If something happens to Kissa I swear I'll… I'll do something.
–
Dio finished making his tea and began to pace across the living room. Every ten seconds he pulled his phone out and checked his messages.
Ben ignores Violets last question, and heads to the staircase, taking a seat by Silver.
Not really knowing what to say, he’s silent, thinking over Violets words.
They didn’t really have power, sure, but surely her brother and her relationships would keep her set.
-
Ryder sighs and reluctantly let’s go of Gabriel’s hand.
“Yeah. Get on the roof. If you can make it to the roof, I’ll let you fly with me.”
Gabriel takes a few steps back, then sprints forward, launching himself up, but he doesn’t quite make it to the roof and stumbles to the ground, falling into the bushes.
Ryder purses his lips together, holding in a laugh, and jogs over to him, helping him stand. “I’ll fly right above you and you can walk the sidewalk, okay?”
-
After saving the video, Kissa goes through the device, finding most everything needing passcodes. She grits her teeth.
I wanna take it home to Ben, but the chances of them tracking it to us are too high.
Reluctantly, she lays it on the cement and stomps on it till it’s shattered in bits and pieces.
She takes a step back and looks over the bloody mess of men.
They were far enough into downtown that it wouldn’t hint at where they were staying, and besides, she couldn’t clean up this mess on her own.
"I'm fine." Silver sniffed as soon as Ben sat down next to her. She wiped her nose, trying to still her tears. "I'm okay."
–
(Legit Dio's just gonna pace and fret until he hears something so XD)
Ben puts his arm around her. “Kissa will be fine.” He reassures.
Violet eyes them for a moment, worried, and turns to retreat back into her room.
-
Ryder takes flight, and Gabriel sticks to the sidewalk, as planned. The deep blue sky makes it hard to really see anything, but there was definitely no small, flying girl nearby.
-
Kissa lands on the roof above the men, staring down at them and whispering a small chant a few times, just to keep the mess invisible for a few hours more. She turns and looks around before deciding just to head back to Ben’s house.
Silver nodded and dropped her head onto his shoulder. "I know. She can take care of herself. It's just so dangerous for us right now and she didn't tell us where she was going. I don't want anything to happen to her." she wrapped her arms around him and took a deep breath to steady herself.
–
Dio turned to begin his ninety-fifth lap across the living room, but stopped short as his hand automatically went to his phone to check it again. "실제로 그녀에게 연락을 시도한 사람이 있습니까 ???" he asked out loud. He pulled his phone out and swiped through his contacts before realizing he didn't actually have Kissa's number. "Aaaiiish." he tapped back to his text history with Ryder and typed, "Has anyone tried to text or call Kissa's phone? I don't have her number."
“Me either.” Ben agrees, still being worried about Kissa’s wellbeing despite Violet’s reassurance.
-
Ryder almost drops his phone mid flight, opening it to look over Dio’s words. He lands softly on a roof, not bothering to answer Dio and instead calling Kissa and pressing the phone to his ear.
-
Kissa perches herself in a tree to answer the phone. Had it not been Ryder, she probably would have just ignored it.
“Yes?”
Ryder gives a sigh of relief, hearing her answer. “Kiss? Where are you? Ben and Dio are worried.”
She swallows.
I didn’t even think about that. I thought everybody would just be asleep.
“I’m almost home.” She claims.
Though she can’t see, he nods. “Are you safe? Nothing happened?”
Her face flushes red, and she opens her mouth to lie, then closes it.
“I- I’m fine. I’ll talk to you when I see you tomorrow about it.”
He squints. “Mmm. Okayyyy. Keep me on the phone till youre home. I gotta hear Ben’s voice before I hang up.”
She swiftly takes flight again, leaving him on speaker.
"Has it been half an hour yet?" Silver asked.
–
Dio continued his pacing, but texted Ryder again a minute later. "Did you text her? Has she responded?"
Ben checks his watch, “ah, five more minutes.”
-
Ryders phone dings and he takes it from his ear, putting her on speaker while he answers Dio.
”I have her in a call with me right now. I told her to keep me on the phone till she’s home :)”
He send the text and peers down to gabriel who is looking up to him in confusion, to far below to hear his words.
oh yeah, I have another one.
He leaps off of the roof, gliding to the ground, and ruffles Gabriel’s hair.
“She’s fine. I called her.”
-
Kissa softly lands on Ben’s roof, “I’m home.”
She says into the phone.
“Okay but I’m still not hanging up till I hear Ben.” Ryder demands.
She nods, “yeah okay. Just let me get in the window.”
Silver nodded and hugged herself again. "It feels so–" she paused and cocked her head, then leaped to her feet. "She's here! She's back! I just felt her la– I think she's on the roof!" Silver dashed off toward Kissa's bedroom, since her window gave one of the best roof accesses. "KISSA!" she screamed as she crashed into the room.
–
"Aahhhh," Dio sighed in relief and dropped into a chair. "These children aren't good for my blood pressure." "Both of you come back quickly please," he sent back to Ryder.
Ben jumps up and jogs to Kissa’s room, standing right outside of the door, and Violet appears back outside of hers and Ben’s room, wringing her hands.
Half of her body already through the window, Kissa stumbles in, dropping her phone. “SILVER WHAT THE HECK!”
Ben beams from the doorway, taking a step forward.
She stands, grumbling, and picks up the phone and dusts herself off.
Ryder raises and eyebrow on the other side of the phone, waiting to hear Ben shout at her or something.
Gabriel sighs, loosening his grip on Ryders arm.
Shes safe. She’s okay.
"Kissa!" Silver cried again as she launched herself over the bed. "Are you okay?? Where did you go? Why didn't you tell us?? Are you okay?? Did you get hurt??" She grabbed Kissa's arms and looked her over. "Oh, we were so–" Silver paused as her gaze landed on Kissa's hands. "Why do you–why is there blood on your hands?"
Kissa snatched her hands away, her face red. “I’m fine.” She hisses.
Ben jogs further into the room to look her over. She looked decently tidy besides a few dirt scuffs, a scratch on her shoulder and the dried blood up under her nails and on her fingers. He looks to her face.
“An explanation?”
Kissa hangs up on Ryder right after Ben’s words and takes a step back, away from Ben and silver.
“I found one of Etienne's men’s devices. I have proof.” She pulls up her camera roll.
From the hallway, Violet hears the shouts, and then Silvers last question. A shiver goes up her spine.
I have a feeling I won’t be sleeping tonight.
-
Ryder goes to say something, but right after ben spoke, Kissa had hung up. He looks over the text from Dio and sighs.
“C’mon, Gabriel. Let’s head back to dio’s.”
Silver stared at Kissa, taking in both her grimy hands and her phone screen. "Proof of what?" she asked.
–
"Aish-a, 그들은 어디에 있습니까?" Dio mumbled, standing and beginning to pace again. "It shouldn't taken them long to get back."
Kissa shoots silver a glare, “were you not listening? One of Etienne’s men’s devices. I found one.” She clicks on the photo she took of it and hands Ben her phone.
He looks it over, brow furrowed. “Wh- where were you?”
She sighs and pushes past Silver to stand by Ben, taking the phone and playing the video she’d taken of herself going through the files, showing they were all locked, then to the video they’d been playing of Gabriel.
“They’re the men who found Gabriel earlier. I knew something had happened, since he would say anything at all.” She claims, her voice softer now.
Ben gulps.
-
Dios door swings open and as they walk inside the boys turn visible. Ryder closes the door behind them and sighs. “She’s home. I heard Silver and Ben yelling at her.” Gabriel nods.
Silver stood by Ben's other side to watch with them. The video began playing and she saw Gabriel being attacked in the woods. Her stomach twisted and she clamped a hand over her mouth, fighting against the wave of nausea that hit her.
–
"Good, good." Dio nodded. He finally took a sip of his tea and made a face he realized it had gone cold. "Are both of you alright? You didn't see anything?"
