A small, dark haired boy, walked through the trees, slipping now and then in the ice/snow. Not that he cared, he was grinning like crazy, happy to have gotten rid of his parents for the moment. He seemed to be about 6-8 years old, a bit tall for his age, and pretty skinny. His messy hair flew into his eyes when the wind blew, but he ignored it, pulling his coat around himself tighter.
It was late in the afternoon, the sun was lowering quickly, but he showed no fear. His father's blood kept him from being cold, his mothers from being afraid of a simple forest. He tripped again, almost falling now, then laughing aloud.
Cody's eyes, exactly like his fathers ice blue, looked around with amusment at the still forest. He knew he shouldn't be in here, and he knew he wouldn't get away with it for long, but he wasn't afraid of anyone getting him except his mother. She was going to be angry when she finally found him.
Jessie fell out of a tree and on to the ground. *Uhhhhh...* she groaned. Then seeing Cody, she sprang up with so much energy that anyone would be surprised, and then walked over to him *Hello there!!* she said
Cody stepped back in surprise, his expression wary now. All the same, he was polite. "Hello," he said, nodding his head slightly.
*What's up?* Jessie said.
He frowned, wondering who this girl was. "Nothing."
Mira was wandering through the forest looking for Jessie, when she saw her and Cody. "Hello Jessie. Cody where is your mom? Or dad? Are you taking a walk with Jessie or something?"
Cody looked up now, recognizing Mira, but hardly. He hadn't seen her in almost a year now. Still, he bowed his head as a courtesy, something he learned from his father.
"Momma is at the school. And no, I don't know her." He looked towards Jessie with slight suspicion.
Mira looked at Cody amusment sparkling in her eyes. "Don't worry she's not mean or anything." Then she looked st Cody again. "Wow have you grown! I haven't seen you for about a year know."
Cody nodded his head, his almost black hair shifting and blowing across his eyes. He paid no heed, not caring one way or the other. He looked again towards Jessie. Not mean? He'd decide that.
-He who wanders, only gets lost if he lets himself.-
Xaver spoke into Cody's thoughts, his tones as if he were grinning.
He didn't appear, though - he was no where near the forest, or where they were.
-Having fun?-
Cody's face suddenly looked guilty, he frowned then, looking off into the trees. He knew Xaver wasn't close by, but that didn't stop him from looking.
-How'd you know I wasn't with Momma?-
Jessie looked at Cody. *Well anyways, it's a pleasure to meet you!* Jessie stuck out her hand.
Mira looked at him. "I just know these things... I suspect you aren't with your father either?"
((((He wasn't talking to you Mira!!!! He was talking to Xaver. His Father.))))))))))))
((It's okay. The telepathy thing gets confusing.))
Cody took her hand and shook it, his eyes watching her and Mira with interest.
((omg sorry!))
Mira continued to look at Cody. He looked more and more like his father everyday.
Sarah had set on a tree the whole time smiling at them.
"Cody does your mom know that you are here all alone." Sarah said from the tree.
Cody looked up, feeling just as guilty as when Xaver had spoken to him telepathicly.
"No, Miss Sarah. She thinks I am waiting in the Great Hall."
"well then how about I keep you company so you won't get in trouble." Sarah said as she sat down on the ground.
He shrugged, "I'll still be in trouble with Momma." He acted like he didn't care, but he knew he would later. His mom was scary when she was angry.
"well if you can keep a secreat." Sarah bent down and wispered in his ear.
"I'll tell her I wanted to show you all my favorite places around the school."
Cody arched his eyebrows, "I don't think she'll believe you."
Sarah then smiled.
"Hey how do you know. I mean I was a trouble maker in school."
Jessi nodded and giggled. *It's true. She can fool most people, she even got Snape one time!!*
It was a pause before Xaver replied, the bond between him, and Cody, wavering slightly, before his low, mellow tones returned to Cody's thoughts.
-A fair guess. You are very much like me, you know... And, the patterns of your thoughts seem to come very easily to me. I think it's genetic.-
There was another pause, and, this time when Xaver reached him, his tones were lower, and more serious.
-So you are not with you Mother?-
Mira looked at Cody again smiling. "Yor mom won't totally blow up at you with Sarah's lies... Don't worry." Mira joked.
"if anything she will blow up on me. Well I can take it."
Albus jumped down from a tree.
" Hi Cody! Long time no see!" He said too the boy.
He had changed. alot. Not that little child anymore.
Well he were a child but he did look more of his father now.
*Wait wait wait..... Your Ginny's kid? I know you!!!!! Haven't seen you since you were a little tot!!* Jessie said.
"Duh Dobby you think I would try lie for any other kid."
While the girls and Albus spoke around him, Cody concentrated on his father, trying to figure out what his reaction would be if he admitted he wasn't with Ginny. Finally, he thought it best to be honest, since both his parents were experts at catching lies. Or so it seemed to him.
-No. She told me to wait in the school while she went to speak to one of the teachers. I got bored.-
Now, he looked at Albus, recognizing him as well, he smiled brightly. Albnus had always been one of his favorites, "Hi Albus." Then he looked to Sarah and Mira, "Momma says lying is only stalling the inevitable."
There was another short pause.
-Cody. I am not infallible. And you are, neither. You need to be careful wandering off.. You know that.-
Xaver was not at home, where he had been, just that morning.
He was in his home realm, in a small, cramped bathroom, leaning over a white sink. Nursing a long gash, that had cut from the top of his wrist, deeply, over his arm, to under his elbow. Blood was seeped into his clothes, and smeared over his face, and hands, and over the sink, and mirror hanging on the wall. A mirror, that was now a remaining shard of glass, the rest of the pane splayed across the floor, crunching beneath his thick boots.
There was a soft, muffled curse in Xaver's thoughts, before he focused on Cody again.
-I would contact your Mum, but it's easier to link to you - I think it's the blood link between us. ..You need to find her right now, though, alright? Find her.-
Cody scowled outwardly, not catching the tone of his father's voice.
-I don't want to. She'll only scold me for running off.-
He may have been a prodigy, a genius for his age and time, but he was ultimately a child. And children don't like to be scolded.
-What do you need her for? Maybe I can help, then I don't have to get her."
Xaver tried to scowl, but he nearly grinned, despite the growing intensity of his situation, and the dizziness in his head.
So very much like his mother, and Xaver himself.
What did you get, when you crossed stubborn, and stubborn? That's right, kids. Stubborn squared.
Xaver tried to flex his hand, but his fingers became increasingly numb. He forced a clenched fist, and, rapidly, blood seeped from the deep wound at his arm, dark, and oddly colored, staining the pale floor.
He clenched his jaw as the tingling feeling began, slowly, up his hand. Up his arm.
-Think you, you can help, though you do not know what it is I may ask of you?-
Sarah heard what he told them and smiled.
"Man he is one smart kid."
-Sure, why not? You and Momma are always telling me I can do anything.- Cody's thoughts were slightly eager, but he wouldn't come right out and let his father know that. Plus, he really didn't want to go get his mom.
he looked at Sarah, noting her compliment, but not saying anything.
-Yes... If you work at it.-
Xaver frowned, darkly, pulling off his shirt with his uninjured arm, and wrapping the garment over his gash, tying the ends, his sleeves, in a knot.
He straightened, then, a tall, lean, compact and powerful body, harboring his bandaged arm to his chest. He turned, the glass crunching and snapping beneath his shoes, and stepped over the still body in his path to the doorway. The unmoving figure was dead, the life long gone, even though the body was still warm..
Xaver shivered, closing the bathroom door behind him, and stalking soundlessly through an enormous, angular hallway, until he came to a large, darkwood door. He pressed on it, and disappeared - then transported himself away.. Reappearing before Cody.
The power of the transport struck him like a swift kick in the middle, and he grunted, the breath being forced from his lungs in a quick strike of the repercussion.
He sucked in the cool, damp air of the forest almost thankfully, wobbling slightly, before he regained a steady hold on his own stance.
He looked over at Cody, then, his dark eyes mellow - and, oddly, very tired. Xaver sat down, slowly, after a moment, half collapsing against the nearest tree, and leaning back against it as if it were a down bed, and less a prickly, rough trunk that chewed at the exposed skin of his back.
"Since you insisted," he said, quietly.
"Could you get me a needle, some hot water, and a clean cloth? ..A few clean cloths?"
When Xaver appeared, Cody stood motionless,waiting for him to speak. When he did, he nodded, "Okay."
He closed his eyes, concentrating hard on conjuring up a needle, hot water, cloth and some clothing for Xaver. He was able to come up with the needle and hot water, but that was it. He scowled, "sorry." He muttered, opening his eyes. He pulled off his coat then, offering it up to use as a bandage.
He was much like his father in the way that the cold didn't bother him all that much.
Xaver nodded to Cody, and what he offered.
-Good job. And thank you.-
He didn't mention why he couldn't do it himself.
Instead, Xaver sat up slightly, and untied his shirt, from his arm, allowing the soaked article to drop to the ground, turning his arm over - though his movement was limited. His fingers tingled oddly, and there was little pain, though that was because from his elbow down, he was more or less completely numb, now. He sighed, and after a moment, stood again, walking to Cody. Walking, to be amidst all of them, in the little group that had accumulated.
"Gold," he said almost simply, planting his uninjured hand atop Cody's head. "It doesn't like me too much."
"How come gold doesn't bother me?" Cody questioned, watching his father quietly. He wrinkled his nose slightly as the smell of blood wafted towards him. He had a problem with the smell, but he wasn't sure why.
Now he looked up, smiling at Xaver with adoration. While he loved his mother with all his heart, it was Xaver he adored.
"Because the allergic reaction I wasn't born with. So, I don't suppose it would be passed down, anyway," he replied, frowning slightly, and thoughtful for a moment. He glanced at the deep, gaping wound at his arm, with that same detached, abnormal absence. He should have been screaming. Completely Xaver-like, though, he was thoughtful. Typical.
"But that's for later..."
"Oh. Okay." Cody looked at Xaver's arm, interested by the wound, but at the same time, replused. The smell bothered him quite a bit, but he had never had wounds worse than the occasional scrape or two.
"Where were you?" He asked Xaver.
Where I shouldn't have been...
"In my, and distantly your own, home realm," he said quietly.
The place was beginning to disgust him, altogether.
Xaver drew a deep breath, and slowly let it out, his strung-tight aura calming back to that usual mellow, but alert state. He accepted the needle from Cody, then, and turned, touching the tip to the top of the wound, his will drawing the hot water over thin air, the down his arm, dousing the injury and cleaning it. The needle then, he released, and within a moment, his arm was in a way sewn, though the threads were of some odd, liquid-like texture.
He wiggled his fingers, willing the feeling to come back, though so far, he got only the continuous tingly feeling, as if his hand was asleep.
"Can you take me there someday?" Cody asked questions alot, having a willingness to learn all he could. Especially if it was about Xaver.
Xaver looked at him.
"Maybe. ..After you learn more, however.."
He nodded, more to himself, than anyone, waving his hand slightly, tapping into the powers he was annoyed were still, admittedly, running shorter than they should have been - and suddenly he was in fresh clothes, the blood, and smell, gone, replaced by his normal musky scent.
Cody smiled, "When will I know enough?"
He never let up with the questions, it seemed.
The moment Cody stopped speaking, Ginny's voice rang out through the forest, calling for her son, "Cody! Cody, where the hell are you?!"
At hearing his name, Cody went still, his mouth forming an oh and he looked at Xaver and Sarah, "uh-oh."
-You will know,- Xaver returned to Cody.
His hand was numb, or Xaver's fingers would have twitched, in that subconscious habit of his, when he heard Ginny's voice.
He looked at Cody, caught his surprised reaction, and he fought a chuckle.
-Found him,- he sent her, his tones low.
-Good. I'm glad someone has.- Her tones were irritable, and in an instant she appeared. Her hair was pulled into a low ponytail, meant to merly keep it out of her face, and a black cloak covered her jeans and hoodie. In many ways, she still looked like her teenage self. She looked at Cody, her arms folded, "Xerxes Codium Xian, I believe I told you to stay in the school, correct?"
She was angry with him, an instinct that came just after the relief that her child had been found.
Cody didn't look at his mom, instead looking to Xaver and Sarah, his eyes pleading for them to help bail him out.
Xaver gave him a look.
Then, lifted his arm, with a little difficulty, his elbow refusing to bend easily, and he motioned to the odd-liquid sealed wound.
"Partially my fault."
He went quiet, after a moment, though.
That was the first time he'd truly heard Cody's whole name.
Xerxes Xian.
Xian.
The thought of it had him flushing with pride, internally.
"And I suppose you told him to leave without even mentioning to someone where he was headed?" Ginny turned to Xaver, her eyebrows raised sarcasticly. She wasn't angry at him, she was just upset in general. And although she didn't raise her voice at all, her anger came off in waves. Cody swallowed, realizing he wasn't getting out of this one.
"Momma, I'm sorry. I just got bored." He figured he was going to lose anyway, he might as well surrender.
Neither noticed Xaver's sudden quietness. They didn't realize it was the first time Cody's full name had been spoken within his hearing range.
"Like I said," Xaver returned, after a moment. "Just partially my fault. But I did reach him easily. Very."
He passed her a sidelong glance.
-The circumstances were different, but remember we were worse than he probably ever will be.-
Within, Xaver was grinning, though he kept his composure.
"Were the circumstances not what they are," he said aloud, "your wandering off wouldn't be so big an issue. But times are dangerous... hence the reason for a few rules."
He nodded, pointedly.
Xerxes Xian.
..Xerxes Xian.
Xerxes Xian.
...Xerxes Xian.
He almost smiled.
Ginny scowled softly, -I know, but he still shouldn't run off.-
She saw his face and gave him a look of confusion, then looked at Cody.
"Angel, you can't run off. Never. And you blocked me telepathically, which is more dangerous then you realize."
Cody looked down, flushing slightly. He had blocked her telepathic calls, and he knew a few of the dangers of such a thing. He wasn't exactly ashamed, he was just a bit embarassed at being caught.
Sarah stood there before she decided it might be best if she turned around and left.
*Well cody till next time. I mean I don't know if I want to mess with your mom right now.* She sent to cody before she jumped back into the tree.
-I know,- he returned, with empathy.
He kneeled down, draping his uninjured arm over his knee, looking at Cody, the playfulness gone from his features.
"Cody.."
He frowned slightly.
"You have seen me come back looking haggard, and injured. You just helped me partially heal myself, no? It's not for fun.. And you know not enough to protect yourself, do you understand? Your mom and I are worried about you, for you, and for good reason. We don't pretend that things are dangerous."
"I know. But I'm not weak!" Cody persisted, looking at his father earnestly.
"But you aren't strong enough." Ginny shook her head angrily, "You don't know how strong some of these people after us are, baby."
"Stop calling me that!"
"No matter how old or strong you grow," Xaver interjected, his tones a little lower, and more serious now, his gaze hardening slightly at Cody's tone, "you will always be your mother's baby. And mine."
He went to ruffle Cody's hair, but seemed to falter, instead folding his hands over his knee.
"You aren't weak, no. But you aren't particularly strong yet, either. Strength isn't all about power.. It's about knowledge, and practice. Becoming a veteran in the art isn't something you can just figure out over a few years, Cody. It takes your whole life."
"It didn't take you guys that long." Cody muttered, scowling and looking away from them.
Ginny raked a hand through her hair, sighing, "We aren't as strong as you think."
"We are still learning," Xaver said quietly, standing.
"If I was all-powerful, do you think I would get injured? Your mom and I are more powerful than many - but we still face danger. And you face the same danger - but you are in no way as nearly experienced. ...And that scares me, son."
Xaver glanced at Ginny.
Cody folded his arms, pouting at being scolded.
Ginny sighed again, quietly. She rubbed her neck, tired of this endless game of 'why not's and the explaining. Most kids never got answers, and Cody didn't seem to realize how well off he was with his parents.
Xaver shook his head, looking at the both of them, and finally he sighed, moving to Ginny, and drawing her into his arms.
Simply hugging her, holding her, planting a kiss upon her forehead before he slipped an arm around her, and offered Cody his hand.
"Shall we go take a little tour of Hogwarts, and enjoy a little bit of the clear day before it's gone?"
It had been a while since Xaver had been on the property... And, quite honestly.. it made him queasy.. But he hid the fact.
"I'd rather not go to the school right now." Ginny said, glancing up at the castle. She had just come from a meeting with the school board, and really didn't want to run into any of them.
Cody shrugged, not taking Xaver's hand.
Xaver nodded to her, and frowned slightly, at Cody.
-Are you mad at me, now?-
-You took her side. You always take her side.- Cody kicked at the ground, then turned and began walking away, through the forest. Unknowingly, he was headed towards the clearing where his parents had first kissed.
Ginny rubbed her eyes, nothearing what he said to Xaver, but feeling his anger. She coughed, almost silently, then cursed herself. She was getting sick from all of this.
Xaver frowned after him, then turned to Ginny, drawing her closer now.
He looked at her, his eyes flickering over her with concern he didn't bother to conceal.
"Are you not well?"
"I'll be fine. A cold." She shrugged, nodding after Cody, "C'mon."
Xaver frowned, openly.
"Just a cold, humm?" he said quietly, letting her go, and starting in Cody's general direction.
He knew the forest well, still.
It was hard to forget.. with all the memories.
Ginny nodded, following after Cody quietly. To her, it was just a cold, bothersome, but only a cold.
Cody walked ahead, kicking the ground every few moments.
Xaver frowned at her, but let it go, stepping over a few overgrown tree-roots.
-Cody?-
-What?- Cody didn't look back, just kept walking. He hardly looked around him, though subconsiously he watched where he was going.
Ginny was different, she looked around her with slight ease settling into her features.
-Where are you going?-
His thoughts were light. Unreadable.
Xaver followed both of them, curious at the situation.
Curious at where they were.
Remembering...
-How should I know?!- Cody stopped, midstep, throwing up his arms in frustration. They stood in a large clearing, and it took Ginny a moment before she recognized where they stood.
-Well. You walk as if you know exactly where you are going,- he retorted.
"You remember, too, then, Ginny?"
Xaver looked around, pausing in his steps. Glancing at a tree, then back at her.
"More then you'd know." Ginny answered back, smiling slightly.
-Well, I don't know where I'm going. I don't care.- Cody turned, interested by the nostalgic ton og Ginny's voice.
((I. Must. Go. To. Bed. I have work tomorrow...and it's 3:30 am here. I have to go to sleep, evn if it kills me.))
(lol! Goodnight!!)
"I first got up the courage to kiss you here, I think.."
Xaver smiled slightly, to himself.
-You don't care where you go or where you end up?-
"Actually...I kissed you first." Ginny smiled, a grin spreading across her face.
Cody scowled, -I don't know.-
Xaver grinned.
"Different time, then.." he said, thoughtfully.
He grinned again.
"You made me so nervous."
-You don't know if you care?-
"I wasn't exactly calm and cool." Ginny said, smiling as she looked around. She didn't se the area as it was now, she saw it as it had been then. Bright and colorful from the falling leaves.
Cody frowned at Xaver, not knowing how to answer.
Albus saw Cody Ginny and Xaver dissappear.
Ah.... I hate those inminds fights.... he thought too himself in his blocks.
Cody? Where are you Albus thought straight too Cody.
-I don't know. Some clearing. Momma and Daddy are talking about their first kiss, I think.- Cody thought back to Albus, never taking his eyes off Xaver angrily.
Okay. is something wrong Cody?
-Peachy keen.- Cody thought back, sarcasam evident in his voice.
Good to know that...... He returned in the same tone.
Sarah climbed out of the tree. "So you figure out where he went."
*Ginny sorry if he wandered off I found and kept him safe though.* Sarah sent to just her.
-While I thank you for keeping him safe, I am miffed that you didn't contact me when you saw him alone.- Ginny thought quietly to Sarah.
" he is with Ginny and Xaver." Albus said.
*He was not alone. I mean he was with Mira and Albus I think. I just know when I showed up he had people with him. Sorry I should have anyways.* Sarah sent back.
"Oh okay."