The constant... (Patrick/open)

[Aiden "Belial" Badoer]

Aiden was sitting on a bed in a sleezy hotel. A fork was halfway to his mouth when he snapped out of the blackout. He was wearing a white wife beater and sky and navy blue striped boxer shorts. Aiden closed his mouth and put down the fork as his eyes looked around the room. The décor didn't scream "Venice" to him and neither did the street noise outside. He put down his microwaved TV dinner and got up to take a look outside the window.

He blue eyes scanned the area and it was quite scummy.

"Where am I?"

"The beautiful city of New York."

He let out a small whimper knowing full well who lived here. He ran to the bathroom to see a sore wound on his collar bone.. a knife cut no doubt. "What is this?"

"Why... we had a visit from Kazumi.... She is looking....well."

Aiden had a sudden rush of panic in which overwhelmed him and he felt nothing but rage thereafter. "What did you do?" Aiden would laugh... but it wasn't his sense of humour. It was the voice in his head present itself. Aiden would run sliding on any pair of pants he could find...in this case it was a pair of black dress pants. He didn't bother changing his shirt as he ran out the door.

He didn't know how he did.... be he knew exactly where Kazumi was staying. What worried him was why there? Why not with the family? Most of all... he was worried for her sake Belial had not hurt her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Without hesitation he approached the door of the small house. His fist thumping against it in a panicked manner. He couldn't wait for it to be opened..if only it weren't locked.

"Kazumi!" He would call out in distress for his sister.

[Legion]

Kazumi was staying a little late today after school. Trying to catch up from those days that she had taken off from when she had been recovering from the doctor. Patrick had offered to stay, wait out in the hallway, or do some work in the library or something. She had ushered him off though. Something about not needing the distraction or something. Wasn't sure what that meant, well no, that was a lie. He knew exactly what she meant. Probably along the lines of excusing herself to the "bathroom". Yeah, ever since the janitor's closet, school wasn't exactly off limits anymore.

And so here Patrick sit, on the couch with an italian book on his lap. He figured that he might as well learn the language solely because it was a language the Kazumi was very comfortable with. And it became apparent when Mischa had burst into the house and they started screaming at each other in italian that he should probably pick it up. No big deal though, he was pretty good with languages as it was. And he did already know a little, though how he learned it he wasn't too proud of. Though for the moment he was kind of trying to hide it from Kazumi. Not because he was trying to be more secretive then he had been, but because he thought it would be a nice gift for her. Something unique. Problem was, to learn a language it helped to be able to speak with people in said language. And save for Kazumi, the only other italian speakers he knew were either dead, or not really on speaking terms with him, for a multitude of reasons.

However his endeavors were ceased when he heard a banging on the door, a furious one at that. Before Patrick even heard the name yelled out he was already pulling a loaded pistol from beneath the couch. Someone had already come to take her once, he wasn't about to let that shit happen again. Walking towards the door he looked at the moniter beside it as he heard Kazumi's name being screamed. The guy didn't look like he wanted any trouble. Patrick put the gun in his pants, in the waistband in back, draping his tee over it as he looked at the kid. Seemed familiar.

Letting him bang for a moment more it struck him. This was Aiden. It had to be. The twin. Patrick had seen a picture before of the guy. Patrick knew he was back in town and that Kazumi had seen him but it didn't look like he'd seen her. Demons or something? Seemed logical. All the same though Patrick hit the code for the door, opening it slowly as he saw the kid with his own eyes for the first time. The guy looked like he had just thrown his outfit together. Furrowed brows Patrick asked in that thick irish accent, "Aiden?"

[Aiden "Belial" Badoer]

Aiden whimpered slightly as as he would hop a little in a worried pattern as he waited and waited for someone to answer. He had a feeling she lived here...He couldn't go anywhere else. Home was a bad idea because obviously something was up with Mamma Mischa and Mamma Kev if Kazumi wasn't with them... That and Belial put a gone to Mischa's head in Venice threatening to kill everyone so he wasn't sure how she had taken that situation... he was scared to go and visit them.... Not like he had much of a choice as of late anyway.

Finally the door opened. Aiden was about to storm into the house to try and ask Kazumi if anything happened, but before he did so he realized it was a guy who had answered the door.

"Oh sorry... I must have the wro-"

"Aiden?"

"Right house." the voice taunted within his mind. Aiden had a confused expression on his face as he stared at the man. "That is Patrick. Kazumi loves him." the distaste in the voice was prominent though.... Aiden couldn't help but feel a little relieved. Kazumi went through a lot..and he was glad she was able to love.... and not get fucked around by scum sucking rodents like Matrim. After a moment of silence Aiden would shake his head as if cutting out of a daydream.

"Uh..." he looked around not really sure in what to do. Quite frankly he didn't know what to expect. He couldn't be mad Kazumi hadn't told him 'cause he knew she would have if Belial didn't wipe him off the face of the earth. "Yeah.. I'm Aiden.... Kazumi's brother..." Aiden would hold out his hand for the man to shake. "And you're? Patrick? Look... I was just uh.. Wondering if Kazumi was home."

"She isn't."

[Legion]

The guy immediately began to apologize, thinking he had gotten the wrong house as Patrick stopped to play place the face. But Patrick had won before Aiden could finish his sentence. The confused look on his face Patrick chalked up to him knowing Aiden's name, never having met him before. It seemed logical enough. Though at the moment it was the only real option for him. Though as there was the awkwardly long pause without Aiden confirming or denying Patrick's question of his identity, Patrick started to wonder what was up. Especially since he shook his head like he was in some sort of day dream

The verbal pause and the looking around added to Patrick's suspicions. Knowing it was Kazumi's twin brother Patrick had to wonder if Aiden had a renter of his own in his head. That would explain the little daydreaming trance. Although, just as valid of an explanation was that Patrick was a paranoid little bugger as well.

As Aiden confirmed his identity and held his hand out to shake Patrick would take the man's hand with a firm shake, about to introduce himself. Until he did for him. Taken aback for a moment he'd pause before a slight smirk would cross his face before his eyes showed that he realizing what it could have been because Kazumi had felt him last night, "Twin thing?"

After another shake of the hand, slightly longer then normal on account of Aiden telling him his name without ever seeing him or a picture Patrick would answer before letting go, "Yeah, My name's Patrick O'Connor. And no, Kazumi's not home right now, she stayed a little late after school, trying to catch up on work."

Patrick would step back though and to the side inviting him in, "Do ye want to come in though? She'll be back in a little bit if ye want to wait."

[Aiden "Belial" Badoer]

"Twin thing?"

Aiden blushed with a small laugh as he should his head. "No She told me about you when I saw her last..." at least he assumed so. He smile disappeared and his expression twisted into disappointment when Patrick broke the news about her currently not being home. She needed to see if she was alright, because quite frankly Belial was a sick fuck.

"Don't worry. I didn't make her bleed that much... and she liked it."

Aiden's jaw clenched at the mention blood. Though he tried to hide the displeaser so much, because it wasn't like Patrick knew what was going on.

"Um... yeah if you don't mind." he would smile stepping into the house. He hadn't seen this place before. Must have been new. It wasn't surprising given who his parents were. Mamma Kev was the type to by a new house if Mamma Mischa were to trip one too many times in the old one.

Aiden walked towards the kitchen and would slowly spin about giving the place a look over before he would look back at Patrick with an awkward stance. "Um... So.... You're... Uh.... With my sister?" He would let out another awkward chuckle as he scratched the back of his head. "If you hurt her I have a shutgun. haha." He was making light of the whole 'I'm her brother and I will protect her' type deal.... So far he didn't hate the guy... yeah he was upset that he knocked up Kazumi...cause that meant they had sex..and he really didn't want to picture her having sex..it was just weird... she seemed too innocent for that. "Just kidding..."

"Speak for yourself."

"Hey...?" he ignored Belial so he could ask Patrick about Kazumi. He couldn't wait to see how she was I doing... "This might seem weird... But how has Kazumi been since I saw her last? She is... The same right?"

[Legion]

"Ah, okay" Patrick said with a slight grin on his features, not really sure why, but he did note how Aiden seemed to phrase that weird. Especially considering it was only last night. Because by the time they had gotten together, Aiden had been gone. But it could be nothing. The guy might just have a weird way of talking. There wasn't anyway of knowing for sure yet, at least not at this point and time.

Patrick noted the disappointment in his face as he told Aiden that Kazumi was out for a bit. It had only confirm his decision to invite him in. Sure, last night he bit Kazumi, but apparently he suffered from the whole blood thing too and was out of it. And while Kazumi had lied to Patrick, he hadn't picked up on it because as was said, she could lie to protect her family. He picked up on something being wrong, but not the lie. So other then the bite Patrick had no reason to dislike the guy, though the bite was understandable so it wasn't a big deal, other then it was on his mark, but he would let it go. Besides, he was Kazumi's twin and seemed like a nice enough guy.

Patrick gave him a friendly smile as he made his way in the house. Not surprisingly he had never been here before. It wasn't hard to tell. Looking around, seeing new settings. Well there was that and Patrick knew for a fact that this house was specifically gotten for Kazumi after the Earth incident. Aiden had been in Italy.

"Yeah", Patrick said somewhat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. As it turned out, when some one made something awkward, it was natural, to be awkward yourself. Though when Aiden made his shotgun comment Patrick chuckled. +1 to recoveries bro! But when the juct kidding came, Patrick spoke up anyway, "The last thing I want to do is hurt yer sister, I love her."

He wasn't trying to be awkward or over dramatic or something, he was serious. He loved her and wouldn't dream of hurting her, at least not intentionally. Maybe over stupid fight stuff that would get sorted out later, but that didn't really count anyway.

When Aiden asked his self professedly weird question. It made Patrick ask a question of his own, "Why? When was the last time ye saw her?"

Something seemed very off here, so Patrick figured that it was a fair question. Besides he needed to know when the last time Aiden saw Kazumi was before he could tell him of she changed or not...

[Aiden "Belial" Badoer]

Despite the joke Patrick would defend himself when in the throes of subject of Kazumi. Aiden would give him props for he believed heavily on kahoonays when meeting the brother....but not ballsy enough to show him off. Brothers like to be the Alpha dog but they want to know their sister isn't with an ass kisser either. Aiden would smile in response to his statement. It was a genuine smile at that though it only would disappear again when Patrick answered his question with another question.

Fuck.

Aiden hadn't seen Kazumi since he left for Venice more than 8 months now... Hell he didn't even know when he arrived in New York. That was when blood drained his face. What if he had been here for a long time... The gig would be up.... last thing he needed was for people to know about Belial... hell... if he could get away with it....he would try and convince Kazumi Belial hadn't existed... He was a twisted son of a bitch.

"Uh." He would smile. "The night I got in." laughing he would swipe his hand over and passed his head. "Right over my head. ha-ha. I was hopped up on Gravol. Travelling upsets my stomach and I had one too many... so I can't recall our visit as well as I wish..." he would cough a little as he got really nervous now. Nothing bad could have happened if Patrick didn't up and say whether Kazumi was acting out of the ordinary. "May I have a glass of water? My throats a little..." he would stick his tongue out as he fanned at it with his hand..... as if to explain his throat as dry.

[Legion]

Patrick saw the smile that Aiden gave to his answer. Apparently he had answer correctly. Now that was good, because honestly he needed at least one friend in Kazumi's family he figured. Yeah, seeing as both of her mothers were less then thrilled at his existence. At least at this moment it seemed. Well, he didn't expect Kevala to ever come around but they had a working relationship at least. And Mischa? Well her anger seemed understandable. Patrick just felt a slight bit of relief that Aiden didn't instantly decide to hate him, and he seemed nice enough.

And then that smile would disappear as Patrick asked him a question in return. Aiden was put off by the question for whatever reason. That only served convince him further that there was something going on beneath the surface. Not that Patrick was about to accuse him and burn him at the stake, but he did worry for Kazumi. How could he not? She was his girlfriend and carrying their child.

When he answered the question, that only served to make Patrick more suspicious of his previous assumption that the kid had a renter in his head. Because shouldn't he remember seeing Kazumi? Especially considering it was last night? Even if his head was thrown off a little. Nervousness showed as he coughed, in inner frown forming, although Patrick didn't show it. When he asked for a drink of water Patrick's face changed from a slightly curious look to a warm smile, "Sure thing"

Walking to the sink Patrick would grab a cup from the cubbard and fill it with water, handing it to Aiden as he said, "Well it's a bit early to tell, but she has been acting a bit off since she saw ye last night."

Patrick paused for a second, "She was also rather evasive about what happened regarding that bite you gave her last night too."

[Kazumi O'Connor]

She had been at school when a very strange sensation had hit her. Not that she didn't know what it was, because she had felt it all her life...but for so many months now, all she had felt was that other half of Aiden, never Aiden himself. So naturally, when she was sitting alone in the library, and that sudden sensation washed over her, she was thrown off for a moment.

Though, to be honest, it took but about half a second to register in her mind and for her to start grabbing up her stuff, haphazardly throwing it into her backpack so that she could hurry up and get the hell out of the school. Within minutes, she had thrown her bag into the backseat of her convertible and was peeling out of the parking lot. However, as she was driving she could not help but feel a bit anxious. Not sure where he was going at first, she was scared that he was getting ready to leave the country again, especially because she felt the panic in him as sure as if it were her own.

Then, it came through loud and clear, he was looking for her. A little whimper given as she bit her lower lip and tried her best to focus on where he was, though it was hard, very hard. Something was blocking it and she could only guess that darker side of him was playing games. Whatever the case, she eventually figured out where he was going.......home. Her home.

A little wince at the thought of him being alone with Patrick, especially after what had happened last night. Her hand coming up to touch upon the mark in her neck, the one that she knew he had left, but that she had no memory of. Pressing on the gas, it took her only a few minutes to make it home, pulling in the drive and quickly turning off the engine before hopping out and running to the front door.

A little frustrated growl given as she tried to key in her code, only to do so wrong, and have to do it again. You would think she would remember it easily enough...it was their birthday after all. Eventually however, she would get it right, throwing the door open almost instantly. "Aiden!"

She could sense his distress, his nervousness. Much harder to block the bond they shared when they were this close to one another. A few seconds later, she found him in the kitchen with Pat and threw her arms about his waist. She wasn't sure how long it would be that she actually got to see her actual brother, so naturally she was going to make the best of it. Not to mention she wanted to make whatever was wrong better.

Her head pressing against his chest as she hugged him rather tightly, fighting back the urge to cry even though she knew that this was probably an odd reaction for her to be having since she had just seen him last night. "What's the matter?" She wanted to know. She wanted to fix it. Though, she did have a pretty good idea as to what it was.

[Aiden "Belial" Badoer]

Aiden would sheepishly grab for the water and would try and drink it to avoid any eye contact...though his water drinkage came interrupted when Patrick mentioned the bitemark. Aiden coughed up the water and set the glass down as he patted at his chest. He didn't remember this at all.

"She tasted so good."

Anger welled up from inside him. Belial was having his fun right now.. this was the whole and only reason Aiden had control over his body and mind right now... just because Belial was bored.

"I-I" well one he was disgusted he would bite Kazumi.... He had a taste for blood...but he wasn't exactly crazy for it... guess he wasn't speaking for Belial.

"He bit her... I was just letting him know that she wasn't her property."

Ok..so both Belial and Patrick pissed him off in that aspect. Kazumi wasn't either of their property and neither of them shouldn't be biting Kazumi. It only encourages her own bad behaviour....

Before he could try and explain or lie or anything Kazumi came rushing in through the door. He turned to see her and quite frankly he was trying his best not to cry. It had been more than 8 months since he had seen her. He ran away from New York to Venice because she was dead... though all the while Belial knew she was alive... before anyone else did...He just knew...

Kazumi ran to him and he would wrap his arms around him and hold her tightly as he rocked her back and forth. Though she would then ask what was wrong...

"Umm...... I just.... wanted to see how you were... since... the last time we met?" he tried hinting that he didn't know when that was. "And Patrick brought up the bite?" he didn't know what the bite was... and he didn't know what Kazumi was telling Pat. Aiden was lost..confused...Belial was making it worse by not explaining what was going on the past 8 months.

Had it been 8 months?

Maybe....