#warpau2

It was very late night or very early morning when Skylar moved soundlessly through the barn used to house the slaves of Queen Nisha's Court. Most of the stalls were set up barracks-style housing four to five men in a single stall, but there were a few here and there that were used as private chambers. The stall Skylar was heading for was just that even though he had been here only once before his feet and heart knew the way.  Skylar stopped when he felt the strong aggressive psychic scent of a Warlord Prince permeate through the door, his heart pounding in his chest, aching as he stood in front of the door.  His hand came down to the opening latch of the door, frowning to himself as he felt a Red Lock keeping the door from being opened by anyone with a weaker Jewel. Malek's Birthright Red trumped his Birthright Sapphire he could not get past the Lock without a little help. A quick glance up and down the hallway with his own senses spread out told him no one was here as he called in a dark jewel he rarely ever touched, a flare of power that was there and gone again as Skylar walked through the Red Lock as if it wasn't even there. Malek wouldn't be surprised to find Skylar here, the Eyrien knew, since he was one of the few alive to know his secret that Skylar wasn't broken back to his Birthright Sapphire as he pretended to be with the rest of the world.

The fire burned brightly, fighting off the chill the night offered and illuminating both Warlord Princes nearby. The fire wouldn’t last long, even if they had gone days without seeing Blood or landen alike both were too paranoid to keep it lit and resorted to Craft and the press of their bodies together to stay warm at night. Skylar’s golden eyes stayed on the slender man pacing closer to the flames, his hands on his lap twitched.

“D-didn’t take you nearly as long this time, Slagger.” A smile quirked his lips as he made Malek start the fire without any Craft and with basic tools. Perhaps Malek would never find himself in a position to have his Jewels completely drained and without enough power for even basic Craft but while they were living on the land and no longer enslaved, Skylar was trying to spend a fair portion showing Malek basic survival skills and other portions of their time...

The corridors were getting less and less crowded with each turn Sky made, the pace was fast, confidence in Sky’s frame that he knew where he was leading Warren and what with the clericals he wore in no one stopped to ask questions. Mercy Medical Center may have started small but over the century that it had been around it had wings and ells added on that if one didn’t know where they were going it wasn’t too hard to get lost however Sky had the advantage of serving the past half decade as a chaplain to know the ins and outs between the multiple additions. A blocked off area was straight ahead, walls wrapped in construction wrap and yellow caution tape sprawled across to hall to keep people out.

Sky’s hand tightened on Warren’s, the only warning he gave before he made a sharp turn to the right into a dead end hallway. The area smelled of disinfectant and saw dust, it was dimly let as the construction crew must have turned off the lights before they left for the night. Sky whirled on his heel, the movement sudden as he shoved Warren to the wall, his own body right there to pin Warren. His right hand came up to brace himself against the wall while his left deftly slid the cross he wore over his shoulder to prevent an accidental burn before landing on Warren’s hip. He pressed his chest against Warren’s back, leaning in his mouth hoovered over Warren’s ear, his hot breath fanning over skin.

Shawn Williams surged out of his seat as the rest of the audience rose from theirs to applause the cast on the stage taking their bow, clapping furiously and gave one shrill whistle not able to help himself. The play had been amazing, Sean had been amazing, all the times he had been on the stage Shawn’s eyes were glued on him awed at his performance and realizing how far the teen had gone from the winter specials in elementary school the entire class were involved in. Shawn’s breath caught and his heart skipped a beat as it seemed for a split-second Sean’s eyes met his. 

Impossible of course, what with those spot lights glaring down that anyone on the stage could catch anyone in the audience Shawn ducked his head, shoving his hands in his pockets as he slowly became aware there were other people in the audience glancing at him curiously. He wasn’t that... enthusiastic, was he? He couldn’t help it, he just was so proud of his soulmate in a flash of a moment it showed, even if this was supposed to be a secret. He never did tell Sean he managed to get his shift switched with another senior to get the night off to attend. 

He glanced back at the stage, the cast were milling together giving finals hugs and congratulations to one another before going back stage. If Shawn read his program right they’d be going to the cafeteria outside the front of the auditorium for the audience to meet the cast. Anxiety swirled in Shawn’s gut, crowds weren’t his strongest suit really and he had just about enough of the people milling about him to make their exit from the auditorium. He pressed the back of his legs to the bottom of his raised seat leaning back enough to let people get past him, needing the extra time to try to figure out what he was gonna do now. Meeting Sean with other people around made him feel uncomfortable, he was all too aware of the times that Sean’s left hand caught the light just right and flashed to the audience the mark that matched perfectly to the one on Shawn’s left hand.

As the last of the audience was leaving Shawn fell in line admist them and shuffled along to make his way out, a plan of action forming in his mind. He followed the line to where kool aid and baked goods were offered although the goodies were mostly picked over he selected a couple crispy rice bars and two Dixie cups of juice and made his way towards the opposite end of the cafeteria away from where the cast and audience were mingling and towards the hallway that the senior lockers were located. 

His jacket and tie were on the bar beside him, his vest was undone and the top two buttons of his shirt as well, grateful to be done with the day’s round of meetings and for the mean time escaping someone else he didn't really care to see at the moment. Skylar Williamson’s hands slightly shook as he fidgeted with a glass half full the ice tinkling as he swirled the contents around, staring down at it blindly while his mind was in another hemisphere. 

Four days ago, he bumped into a stranger in a coffee shop and the man was still emblazoned in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes he could see him. When he focused he could still hear his voice-- they didn’t say much, there was no time on Sky’s end. Sky’s hand tightened around his glass while the other one came up to touch the tattoo on his neck, the words in a clear cursive script that looked elegant, bold black, behind the letters a glow of rich dark purple. Four days ago, he met his soulmate and didn’t even realize it not until hours and thousands of miles of away.

The AI of the spacecraft was roused from his state of awareness but not quite aware when his sensors alerted him of the presence of someone just at the perimeter of the holding bay he was being stored in. He paused when on his screens showed the infrared scan and the camera imagery of a man approaching him. The dark clothing, the stealth movements were very different from how the man had acted the last time he encountered him.

It was a tour through the plant the group stopped at the dock there was a brief mention of him, something about an experimental craft that was glossed over and then they continued on to the next bay over. But for whatever reason this man had stopped, lightly ran his hand over his plating those fingers stroking along a way that no one has ever touched him before. He was aware then too; he replayed the memory over many times pondering on it.

Sky stared at the man looking back at him in the men's restroom mirror. Dark hair spiky from running his hands through it, eyes even a touch darker as he looked less tired than he actually felt, it was effort for Sky to not slump his shoulders or fall into a slouch that was more comfortable than holding his frame upright.  He had been on the job for 12 hours, the last time he ate he estimated was 6 hours ago and something familiar about the Warren sparked a different hunger in Sky's body.

Biting his lip he contemplated his look, the collar at his throat and the cross on his chest remembering the hesitation Warren had. The collar, he decided firmly would have to stay. Being from a non-denomination church there was no requirements for the collar the choice was completely his, a reminder to keep his behavior and his focus at its best. But the cross... it wasn't a crucifix that was more common with Catholics just something simple composed of three nails but he didn't want Warren uncomfortable and really was looking forward to their conversation, an excitement he couldn't describe at just seeing him again. Sky gave a shrug carefully undoing the clasp and carefully tucking the cross away in his left front pants pocket.

Without a word he turned on his heel, throwing his heavy black wool coat over a shoulder and shoving his hands down his front pants pockets, the action causing him to slouch slightly as he made his way through the crowded corridors of the mall over to the coffee shop. The smell of coffee and food made his stomach snarl he stepped to the side of the door to get out of the way of traffic and get his bearings straight. He scanned the patrons sitting at the various tables realizing he was doing just what he had been doing unconsciously for years-- searching for a face, a person he only vaguely knew of but could never forget. He heard someone call his name and lifted his head to find himself instantly meeting Warren's eyes he had already been there seated at a table that was out of the way but still where the door was in view.