Partner

Only one for now? Wow. Er... I think that was a now. Ah well.

There will be at least one chapter up before hhe slides into the same story as Mik and Paw. For the beginning bit he's of his own seperate world and doesn't much interact with the two. You'll find out why...

Having woken up this morning I forgot the next part. Which left me dazed and confused. What I managed to recover turned into this and a possible next chapter before I leave for work.

Except I dun wanna write it.

Anywho. Read, Review and enjoy.





Mik slipped into the apartment, dropped his keys on the counter and looked at Paw. Paw stood with his arms crossed, glaring at Mik.

“What?”

“Mik say teach Koln Sidhe way.”

“Not. God no. I wouldn’t even attempt it,” Mik responded, “I said I would show Koln the middle ground, he claims there’s Sidhe and then there’s people and there’s a line in the sand in between and I say there’s middle ground.”

“Erase line.”

“What?” Mik passed Paw, figuring it would be best to shower now before he forgot or got distracted by something.

“Erase line. Line drawn in sand, sand art can be erased. Erase line, no middle line. All same ground.”

Mik would have thought Paw was joking, except he had taken on that serious tone that Paw managed to take on whenever he wanted Mik to realise the severity of the conversation. The man’s mind stumbled as he turned to Paw.

“But… the line is metaphorical. It represents the differences between our two cultures.”

“Not always so different,” Paw scratched behind his ear and looked at Mik, “People live in trees once like Sidhe.”

“We did not live in a long time tree with multiple generations and have our village there.”

“Village have huts, we no have huts. Some tribe grow old time tree in such ways when new branches start, smart ideas, yeah, but no construction in long time tree. If tree does not suit need of tribe, tribe need divide.”

“Is that-”

“Divide in half. Large tribe make two not so large tribe. Paw tribe have too few for that. Go shower.”

Mik went to the bathroom and did as he told. His muscles didn’t ache as much as they had that morning, but he had very little energy and just wanted to collapse into bed. He had taken the time at work to tell Koln that and convince the man of the need to sleep. So Koln wasn’t coming over that night.

He stepped out of the shower and had just enough time to dress before the phone went off. Paw answered it first and frowned at the receiver, then shook his head. Another shake. Mik took the phone without asking.

“Koln, what the hell are you asking him?”

“Was Souse there last night?”

A cold wave washed over Mik. No wonder Paw hadn’t answered verbally, Mik didn’t trust his own voice to be steady as he said, “No.”

“Edno says he was gone most of the night, came back and said he was exercising.”

“Well you were the one to talk about the gym.”

“Edno never took Souse to the gym, so how does he know where it is.”

“It’s a big building with a small apartment, Koln, they have obviously gone exploring.”

“Mik…”

“Koln. I’m going to fucking bed. I’m tired, I didn’t sleep much last night and I’m sure Paw’s tired too.”

“Does he sleep at night with you?”

“Yes…” Mik remembered suddenly Edno’s words, that Paw hadn’t been sleeping, “no trouble here.”

“Then why did he sleep all day?”

“Eh…”

“Bring him in with you tomorrow. Palt and Souse seem to agree that his internal clock has to be reset.”

“Shit. You mean…”

“You’re going to have one very grumpy Sidhe.”

“Fuuuuck.”

“Not in front of the Sidhe, Mik.”

“Maybe you should, in front of the Sidhe, Koln, show you aren’t such a hard ass.” Mik clicked the phone off and sighed.

Paw was wringing his hands, looking to the right of Mik and downward.

Mik sighed again and tossed the phone onto the couch, “come on Paw. Let’s get some sleep. Come on.”

The Sidhe seemed about as interested in sleeping as he did in being gutted. Paw stepped deftly away from Mik, arms crossed over his chest in a protective manner. When Mik tried to approach him, Paw shifted away again.

“What’s wrong, why are you moving away?” Mik asked finally, frustrated with it all.

“Mik going to give Paw a bite and Paw fall asleep.”

“Did Edno do that?”

Paw nodded, looking away, “Koln call and tell Edno too. After week not sleeping. Koln say reset internal clock.”

“That’s not how we’re resetting your clock this time, Paw. This time we’re keeping you up during the days.”

“And biting at night.”

“No. Paw. Look at me. Am I lying?”

“Can’t tell,” Paw muttered, “Mik too good.”

“Too good my butt. If I’m lying then I’ve just lied… that sounded stupid… and you can sick Souse on me. Seriously. Paw. Edno’s out of the tribe, he can get away with shit like that… for the moment… but I’m not. Now come here. Come on.”

Paw shuffled towards him, butting his forehead against Mik’s shoulder as he came up to the man.

“Now,” Mik murmured, “how about we get you some nice, warm milk and then we shuffle off to the nest… ehm…”

“Paw change all blankets,” Paw made a hand motion without taking his head off of Mik’s shoulder.

“Good. So. Warm milk and then into the nest.”



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