Gabriel chuckled lightly before turning around and coming face to face with an orange haired Kitsune with fiery golden eyes, “So you finally decided to show your true from…Phoenix.”
The Kitsune – Phoenix – gave a low growl as he clenched his fits before saying, “Leave her alone half-blood. Back away slowly before things get out of hand.”
“Haven’t I already proven my loyalty?” Gabriel asked clearly frustrated before they saw Hazel stir in her sleep, “I suggest we take this outside.”
Phoenix only nodded before the two walked out to the hallway and glared at each other with arms folded. Gabriel and Phoenix continued glaring at each other before they both started growling.
“What are you planning half-blood?” Phoenix asked his teeth bared, “And what do you want with my master?”
(A/N: I know Kitsunes aren’t meant to have masters but I feel like judging from how strong the bond between Hazel and Phoenix is it suited well. Please no hate or complaints…)
“And here I thought Kitsunes aren’t meant to have masters.” Gabriel taunted, “And I would rather die than let myself hurt her. You’ve seen how I act towards her you know better than anyone that I would do anything to keep her safe.”
“Then burn the music box.” Phoenix said as he stopped both the glaring and growling, “I know what you’re thinking but please let me explain.”
“Then start explaining.” Gabriel demanded as he stopped growling but keeping his glare, “Because you know how much she loves that music box.”
Phoenix sighed in defeat as he unfolded his arms before he nodded before the two quietly walked back inside the room. With Gabriel staring at his every move Phoenix carefully pulled out the music box from Hazel’s pouch stopping slightly as she began to stir a bit before going back to sleep.
“Phew.” Phoenix said letting out a breath he was holding before silently walking back to Gabriel and handing him the music box, “Here.”
“So why do we need to get rid of this?” Gabriel asked, “You know how much this means to her.”
“Look at the bottom side.” Phoenix said somberly.
Gabriel furrowed his brows before turning the wooden box upside down and seeing an engraving of the letters MD. His eyes widened a bit before he turned to Phoenix who wore a somber look.
“We got to tell Hazel about this first.” Gabriel said furrowing his brows, “She’ll have my head if I just destroy it without her knowledge.”
“I was just about to suggest that.” Phoenix said as he turned back into the red fox Hazel adopted, “Best get going then.”
He then gently jumped onto the bed Hazel was sleeping on and curled into a ball beside Hazel’s feet.
‘How Amore attracts the strangest company I’d rather not know.’ Gabriel thought folding his arms and shaking his head, “Best wake her up then.”
He sighed a bit before he gently shook her awake, “Hazel wake up. I need to show you something.”
“G-Gabriel?” Hazel slurred as she tried to sit up, “What’s wrong?”
Before Gabriel could answer however Hazel saw her music box in his hands, “And why do you have my music box?”
‘Curse you Phoenix.’ Gabriel thought before sitting down beside her, “You need to see this.”
Hazel gave him a confused look before she saw the fear in his eyes. She gave him a gentle look before she put a hand on his and smiled.
“I trust you Gab.” Hazel said intertwining their fingers, “No matter what.”
Gabriel lightly chuckled at this before giving her a matching smile, “Thanks Hazel.”
“So, what did you want to show me?” Hazel asked letting Gabriel’s hand go.
Gabriel gave her a worried look before he sighed and flipped the box upside down to reveal the letters MD. Hazel’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth and before Gabriel could speak tears were already pouring out of her eyes. After Gabriel placed the music box beside him, he wasted no time in engulfing her into a hug and started to calm her nerves.
‘I am going to make that man pay.’ Gabriel thought as he stroked Hazel’s hair, ‘Even if it’s the last thing I do.’
The two stayed in that position for what felt like hours – which it was probably was – before Hazel completely worn herself out by crying. Once Gabriel was sure Hazel wouldn’t cry anymore – or couldn’t – he separated from her a bit before cupping her cheek.
“What do you want to do?” Gabriel asked.
Hazel chuckled a bit before saying rather hoarsely, “For some reason I have the overwhelming urge to throw it against a wall.”
Gabriel chuckled before engulfing her into a hug again before patting her back, “Get some rest you got to be tired.” He then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, “I’ll let you smash it as much as you want, promise.”
Hazel let out a quiet chuckle before she gripped the front of Gabriel’s vest tightly, “C-could you…stay with me like this for a bit?”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Gabriel chuckled again before he laid both of them down, “Of course we can Hazel.”
∞
“And that’s what happened after me last report to you.” Charles reported to the holographic image of Chancellor West, “Requesting for further instructions.”
Chancellor West sighed as she rubbed her temples, “Stick to the original plan Charles. Bring them back to base so we can explain everything properly to them.” She let out another sigh before taking out two folders from her desk drawer, “These are the files for Hazel Abernathy and Gabriel Pasi. I haven’t read them yet so I’ll be giving them to you.”
Charles gave a small tired sigh before nodding, “As you command Chancellor West.”
“Report to me if anything new comes up.” Chancellor West said before zapping out after she said, “I’ll send them to you immediately.”
‘Let’s get to it then.’ Charles thought before he saw the files magically appeared beside him on the bed, “This is going to be awhile.”
Charles let out a breath before he picked up Hazel’s file, ‘Best start with the beauty and end with the beast.’
‘Name, age, and everything else seems to be in order.’ Charles thought setting Hazel’s file down after reviewing it and picked up Gabriel’s, ‘Now time for the demon child.’
As Charles scanned through Gabriel’s file, he became more and more bewildered with each line.
‘The only things that make sense here are his name, weapon, family, and what branch he’s in.’ Charles thought, ‘Now that I look at it a bit more those seem to be the only things her, everything else seems to be corrupted.’
The more Charles flipped through the pages the more his curiosity towards the boy grew tremendously.
‘Its all corrupted.’ Charles thought brows furrowing before he flipped to the last page where he was met with, ‘A-a black wolf? B-but that only means-”
Before he could even finish that thought a loud knocking brought him back to reality, “C-come in!”
“Do you mind keeping the noise down?” Gabriel asked as he walked inside carrying a plastic container, “Hazel’s sleeping next door.”
Charles gulped before he quickly hid the files as Gabriel’s back was turned when he set down the container on the desk.
“Something wrong?” Gabriel asked after he turned around and saw Charles eyeing him, “Do you have something you want to ask me?”
“Uh, no.” Charles thought avoiding eye contact with the brunette.
“Okay then.” Gabriel said making his way to the door, “Your dinner is on the table. Just a salad and grilled chicken.”
“Sure, thanks.” Charles said before Gabriel fully left the room and closed the door.
‘Wonder what that was all about.’ Gabriel thought before letting out a breath and going back to his shared room.
“What happened back there?” Phoenix asked in his normal form, sitting on the floor.
“Don’t know.” Gabriel admitted sitting down on his own bed, “How’s Hazel?”
“Sleeping like a human baby.” The Kitsune replied.
“Is that good or bad?” Gabriel asked before taking his shoes off and changed into an Indian sit, “Because I can never tell with you.”
“Given the cause of why she’s sleeping, good.” Phoenix replied propping himself with his arms, “Very good.”
Gabriel quietly chuckled before his eyes widened and he quickly turned to the door, “Change back.”
Phoenix gave him one last look before he went back to his fox form just before the captain opened the door.
“Did you need something captain?” Gabriel asked.
“I was just checking on you two, lad.” The captain said, “Were you talking to someone?”
“No.” Gabriel lied, “Do you know when we’ll be docking?”
“We’ll be docking on Warcester by sunrise.” The captain answered, “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.” Gabriel replied distantly, ‘Warcester…that’s near my old village.’ He then sighed at this thought, ‘It’s going to be difficult to stay hidden if anyone there recognizes me and knowing Hazel, she’ll want to explore…what to do?’
“Is something wrong lad?” The captain asked, “You seem to be anxious about something.”
“I-it’s nothing Captain.” Gabriel stuttering a little, “There’s no need for you to worry.”
The captain gave him a thoughtful look before saying, “Get your shoes on lad. I want to show you something.”
“It’ll only take a while.” The captain said before smiling softly, “The lass looks like she’ll wake up any time soon so we have time.”
Gabriel gave Phoenix a look before he sighed, “Alright then.”
“There’s a good lad.” The captain said, “I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
“Alright then.” Gabriel said before the captain left and then put his shoes on.
He glanced at Phoenix before walking over to him and quietly whispered, “If she has any nightmares find me.” He then glared at the fox before adding, “And I will know if you didn’t.”
Phoenix gave him a hard glare before he left the room and joined the captain.
“Let’s go then.” Gabriel said facing the ship’s captain, “Lead the way Captain.”
The captain only smiled at him before leading him to his quarters.
“So, what was it that you wanted to show me Captain?” Gabriel asked as he sat down, “Is everything alright?”
“On the ship yes.” The captain said as he opened one of his desk drawers, “You however don’t seem to be alright at all.”
“What are you talking about?” Gabriel asked a bit of anxiety bubbling inside of him.
“You know there’s quite a useful skill I’ve develop while I helped raise my brother’s children.” The captain said taking out a picture of a man between a boy and girl that looked oddly familiar.
“And what’s that?” Gabriel asked trying his best to still look at the captain in the eye.
“The ability to read if someone’s hiding something.” The captain said before Gabriel widened his eyes a bit, “Just like how you are right now.”
“I’m not though.” Gabriel mumbled.
“I thought you would say that.” The captain said before sighing, “The best advice I can give you now is to just tell somebody. It doesn’t have to be me, the only thing that matters is that you trust them.”
“Can I please leave?” Gabriel asked, “I’m quite tired.”
“Go ahead then.” The captain said before Gabriel quickly walked to the door, “Oh and Gabriel.” He called just as Gabriel was about to leave.
“Yes?” Gabriel asked quietly.
“Please just think about it.” The captain said in a fatherly tone, “Before you regret it?”
“S-sure.” Gabriel said before leaving the room entirely, ‘Gods that was nerve-racking!’
Gabriel took a deep breath before he speed walked to his shared room with his hands inside of his pant’s pockets. He took yet another deep breath to calm his nerves before he opened the door to see Hazel stirring in her sleep sweat and tears on her face. Eyes widening, he quickly slipped his bow off, propped it against the dresser, and quickly walked over to Hazel’s bed before sitting down.
“Hazel wake up.” Gabriel said gently shaking her awake, “Come on Amore wake up.”
∞
Meanwhile back at The Hideout Abbey had entered the forgery along with James, Eve, Matthew, and Kade.
“Is it just me or has Chancellor Nevermore been acting weird?” Kade asked as his twin brother; James sat down on one of the tables, “You guys noticed it too, right?”
“I don’t want to say anything disrespectful about uncle but yeah.” Eve said sitting down on the bench beside Matthew.
Abbey only nodded her head in agreement before she picked up her apron, “Wonder what’s gotten him to act like that.”
“Aren’t we all?” James asked before sighing, “Wonder how Hazel and Gabriel’s mission is going.”
At the mention of the two brunettes the group smiled slightly at the expressions the two made during the Christmas season.
“You think their parents are going to force them to get together?” Eve asked putting her arms on the table, folding them, and leaning on them, “Because I swear if I have to live with those oblivious idiots for another six months without confessing, I’m going to lose it!”
“Amen!” Abbey and Matthew exclaimed in agreement before Abbey sat to work on a new weapon.