Aegis was chuckling to himself. Harpy was staring at the two with her head tilted to the side. And Shaggy and Deadhead looked like they were just waiting for Ben and Ana to finish what they were doing.

James, on the other hand, watched with open interest. As if he were entirely unfamiliar with the intimate act.

Now that you thought about it…he very well might be. A clone mutant with no childhood, and one forced to work for a vampire lord and his cronies. In fact, it might not be too far off to assume that he's had very little intimacy throughout his lifetime. It was just hard to imagine a mutant evil scientist being a supportive father.

You must have been staring a little too long, because he glanced down at you, realized that you had seen him staring, and his face flushed an even deeper shade of blue as his ears flattened and his eyes darted to the side.

You smiled and glanced back at–THEY'RE STILL GOING!?

Finally, they broke the kiss, both looking extremely satisfied.

“Well, hello to you too.” Ben said with a sly grin, before pulling his mask back down.

“I am glad you are both safe.” she said, turning around and reaching up and arm to pat your head.

Her touch was a surprisingly gentle one. It made your head feel warm and fuzzy. Like she was stroking a rabbit. You didn’t know what to make of that, but you thought it was sweet that she was worried about you. You and she haven't really had a chance to hang out much before she had to go back with her father.

Ana removed her hand, and turned back to gesture at the rest of the group.

“And I see you have found friends.”

Louise dipped her head slightly.

“Oui. I am happy to see that you are well, Anastasia.”

“And I, you.” Ana replied, stepping forward to clap a firm hand on her shoulder.

This caused her crosses to jingle slightly. With a polite smile on her face, Louise reached up to unclasp her shawl, and the bundle of dull metal slipped from her shoulders, revealing a dark cloak that was dyed red on the inside, and a sleek, black bodysuit with a red sword logo that could potentially be interpreted as a cross.

Ana’s eyes locked onto it.

“Does that hurt?” she asked, her voice, while relaxed, conveyed genuine concern.

Louise’s smile turned sad then, as she brought her hand up to touch the sword icon.

“If pain is the price that I must pay in order to affirm my faith, then so be it.” she declared. “I refuse to allow my condition to change who I am or what I believe.”

“You and the kid have something in common, then.” Deadhead offered, scanning the area for any threats.

Ben was now giving Louise worried looks, but you could sense real conviction from her words. She wholeheartedly believed that her god must be venerated, no matter the cost.

“She would make a fine follower of Khonshu…” Mercy whispered.

(Cont.)

Aegis was chuckling to himself. Harpy was staring at the two with her head tilted to the side. And Shaggy and Deadhead looked like they were just waiting for Ben and Ana to finish what they were doing.

James, on the other hand, watched with open interest. As if he were entirely unfamiliar with the intimate act.

Now that you thought about it…he very well might be. A clone mutant with no childhood, and one forced to work for a vampire lord and his cronies. In fact, it might not be too far off to assume that he's had very little intimacy throughout his lifetime. It was just hard to imagine a mutant evil scientist being a supportive father.

You must have been staring a little too long, because he glanced down at you, realized that you had seen him staring, and his face flushed an even deeper shade of blue as his ears flattened and his eyes darted to the side.

You smiled and glanced back at–THEY'RE STILL GOING!?

Finally, they broke the kiss, both looking extremely satisfied.

“Well, hello to you too.” Ben said with a sly grin, before pulling his mask back down.

“I am glad you are both safe.” she said, turning around and reaching up and arm to pat your head.

Her touch was a surprisingly gentle one. It made your head feel warm and fuzzy. Like she was stroking a rabbit. You didn’t know what to make of that, but you thought it was sweet that she was worried about you. You and she haven't really had a chance to hang out much before she had to go back with her father.

Ana removed her hand, and turned back to gesture at the rest of the group.

“And I see you have found friends.”

Louise dipped her head slightly.

“Oui. I am happy to see that you are well, Anastasia.”

“And I, you.” Ana replied, stepping forward to clap a firm hand on her shoulder.

This caused her crosses to jingle slightly. With a polite smile on her face, Louise reached up to unclasp her shawl, and the bundle of dull metal slipped from her shoulders, revealing a dark cloak that was dyed red on the inside, and a sleek, black bodysuit with a red sword logo that could potentially be interpreted as a cross.

Ana’s eyes locked onto it.

“Does that hurt?” she asked, her voice, while relaxed, conveyed genuine concern.

Louise’s smile turned sad then, as she brought her hand up to touch the sword icon.

“If pain is the price that I must pay in order to affirm my faith, then so be it.” she declared. “I refuse to allow my condition to change who I am or what I believe.”

“You and the kid have something in common, then.” Deadhead offered, scanning the area for any threats.

Ben was now giving Louise worried looks, but you could sense real conviction from her words. She wholeheartedly believed that her god must be venerated, no matter the cost.

(Cont.)
“She would make a fine follower of Khonshu…” Mercy whispered.