When The Walls Come Tumbling Down # 12

Mylo still had a little trouble looking Consort Brayden in the eye, he still felt so guilty of braining the poor guy.  It wasn’t helping that Javier was still in panther form and growled loudly every time Mylo even looked to be heading in Consort Brayden's direction... and it certainly wasn’t helping that everyone laughed at his predicament.  It wasn’t as if he meant to hurt the Consort.  He was just reacting to the situation that they had been in.  It was a sparring match.  It wasn’t like he was trying to kill Consort Brayden or anything.

“Javier,” Brayden reached down and rubbed his hand across his brother’s pelt and gently tugging on his tail.  “You need to turn back now, I am safe.  I swear to you that it is okay to become you again.”

Javier yowled softly trying to explain that he didn’t know how to turn back.  He wasn’t even sure how he turned into the panther in the first place.  But here he was, and the amazing thing was that in this form he could see... even if everything was in muted shades of grey, he could still see.

“Javier,” Talon crouched in front of the panther and clasped his head gently in his hands. Staring into the panthers eyes he spoke.  “Are you having trouble returning to your human form?”

Javier yowled again, finally someone understood his predicament.  Javier rubbed against the fierce warriors face and shoulder, he liked that he could leave his scent over the man.  He liked letting everyone else know that the warrior was his, even if said warrior didn't even know it.  Javier’s panther knew that Talon belonged to them.  The panther was ready to claim the warrior as their own; but Javier wasn’t sure whether Talon was ready for that.  Talon’s hands felt wonderful and Javier couldn’t stop the purr that fell from him as he listened to what the warrior had to say.

“Javier, my prince.  You need to remember what you looked like.”  Picture in your mind what you once were.”

“Umm, Talon, he has been blind since he was a child, how is he going to remember what he looked like?”  Mylo asked which elicited a growl from the panther.  “I’m just saying is all... I think you need to explain to him what he looked like.”

Talon thought for a moment before turning his attention back to the young panther before him.  “Javier, in your mind picture the beautiful long black hair that fell to just below your shoulders.  Picture the pale blue eyes that have the ability to hold all that see them in a trance.  Picture lips that are full and soft.”  The panther pulled his head away and stared at his brother then looked back at Talon.  “Yes little one you resemble your brother greatly, though your features are softer... more...” words escaped him as he tried to explain how he saw Javier.

The air around Javier shimmered until instead of a panther, Talon’s hands were filled with a very naked Javier.  He was shocked as Javier threw himself into his arms and pressed his face into Talon’s neck. 

“Thank you,” Javier whispered as he felt cloth come around and cover his nakedness.

“Javier,” Brayden called out to his brother, “are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Javier pressed himself even further into Talon’s body.  He held on tight for a moment before pulling away and staring up at the beautiful man before him.  Javier reached up and traced the scare that ran down Talon’s face with gentle fingers.  “You are so beautiful.”

Talon flinched at the contact.  “You can see me?”

Javier nodded, “I see you, there is no colour, but I see you.”

Talon stared into Javier’s eyes and was amazed that now instead of the human eyes that he had once had, Javier's pupils now resembled those of a feline, yet they were still the same shade of pale blue that they had always been.  How was that even possible?

Javier turned and looked at each of them in turn and took in what the others saw every day.  He was happy to give up colour if it meant that he could regain this partial sight.  Losing his sight was something that he had always regretted.  Now that it was back, he was going to cherish the gift that he was given.

*~*~*

Quinlan stared in amazement along with the rest of them at the transformation of Javier’s eyes.  It wasn’t everyday that someone got to witness a miracle, and since his father’s death he had witnessed three. One- The return of his heart: Brayden, Two- the return of the old ones in the form of Javier, Three this miracle of Javier’s sight.  It made him truly grateful that he lived to witness it all, and made him wonder what else he was going to witness in the future.  He sensed that Brayden was a little tense and reached out to touch him in comfort, as if his touch could bring his husband peace.

Brayden leaned into the contact that Quinlan offered and was grateful that he was loved by such a wonderful man.  He was happy knowing that he didn’t have to go through this all alone, and frightened of what he was going to encounter.  The moment he woke to see his brothers shifted form, something deep inside him prowled to get out.  Something deep inside wanted to be free, as if tired of being locked away.  Brayden was shit scared that he was going to lose himself to the panther that he knew without a doubt lay inside him.  What would he do if that panther got free and hurt Quinlan, or worse hurt the boys?  He wasn’t sure he was ready to find out just what was going to happen; but knew without a doubt that the choice would soon be taken from him as the panther crawled ever closer to the surface.