The Academy: Discovery

Gentle Giant

*A/N: This is another short one but I needed it to explain how she's gotten so close with Silas and even North so quickly. I'm sorry if I've confused anyone.

"Here's some clothes for you to lounge around in today, Beautiful." Gabriel says as I pass him in the hall. "Also never cry again it washes you out and makes you look a zombie yourself."

I pretend to clutch my chest as if he's wounded me. "Ouch that was mean. Good news though, I just came up with a new code name for you."

He perks up "Yeah? Whats that?"

"Meanie."

He rolls his eyes and hands me the clothes. "Take these you sassy girl."

I take them and go straight for the bathroom giving Victor a small wave. As I turn my back to them I let out a sharp yelp and turn to see Gabriel with a smirk. "That's for calling me meanie." I walk away backwards rubbing my stinging butt where the meanie had smacked it.

Once I've changed into the clothes he's once again gotten perfect I exit the bathroom and run right into him. "Don't you dare." I tell him as he goes to slap my ass again.

"Oh yeah. I think the name calling deserves two whoopings."

"No fair you've called me a handful of names at least."

He shrugs stepping closer. "So slap my ass."

I start to walk backwards again but he's just stalking me like prey. So I toss the dirty clothes in my hand at him and turn to run away. I go straight for the stairs giggling hysterically. Near the bottom I notice he's backed off so I look further ahead to see why. Seeing a clearly angry Scary North I try to stop. Of course my feet choose this time to get cozy with each other and I trip over them. I clench my eyes shut and brace myself for the landing. It never comes. I'm swept up mid air and cradled into a hard chest. "Damn it Little Bit you don't run on stairs!" he says sounding just as angry as he looks.

"Um..." I gulp.

"Put her down Grumpy smurf. You're scaring her." North sets me on my feet like I've burned him and guilt washes over me.

"Just be careful you're gonna get yourself hurt." he sighs and disappears into the living room ahead of us.

"You shouldn't let him talk to you like that." Gabriel says.

I bite my lip. "Its kind of nice actually. To have someone worry about me." Plus I can't get over the flash of pain I saw cross his eyes just before he walked away.

"Shit you're too much." Gabriel teases throwing an arm over my shoulder. "Tell him if he's being to overpowering though okay?"

I nod my agreement just as we walk through the doorway. "Oh my gosh" I screech covering my mouth in horror. Off to one side of the living room Silas and North are rolling around on the ground grunting and groaning. Punches are thrown and Silas takes an elbow to the cheek. I cringe with each hit like it's me receiving the blows instead of the guys. What could've happened in the last few seconds to have them fighting like this? I turn to the others in the room sure they're going to help. Nathan, Victor, and Kota are sitting on the couch watching with neutral expressions on their faces. They make no move at all. Luke who had been sitting on one of the couches has stood and stepped closer to the fight but doesn't make another move. "Gabriel?" I whimper.

He opens his mouth to say something but blanches as he watches the fight. This pulls my attention back to Silas and North. Silas now has North pinned to the ground. I see his arm pulled back and lunge before I've realized I'm doing it. "No!" North growls fueling my desire to help him. I wrap my arms around Silas' thick arm using all my strength to hold it back. I've succeeded. At least it seems so. My eyes are clenched shut but his arm hasn't jerked forward. In fact it doesn't move forward at all but up instead, lifting me off the floor partially.

"What are you doing Little Bird?"

Slowly I peel my eyes open to see he's raised me to eye level. He doesn't look angry. He looks sad actually. Did he want to hit North that bad? "I was trying to save North." I admit sheepishly. I'm starting to think the guys weren't fighting as hard as it had seemed.

I see Gabriel walk to the couch Luke had abandoned and sit "Girls." he rolls his eyes. I also notice the other couch is empty. Every guy aside from Gabriel is now on his feet. Oops.

"I thought...I thought..."

"You thought I was going to hurt him." Silas finishes for me. As much as I love his accent I almost wish he wouldn't have spoken just then. He sounds more hurt than he looks. That is until he lowers me back down to the ground and moved off North to set against the couch. His elbows are on his bent knees and he's rubbing his face with both of his palms. Now he looks as upset as he sounded.

I try to think of something to say to fix what I've clearly messed up but I'm interrupted by a shadow cast over me. I look up from my hands in my lap to see black boats and black pants. "North I..."

"You're grounded."

"I'm what?" I ask taken aback.

"Grounded. Until you fix your mess and learn not to put yourself in danger. I was blowing of steam." I look at Gabriel wondering if this is one of those times I should stick up for myself but he shakes his head. Gabriel's right I deserve the scolding.

Even if I do deserve it I don't want to be grounded though. I look at Silas and wonder what I can do to fix this mess as soon as possible. "North?"

"Yeah Little Bit?" he says blandly.

"I'm not in danger of Silas correct?"

"Correct. He wouldn't hurt you."

"Good. Don't freak out then." I say crawling to sit beside Silas. I set on my feet so I'm tall enough to make my next move. With one more 'stay put' look at North, I wrap my arm around Silas neck and pull him into the best head lock I can manage. "Come on you big lug lets see if you handle yourself so well against a girl." His hands find my hips in a flash pinning me to the ground without effort and freeing himself in the process. I don't give up that easily though. He may not be sulking but I'm not satisfied. I punch and slap his chest trying to wiggle free of his hold on my hips.

"I think the Little Bird wants to be tickled."

"No! No the little bird does not want to be tickled." I insist doubling my efforts to get away. He doesn't seem to notice and it doesn't get me any further away. His fingers start to work at my sides and I quickly abandon my struggle to get away. I'm now struggling to breath.

I hear Silas deep chuckle "I'm barely touching you Little Bird. I think you're giggling more at the thought of being tickled than the actual tickling." It's true but even knowing this in the back of my mind I can't seem to stop.

"Si man she's so red in the face she's maroon. Let her breath." North suggest.

When Silas fingers still it takes me much longer to calm down. When I finally calm down enough to open my eyes my heart leaps in my chest. I've gotten what I was aiming for and it's better than I imagined. Silas is smiling.