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12

Being on house arrest wasn't as bad as you would think, especially when the big bad warden is Eli Shane. At first, I thought that his idea of keeping me hid in the hideout was stupid and boring, not that I'd tell him that. Then after realizing the fun I could have with the Shadow Walking powers I had gotten from the cuffs they gave me made it a whole lot more amusing. Well, for me at least. 

"Eli~," I whined while sitting upside down on the sofa, "can I go outside yet?" 

He sighed, "No." 

"Why not?" 

"You'll get captured again by one of Blakk's men." 

I pouted, puffing my cheeks cutely, "No I won't!" 

"You will to, so please stay inside." He stood up and began to walk towards his room. "I'll keep a close eye on you, Astrus, so don't try running away." 

My slate grey eyes followed him, "Not if I sneak out, warden." He simply laughed muttering something that sounded like a challenge. I smirked and stood up, stretching. "You know damn well that I'd be able to sneak out and get past you, Shane." 

"Yeah, sure," he said and chuckled, "I'd like to see you try." 

I shrugged, "Have it your way then, just don't get mad when I win!" I focused my energy on walking through the shadows and disappeared.  

"Hey! Shadow walking doesn't count!" 

"You never said I couldn't use my powers!" 

"I just did." 

I reappeared inches in front of his face, smirking, "Doesn't count, the game already started." I gently pecked him on the cheek. "Catch me if you can!" With that I disappeared into the shadows again.  

"Astrus, come on! You're acting like a child!" I giggled silently to myself and made my way outside. After being under house arrest for a week, it was good to get outside once again. The glow from the Lumino Ore was bright and it felt amazing to finally be out of confinement. I reappeared from the shadows, stepping into the light. I couldn't help but smile. Ever since the day that Eli saved me from being a prisoner in Blakk's citadel I've been a lot happier. I wasn't sure why though, but I had a few reasons. Just as I was about to run off and continue my little game, a familiar Infurnus slug stood in front of me. The little slug glared at me and pointed towards the hideout, chirping and squeaking his disapproval, to be honest it sounded like he was scolding me. Deciding to go easy on the Shane's best slug, I put both hands up in defense. 

"Alright, Burpy, you win." The slug smiled happily and hopped onto my shoulder. "I know if I actually did run off, he'd mope around until he got to win." Burpy laughed in his little slug language. When I stepped into the building I was attacked by a bear hug from Eli. "What's with the sudden affection?" 

"I was worried! I thought you had actually ran away again!"  

"Eli, I'm a human, not a pet, I would've come back later on." 

A light blush formed on his face as he pulled away from the hug. "W-well I was just concerned. And I never considered you a pet." 

I laughed, "I know. I'm just saying. It is kind of sweet that you were so worried about me," I mumbled softly, looking away. I knew I must've been blushing just from looking at his face. "Where's everyone else?" 

"They went out to the mall. Someone had to stay home and babysit you," he chuckled. 

"Not really, it's not like I would have gone far." He smiled, and pulled me into another hug, nuzzling my neck. "I have an idea." 

"Hmm?" 

"How about we have a little date day? Just the two of us," I looked into his cerulean blue eyes, "we could watch movies, or go out, you know what normal couples do." 

"That sounds fun actually. How does getting a pizza and seeing a movie sound? He asked. 

"That sounds awesome!" 

"I have a lot of movies here that we can watch, so let's go to get the pizza and then we can come back here." 

"You mean I get to go outside and not be scolded by an angry Infurnus slug?" I asked sarcastically and rhetorically.  

He looked at Burpy who had a smirk on is face and a triumphant look in his eyes, then looked back t me. "You're saying that Burpy gave you a lecture about sneaking out?" 

I shrugged, "I assume so, since I can't understand slugs like you do. Yet he did seem to look like he was giving me grief for it." 

Eli simply laughed and rubbed his finger on the top of Burpy's head. "Thanks, Burpy!" I rolled my eyes. "Hey, let's go get that pizza s we can marathon movies all night!" 

"Okay, okay. Let's go, Eli."