A Home for Lost Boys

~Thirteen~

{Possible trigger warnings: swearing, threats (we use the k word), blood/wound mention

If I miss something, I apologize and please let me know}

"Virgil said another one showed up today."

Roman threw an arm over his eyes, stretching out on his back. "Why didn't I see this coming? Of course he's not going to just come in here by himself... who was it?"

"Taeda." Logan leaned against the wall. "A dryad-"

"Dryad, I know. They're a piece of work." Roman let out a derisive snort. "Who am I kidding, JJ's whole team are pieces of work! Just wait, once Dannan shows up we know we're really in for it."

"Dannan?" Logan raised his eyebrows.

"Dannan. Big ugly werewolf, usually shifted because they like the power. They might show up in their human form to keep suspicion off them but I'd doubt it."

"I see." The dragonshifter pulled a small notebook from his pocket, beginning to write. "Could you list off who else might be with him?"

"Well we've got Taeda and Avaria. Dannan will show up eventually... and then there's Nina." Roman sat up. "Oh god, Nina."

The dragonshifter was watching him when he looked over.

"Nina is... a Necromancer. Most powerful I've ever met. She-"

"I thought Necromancers were without gender?"

"Most of them are, but Nina has always been very clear that she's a woman." Roman rubbed his hands over his face. "Scratch what I said about Dannan, they're easy enough to handle. Nina's dangerous, crazy f*cking dangerous."

"How powerful is she?" Logan was still taking notes.

"You know how Pietos has Nemo?" Roman asked. He got a nod in response. "Well necromancers raise their companion in the first day of their life and it stays with them forever... Nina's companion is a full sized skeleton. She calls the thing Gremlin. It's weird."

Logan nodded, scribbling away.

Roman hauled himself to his feet. "I'm going for a walk. I'll see you later."

"Keep your head down, hairball."

"Shut up, scales." He shot over his shoulder, smiling a little. Logan offered a small chuckle.

It was a nice day, so there were residents everywhere. Roman ducked around the back of his house and shoved his hands in his pockets, heading off into the darker parts of the forest where he was less likely to run into anyone.

~~~ Two Hours Later ~~~

Roman ran his fingertips along the back of Nemo's tiny spine as he wandered through Pietos's garden. The Necromancer was on the other side of the yard, doing something or other with a wilting plant growing up the side of a tree.

He was notified that something was coming by Nemo's entire body giving a sharp rattling noise as the little creature shook himself. Surprised, he dropped the rat skeleton, who scrambled off into the underbrush.

"Roman! Real long time no see, huh?"

Roman grit his teeth and turned slowly to face the exact person he was trying to avoid.

"Thompson."

"Aww, whassa matter?" JJ flashed a feral grin. It just made Roman want to punch him. "Didn't ya miss me?"

"You know very well that I hate you." Roman snarled. "What do you want?"

"Why don't you and me take a walk."

It didn't sound like a question. Roman sneered, but followed warily when the other werewolf began to walk away.

"So this is where you've been hiding, huh?" JJ said conversationally, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Nice little place. I bet the White Court lover stitched you up, gave you the whole spiel huh?"

"Who injured you? Did you bite yourself?" Roman shot back without answering, glaring at him. "I wouldn't put it past you."

"Dannan provided that little injury. Hurt like a b*tch, lemme tell ya." JJ smirked. "Felt like that night in the alley-"

"Shut the hell up."

"Touchy." He snickered, pausing under one of the bigger trees. "She's got good kindling."

The words slapped Roman across the face.

"So that's your play? You're going to torch this place without care for who lives here-"

"In the past two years I've lost over a dozen victims to this sh*thole." JJ spat on the roots of the tree, then kept walking. "The faster it's gone, the faster I can get back to what I want to do."

Roman narrowed his eyes. He shouldn't say something, but he really couldn't help it. "And what happens when people try to stop you?"

"Oh-ho buddy." JJ laughed, wrapping an arm around Roman's shoulders tightly. The humor slipped off his face as he leaned in and whispered, "you won't stand a godd*mn chance. I'm going to raze this place and make you and that blond healer watch. I'll tear apart every resident here before I do it and I'll kill him last-"

Roman's vision, already hazy with anger, flashed red. Without thinking, he lashed out.

JJ stumbled back, tripping over a tree root and falling on his back. He slowly brought a hand up to his face, where four identical claw-marks were quickly beginning to drip blood.

"Oh, now you're really f*cked."

The fury left Roman as JJ scrambled to his feet. He felt numb as he watched the other werewolf run off, probably to go get someone.

He'd known JJ would get him kicked out, but he hadn't expected it to happen like this.

Logan arrived on the scene first, frowning. He met Roman's eyes as the werewolf looked up and shook his head. "They've got Pops and Virgil coming for you."

"They won't need them." Roman leaned forward, covering his face with his hands. "D*mmit, I'm so stupid."

"Go to the large willow tree by the river tonight, the one near the South gate." Logan told him quietly before backing off a few feet. "We'll meet you there."

Then he shifted to his dragon form and scrambled up a tree to watch.

Roman lifted his head slowly when he heard the others coming. Virgil of all people gave him a slightly upset look.

"What's the sentence, Patton?" Roman asked quietly, looking down at the dirt in front of him.

He didn't get an answer for a moment, then Patton cleared his throat loudly.

"Banishment." He sounded like he was trying not to cry.

Roman nodded once and stood up, holding his hands out. "I assume the White Court are here to escort me to the border?"

"We're security." Virgil jerked a thumb over his shoulder. Roman finally noticed a cowering JJ standing at the back of the group.

He sneered tiredly. "I'm not going after him. It's not worth it."