The Life Game

Reunion Part 2

AN: I love Maeve. Maeve is baby. Protect Maeve at all costs. I don't care if he has flaws- he can do nothing wrong.

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The smell was the first thing Maeve took in. The weather outside gave no indication that it was winter besides the extra chill in the wind. However, the house smelled like winter with hints of pine cones and trees. It was as if there was a candle being held right under his nose.

The next thing that he noticed was the man that stood in the doorway. Because there was no doubt that this was a man- tall figure, broad shoulders, jawline sharp enough to cut a tongue. For one of the first times in his life, Maeve had to lift his head to look someone in the eyes.

Maeve was speechless.

"Well hello there," his gruff voice sounded, producing a shiver through Maeve, "How can I help you?"

Maeve felt his cheeks grow warm, and it wasn't because of the winter chill.

"Big," the word slipped out before Maeve could stop it. He never was really gifted in the language department.

The man only let out a deep chuckle as a reply.

"I get that a lot," Maeve would bet he did with the way he towered over his 5'11" height. "Now, could you let me know who you are here for, little one?"

Maeve guessed he was forgettable after all.

The boys in the house had an inside joke when they were younger and everything was hilarious. They called themselves "Father's collection" because he never adopted the same looking child twice. They were all from different orphanages across the world that Father picked himself.

No woman in their right mind would ever marry Father willingly- even with all his wealth. His horrid personality stopped all creatures from really enjoying his presence. So, it's no surprise that he had to resort to adoption as he gained in years.

That's how Maeve knew exactly who opened the door; after all, he had never seen anyone with such deep bronze skin as the oldest- Kane. He still had the same unruly hair as before, except it had now grown very long. Presently, it was tied up into a bun, and Maeve thought he had never seen a hairstyle look so alluring.

Although Kane didn't grow up surrounded by his Polynesian culture, it seemed he had embraced his roots and the traditions that came with it. There were ta moko style tattoos covering his muscular arms that disappeared under his tight black shirt. Maeve felt like licking them for some reason.

"Ahem." Maeve's ogling eyes shot up to meet those above him, "Sorry to interrupt your staring, but do you know someone that lives here?" His eyes were searching for an answer as Maeve's mouth was being very unhelpful in supplying one.

Maeve stuttered his way through a few awkward seconds.

Why hadn't he thought of an answer beforehand? Of course they had no idea who the stranger at their door was. They hadn't seen each other in six years; before Maeve had even started puberty.

Maeve wasn't a big part of their life anyway, so he had no right to want to be remembered. Of course he knew that- so why did it make him want to cry?

His careful control of emotion slipped as his traitorous eyes teared up in front of Kane- who just so happened to be one of the most handsome people Maeve had ever seen. Oh god- this is so embarrassing. But before he could start sobbing on the porch-

"No fucking way!" Another face popped up from behind Kane's shoulder- Were all the boys giants now or something?- and Maeve recognized it to be Alessio from the large scar over the left side of his face. He got that from his life before adoption, and the story behind it wasn't knowledge Maeve had.