Trapped: Strife, Wolf, and Alex

Alex was watching Cameron as if he knew what he was doing even though the teen was doing a great job of texting without looking at his phone while he did.

Strife glanced at the kid but what teenage boy didn't text a lot these days? He dismissed it. "I bet this isn't what you had in mind when you offered me that favor, huh?" He said to Wolf and gestured at Alex.

Cameron replied that he thought that was a good idea.

"Well, you know... I mean, he's cuter than you. So I'm okay with it." Wolf said, with a shrug. He could have been surprised, or mad. But really. Look at that face.

Hikari giggled. "Wolf likes you and he doesn't like many." She said, not bothered by the texts.

Until her legendary walked in. In her human form of course, but even so she was so hard to look over. Her hair of galaxy and her gown of very similar affect, that the stars that twinkled on it seemed to be actually moving. "Oh, Uxie..." She said quietly as she approached and knelt down behind her little brother. "What happened to you? Was it... He who shall not be named at this present time?"

"I am so much cuter than him in fiend form," Strife said dismissively. But they hadn't seen Alex's fiend form. And Strife was really only cute when he was small. "Eh, I suppose cute has its advantages. Didn't realize you were so easily won over by a cute face."

Alex blinked. No one will ever know what he was going to comment because suddenly Palkia was there. He couldn't have missed her. She was far too obvious in her human avatar. "Yes!" he cried in answer to her question and threw his arms around her neck for much needed comfort. He was so relieved to see his big sister that he started crying.

"Do I look like I am attracted to fiends?" Wolf asked, thoroughly insulted by Strife's insinuation. Even if it wasn't meant that way, it's how he took it. "You are sick. You need help."

Palkia hugged Uxie so tightly. "I am so sorry, baby brother." she said softly. "Do not cry, it feels like a bad thing but believe me when I say that everything will work out. Better than you could have hoped for. I have journeyed with our brother, Dialga and I know this to be true with every Fibre of my being."

Hikari watched all of that. She had to wonder... Really. She had had a visits from her brother in the future. Palkia had been there as well. She looked at Cam then. "Your mother makes me feel plain."

"Did I say attracted?" Strife asked. "Wait, you're attracted to him?!" He suddenly realized what they were talking about. "Ew. No. Don't even go there." Because he knew. He knew all the things that Wolf didn't. And in his mind, that was just way off.

Alex wiped at his tears. He didn't feel embarrassed for crying even though he could have. "Really?" he asked quietly. "I hate this. I'm so scared all the time. And I just want my brothers to stay safe." Because when something happened to one of them, the others knew and would come to rescue them. But he couldn't have that. He'd forced them away last time before they could be bound too. But that didn't mean they wouldn't try again.

"She makes everyone feel that way," Cameron said. "Well, except maybe my sister. She has that whole stars in her hair and eyes thing going on too."

"Don't tell me who I can and can't be attracted too. Jealous are we?" Wolf said, just to be that way. But it was now established they fought a lot. So there you go.

"I will see them once you're okay. I'll tell them to wait and then when the time is right, I will tell them where to find you." Palkia said as she soothed Alex. He was too cute. She flicked Strife on the ear though. "you know nearly not as much as I, what will be will be and you will be a good dragon and not interfere."

"Your sister doesn't do it to me. Not because she isn't stunning, but because we are friends and she trains me. She isn't as... Float into the room, wow everyone and be regal and then float out again like your mum." Hikari said, but she was hardly plain either. Her red hair fell in waves and she was considered beautiful to some.

"I am not jealous," Strife said, which was the honest truth. He frowned at his aunt. "But it's just...Ugh. Fine." He didn't want to give in and he'd likely rebel. But he just found it weird. He didn't think that Uxie would even go for it. He was going to be freed, for that was the only way that everything could be okay like she said, and then what was Wolf going to do? So no.

Alex looked at all of them but then chose to ignore all that. He just couldn't handle that on top of alllll the other freak outs he was having internally. "Do you know how long until I can be free?" he asked her. That was so important. He had no idea but he hoped it wasn't months. He hoped that it was soon and he could hide away from Heatran again. He could be his true self and not be so scared for he wouldn't fall for the trap a second time.

"Well, she is a goddess," Cameron said. "A lot of them are like that. My sister is one too but a lesser one so she's not as...majestic. Or something." He shrugged. "You're fine. Don't let it bother you."

Wolf just moved, because Ellen had returned with food. Jo was following her and helping her carry all the many things. He did look smug that Palkia had jumped to his defense though.

"I can't give you the answers you want. I can only promise that what you seek isn't forever away." Palkia said, but she couldn't promise it would be months. First the chosen ones had to complete their mission properly and then get their manor.

Hikari looked a bit hurt by Cameron then. "You make fine sound like a bag of potatoes. I guess with growing up around your mother and sister your type is likely higher standards or something." She had figured out that Drake had told her of Cam. Only because he was the kind of guy he'd approve of and the type of guy he'd sort of described. She just didn't think Drake was right. But only because she felt as though Cameron looked at her as a kid and not as a girl.

Strife didn't say anything else. He just focused on the steak that he'd been brought. He didn't have time like this but he did trust palkia. At the moment, so long as she promised that uxie would in fact be okay soonish, then he was fine. That's all that mattered.

Alex wasn't really interested in the human food that he'd been brought. "That's sufficiently vague," he said, a little unhappy but still accepting of that answer.

Hikari wasn't wrong. Cameron hadn't yet gone there. But once she turned sixteen, he would start to see her as less of a kid. And that wasn't very far away.

"I'm not comparing apples to oranges, Hikari," Cameron said with a frown. "There's nothing wrong with the way you look. You shouldn't compare yourself to other people. Especially not to my mother."

Wolf started to tuck into his mass amount of food. He was very happy with it all. He did so love food.

"I am sorry. Be patient. Lean on Wolf. That's what he is here for. Make friends. Learn of the species you favour and blessed with intelligence. Spend some time here." Palkia said, it would keep Alex busy and he'd soon stop worrying. "Put your trust in me and them, they will save you and I promise it won't be forever."

Hikari just sighed. "Kay," she said and started to eat her food.

"I will do my best," Alex replied. It was all that he could do. And he had to put his trust in the people sitting at the table. Funnily enough, he'd made each and every one of them with help from his brothers. He knew what was in their cores. They could be trusted.

Cameron felt like he'd said something wrong. He just wasn't sure what it was. But even being raised only around during women, his sister and mother, he still didn't understand them. He chose not to say anything else lest he make it worse. He just focused on his food like the other guys.

"You'll do great." Palkia said and squished him again tightly. "Honestly." She said and smiled brightly. "I will stay with you, while you eat and then I will go visit with the other two." She said and pulled a chair up to the table.

Making Wolf choke. "Everyone is staring at us though..." he protested. They were like the current entertainment in the room.

"Ah, half of them want to be with me. The other want me to bless them. Don't worry about it." Palkia said waving a hand dismissively and then reached out to squeeze her sons shoulder. "How are you, darling?"

Strife's hair changed colors to the opal effect his body had as he laughed quietly. "Ah, figures. Don't like everyone staring, Wolf? And here I thought you liked attention."

Cameron looked up at his mother and swallowed quickly. "Good," he said. "It was nice to be of use today." He was more used to this place as well now so his anxiety disorder that flare up as it used to have done.

"Well, when it's for my good looks its fine. But when it's because I've got a Goddess at the table, it's a bit different. And awkward." Wolf said, because they'd all make assumptions. That would had slept with her.

"Would you like to do it more? "Palkia asked, she hadn't ever thought her son would be a Hunter, but it made sense. He was their God after all.

"How is this awkward? That's her son right there, which everyone here knows. And that's her chosen. She can visit. It's not that put of the realm of possibility."

"I don't mind assisting people in need," Cameron said. He didn't want to be Hunter though. "I still feel more comfortable in making than doing but if I feel like if I can help then I should, which ever that may be in the situation at the moment."

"Whatever, pretty boy." Wolf teased, but only playfully. He didn't mean it in a bad way. "Stop feeling so many different things."

"You can go with Hikari then." Palkia said, with a smile. "it's wonderful to see you active again."

"I am a complicated being so...no," Strife said. Though he could just be saying that to be rebellious. Who knew?

"It doesn't feel wonderful," Cameron replied with a laugh. "I'm going to be sire tonight. But that's okay. It was worth it."

"Really? I heard your were easy." Wolf countered, playfully. "Cheap too."

"Oh I have something for that!" Hikari said then and looked at Palkia. "I can make sure that he's okay and after jobs, I'll make sure he treats himself properly so he doesn't get hurt too badly."

"You're a good girl, Hikari." Palkia said happily. "Now, if Cam would start to see you as such, I'd be even happier. But he's not very smooth yet with ladies. Give him time."

Hikari blushed bright red and tried to look at her feet. She giggled though. "He does okay sometimes."

"Sometimes." Palkia agreed. But it wasn't the first time she'd mentioned something to that affect.

"Are you sure you didn't mistake that for someone talking about you?" Strife asked. "Couldn't have been me. I've never engaged in such activities. Wasn't really programed into my needs like it was with you humand," he said. "Why is that, dad the first?" He asked Alex.

Who only shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't in charge of that part with you."

"Mom! Really?" Cameron asked and put his hand over his facr, so embarrassed. Mothers. Geez.

"Sucks to be you." was all Wolf said about it. But from his point of view, missing out on intimacy was a pretty shitty deal.

Hikari started to laugh and so did Palkia. "You get so embarrassed so easily." his mother said with the biggest smile.

"Says the guy that can but doesn't have anyone," Strife said. "I think that's just a bit sadder."

"It's mean you both take so much pleasure from that," Cameron said, not quite grumpily but close enough. He hated being teased.

"No one has caught my eye is all." Wolf said, not in a way that meant he wanted to keep them. That was for sure.

"It's not our fault that you're so very adorable when you get flustered." Palkia said and Hikari kept giggling.

"Really not." Hikari added.

Alex finished his food. He didn't eat all that much. He still wasn't used to eating human food. But pasta covered in cheese and some fruit was easy for his stomach. He didn't add anything to the conversation though. Just closed his eyes.

"Aren't you getting a little old to not have found anyone yet?" Strife teased. "You're not going to be in your prime for a lot longer. Better get on it."

Cameron just sighed. "If you say so." He did not like it when girls ganged up on him, be it his mom and Hikari or Clara. At least his sister wasn't there to add to it. He too finished his food.

"Oh, whatever. I have years left." Wolf said, rolling his eyes. Obviously he cared very little for this conversation.

"Aw, but honey, I love you so much." Palkia said, because him almost pouting was equally as cute. She blew him a kiss.