a n d // we \\ a l l // fall \\ d o w n

[Deleted]

"Blondie. What a pleasant nickname. Mind if I use it?"

His voice was sharp, cruel, cutting through his own heart and making it throb.

He didn't show much emotion around strangers.

He liked it that way.

Jazz...

Jazz was a totally different thing.

Nothing... Nothing could touch Jazz.

No one could touch Jazz.

Jazz was Asher's, and Asher's only.

He shoved open the door of the bathroom, closing it loudly behind himself - never-mind it being almost midnight-thirty in the morning - and started up the shower, stripping.

Smooth lines, rippling muscles, creamy skin that looked delicious enough to eat.

Tattoos, scars.

Mm...
He was quite a sight.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colden's eyes narrowed and he kicked the bathroom door as he passed, heading back to his room, "Call me that and I'll kick your teeth in, Newbie," he snarled lowly, though he knew Asher would hear him. He continued on, closing his bedroom door softly behind him. He didn't go slamming doors- there was no point in waking anyone else and having to deal with cranky Shadowhunters.

He sprawled out on his bed and rubbed his face. Another spell of insomnia was making his head spin and he stared up at the ceiling.

[Deleted]

Asher scrubbed himself clean, stepping out with steam rising from his body.

He got dressed in black pants, black shirt, and gray Converse with red laces.

He changed his piercing, cleaning it out, and then stepped out of the bathroom smelling faintly of his cologne.

He knocked on a door - strangely, it was Colden's. "Can you please help me out? I can't.. I can't find my room."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colden sighed heavily and forced himself to get out of bed. Weirdly enough, he was always exhausted, but couldn't fall asleep in bed. He opened the door and narrowed his blue eyes at Asher, "You're going to need to be a quick learner, newbie. People aren't always helpful, especially when they've had a long day."

[Deleted]

Let him see who I really am.

It was like Asher went through a change - almost like a werewolf.

His eyes lightened, became chestnut brown.

His face rounded, softened - his cheekbones were still pronounced, but there was a little more skin on it.

He hadn't eaten in too long, and it showed under the suddenly baggy t-shirt.

He grew in height, closer to six feet than the five-three he was.

"Please."

His voice was quiet.

If someone had heard it with their eyes closed, they would not imagine this boy.

No where near.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colden made a small scoffing noise and strode past Asher, heading down the hallway, "I never said no, did I? Just think of that as a friendly warning."

[Deleted]

And I always get hurt like this.

He sighed softly, turning, following.

He was silent, thinking.

Why do I even bother? I can't protect myself! I can't even pretend, "Oh, no, I'm not a faery at all!" Nope. If I decide to show people my Fey side, they ruin it. They trash it. Being a Shadowhunter protects me. But I'm tainting who I am. And Mamma never wanted that.

He spoke. "Thank you for this, Colden."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"No need to thank me," The blonde muttered, waving his hand, "Anyone else would have let you stay here anyways. Why should I be any different?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and mulled over the conversation he'd had with Ezekiel. That was what was plaguing him.

[Deleted]

Asher passed him and unlocked his door.

"Come in. You look worried."

He left the door open behind himself, walking into the room, opening the little fridge, unscrewing the cap of the Sprite in his hand.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colden blinked and hovered in the doorway, "I just have a lot on my mind. Nothing you really need to worry about."

[Deleted]

Asher frowned, lips tilting down delicately.

He was not only gorgeous - he was adorable.

"Please, just tell me."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

The 180 in Asher's personality made Colden feel a bit wary, "I'm just thinking about something Kiel said. That's all."

[Deleted]

Asher ducked his head.

"I'm not gonna hurt you."

He lifted his head, looking at Colden with soft chestnut eyes.

"Not right now. Not on purpose."

He knew he had shielded himself fiercely.

It was defense - something natural.

It hurt him to do it.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He hesitated, but then took a step inside Asher's room, "I wasn't afraid of you hurting me.." he muttered, a tad defensive.

Colden was a distant guy too. He seemed friendly and open, but the only person he was close to anymore was Ezekiel. He emotionally avoided anyone else.

[Deleted]

Asher sighed softly.

This sucked.

"You don't know me, Colden.

Not really.

And maybe..."

He sucked in a deep breath, closing his eyes tight, curling into a ball.

He was scared - so, so scared.

"And maybe you don't want to."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

The blonde's face morphed into a scowl and he took a step back. He hated this game of tug-of-war, "Stop jerking me around. You seem to hate me, then you're inviting me to your room, looking all concerned, and now you say I wouldn't want to know you. I hate all these stupid games."

[Deleted]

Asher sighed.

"Listen - I know I'm...

Complex."

He was silent.

"But I'm myself - I try to be.

Listen - just stay here, tell me what's wrong. I'll listen, I'll keep it safe."

He cracked a grin.
"If I'm not anything else, I'm a good secret keeper."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colden crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, not getting any closer than that to the other male, "I'm trying to find the people- or creatures- that killed my parents," he bluntly stated, gaze hard.

[Deleted]

Asher looked up at him.

This was safe territory.

He gave a soft Cheshire grin.

He looked sweet, scrumptious, and sly.

Like a snake with fur.

"Mm - revenge?"

He sat up, leaning his head against the wall behind his bed.

"How long ago was it?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"I was thirteen when they were killed," Colden replied, though he didn't sound as enthusiastic as Asher. He sounded tired. His whole demeanor was exhausted.

"I had no way of knowing who killed them for years. Until I met Ezekiel."