Monsters? These are my children -Ben (o/o with lisapickle)

Gabriel shoves Miki with his wing. “Hmm, found it yet?”
Cage giggles, covering his mouth.

@lisapickle

"Hey, that's cheating! I can't see it!" She swung her arms around where she had felt it touch her. "You can't just make them be gone! They have to be here somewhere."

Silver covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles and failing.

@chickenfrogman

He shoves her with his wing again, this time making sure she fell on her butt. “Too bad.”
Kissa rolls her eyes.
You're so irritating.

@lisapickle

"Augh!" Miki groaned dramatically and flopped back on the floor. "I give up. I'm no match for magical creatures of weirdness."

Silver snorted, her laughter spilling out. "Well, that was short lived. If you can't even win against Gabriel's wing, you're not any match for a real fight."

Miki waved her hand at her without moving or sitting up. "Y'all go fight. I'll have muffins waiting for you when you get back."

“Speaking of,” violet starts, “since they’re all here.” She whispers, tilting her head towards them.
Ben sighs, clenching his jaw for a moment.
“Ahhmmmm.”
Cage and Kissa peer around Gabriel at him and Gabriel turns a bit to look at him.
He gulps.

@lisapickle

Silver paused, glancing at Ben and Violet over her shoulder, sensing the immediate and sudden change in the room. "Yeah… what happened? Why were you gone for so long, Ben?" she asked.

"Cuz he died." Miki whispered very, very quietly.

@chickenfrogman

Cage tries his hardest to quiet a giggle.
Ben clears his throat.
Just say it.
“They know we’re here. And we don’t plan on running.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrow and he clenches his jaw.
D**n right I’m not running.
Kissa’s hands form fists and she glares, despite the rising fear inside of her.

@lisapickle

Miki sat up, all serious now, and turned to face Ben and Vi. Silver swallowed, fisting her hand around the rag and taking a deep, slow breath.

"What happened? Was it your meeting?" She asked. "Was it a setup?"

@chickenfrogman

He shook his head. “Not a setup. The place had too many people, so I couldn’t get out without being seen. I took a detour about twenty miles in the wrong direction so I wouldn’t lead anyone here. We’re safe for now. But-“ he pauses to look to Violet. She doesn’t seem to notice, “-But I don’t want them to jump on us when we’re not prepared. You all have amazing potential, but you’ve never really been… trained.”
“Me and Gabriel have been.” Kissa adds.

@lisapickle

Silver nodded. "I mean, we've been working on our powers for the last two years but you're right, we haven't been specifically training for… a fight or anything."

@chickenfrogman

He nods. “I don’t mean just powers. I mean combat.”
Kissa sits back down. “Oh.”
He rubs his forehead with another sigh. “I hate to do this, or say this, but we need to be ready and there’s not really another option other than prepare ourselves and try to figure out their moves before they make them. Apparently, most of their agents know my face and who I am. It’s irritating, but from now on Violet will be doing most of the stuff out of the house since they’re.. not really looking for you, no offense, Baby.” He pats her shoulder and she holds in a grin.

@lisapickle

Miki slowly raised her hand. "No offense, Ben, and I know you still don't like me but I don't have powers and I'm pretty sure none of your bad peeps know I exist. And I already know how to handle myself in a fight."

Silver nodded. "She's right. It's safest for her to go out and do stuff for us."

@chickenfrogman

Ben narrows his eyes, but finally gives her a small nod. "Fine. But if anything suspicious happens, then Vi takes over, got it?" He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "That's not- I just wanted you all aware. And I don't want anyone running off the property again."
Kissa rubs her hands on her thighs slowly, in thought. "Ben? Do you know what you're up against?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out." He states. "I don't want you guys worrying too much over it, I just wanted you to know things will be more… strict? now. And I'll be making sure we all get some training time in daily. It won't be great, but bear with me."

@lisapickle

Miki gave him a double thumbs up. Silver nodded, subconsciously reaching back and finding Gabe's hand. "Thank you, Ben." She said.

@chickenfrogman

Thank you for what?
He nods stiffly, obviously done, and Violet continues to clean his wounds.
Gabriel squeezes Silver's hand, and he stares off in the distance, his jaw clenched and eyes narrowed.
Kissa stands, walking upstairs, and Cage leans on Miki. "I think Imma head to bed." He quietly states, his stomach suddenly turning with anxiety.

@lisapickle

Miki patted Cage's head and gave him a half hug with one arm, her mind obviously distracted. "Good idea, kid. You had a big day today." She rose and pulled him to his feet before going into the kitchen and retrieving a fresh hot rag for Silver to finish cleaning Gabe up.

@chickenfrogman

Cage rubs one of his eyes and heads up to bed, telling Vi and Ben goodnight on his way.
Gabriel turns around again so his back is to Ben and he focuses on the floor, obviously deep in thought.
Ben pulls his shirt back over his head and sighs.
We can do this. It’s okay.

@lisapickle

Silver finished cleaning Gabriel's wounds and brought him a shirt. She kissed his forehead and whispered 'goodnight' to him before heading upstairs to go to bed. Miki tidied the kitchen from their first aid session and followed her.

In the silence, Ben's phone buzzed with a text from Dio, simply saying;

I know who your competition is.

@chickenfrogman

Ben clenches his jaw, glaring at the screen. He slips the phone into his pocket and stands. He takes Violet’s hand, “I’m done with today, let’s go to bed.”
She nods and heads up the stairs with him.

(Time skip to the next morning?)

@lisapickle

(Yupyup)(sorry you're better at morning posts so you can start)

@chickenfrogman

(OKAY FINE)

I'll meet you at La Barraca on Calle Murillo. 7pm. I'll get there before you, so just say you're with Caspian. I'll take a back room so we won't have the same problem as yesterday.
He sends the text, running a hand through his black curls and then throwing the phone onto his bed. HE pulls his hair up into a ponytail and opens his door, heading downstairs.
Cage is downstairs on the couch. He has a small throw blanket over him as he sleeps. Vi shushes Ben quietly and he gestures towards the clock.
9:00am
She glares. "I know, but he's tired." She whispers.
He rolls his eyes and pours himself a cup of coffee, stirring in a few creamers.

@lisapickle

"Don't wake the baby." Miki stage whispered from the stove where she was scrambling eggs and bacon. "He needs his beauty sleep."

Silver glanced up from her phone and waved to Ben before turning her attention back to the self-defense video she was watching.

–

Dio paused his sushi making to check his phone when it buzzed. With one finger, to avoid needing to wash his hands, he texted back, spunds gd see u then i love that place they have gd fisg.

@chickenfrogman

Kissa narrows her eyes, glaring over the people in the room. She silently climbs down from her perch on the winged back chair and strides into the kitchen, opening the freezer and retrieving an ice cube tray.
Violet heads into the laundry room, picking up a basket and jogging upstairs. "Has anyone seen Gabriel today?" She asks from above, walking into Silver's room to collect her clothes.

@lisapickle

Miki glanced suspiciously at Kissa as she grabbed some ice cubes, but refrained from commenting. She probably didn't want to know.

"Haven't seen him." Silver responded, still distracted by her video. "He was still downstairs when I left him last night… he might still be down here."

"Check the fridge and the dryer." Miki said, stirring her eggs. "Those are his most common places."

@chickenfrogman