The day was darkening when Vincent and Aidan arrived to a pub. It was set in a darkened alleyway, somewhere not many people would think of going, but Vincent preferred it saying that no one would be there. They entered and went to a table against a corner, out of sight and made for good privacy.

Aidan came back with their drinks, mead for himself and a bottle of Bearhugger's for Vincent. Bearhugger's alcohol was abnormally strong. It could very easily send the toughest man into a drunken state after a good glass. By the way Vincent held his forehead with a hand, eyes boring holes into the table, Aidan saw that the mouse needed it.

"Just...uh...don't drink too much of this." Aidan said, pouring Vincent a small shot and passed it over. Vincent only grunted a response.

They started to drink in silence to pass the awkward stage. They barely knew one another and after what happened to Vincent, it was best to just wait until the drinks settled in. But that didn't take long...not with Bearhugger's...

"I--I--I can't believe she was with that guy! I hated him too!" Vincent banged the table with a fist, glaring down as thoughts reeled in his head. Aidan was leaned back comfortably, holding the large glass against his lips.

"Don't say that. Antonis is nice."

"Hah! You should have seen him in the dark days. Nice. Peh."

Aidan moved forward, putting the glass on the table as he frowned at Vincent. "I did! I was there! I was there when everything happened!"

"Oh really?"

"That's right! I know about everybody, even what happened to Voltrick." Aidan grumbled, taking another drink.

Vincent's ears perked with interest, leaning against the table to come closer to Aidan. "You do?" he asked a little more quietly, "How about you recollect for me? I...I want to know what's been going on."

Aidan considered it, making a few glances at Vincent before taking the mouse's shotglass, poured himself from the Bearhugger bottle for liquid courage and drank it. After a few silent moments, Aidan explained everything. They're first meeting with Debalora, Brandon and Voltrick, the Ministry, how Voltrick was used by them to attack everyone, his time with Voltrick in the dungeon, Gordan, Murdoc, everything. By the time he was finished it was pitch dark outside and the pub almost empty. Vincent had listened intently with a look of concentration, brows knitted together as he stared at the table nearly the entire time.

A strange silence hung in the air after Aidan told the story. What could they say? Aidan looked at Vincent who was still staring and decided to take the bottle, drinking to pass the time. He also wanted to forget most of what he spoke about. Of course he had cut out a few things, but that didn't mean Aidan hadn't remembered them in grand detail.

Finally Vincent broke the silence.

"...I feel badly for you." he said, never removing his eyes from the table. Aidan looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because of everything that's happened. I had no idea. Someone like you shouldn't live like that."

Aidan shifted awkwardly in his seat and turned his head, looking away for a moment before turning forward, smiling at Vinnie. "What are you saying? I'm fine where I am! It's hard, but everyone is good to me and I--" he stopped as Vincent moved his stare up to him, seeing through Aidan's mask with a sad gaze. Soon Aidan began to feel unnerved. Had he talked about the dungeon too much? He drank a lot before he spoke and--No, he couldn't have! Besides, everything else was going to shit, so maybe Vinnie was thinking about that in Aidan's case.

"You're not fine." Vincent said.

Aidan turned his head away stubbornly, lowering his brows in irritation. "I am! Just drop it. Everyone's trying their best."

"I'm not talking about them."

"What do you know?!" Aidan snapped, glaring at Vincent. "You've barely been here for a day and you think you know everything? So drop it!"

Vincent moved back into his chair with an outtake of breath. "Look. I just want to help..."

"What could you do to help? I've been trying to help Voltrick ever since we were in that prison and now you show up and ruin everything I've gone through with him. He'll probably leave after the way you two argued. Antonis...He's been happier than I've ever seen him when he's with Mrs. Pardia, and she's needed someone, especially after Brandon."

"And you...?"

Aidan frowned, staring away.

"Why are you hiding? After everything, I can tell you're the one holding everyone together. For godssakes, you even turned Voltrick docile after being brainwashed! Even that Murdoc. I can tell you're hiding something from everyone and it's...affected you--"

Vincent stopped as Aidan clutched the shotglass in his hand tightly, eyes squinted in the early stages of tears. Then he saw Aidan's real face, contorted in blank sadness that made Vincent want to destroy anyone who caused Aidan to look like that.

"...Why are you doing this?" Aidan whispered as his gaze settled on Vinnie. He lowered his brows.

"Because you don't deserve it."

Vincent's answer didn't seem to effect Aidan who looked away again, although that was what he thought as the cat lowered his head almost shamefully.

"C-can we go somewhere?" Aidan said. Vincent noticed the way he was rubbing his hands. "...I don't want to go back...and..."

"Of course." Vincent interrupted, standing from his seat. He grabbed hold of the table, realizing he was staggering drunk as the room twirled around. It was as though the drinks waited until he moved to kick in. It must be the same for Aidan. Vincent walked around carefully before he moved his arm, tucking it under Aidan's and picked him up from the seat. Supporting each other, they left the pub and into the alleyway, looking for some cheap inn. At least that was what Vincent was doing. Aidan seemed like he was asleep.

The streets were empty as they walked through. It must be late, Vincent thought, finally spotting a small inn a little bit away. He jerked his back, readjusting Aidan before he carried them both towards it.

"Look...I'm sorry I pressured you." Vincent said, figuring Aidan was only appearing to sleep. If he was, he would have dragged his feet more. "I'm the same way. I keep everything in and don't let anyone worry about my problems. I have no right to force you to talk. But with you...I can tell something you're hiding...you'll never get over it. Not without someone understanding. Because you need people to listen, if not, you'll feel so alone..."

Aidan didn't say anything after that as they entered the inn and Vincent paid for the room. He pulled them up the creaky stairs and into the old hallway where it was certain some corners were beginning to rot. Coming to their appointed room, Vincent closed the door and laid Aidan onto the bed. He looked asleep. The drinks must have gotten to him.

Vincent turned around with a sigh, taking a few steps before he started to take his coat off.

"He raped me..." Vincent tensed both to the sudden voice and by what it said. He looked back to Aidan, whose head was turned away so he couldn't see his face. "...The guard in the dungeon." he finished quietly.

Vinnie's lips parted as his eyes widened, shifting his feet to face Aidan.

"An--And I killed him. Then I-I murdered three more." Aidan's voice cracked, moving his palms to cover his face, hiding the dampened eyes and anguish. He bit his lip, trying to keep himself from uttering a sob. Vincent appeared over him, feeling hands taking hold of the sides of his head gently.

"Aidan..."

Damp green eyes opened, imploring as Aidan stared up to the man. "How?! How could I tell the others?!" he cried, tears shedding down the side of his head from his position in agony. Vincent felt a sharp pain in his chest at the very sight of Aidan. "Voltrick...He-He was so mad." he said, a growing fear rising to the surface. "The rest of them would too if I told them. They wouldn't look at me the same way! They'll----They'll look at me in disgust. They'll think I'm weak...letting someone do that to me."

Aidan turned his head away from Vincent, pressing his brow against the arm there. Vincent moved, sitting himself on the bed next to Aidan as he watched him quietly, wondering why none of the others have seen this. Questioning why no one helped Aidan more. Didn't anyone see it? He saw it the moment he laid eyes on the cat.

"Don't tell the others." Aidan said weakly, "I don't want to trouble them. Everything has been happening so fast...Antonis is barely home anymore with the war..." he stopped, trying to think straight.

Vincent moved his free hand, petting Aidan's head gingerly, "They should have taken better care of you..."

Aidan's eyes winced before looking up at Vincent who rubbed the tears off then gradually pressed the side of his face against the bed, green eyes closing. Vincent would never know what Aidan had thought at that moment.

===

"Vincent."

Glazed eyes opened slowly, greeted with a slight headache. Must have been the drinks. His head turned to his right and found that his arm was stretched out along the bed, between it was Aidan curled against him still asleep. Vincent couldn't help but think how cute that was. Like a brown, fuzzy ball. Finally his head turned the opposite direction and saw a dark figure looming over him. Too bad he recognized him quickly.

"...Aeth?" he said with an eyebrow lowering in confusion. "How the hell did you find me?"

The dog closed his eyes as his usual smile appeared. "One but only needs to ask. Besides...how often is there a white furred mouse with two different eye shades?" Before Vincent could say anything, Aeth leaned a bit more over Vincent, getting a better view of Aidan.

"My, how cute he is like that." he commented before he smirked towards Vincent. "I'm a bit jealous though. I thought I was the only man for you." he joked just in time as Vincent's free hand waved Aeth away.

"Stop that. He's a friend." Vincent grumbled, looking back down to Aidan. He felt the cat move, slowly waking up.

"Hmm. You two must be close if he's sleeping like that."

"Er...Honestly I just met him yesterday..."

Aidan chose that moment to open his eyes, staring first at Vincent's side before his gaze rose to Vinnie's face. Then he felt someone else in the room and craned his neck gently to see. There he saw a dark dog that was incredibly handsome smirking gently down at him. With the suddenness of it all, Aidan blushed madly, uttering a little noise before he lowered his head, nudging it against Vincent's side a though he were trying to hide, clutching Vinnie's shirt.

Aeth's eyes widened to Aidan's reactions until he grinned in delight, moving suddenly on top of Vincent as he wrapped his arms around Aidan, who made another pathetic noise in surprise.

"How adorable! You're coming home with me~" Aeth purred, hugging Aidan uncontrollably. With Aeth on top of him, Vincent tried pushing the dog off himself and from Aidan.

"Stop that, you pervert!" he shouted.

Later as the three stood before the clerk desk of the inn, the fatter woman glancing at the three men with a straight, stern look. The tallest was handsome, completely groomed to perfection and had a kindly smile. The middle one's hair was ruffled up and his fur was messy with a look of waned patience. The last one was a young man who was trying his best to look away, blushing all the while as though he were uncomfortable.

The woman took a deep breath of her cigarette as she examined them. Without question, she stamped the receipt before handing it out, thinking it was best that things were left unanswered.