Voltrick tensed up even more than before as Antonis came into the room, more importantly to Aidan. What does he think he's doing? He's the one who riled Aidan up in the first place!

The tiger could barely tolerate it, especially when Aidan struggled against him. Voltrick's fists clenched and would have led the way to get Antonis away from Aidan, but Aidan began settling down to Voltrick's surprise.

But Antonis actions surprised him the most. At first, Voltrick couldn't exactly tell what the dog was doing. Now, he kneeled before him. Voltrick grew angered again, but he didn't express it. It's not like he wasn't angered in the first place and it didn't help that Antonis being there in, general, helped. But now he was being submissive to Aidan. Kneeling to his will, recieving deserved punishment, some awkward motion toward Aidan.

Voltrick would only watch, but he remained stiff incase anything were to happen.

Aidan's tears stained his cheeks, his fur dampened in a tiny stream, but he wasn't crying anymore instead was staring down at the one before him. The general was awaiting punishment from him. Aidan grit his teeth as a frustrated look appeared. He had the intense need to test Antonis to see if this gesture of his was whole-hearted.

They were both still for a while longer until Aidan's hand suddenly slapped Antonis across the face, causing the dog's head to turn against his right, the sound of it almost echoing in it's sharpness. Aidan held his hand up from the after affect watching Antonis' reactions. The general had only closed his eyes with no change of emotion. He didn't even let out a breath as Antonis turned his head back in front of Aidan to his last position, patiently awaiting the next action.

It felt as if all of Aidan's thoughts, fears, frustrations and his own doubts went into that simple slap. Now Aidan felt collected as he glared down at Antonis as he knew in his soul that before him was the man who caused him the greatest suffering...and here he was, guilty and waiting. Aidan felt like he was the judge, the one who controlled the general's fate and Voltrick as witness. He realized the power he was given, able to do whatever he pleased. Those terrible feelings of inferiority from before were answered handsomely by the simple act of Antonis kneeling before him.

"Look at me." Aidan ordered. Antonis lifted his head promptly, his orange eyes vivid as they stared back at Aidan.

"You abandoned me."

"Yes, I did." Antonis answered softly, and yet his tone could not let go of the strength a general needed in a voice.

Aidan gripped the bed covers tightly as he frowned, "I could hurt you." he said in a lower voice.

"If you want to."

Hands gripped into Antonis' shirt in two fistful chunks, the look of confusion and anger in Aidan's eyes while Antonis stared at him as he had been. There was a tense moment between them as Aidan appeared to be on the verge of harming Antonis in every possible way he could think of. And Antonis would have just accepted it. Aidan knew this and after his angered thoughts managed to clear for a moment, he thought how despicable he would be.

Instead, Aidan slid down onto his knees in front of Antonis, pressing his head against the dog's shoulder. His hands still held onto Antonis' shirt, shoulders pointed somewhat as they shook, the cat beginning to sob as though he felt an overwhelming relief. This was what he wanted...needed. To touch something alive, to know there was something warm and comforting that wouldn't harm him. Aidan clutched harder against Antonis, curling against him. He didn't care if the general would be embarrassed to be seen in such a way before someone he hated. Antonis offered himself to punishment, and this is what he got for it.

Antonis lowered his head, his jaw just barely brushing against Aidan's hair. After a moment, Antonis straightened his back while still on his knees, moving an arm over Aidan to comfort him. Soon, Antonis sighed heavily again as he had done in the beginning, taking a moment before he turned his head to look back at Voltrick. An eye squinted with a slight raise of the brow, as if to say 'You made it worse by letting him cry.', as if Antonis were teaching Voltrick something for the future.

Afterwards, Antonis looked back down to the cat who had begun to calm down. Whatever Aidan had gone through at the Ministry, whether or not he really forgave him for kicking him out, that will come at a later time.

"Why don't we eat, Aidan?" Antonis offered in a gentle voice, shaking Aidan a bit with his arm. In response, Aidan sniffed and peeked up as though he had just woken up.

"I know how much you like Debalora's cooking." he continued, as if he were still trying to convince Aidan. He pulled away slightly, removing a hand from Antonis' shirt to rub his eyes, still looking down as though he were embarrassed.

"You and Brandon could bathe afterwards, yes?"

Aidan nodded quietly as Antonis stood up and would help the cat onto his own feet. Aidan went ahead, walking somewhat unstably as though he were half-asleep heading towards the door. It wasn't completely shut, and all Aidan had to do was push it aside.

Once Aidan was through the door, Antonis took a few steps before he stopped short, his usual stoic demeanor returning as he simply looked over at Voltrick. There was no hint as to what he was thinking about.

Voltrick's frustration grew as thier conversation continued. But he intently listened the entire time. He would have added his own tidbit, it would have entirely been against Antonis, but he knew he shouldn't have. Even though he really... really wanted to.

Instead of saying everything outloud, he kept it all to himself. But even if he joined in only by hearing it, he was still intimidated by the whole thing

Voltrick grew more and more frustrated with Antonis' responses. Easily agreeing it was his fault, allowing Aidan do hurt him, to punish him. Aidan had said and shown such hatred regarding Antonis before, even back in the dungeon, and now they're talking so easily. The only thing that slightly pleased Voltrick through the entire conversation was Aidan slapping Antonis. But that was short winded!

Voltrick sneered and turned away as they embrassed one another. How can Antonis just walk in the room and so easily gain back Aidan's trust?! All it took was a slap and the willingness to be punished!

It wasn't long until Voltrick turned back towards them... just in time for Antonis to look back at him. With that squinted eye and raised eyebrow. Mocking him. Nailing into Voltrick the message that everything Voltrick did was wrong.

Voltrick tensed up again with fists clenching. He still remained silent, but his ever growing frustrations grew uncontrollably. Antonis got Aidan back with one simple gesture. Only a few words were said and they walked together to eat food together. They were the pair as before!

Voltrick sneered as his gaze met with Antonis at the door. Stoic, almost blank. Voltrick didn't know what he was thinking, but he was sure to allow Antonis a taste of his own thoughts. His expression, alone, was enough proof of that. But Voltrick said nothing. If Antonis wanted to say something, then he needs to say it. Because the longer Voltrick was forced to look at that bastards face, the angrier he became.

Now Voltrick wanted to be alone.

It was as if Antonis could have heard Voltrick's thoughts just by looking at the tiger's features, silently considering every confusing turn. He knew this scene was very strange to Voltrick, and in fact, was strange in general. Aidan was not as simple as he seemed at times. It would have caught everyone off guard.

"I know that Aidan trusts you," Antonis began, looking away from Voltrick with a slow blink, "You wouldn't have stayed for so long if he didn't. And because I trust his judgment, I will not hinder you unless I need to." At this, Antonis paused as he was seen staring at the doorway until his eyes glanced back to Voltrick. For a moment, in the finest grasp Voltrick took, Antonis appeared calm and, if described, at peace. As if the conversation he was having with Voltrick were...kind. Others would have realized the obvious differences in Antonis before Aidan had returned, his demeanor fierce and full of spite.

Strangely even Antonis himself did not notice it.

He began a slow walk towards the door as though he were exhausted, however stopped short as though he forgot something.

"Oh, one more thing." He said, his normal tone of voice returning, "Your son is in the other hall."

Finally, Antonis followed where Aidan had gone and walked out of the room and down the hall. He knew that Voltrick held a contempt for him that would surprise many onlookers, he still felt the need to inform Voltrick of those two things. If Aidan was right in his judgment, then that eased Antonis a bit. But he still didn't like the idea of Voltrick being near Aidan. He saw the broken desk and the mirror on the floor. That uncontrollable anger was something Antonis didn't want Aidan to be inflicted with.

It seemed best to separate the two for a while.

Voltrick retained his angered scowl as Antonis spoke to him. Whether Antonis appeared more calm or stoic, Voltrick wouldn't feel any different towards him. Even with Aidan 'forgiving' Antonis for what he did and how me made him feel, that will never make up for what Antonis has done to Voltrick or how he, himself, felt.

How can Antonis make it look so easy to gain Aidan's trust back, yet.. after Voltrick's and Aidan's time in the cell... Aidan couldn't hate Voltrick more. They couldn't relate nor could they talk as friends... not anymore.

But it wasn't like they did talk as good friends. Antonis was always there to either make Voltrick angry or take Aidan away for some other thing they usually do as 'good friends'. Voltrick would never have what Aidan and Antonis had. What did Aidan see in that bastard so much? Call it jealousy, or the lack of humanity in Voltrick, but Voltrick will never have what Antonis has.

Then Antonis continued and said something that caught Voltrick off guard. 'Your son is in the other hall' Voltrick's entire form tensed up with eyes widening. How could he have forgotten? Gordan was with Antonis. His son was here, in the same building, and Antonis basically told him to go to him. His own son, pushed to the back of his mind while he fought to get back Aidan. What a father...

Voltrick uncomfortably looked around the room aimlessly; trying to think of way he could either escape it or actually go and talk to his son. How could he face him? After everything, after what he did to him... Voltrick wanted to see his son. Gordan, the only one left, from what voltrick knew, in his family to be alive. But the fear was if his son actually wanted to see him.... let alone be in the same town as him.

For quite a while, Voltrick stood awkwardly alone in the room. Looking downward, in thought, toward the ground. His mixed feelings stopping his legs from moving.