Fox 18

A/N I don't really know how this chapter will affect others but I guess this is a trigger warning of sorts. I'm not sure if it's needed but it's here just in case.

"Tae! What are you doing? It's almost like you don't want to help Levi out!" Jason shouted out at me as I ran past the spike of pure, raw energy that emerged from the ground in the blink of an eye.

"Levi you need to dodge quicker than that if you're going to get to Alistair in time." Tommy called out but I don't think Levi was listening at all. He was doing his own thing which included him completely disregarding everyone else's instructions.

"Stop! Everyone stop what you're doing." Mr. Corin's voice carried above all the noise that we were making in the training center. The lights slowly rose to their full brightness and all the obstacles disappeared in an instant from in front of us. Levi and I were still in our shifted forms and we were panting hard as we tried to catch our breaths.

Training wasn't meant to be easy but today it seemed a lot harder for us than it normally is. We're not dumb. We knew it was because of what happened last night. Everything that was off about us today was because of last night and my refusal to talk about it.

Even this morning when we all made our way out to the kitchen I refused to say anything to either of them for fear of saying the wrong thing. I just wanted to be able to think out everything, think about what they told me and truly process it. Why was that so difficult to understand?

Once they realized that I wasn't planning on talking to them any time soon they just kind of left me to my own devices but that didn't stop them from being affected by my decisions. I'm sure it was obvious to Jason, Tommy, and Mr. Corin that something was wrong when the usually bouncy Levi simply strutted in already shifted and sat, patiently waiting for us to begin.

They didn't say anything, simply let us get right into training. I was hoping that the training would get our minds off of what was happening between us and maybe we would just work well together anyways but clearly I was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Alistair questioned.

"Is that a serious question?" Tommy barked, clearly annoyed.

"You three are terrible today. What happened to you last night? Did you get enough sleep?" Jason questioned worriedly.

"Well...It was a difficult night for the three of us." Alistair admitted and I felt my tail tuck around me as I curled in on myself. It was partially my fault that we hadn't slept well. My mind was running wild with questions and problems surrounding everything I had learned that night. It was a little too much and I couldn't find sleep; meaning Levi and Alistair stayed awake all night as well.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Jason questioned in genuine concern.

"Wha-No!"Alistair shouted just as Levi replied as well.

"Sure!" Levi shrugged as he stood there completely naked and without a care in the world.

"Oh my goodness!" Jason shouted as his cheeks burned a bright red and he turned away from Levi.

"Can you not shift like that in front of my boyfriend?" Tommy growled reaching forward and covering Jason's already closed eyes to shield him from Levi's nakedness.

"Well you were talking to us and I literally have no way of responding unless I shift." Levi smirked.

"One of these days I'm going to fight you..." Tommy snarled as he pulled a struggling Jason into his chest. Levi opened his mouth to reply but was quickly cut off by our professor.

"Alright, so what's the problem?" Mr. Corin questioned.

"We had a very serious conversation last night, and no I won't tell you about what, and some things may have upset Tae a little bit and we haven't really talked since then." Levi answered truthfully.

"Why didn't you say so?" Our teacher sighed.

"Mages and familiars fight. It's not always a perfect relationship. The trick to that is sucking it up and act like an adult. You need to either talk about what it is that is bothering you. If this was a life or death situation there is no way that you three would survive.

So you three are going to go with Jason and Tommy and work this out until you three are back to normal. Hopefully that is soon because I don't feel comfortable allowing you three to leave this Academy as you are."

Talk to Tommy and Jason? I didn't want to do that. I was already embarrassed and confused by my own behavior I didn't need anyone else knowing about it. With a sigh I trotted behind Alistair and a still naked Levi who was content to stay that way until Tommy stopped him at the door.

"Put clothes on or shift." He growled.

"You're such a pain." He sighed dramatically before shifting back into his fox.

"Alright, do you guys want to talk in your dorm room or do you want to come back to our place?" Jason questioned.

'Tell him we wanna go to his place!' Levi practically shouted over our link causing me to flinch back a bit. He bounced all around Alistair and Tommy and for a second I caught myself smiling at his actions.

"Levi wants to go to your place. I think that he just wants to harass Tommy in his own home." Alistair laughed.

"I don't know if I agree with that plan then." Tommy groaned.

"Too late!" Levi cheered as he pranced around naked.

"Shift back!" Tommy shouted pointing at the naked, dancing Levi who instantly shifted back into his fox.

Jason and Tommy led the way out of the training room with the three of us following them. As we walked I tried to get my thoughts together. How did I explain my feelings to those two when I couldn't even explain it to people I was supposed to trust with my life.

We walked back to the main building but took a few turns opposite to that of the dorms. We came to a wing of the Academy that was clearly not meant for students judging by the large sign above the doorway that read 'No Students Pass This Point'.

Turning down a hallway we walked another minute or two before stopping in front of a doorway which Jason opened for the rest of us. Walking inside I was shocked to see that their room looked nothing like our mini-apartment type dorm rooms and more like the inside of a home.

Pictures of Jason, Tommy and Mr. Corin lined the walls and counters as well as little nick-knacks that seemed to have been collected from different parts of the world. There was a couch in the center of the room we walked into and what I believed to be a kitchen off to the side.

Two huge dog beds sat in front of the television, besides the couch and I had to laugh at the thought of Jason and Tommy lounging in those things. Come to think of it they kind of looked comfy. Without a second thought I sprinted over to the cream colored bed and jumped in it, rolling around to get comfortable.

"Well it looks like Tae has made himself at home." Jason laughed.

"Yeah but did he have to do it in my bed?" Tommy grumbled.

'Oops.' I muttered as I sat up immediately.

"Don't worry about it. Tommy's just a big grouch. How about you two go shift back and you can borrow some of our clothes since we forgot to stop by the changing rooms to get yours." Jason suggested as he motioned for us to follow him. He walked through a door leading to a huge bedroom with the largest bed I've ever seen.

He walked through another doorway as we sat in the middle of the room. He came out with two shirts and two pairs of shorts. I took the pair of shorts and the shirt that Jason was offering and walked into the closet as Levi shifted right there to change. Jason squealed and rushed out of the room to give us some privacy, slamming the door shut behind him.

The shift was a lot easier for me now a days and it took a matter of seconds before I was slipping the oversize shirt over my head. I pulled on the shorts but pouted when they didn't fit. I didn't want to walk out there without bottoms on but the shirt was so huge that I thought it might be fine if I didn't sit crazily.

"You ready?" Levi questioned from the doorway causing me to jump and then immediately blush at my reaction to him.

"Um...Yeah."I ran my hand through my hair and walked, briskly out of the room.

"Alright. So what's the problem?" Tommy questioned as soon as Levi walked out the room behind me.

'I know you're not really talking to us right now but please don't tell anyone about the whole Helion on thing.' Alistair pleaded over our link.

'I won't.' I reassured him. "Levi and Alistair told me some things that I didn't really expect to hear and I'm just trying to adjust to it. It's one off day and I don't think all of this is necessary. "

"Well clearly it is if you're not getting sleep and the three of you are all over the place." Jason replied.

"So what exactly did you three talk about last night?" Tommy questioned causing me to blush.

"Well we told him pretty much that we didn't just happen upon him. We tried to explain to him that we had been watching him for almost a year before we approached him." Alistair explained.

"We also may have told him that we had developed some feelings for him since the moment we laid eyes on him." Levi finished and I didn't have to look at him to know that he was staring at me. I could feel it.

"Hmmm..." Tommy hummed. "This is proving to be more interesting than I thought it would be."

"So how did you handle this Tae?" Jason questioned turning to look at me. His eyes focused on me causing me to want to shrink back and away from the group as all eyes turned to me.

"Umm..."I cleared my throat. "I ran and hid."

Immediately Tommy burst into a fit of laughter as he doubled over at my expense. My eyes narrowed in his direction as I glared at the older man who dared to take this matter lightly. I sighed and then huffed as I tried to gather my thoughts.

"It's okay. Take your time." Jason soothed as he elbowed Tommy in the side before pushing him off the couch that he was sitting on. He motioned for me to come over and sit beside him as Alistair and Levi sat on the chair before him. Tommy rolled his eyes and sat on the arm of the couch nearest to Jason.

"I just..." I started but then blushed because it was hard expressing myself in front of everyone. "It's weird! It's weird that they were just watching me from afar this entire time, right? It's strange that they were just kind of hiding in the shadows until they approached me. Only to tell me that they have feelings for me since the moment they saw me.

Not to mention that I went through so much over that year. How much of it did you just sit and watch? I was bullied everyday for years so certainly they must have seen some of what happened and yet they didn't step in and take me away sooner? Why?"I questioned.

Turning my head I looked over at the two of them, Alistair with his head down and Levi trying not to make eye contact at all. The wetness that trailed down my cheeks as I thought about the years after my transformation. I was so alone.

I was always alone.

My family didn't care.

I had no friends.

I had nothing except my escape.

Flashes of my past flashed before my eyes and it was almost as if I was reliving the entire event. The echoes of voices surrounded me and the pain in my wrists felt real. The only bit of control I had was in the form of a single razor pressed into the soft flesh of my wrist. With just the tiniest bit of pressure I could release all the pent up frustrations of the day.

Looking down I watched as my wrist lifted on its own accord, almost as if it was a dream. I couldn't control myself but I watched as my other hand reached out with the razor in my hand. I could see the tile floor in my bathroom, looking up I could see my caught the vague reflection of myself in the mirror my gold eyes piercing through the fog of my memories.

The pain drew me back to what was happening. Looking down I watched as the blood appeared as the skin began to reattach itself. The briefest sense of pain sent a thrill through me that called to me, begged me to continue.

I lifted the razor and continued twice more, marveling at the beauty and the release of the pain. Twin trail of tears raced down my cheeks as the thoughts of that moment repeated over and over in my mind. Depressing thoughts, dark thoughts, things that no one should ever have to hear.

'Tae...' A familiar voice cut through the noise.

'Tae. Come back to us...' A separate voice called.

My breath was caught in my throat as I tried desperately to catch it. My chest heaved up and down rapidly as I closed my eyes trying to focus on the voice. Why couldn't I break this trance I was in? Why couldn't I fight this? I had gotten over this...

I had escaped this once.

How had I escaped this?

I couldn't remember.

'Tae...'

Who was that? How did they know my name? What did they want from me? So many questions and not enough answers. I wanted to escape these memories but I have no idea how. The feeling of escape was almost blissful but I feel like there was something more...something better than this.

'There is.' The voice reminded me.

"How do I find it?" I questioned not knowing who I was talking to and why.

'Just remember us.'  Just as the voice finished speaking golden eyes flashed before me.

Levi.

I remembered everything. I remembered how it felt when I first met Alistair and how relieved I was when everything was revealed to me. It had been startling but I just knew that it was real, that I was supposed to be here, at this moment with them.

"What the hell was that?" Levi shouted as I awoke from my dream like state. "What did you do to him?"

"That was a spell that Jason cast in order to help you three remember why you were together. Every single person in this world has problems but for us in the magical community it's crucial that we don't let those problems overwhelm us.

Our power can sometimes be tied to our emotions and depending on how serious the situation is you can get lost in your own thoughts and be the reason you or someone else gets hurt. You three are together for a reason. For whatever purpose the universe thought fit to throw you together and you can't just give up on that over a stupid little misunderstanding." Tommy explained.

But my attention wasn't on him. I looked to my side at Jason who had his hand over his mouth, tears brimming in his eyes as they were fixed on me. In that moment I knew that he had seen what I did to myself before meeting Levi and Alistair.

"Tae..." He sniffled. "Do they know?" He whispered as Tommy and Levi continued to argue around us.

I shook my head no and pleaded with him silently not to say anything to them. It had nothing to do with my life now. I wasn't the same person as I was back then. I hadn't done that in weeks and I didn't feel the need to either.

"You should tell them how you feel." He whispered scooting closer to me. He reached forward and grabbed my two hands in his as he stared in my eyes. "It may be your past but they won't judge you for it. You three are strong enough to get through anything as long as you communicate."

"But I was so broken..." My voice sounded small even to me.

Before answering he stood up from the couch, pulling me up with him. His led me to the room where I had changed in while Tommy and Levi went back and forth and Alistair tried in vain to calm the situation. He shut the door behind him, led me to the bed and climbed in.

"But they can fix you." He sighed. "Tommy and Asher fixed me and I was probably the most broken creature you could have ever met." He laughed dryly.

"Asher?" I questioned and then smiled watching as his cheeks grew redder.

"Oh...umm...Mr. Corin." He smiled softly and looked away from me for a second.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure?"

"Are you three...umm...you know." I tried to hint at what I wanted to ask him without actually asking him. It was kind of embarrassing.

"Are we what?" He questioned in confusion.

"Are you three together? I mean it's obvious that you and Tommy are a thing but um...do you have feelings for your mage? Is it common to develop feelings for them or is it weird?" I questioned in a rush.

"Oh! Um..." He huffed clearly not sure how to answer the question. "It's not uncommon for mages and familiars to sometimes create a romantic relationship but it doesn't happen for all mage and familiars. Tommy, Asher and I happen to be...um...together and it works for us.

Is that what you're worried about? Do you have feelings for Levi and Alistair? You should probably be up front with them. You never know what they might say and even if they don't feel the same for you it's best that you get it out in the open and not prolong the confusion."

The relief washed over me once he confirmed that I wasn't a special case. I wasn't the only familiar to ever fall for his mage or fellow familiar. I sighed allowing the breath to leave my body evenly.

"You feel better?" He questioned me after a few minutes of silence.

"Actually I do." I smiled looking up at him.

"Good because believe it or not we were very much worried about you three. We've grown to like you and we didn't want you too overwhelmed with everything that's been happening to you."

"Thanks. It's nice to have people looking out for us." I smiled brightly at him. "By the way, how are you able to cast spells?"

"I'm not sure actually." He laughed. "I've just always been able to cast small spells. I study and practice along with Asher to see how much I can really do."

"That's pretty amazing."

"T-Thanks." He blushed. "Now tell me how long you've been a conduit?"

"A what now?" I questioned in confusion.

"You didn't know. Of course you didn't know. You're getting all your powers so soon and we should really figure out why." He chuckled as he ran his fingers through his hair. "You're most likely a magical conduit. I believe that you were able to tap into my powers of creating links between others to drag me into your vision. I'm not sure if you brought the others with you too but you need to still talk to them about it."

"A magical conduit? As if I need something else to worry about." I sighed.

"It's nothing too bad but if you don't learn how to control it you can take other magical beings powers without really realizing it. You won't drain them or anything but it might be a little frustrating if you suddenly grow pixie wings or something. I'll talk to Asher about it."

"Talk to me about what?"

We both turned our heads to the now open door to see Mr. Corin standing there staring at the two of us with a curious look on his face. His arms were crossed over his chest and the briefest glance at Jason told me that he was very much affected by my professor's presence.

"Well...umm...Tae is a conduit." Jason explained.

"Interesting." Mr. Corin hummed just as a bright red fox sprinted past his legs and jumped onto the bed.

Levi nuzzled up to me, tapping my hand with his paw when I didn't immediately scratch him behind the ears like he liked. I couldn't help the smile that spread from one ear to the other as I lifted my hand to gently scrape my nails from behind his ears, down his back.

He curled up in my lap as Alistair and Tommy walked through the door. Alistair came to the bed and simply stood on the side staring down at us as Tommy stood beside Mr. Corin, who instantly wrapped his arm around Tommy's waist.

"I'm not sure what you saw in your vision but I think we should really talk this out together. We don't want to lose you Tae. I know you can feel it. You know we're all supposed to be together. We're made for each other and I'm sure if we talk it out we can fix this, we can fix us." Alistair pleaded.

"Definitely. We need to talk about...a few things actually." I looked up at him with a soft smile.

"Alright, you three don't go off and do anything we wouldn't do." Mr. Corin smirked at us as he shooed us away. Levi jumped from my lap, sauntered over to the door where he proceeded to nip at Tommy before sprinting out of the room. Alistair and I laughed at his behavior as we followed him out of their bedroom. But before we could get to far I turned around and peeked my head back into the room.

"Thank you Jason."

"Any time Tae." He smiled and just like that I felt like everything would be fine again.

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