Lucca didn't really know what to expect when he was guided in a room with a guard standing close by, eying him as if he was a threat. After finding out that Jesse had been kidnapped, that James, Jesse's newfound mate, was murdered...

The incubus shivered, dreading to hear whatever it was they had summoned him for. Hopefully they found Jesse, or at least a trail to his friend. After all, it had been weeks since police interrogated him, prying for any tidbit of information he could provide them with.

Lucca had cooperated, of course. He as well as everyone else of the club wanted to find Jesse and they all prayed the pixie was safe and unharmed. He let his eyes roam across the room, landing on several piles of files that spilled out besides a computer.

The man reading them often paused to make notes, and as he did, Lucca swore he could see the man growing paler with every word he read. Soon enough, the officer closed the file and averted his gaze, shivering with disgust before their eyes clashed.

He couldn't tell what the Hellhound was thinking, eyes narrowed as they flitted over Lucca's form. Lucca averted his gaze and looked around the room, stomach twisting and turning with worry. When the Hellhound grabbed a thick file and flicked through its contents before stopping at a page, Lucca frowned before feeling his stomach drop when the man looked back up.

"Lucca, Jesse's friend?"

Lucca nodded wordlessly, mouth dry as he struggled to swallow. A thought niggled in the back of his mind, realization that all those files were files about people... A hint of fear and nausea set in as he shoved aside the dread that threatened to overwhelm him.

"I'm Fabian, Head of Security in this facility and your guide until further notice." The Hellhound drawled as he flicked through the files, eyes flitting from left to right as a slight tremble started in his hands.

A twitch started in Lucca's leg, a sudden bout of nausea threatening to burn bile up his throat. He swallowed convulsively as Fabian sighed deeply, a low growl in his voice.

"What I'm about to tell you is sensitive information that is not going to leave this room." His glare told Lucca exactly what would happen to him if he let anything slip. Fabian shut the file with a deep sigh, rubbing his hands over his face.

"Ugh, I never know how to start this..." Fabian groaned softly before Lucca licked his lips and leaned forwards. "At least tell me if you know where Jesse is. Have you found him? Is he safe? Is he-"

Fabian held out his hand, pausing Lucca before he could get too worked up. "Jesse has indeed been found and is safely in our care, where we will monitor his health until he can go home." Lucca let out a shuddering sigh, sinking back in his seat as some of the fear melted out of his body.

Jesse was saved. Thank the gods, he was found and brought back. Lucca swallowed thickly, the relief almost making him feel lightheaded before a cold shiver ran down his body at the sight of Fabian's serious expression.

"Something else happened to him..." Lucca spoke softly, feeling bile burn his throat as Fabian nodded and pushed out of his seat, walking around the desk to lean against it.

"There's no way around this or some fancy way to make it sound better." He sighed, digging his nails into his own arms. "Jesse has been changed into a Deprived."

Deprived...

Lucca's eyes shimmered with tears before they spilled soundlessly over his cheeks. He didn't need to ask what horrors happened to Jesse, as he knew who had taken Jesse in the first place.

No wonder the inspectors asked so many questions about the group of improba...

Gods, Jesse... what have they done to you?!

His hands buried in his hair, head held between his knees as he fought to get a steady breath in his lungs. Lucca's skin tingled, revolting against the very idea of Jesse's fate. As an incubi, he had been lucky that his parents had been brought up with a sense of morality and consent.

They only fed on willing prey who were of age. But, Lucca knew there were incubi and succubae out there who didn't care for consent or age. They'd happily go after a Deprived, because forbidden fruit always tasted sweeter.

And Lucca didn't want to know what heinous acts his kind and the improba would've committed against Jesse... poor innocent Jesse, who had been saving himself for his mate.

"Can...Can I see him?" Lucca croaked, blinking up and surprised to see Fabian crouched over him, a gentle hand placed reassuringly on his shoulder. At his question, Fabian's features pinched before he let a troubled sigh.

"We can try... though I must warn you that if Jesse responds... it might not be the response you're hoping for." Fabian stepped back, allowing the incubus to stand up on his feet before he grabbed the man's shoulder when he wobbled.

"Prepare yourself for anything. Even if Jesse's response is good, I don't know what the other Deprived may do when they spot you. Whatever happens, I need you to remain calm and patient with the Deprived here."

Lucca nodded, shaking on his legs before he took a fortifying breath. Right now, Jesse needed his support and he would give it to his best friend, unconditionally.

---***---***---

When Fabian came to a halt, Lucca looked around attentively. They had bumped into a single deprived before and Lucca still felt disgusted by his species and by the improba.

The poor girl has shook like a leaf when she spotted him, falling on her knees with her head bowed, as if waiting to service him to his needs. All the while she had been sobbing, murmuring pleas of mercy and forgiveness under her breath.

His stomach clenched at the reminded, too sick to consume anything as his eyes landed on the single figure in the woods.

Jesse.

Lucca barely recognized the usually boisterous pixie. Jesse had his back turned to them as he stared out in the woods, legs pulled up against his body while his chin rested on top of his knees. And from this distance, Lucca could see that Jesse had lost a lot of weight.

The pixie hadn't been fat by any means but now Jesse's bones were sharply defined against his skin, his cheeks sunken in as his usually soft and fluffy hair hung down his back in greasy strings. It pained Lucca to see his best friend that way.

Because he knew Jesse had always made sure he came out of his house presentable. He didn't preen and pretty himself up in front of the mirror to look good, but he never wanted people to think badly of him, even back when Jesse had barely any money to spare.

He glanced at Fabian, waiting until the officer gave him the go ahead before he slowly approached Jesse. Lucca expected Jesse to react to his approach, to flinch and turn around as branches cracked softly underneath his boots.

Jesse didn't move a single muscle. Just calm breaths in and out in a steady pattern, his eyes fixed on the forest around them. Lucca hesitated when he got near Jesse, his heart leaping in his chest. He could spot several scars against Jesse's pale shoulder, vicious bitemarks where fangs had dug in and tore skin without a care.

He clenched his fists together in anger before letting it out in a calming breath. Slowly, he took the last three steps he needed and sat down besides Jesse.

Lucca swallowed thickly as Jesse didn't even move. He slowly reached out, hesitated before resting his hand gently on Jesse's.

He held his breath as Jesse blinked, gaze slowly dropping down to the hand on top of his before his eyes wandered over to Lucca. It pained Lucca to see the once mischievous glitter in Jesse's gaze gone, his expression void of any of his usual happiness or joy.

Lucca's stomach churned dangerously, threatening to spill what little breakfast he had eaten when Jesse's dead gaze locked with his tearful eyes. There was no recognition, no sign of any awareness in Jesse's penetrating look.

They sat like that for several long minutes, breathing calmly before Lucca's heart broke when Jesse looked ahead without any sign or word spoken, his hand pulling away from Lucca's.

He didn't fight it. He allowed Jesse to slip his hand away before Lucca spoke softly, his voice quiet and reassuring. He greeted Jesse and talked about anything and everything. How he and the others hadn't forgotten about Jesse, how they all hoped he was okay and how everyone had been worried about Jesse.

And all that time, Jesse sat quietly, gazing ahead without a twitch. But Lucca persisted, recounting memories of past events, Jesse's shenanigans and the bouncers that were all twirled around Jesse's delicate little fingers.

A rumble started above, making Lucca flinch and look up. The clouds darkened rapidly, growing a dark purple as lightning flashed through the sky. Rain splashed against his nose, trickling down quickly.

Lucca looked around, noticing that the skies afar were sunny and clear... nor had there been any predictions of a sudden thunderstorm...

"...Lucca..."

His name was croaked, spoken in a raspy voice and barely audible. And yet it sounded like a gunshot echoing through the woods as he once again reached out to Jesse's hand, this time giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Moisture fell on his hand, and Lucca didn't know if it was rain or tears. But he knew his own face was wet with tears as he watched Jesse tilt his face back towards the sky and close his eyes, letting the rain pour down on him without a care.

The poor pixie started shivering and after some gentle ushering and guidance, he allowed Lucca to pull him to his feet. Jesse seemed terribly lost, letting Lucca guide him around like a docile puppy on a lead.

And Lucca promised himself that he'd make sure Jesse recovered fully. He'd be here to support the pixie and nobody was going to stand in his way.