A/N... Feed back would be awesome! I'd like to know what you as a reader like about my story or writing style, and also what you think I need to work on! The title will most likely be changed, suggestions are welcome :) enjoy~

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Chapter Two

"I want him found, now."

Rain sighed heavily, scratching the back of his head with what seemed like vague interest. Hal leaned closer to him from his side, pressing his ear onto the back of Rain's worn black cell phone.

"Right. We'll find him." Rain murmured.

There was an immediate response. "You'd better," came the bitter voice, "He can not fall into that rat's hands or it'll be your heads gracing my mantle."

Rain blinked when the dial tone rumbled. Disgruntled, he brought his cell from his ear with a click of his tongue. "God, that woman scares the shit out of me."

Hal nodded enthusiastically, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I can't believe the two are related, I mean, Jace acts nothing like her."

Rain pocketed his phone. "Fortunately. Got any ideas who he ran to? It's a one in a million with that kid. It's got to be someone he could totally trust and there aren't that many," Rain yawned, "if any at all."

Hal cocked his head thoughtfully, his eyes finding a twenty-four-seven café down the street. His stomach growled, gaining Rain's attention. Hal didn't voice his hunger. "Hmm. One." Hal forced his glittering eyes away and rubbed his empty stomach. "Remember when he was little, he was always sneaking away to see that girl?"

Rain grunted, running his hand through his hair. "Mm, the loner girl. What was her name again... It was on the news that one day..."

Hal's unnerved gaze met Rain's tired one. "It was Arik Arturi's kid, Raeleen."

Rain tensed, his eyes sharpening as the imperative man's burly stature crossed his mind. "Jace is the most troublesome boy to baby-sit..."

"Motorcycles suck."

Jace wiggled on the leather seat, trying to put some feeling in his legs as the machine smoothly glided down the otherwise lumpy dirt road. The motorcycle's vibrations had completely numbed his legs. Jace tightened his hold around the sturdy and warm torso when they went over a particularly big bump, the bike leaping slightly beneath them.

Jace lay his head heavily on the driver's shoulders, his stomach swimming dangerously. "...I'm gonna puke..."

"We're almost there."

Jace's eyes half lidded, his cheeks tinted pink with wind burn. He took deep breathes. "I'm okay. I'm not gonna puke. I'm not gonna puke. I'm... I'm gonna puke..." Jace swallowed thickly, feeling his stomach lurch. "...s-stop..."

"What?"

Jace's stomach tightened. "Stop the bike!"

The motorcycle jerked beneath him, the sound of gravel being thrown thundered in his pounding ears. When the surrounding foliage stopped, Jace wobbled off of the bike, tearing the helmet from his head, unconcerned with where it fell, and scrambled to the grass. Falling on his knees, he leaned over the ground, the taste of bile rising in his throat as his stomach quivered. Jace groaned at the feeling.

The engine uttered a similar sound behind him before dieing out. Footsteps crunched through the gravel before meeting the grass. A light hand on his shoulder sent traces of heat racing down his arm.

"Are you alright? If you get motion sickness, you should have told me. I would have gone slower."

Jace shook his head lightly, shrugging off the hand. "I'm... alright."

"You don't look alright. Here."

Jace gazed askance at the open plastic bottle of water glinting in the moonlight. His eyes traveled upward until he met the girl's eyes. When his stomach fluttered and memories raced across his mind, he dropped them. Jace nodded his thanks as he took the bottle gratefully. Tossing his head back, he chugged down the whole pint.

"Whoa, if you drink the whole thing in one sitting, you'll-"

Jace gagged, and his stomach clenched. Doubling over in a heave, his stomach emptied its contents onto the ground. Jace held down another and sniffled. He coughed when the smell invaded his nose. The sight beneath him made him wrinkle his nose. "...so gross..."

"Ugh..." Jace lifted his eyes to his company, her face scrunched with disgust as she shielded her nose and mouth with her hand. She turned away from the mess, her eyes tearing up. "...disgusting." she murmured.

Jace pursed his lips after they began to perk up. Her squeamish reaction began to pull bouts of laughter out of him. As he tried to contain it, snorts escaped him. Her sharp eyes darted to him, but they quickly turned away at the glance. Jace couldn't hold it in. Bubbly laughter filled the space between the duo, squeezing Jace's lungs. He clutched at his stomach but found he couldn't stop. Sitting back on his haunches, his eyes too began to tear up, but for another matter entirely.

Her eyes slowly turned back to him, slightly upturned. The sight caught him off guard and his laughter subsided as his heart sped up within his chest. Realization dawned on her face and her eyes seemed to go out of focus. She looked away as she brought her hand away from her face to clear her throat into a soft fist.

"I have some business to attend to at eight, so let's make our way."

Jace swallowed, standing on wobbly knees. "Oh, okay..."

For the moment she took to start up the bike, he stood there. It occurred to him that the one he was seeking out was standing there before him. They were both bathed in the light and totally recognizable, yet, he couldn't decipher whether she remembered him or not. His shoulder's slouched slightly, and his gaze fell to the ground. Jace clenched his jaw, a dull heat rising in his stomach as well as in his head.

"Hey. We can wait a moment if it's still uncomfortable for you."

Jace's fists clenched at his sides as his heart began to hammer into his ribs. "Why did you save me? Why would you give a ride to a complete stranger?"

The engine sputtered into a roar, drowning out his last question. "What was that? I didn't hear-"

"Why are you being so understanding?!" Jace shouted, anger and confusion welling up in his chest. "Do you give rides to every stranger you meet, making time for people you don't even know?! Quit messing with me!"

Heat balled behind his eyes as they searched the ground. His chest felt constricted. "...don't mess with me..."

"I never knew you thought I was so noble."

Jace stiffened, tears falling down his cheeks. Raising his eyes, her serious gaze rooted him to the spot.

She cocked her head, her thick hair falling over her shoulder. "I knew you were naïve, but that's kind of ridiculous, isn't it? Why would I give a complete stranger a ride? I'm tolerant, yes, but far from noble."

Jace blinked at her, tears falling freely. "Rae..."

She shook her head softly at him, holding out the helmet she had picked up at one point. "Let's just get to the city. You look ill."

Jace dropped his eyes, an inkling of a smile gracing his tear streaked face. "Okay."

Trudging through the grass, his knees threatened to buckle beneath him. Taking the helmet, he watched as Rae settled herself onto the seat and become familiar with the machinery. Taking a deep breath, he pulled on the helmet and sat behind her, assuming the position she had directed of him not moments before. Heat pooled between them again, and he set his forehead against Rae's back.

"Ready?"

After a short nervous hesitation, he nodded. The bike stood upright before shooting forward, but gentler this time. Jace turned his head to the side, leaning heavily into Rae's back. Shutting his eyes, he willed his stomach to harden and endure the ride just a while longer. His racing heart was beginning to settle, and he felt a haziness enter his mind.

"Just a few more moments, and we'll be there..." her reassuring voice faded softly into the dull roar of the motorcycle.

Jace took a deep breath, Rae's smell floating within the confines of the padded helmet. His thoughts began to drift away, overcome with the past few day's exhaustion. The light vibrations dimmed away into his cloudy consciousness.

"Hey."

Jace jolted upright, his sight swimming somewhat. The surrounding buildings woke him completely.

"You dozed off. We're here."

Jace removed his stiff arms from their hold and slid the helmet from his head. The city air rushed to meet his lungs and he felt sick again. "Great." he muttered sarcastically. His eyes roamed over the dark street, taking in the crawling shadows with building dread.

Rae turned slightly in her seat to speak to him. "So, where am I dropping you off?"

Jace caught his breath, finding he didn't know what to say. "Um..." Her eyes found his and Jace looked down into his lap when his cheeks lit up. "I can't... I don't have a... um..."

"You don't have a what?"

Jace caught the underlying suspicion in her tone and a sort of dark aura draped over her frame. He lifted his eyes, her blank expression ever present though her eyes glowed in the darkness. "I don't... have a place for you take me."

Rae didn't blink or speak for longer than a few moments. Her mouth opened, and after a short silence, words formed. "You were kicked out?"

Jace bit his lip, unsure of his own answer. "Yeah. I was."

Rae stared at him for a few moments longer, and Jace's palms began to sweat. She finally nodded to herself and turned back to the handles. The bike jumped forward beneath him and Jace quickly grabbed hold of Rae's middle.

"H-hey! Wait!"

Jace shakily pulled the helmet back on, and held tightly onto Rae as the city flew by him.

"Pull the visor down."

Jace quickly complied to the command, uneasily lifting one arm to shove it down. It clicked in place and Rae's scent attacked his senses. The outside world darkened significantly when the visor was pulled over his eyes, and he could just barely see the buildings blur by. His stomach pitched uncomfortably when the wind hit him harder. Rae leaned forward, and Jace was quick to follow. They were going faster.

They slowed considerably and she shifted to the right. Jace felt the motorcycle pull in that direction, watching a building rotate as they rounded a curb. A couple cars whizzed past them from the opposite direction when they began to pick up speed once again. Jace's breath hitched when the buildings ended and a wide plain stretched away from the rode. Something in his gut told him he was in for a long ride.

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