Dawn wasn't much of a talker, in fact not many have heard him speak.

It wasn't by choice, he does enjoy talking, but he had a problem. One that kept him from talking much or even at all.

He had a stutter, it wasn't like the cute stutter, where you might ruin a word or two, no he couldn't speak a sentence without his words getting tied and his face turning red.The only friend he had was Eden. Eden was everything Dawn wanted to be. Confident, friendly, charming and above all, nice.

Eden was quite popular among the many other hybrids, but he never left Dawn's side.The phoenix never left the small elf's side. Dawn never understand why, he wasn't anything special, but Eden never made him feel that way.

"You okay, Dawnie?" Eden asked, throwing an arm over the male's shoulder and pulling him close. Dawn nodded, biting the dead skin off his lips. Eden always asked him this, because he cared about the elf more then anything else in this world. Eden sent a smile, showing off the beautiful light it radiated.

They walked into the grocery store, Eden going and grabbing a basket for the two.

"I'm going to get the chocolate milk, okay?" Eden said, making Dawn nod happily, going down the candy isle.

He scanned over the many choices, his eyes latched on to the candy that was on the top shelf, without Eden's six foot two stature, he knew his own five foot three self was not going to reach, but damn if he didn't try.He stood up on his tippy toes, his shirt rising to reveal his tummy and he stuck his tongue out in concentration, a small whine leaving his mouth.

The little elf felt a presence behind him, and a larger shadow swallowed his. The sound of a faint tongue-like clicking sound came from behind. A hard chest brushed up against his back and he saw an arm reach out like it was nothing and grabbed the candy. When he turned to look at who it was he was greeted with a taller male with light brown hair and green eyes. His pupils were slit in half like a boa constrictor.

The mysterious guy handed him the candy, the tongue clicking sound resurfaced again. This time he realized the male's throat was making it.

Dawn gladly accepted the bag, a blush covering his cheeks from the hot stranger being so close to him and feeling the tone chest didn't help him either."O- Oh, t- thank you." He said, biting the inside of his cheek and ducking his head.

"S-s-sure," he hissed, a long snake like tongue slithered out his mouth. He immediately gritted his teeth, "Dammit," he grunted.

"You're welcome," he said and stalked off, the hissing growing distant as the male walked down another aisle.

Dawn watched the male leave. Eden soon came over, a pint of chocolate milk in the basket. He smiled widely at Dawn, noticing the bag in his hand. He held the basket out, allowing Dawn to drop it in.

"How did you reach that, it was on the top shelf?"

Dawn smiled, "s- someone he- helped."

Eden raised a brow, but didn't question anymore as they both went to a new aisle, searching for apple juice, Dawn's favorite drink.

Another male was standing in front of the juices. He had a black surgical mask on.  

"What the hell man..." the guy sighed his voice dull, almost lifeless. He seemed to be searching for a specific juice.

Dawn watched for a moment, before speaking, "e- excu- se me, s- sir." He spoke, softly.

The male immediately turned to Dawn, he stepped out of the way. "My apologies..." he trailed off. He wandered a few paces to the left and grabbed a bottle of cherry grape juice.

"Cool," he said without any personality. The guy's voice reminded him of Eeyore, minus the drawn out sentences.

That's when that throaty clicking sound got closer. The same male from the opposite aisle walked up beside the one with the surgical mask.

"Come on, I'm hungry," he said, nudging the other.

"Don't rush me," the one in the mask sighed.

Dawn watched, his eyes opening wider, showing off more of his pale blue eyes.

Eden noticed, "Don't stare, they might not see it as the compliment you intend it to be."

Dawn nodded his head, reluctantly looking away from the two males and back at Eden.

Eden held a soft gentle smile, "Now come on, let's go check out."Dawn nodded, following Eden, "Wha- What kind are- are they?" He asked.

Eden shrugged, "I know one was a snake, but the other I couldn't see well."

Dawn nodded, biting the inside of his cheek.

The other males watched Dawn and Eden walk up to the check up line. The one with the surgical mask heard, so he hung back. His friend however, with features and personality of a snake had poor hearing.

He glared at the guy with the surgical mask, "What?" he hissed.

"Just hang back, snake brain."

Dawn glanced back at where he last saw the two, before looking back at Eden, "t - they we - were cute."Eden chuckled at the statement, "Indeed they were." He said, handing the lady the money for the items.

She handed him his change, Dawn watching with big eyes, like always.

Eden grabbed the bags, holding his free hand out. Dawn happily locked their hands together, following him out the store.

Upon watching the two walk out hand in hand. The two males walked up to the counter. Laying the items on the counter, the cashier lady reeled back upon seeing the one in the mask.

"Are you okay son?" she asked, scanning the items.

"He's good he just has a bad cough and doesn't want to give it to anyone," the taller male said.

"Oh well I hope you feel better," the woman smiled.

The male with the surgical mask owned the name, Hawke. Only he didn't wear the mask because a bad cough, although behind the mask held a sinister trait. Being a gorgon and the offspring of Medusa certainly was a curse. The phrases "If looks cold kill," and "Killer smile," followed him everywhere he went. After his mom died, he was left with his father. The man who feared nothing, after all he was married to a woman with snakes for hair and a face that could turn anyone to stone. Blinded by her impeccable beauty saved him from perishing, while his wide eyed son Hawke was a different story.

A day spent playing in the garden, the father in fear his son would never smile was attempting to get the small boy to laugh. A raindrop fell onto the man's forehead causing him to make a scrunched up face.

"Yuck," he chuckled at his little son.

"Yuck!" the small child repeated excitedly, a wide smile appearing on his face. Only seconds later, before the little boy's eyes his father turned to stone. In fear, he screamed...causing the stone figure to break in a zillion pieces. Luckily an orphan was nearby who heard the sobs that came from the garden. The orphan boy followed the loud sounds and saw a younger boy crying over a pile of pebbles.

"What's the matter?" the orphan asked, a throaty click sounding as he spoke.

The smaller boy pointed at the pebbles, "Where daddy go?" he cried.

That moment forward the two boys had each other. Growing up wasn't exactly easy but everywhere Hawke went, the orphan followed. After getting kicked out the group home at 16, the orphan turned to Hawke.

"I don't know what to do," the orphan hissed, his snake like tongue slithering out.

"I have to go..."

"No you don't Rhett," Hawke said.

"I'm not ruining your shot at having a good life," Rhett sighed.

"That couple doesn't want me..." he hissed again, the clicking sound got louder as he got more agitated.

He took a deep breath and looked at his best friend.

"You're perfect for them... and they really liked you. While they were trash talking me from how I looked, they were rambling on about how much you reminded them of their son who died years ago," he continued.

"I can't see a happy life without you, besides what if they get me to smile... they'll..." Hawke trailed off.

Rhett pulled him into a tight hug, "I'll visit you as much as I can..."

"But after I bit that blonde boy last week and he fell over foaming out the mouth, I've been on bad terms with Terri..."

"That wasn't your fault though..." Hawke whispered. Hawke got closer to Rhett, he cupped his face.

At the ages of 14 and 16 the pair shared their first kiss. Pulling back, Hawke couldn't help but smile. He immediately realized what he did and got so terrified he'd lose Rhett too. Due to his snake like features, he didn't turn to stone.