Trystan gazed restlessly into the blackness as it caught in an endless sigh of breath, and like the waves, silently crashed against the cold glass. The prison it encased seemed lifeless. A spaceship; slowly cutting through stars. The youth pressed his cheek against the glass, feeling the chill on his skin. In space, everything is black and white. There are no grey tones. Yet there are stars� light amongst the darkness.

Suddenly, Trystan was on his feet. His training allowed him to react to the approaching threat before his mind even registered the intruder. But, he was soon reminded that he himself was the intruder in this situation.

�Boy! You damn know you�re not meant to be here!� A voice the youth knew all too well echoed through the colony; yet still Trystan dared to hesitate. The older soldier was stood a short distance away now with crossed his arms, eyeing him. He was clothed in dark red armour, and his face still half in shadow. His stance echoed his broad build, but average height.

�Maybe I didn�t make myself clear enough?� There was a quiet glee to his voice, and Trystan had no doubt that the commanding officer was excited to find him off limits.

Trystan echoed the stance of the older soldier, crossing his own arms defiantly. He knew he had grown far taller in the months he had been away, and in terms of build, his muscles were now deceivingly lean but well trained. Physically, at least, they had become more of a match. He raised his chin, and his unusual black eyes didn�t waver. �Lilias�has the Lord finally demoted your duties to the lowly task of baby-sitting?� He taunted his superior, his voice laced with youthful arrogance.

�Watch your tongue, boy.� Lilias snarled. �I have better things than keep kids in check. Especially those who foolishly act above their rank.� He paused. �...What the hell is that on your face?�

�It�s kohl.�

�Make-up?�

�Eyeliner, yes.�

Lilias gave an irritated snort. �Where�s the rest of your pack?�

�Could be anywhere.� Trystan snipped. �Where�s yours today?�

�I�d be careful. What could happen to one of your precious siblings, if I should come across one before I find you�� He watched with faint amusement as the youth�s eyes widened. His words hadn�t extinguished that fire in the boy�s eyes, but made them burn with further hatred. But with that, fear and compassion. Lilias snorted. Compassion had no place amongst the army�s ranks. �Your emotions make you easy prey. Get the hell out of my sight, boy.�

Trystan fought with his own self for a moment, even if it was a moment too long. He drew his blackened gaze back to his superior, growling from his canines. �Stay away from them.� He bit out in a reckless stream of words. The guilt of his outburst soon hit him, but he was enraged now. The blood seemed to pound slowly in his ears.

�You�re in no position to bargain for lives.� Lilias snarled. His annoyance was growing with this defiant youth. �Your behaviour is very unbecoming to our cause. If you no longer possess the correct disposition, then maybe you might find you outgrow your usefulness� Just like your parents.�

The boy�s eyes widened further, and Lilias could not decipher what he saw in the boy�s eyes, neither did he care. Trystan found that he was carried by his tired limbs, as he began to advance.

Lilias raised an eyebrow, smiling. He suddenly grasped a handful of Trystan�s long hair. The boy struggled, but just enough to raise his chin higher. �Give me any reason, and you�re mine boy.� Lilias leaned closer to Trystan�s ear and tugged his hair. �Maybe I should cut this off already�?�

A smile. �I�m flattered you think so highly of me, sir.� Trystan bit softly.

The light in the room suddenly dimmed. Someone was now blocking the doorway.

�Trystan� get out of here.�

A smooth voice rang through the room. Another young man stepped into the heavy conversation. Cadell was taller than the first youth, his shoulders broad. His eyes were cast in an eerie blue colour that always could be mistaken for grey in the conditions of the spaceship. Fine but thick strands of blue-purple hair cascaded to his waist. He held his chin steady, taking in the situation.

He turned to glare at his younger brother again. �Trystan. I told you to leave.� He hissed.

�What misguided level is your mind working on today?� Lilias drawled. �You expect that�� An elegant but knarred finger pointed in Trystan�s direction. ��to follow your orders, when it challenges mine? Or do you fancy yourself at a higher station?�

Cadell�s eyes flickered back to meet Lilias, too see the older soldier arch his eyebrow at him. �I see you�ve been released from your higher responsibilities, sir. � Cadell bit the title out with obvious distaste. �But I assure you, I can keep my section in check.� He swung his gaze back to Trystan, and tried to calm the inner rage inside of him. He narrowed his eyes, hoping his younger brother would take his leave while he had the chance. Trystan�s eyes mirrored his own, and he stood his ground. He fleetingly noticed Trystan was wearing that dark eyeliner still. Was he trying to make paint his defiance on himself to a greater extent than his behaviour already presented?

�Ah� Of course.� Lilias. �No doubt our Lord has great expectations of your legendary abilities.� The man�s smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. �After all, he had high hopes for his pet experiments.�

�I hope our actions please our Lord.� Cadell said mechanically. �We exist to serve the empire.� He was silent, and his hand crossed over his chest, his fingers parted at the inked symbol on his inner wrist. He waited, and Trystan reluctantly carried out the vital motion, mirroring Cadell.

�We exist to serve the empire.� Trystan�s voice sounded. He resisted the urge to clench his eyes shut tightly. Instead, he stared blankly at the grey smooth walls. He felt in expectance, rather than watched Lilias return the gesture.

Would the soldier accept the pretence? But they knew he had no choice.

�The empire.� Lilias gruffly agreed. He paused, before stepping forward, eyeing Trystan with distaste, but focussing on Cadell. �I don�t have to remind you to keep your damn golden hides out of my sectors. Your fortunate position is nothing more than a design.� His voice was a rasped whisper.

Cadell�s young nineteen years seemed to double each time he raised his head a little higher. �Sir .� He turned on his heel, waiting. He didn�t look at his brother, but through the corner of his eye, he dared his sibling to not follow. He strode away and Trystan followed at his heels.

The corridors became lighter, and the air they breathed seemed to be fresher than the musky scent of the disused sectors. Cadell walked silently, his strides were confident and purposeful, his gaze directed forwards. Trystan followed silently, only pausing beside when they came to an elevator to carry them between sectors.

Trystan swept in first, and gracefully hopped back onto the handrail inside. The light shone behind the lean youth, so the edges of his being glowed softly. He leaned back against the glass playfully, his long black hair cascading down behind him. He shifted one of his black boots to rest on the rail, and pointed downwards with his hand.

�Going down?� He purred, arching an eyebrow.

Cadell stepped inside, selecting their floor. Trystan glanced at his brother�s face as they descended into the lower floors of the ship. He could see no decipherable emotion in his closed face.

�I don�t suppose I could ask what the hell you were doing there? � Cadell finally bit out.

Trystan clenched his teeth together. �I was� I had to see it.� He answered reluctantly.

�Reminiscing?� Cadell sighed with exasperation. �Leave the past in the past. It�s as dead as the air up there.� He commented with distaste.

Trystan tilted his head to the side a little. Cadell glanced to watch, frowning a little at the immature behaviour. �I guessed you wouldn�t understand such a delicate excursion, judging by your robotic emotions.� His younger brother quipped. It was a playful statement, but questioning.

�The excursion itself was pure stupidity.� Cadell snapped with authority. �Even your limited experience of stealth should have told you that one of them would have been lurking around up there. Especially him.� He bit out. �And especially as I can�t trust you to at least fake respect for his hide, before he skins yours!�

Trystan froze. �He threatened the others! Did you not hear him? Would you have walked away?� He cried childishly.

For all we know, the insults may be accurate. But Cadell didn�t say this out loud. This wasn�t the time to be fighting ghosts.

Cadell sighed as they entered their chambers, his brother still trailing. He crossed the room, sinking into a chair, willing his tense muscles to recline with him. �Of course he did. And do you know why? Because he knows he can dig his claws into you with it. When will you learn to close yourself off from that?�

Trystan still didn�t sit. He glared down at the other man, before tugging off his shirt. �You mean, become an ice queen like yourself? How thrilling. If you showed a little bit more emotion, I�m sure you wouldn�t melt.�

Ghosts? No, not when you can argue with your own flesh.

Trystan received no audible response from Cadell. It infuriated him how hard it was to provoke him some days. Trystan�s eyes rested on the small black pendant hung around Cadell�s neck. The leather thong that suspended it moved slowly against his throat as he breathed. He made a reach for his older brother�s neck, but his hand was grasped by the wrist immediately. Trystan smirked, wrestling his hand away and moving backwards. �See? You do have some sentimentality in there somewhere.�

Cadell�s hand curled around the locket. The brother�s eyes met, and despite themselves, silent affection was passed across the cold room. �I didn�t say you had to be heartless. You just need to learn to� control certain qualities.� Cadell said quietly.

A smile tugged at the corner of Trystan�s lips. He walked across the room into a nearby door. �And with those sentiments, I�m going out.� He projected.

Cadell felt it appropriate to muster the energy to raise his gaze again. �Stay out of damn trouble.� He growled. �I�m not chasing after you again tonight.�

�Did I ask you to chase me?� Came the quick and sharp reply. A pause. �Cadell, I say this because I care. You need to get laid� badly.�

��.�

Cadell was reluctant to give his younger brother a retort to grasp on to. �When you�re finished psycho-analysing me, I need you to find the others.�

A snort came from beyond the room �Fine.�

Minutes passed, then longer. Cadell looked up again. �I thought you were going out?� He called.

�I�m making myself pretty.�

Finally, Trystan emerged. He looked at Cadell, serious for a moment. He knew the questioning in his brother�s eyes. A great understanding passed between them, and both brothers remained silent.

�I�ll find them.� Trystan promised, before taking his leave. �Let the hunt begin.�

@~>~