*All characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 12

Fitting In

 

                "Nothing left to hold me back...I don't take orders anymore.  I'm free to make my own choices now...meet people, see things, live with others like myself.  I understand how wonderful it is, but why do I feel so miserable?"  Griffin gazed in the direction his old home was, "I grew up there...all I've ever known was in that little compound...I had everything I ever wanted..."  He sighed.  He was leaving, and didn't like it.  His father, although sometimes cruel, had been fair...understanding even.  He felt like he was abandoning his family, his friends, "But I never made any REAL friends back there...Johnny, Poseidon, and James here were the first ones to listen to me.  They didn't make me follow some set of rules..."  He appreciated it, but was sure he wouldn't fit in when they landed.  So what if he looked like everyone else?  They'd shun him for sure...

 

                "Come on...more power.  I need more power!"  Beremin scrambled around his makeshift lab.  His three experiments were on the brink of failure...they just needed a better power supply!.."There."  He rigged up another generator.  Maybe THAT would help.  Meanwhile..."Come on...answer the signal...PICK UP, DAMN YOU!!!!!!!!"

                The voice on the other end was laughing, "What is it?"  He managed after calming down.

                "There's been a serious setback in plans."

                "Meaning?"

                "I need more funding.  The compound was destroyed recently.  I don't have the funding to use enough power on all three of my experiments."

                "Three?  We agreed on you making a stronger James Elias, and experiments with that small anthro, but what's the third?  Did Griffin fail again?"

                "No, he ran off with the other subjects!  I need more funding!  Griffin should be on his way to your island now, but I have no way of controling him."

                "So you've failed.  Is that it?"

                "Enough that I need to start over, yes.  Will you help?"

                "...you've been failing me for YEARS now, you realize.  I don't exactly have unlimited resources."

                "You've got the most I've ever seen."

                "But I can't keep paying for failed projects!  I'll send one more payment over.  Use it to find another method of income, or you won't be seeing my gold ever again!  Understood?!"

                "Yes."

 

                "So...who's this?"  Kia asked when she saw the stranger with them.

                Pik's reaction was just a LITTLE different, "DON?!!!!!!!  WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!"

                Griffin laughed a little.  James was right..."My name's Griffin...eh...I'm not from around here..."

                Kia ignored Pik, "Griffin...you're cute."

                "What the--hey!"  Pik rounded on them.

                Kia laughed and hugged Pik close.

                Cute?  She thought he was cute?  Griffin felt himself blushing a little, "She thinks I'm cute...maybe it's not going to be as bad as I thought..."  He looked around, "Uh...wasn't there supposed to be another guy?"

                James walked in, shrugging.  He pocketed a small syringe, "Eh, he's probably at his mom's place.  He visits her a lot."

                "Talking about me, then?" A newcomer asked with his head inside.

                "Griffin, that's Ace."  James told him, then left.

                Ace walked in, "Who are you?"

                "My name's Griffin."

                "Huh...you know, you look a LOT like Don."

                "Yeah, I know."  Griffin smiled.

                Ace held out a hand, "Ace Jackson."  Griffin took it, held it firmly while they shook.  A bit too much maybe...Ace winced and held his hand the moment it was free, "You've got quite a grip, Griffin."  He rubbed his hand to ease the sore feeling.

                Griffin rolled his eyes, "Sorry about that.  Father always said to give a firm handshake...I didn't mean to hurt you or anything."

                Kia laughed, "Ace needs to work out a bit more anyway...so, where're you from?"

                "Oh!..eh...out of town?.."  He said, smiling weakly.  They wanted a better answer than that!.."Eh...well, I--"

                "Where'd you come from?  It couldn't have been off the island!"  Griffin jerked.  Kia noticed, "Did you?.."

                "...yeah."

 

                "Oh!!!!  He's HANDSOME!!!"  She hadn't meant to peek through the door...it had been open a crack, and she'd been coming by to talk with Kia...and, well, she HAD come to try to catch James without his shirt on at LEAST...this made up for it..."I think I'll introduce myself..."  She knocked on the door, hitting it softly so it wouldn't look like she'd just been spying.

                Kia answered the door.  It was HER apartment, after all, "Hello?"

                "Kia!  I thought we were supposed to go shopping right now!"  She smiled, "But if you have company..."

                "Oh, that's alright, come on in."

                She walked in, feeling slightly giddy at being so close to this newcomer.  Kia introduced her, "Griffin, this is Julie..."

                The horned gryphon smiled, shy, "It's...it's a pleasure to meet you, Griffin."  Well, of course!  With a body like that...

                Griffin seemed a little puzzled, but replied, "The pleasure's all mine..."  He glanced back and forth between her and Kia, then, surprise of surprises, started BLUSHING!!!!.."I...eh..."

                "Oh!!!!  That's so sweet!!!"  She rushed up and hugged him tight before he could get away.

 

                "Get her off!!!!  GET HER OFF!!!!!!!!!!!"  Griffin wanted to shout, but he'd suddenly been robbed of speech.  He began blushing so much that his neck was reddening, along with his face!

                Kia, thank GOD, could tell how nervous he was, "Julie?..Julie, I think you're scaring him..."

                Julie squeezed a little tighter.

                Kia sighed, "Sorry.  She's not letting go.  The last time she hugged like that a crowbar didn't stop her!  James hid from her for a MONTH afterwards!"

                "Where did he hide, anyway?"  Julie suddenly asked, her face half buried in Griffin's chest and a contented smile on her face.

                Kia chuckled, "You know I'm not telling.  Could you let Griffin go?  The poor guy doesn't know what to do!"

                "He could return the hug if he wanted..."  She said, softly.  Griffin had no doubt she'd wanted only him to hear it.

                "Am I supposed to or something?  I've never BEEN with anyone like myself before!  How'm I supposed to act?!!  I hope I'm doing the right thing!.."  He CAREFULLY returned the hug.  It was beyond him if this was a good idea, but he hoped she would let go so he could stop blushing!  Hugging her only seemed to make it worse!  After another long minute, Julie let go, sighing happily.  Griffin took his chance and ran to another room, locking the door.  He put his head by the door and listened to whatever else was being said.

                It was Julie right then, "I did NOT make James hide for a whole month afterwards!  What about all those rehersals I went to?  He was there with the rest of you, playing his guitar!"

                Kia laughed, "BECAUSE he enjoys playing his music so much that almost nothing'll stop him!  Besides, he was always the first one gone after rehersal whenever you were there."

                "That's beside the point...Griffin is CUTE.  I hope he comes out soon..."

                Griffin's eyes widened in alarm.  Face her again?!  BLUSH like THAT again?!  They'd laugh!  EVERYONE!.."Maybe I should just live in this room...keep it locked, use the window to get in and out."  If it meant he didn't have to face her again, he'd go for it!  He'd wait as long as he had to for her to leave.

                There was a knock on the door, "Griffin?"  The voice sounded muffled...whoever was talking was trying to keep quiet.  It was Pik...

                Griffin decided to answer, "Yeah?"

                "Are you coming out?"

                "Is she gone?"

                "No...nevermind.  I remember how James acted.  I get it."

                Griffin sat back, relieved.  Maybe they'd try to get her gone faster...

 

                "Really, Julie...did you want to go shopping or not?"

                Julie glanced at the door Griffin had fled through.

                Pik decided to help things along, "Kia, we ARE running out of diapers for Ralf.  How about the two of you run down to the store and DO your shopping?  I think I can run things around here."

                Kia nodded, and began gently shoving Julie out the door.

                Julie persisted though, "Tell him I said good bye?.."

                "Sure."  Pik smiled, and the instant they were out, closed the door.  He waited a minute or two, then, when he felt things were safe enough, "You can come out now, Griffin."

                There was a soft click, then the door creaked open EVER so slightly, "She's gone?.."

                Ace called form another room, "Yeah, she's gone."

                Griffin sagged with relief and came out, "That's never happened to me before!  I didn't know what to do, how to react...nothing!"

                Ace walked in, smiling, "Then you probably shouldn't have hugged her.  She took it as encouragement, mark my words."

                "Huh?"

                "I'd keep quiet about where you live, Griffin.  She's going to start looking for you now."

                "Oh...I don't have a home just yet..."

                "Well, I think we can help you find one...as for a job though...well, there's bound to be something for you!"

                "A job?..I've never had a job before...I've never been on this ISLAND before!  I--"  He was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

                "Hey, Griffin, it's me!"  Don's voice called through the door, "Ready to go?  I know a place you can crash for a while!"

                Griffin headed for the door and practically dragged Poseidon along with him to leave.