Vin pulled his horse to a stop outside the thatched cottage. He petted the white mare's neck and slid off of her back.
JD had sent him here. The youngest member of the Core had pin-pointed the emotional disturbance and had gotten Chris and Buck to send Vin here.
It had taken the mages nearly five hours to cast the spell that would send Vin across the rifts into this place, even buoyed up by Nathan and Josiah's elemental magics. Their missing member had gone so far out, that Vin was surprised when JD's empathy had tracked him down.
But he had, and Vin was here now. A quick 'persuade' of a villager to lend him a horse -- and here he was.
Mind focused on his quarry, Vin wasn't paying attention to where he was going. The sudden violent roar was his first clue that he'd trod on Ace's tail.
"Sorry, Ace," he placated, rubbing the offended appendage and pouring healing into it as the dragon looked at him with affronted eyes.
"Enough," Vin chuckled. "You're just like your master."
The dragon's large forked tongue stroked Vin's cheek and he laughed. "Where is Ezra, anyway?" As the dragon's eyes flicked toward the shack's door, Vin sighed. "I figured."
He walked over to the shack and knocked smartly. "Ez?"
A bolt of flame shot through one of the windows; a bolt of ice shot through the other.
Vin just looked at the twin attack. "Nice," he said when they'd passed. "But if you really wanted to hit me, you would've."
"Do not tempt me," came the growl from inside.
"I'm comin' in. We need to talk."
A pause, then a resigned sigh. "You can come in, but there's nothing to talk about."
Vin walked into the small cabin, his senses immediately assaulted by the scent of ale, the whang of sweat and the grit of an unwashed body. And overlaying it all, lay the overpowering stench of hopeless despair. "Aw, Ezra...."
"What?" He tilted the mug and drained it. "They send you to drag my sorry hide back? One half-blood to get another?"
"I volunteered," Vin said, sitting down and pouring himself a glass of ale. "Look at you, Ez. Ain't you had a meal that don't come outta a flask?"
"What's the point?" he sighed, pouring another glass. "What's the point of anything?"
Which would explain why he's not shaved or bathed, Vin sighed mentally. "What d'you mean?"
"So you can use your persuasion ability to get me to return? I hardly think so." He sighed again. "You've got Josiah. You've got Nathan. You don't need another elemental."
"You're also a thief and a Concealer," Vin pointed out. "Like I'm a persuader as well as a wolf-human."
"Like I said, you and I are half-breeds," he nodded. Then he looked into his glass and said very softly, "It's my being a thief that's put me in this position."
"You feel all alone," Vin said softly. "And the world has turned its back on you." At Ezra's nod, he asked, "Then why would the other five pool their powers to get me to your side?"
Ezra shook his head. "Guilt on Chris's part, I assume."
Vin sighed. "He's sorry for what he said. His mouth gets to flyin' before his brain gets notched. We're not a team -- not the Core -- without you, Ezra."
"Suppose I do come back?" Ezra shot back. "How much more verbal and emotional abuse at Chris and Nathan's hands am I gonna have to take?" His emerald eyes were blazing red and blue, the colours of the forces he manipulated. "I am trying, Vin! But with Chris and Nathan, nothing is ever good enough! I keep having to prove myself over and over and over!" He slammed his hands down on the table, his wrists glowing red and blue. "I am so sick of proving myself to Chris and Nathan!"
Worlds away, JD opened his eyes and glared at Chris and Nathan. "So that's what the trouble is!"
"What?" Chris asked.
JD stood, motioning them both to sit down. "We've got to have a talk. All of us."
"We'll work on Chris and Nathan," Vin vowed.
"Will it be enough?" Ezra sighed.
"If not, don't run again," Vin asked, standing up. "That don't solve anything -- let me be the one you call." At Ezra's frown, he lay a hand on his shoulder. "You're not alone."
Ezra looked at him for a long moment, his face absolutely unreadable. Then he said softly, "I'll return with you."
"And I'll stay by your side," Vin vowed.
Ezra nodded and they left the cabin with their heads high.
The Core still had much to work through, but they were still Seven strong.
Below are the lyrics I was sent to base this story on. Many thanks to the listmember who sent them, and my apologies for forgetting your name! -- Enola Jones
CRASH AND BURN
by Savage Garden
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door
And you feel like you can't take anymore
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one-way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face the day
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Because there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
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