Six Of One

Six Of One

Disclaimer: Hazel and Dryden belong to me.

Synopsis: The follow up to Once Bitten, Twice Shy. The heroes are inexplicably changed into humans. Looks like Hazel will have to teach each of them how to behave like one… Any music or lyrics featured belong to their respective companies and no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter One-Blinded By The Light

A brunette raised her face from the floor. Shivers ran up her spine. Where was she? She didn’t know. And at the moment, she didn’t care. The time she had been here hadn’t flickered in her mind either. She was more concerned with where her friends were. They hadn’t left her, had they? She had just enough strength to push her body from the cold, metal surface, and onto her knees. She could see again…how was not yet known.

‘Hey there, Hazel, little sleepy head…’ a masculine voice came to her ears. It was not familiar. It wasn’t Kadinsky’s either. As her eyes traced the floor, they came upwards to the figure in front of her. Black trench boots, ruddy jeans with a black back, upwards still, to a black t-shirt, and over it, a cherry-red open shirt with little black buttons. Her green-brown eyes moving up to his face, she saw those ice blue eyes through his long fringe. The rest of his collar-length hair swathed around his face, framing it and highlighting those starry eyes even more. They followed her frame, something she found a little uncomfortable and confusing. The light pink flushing into her cheeks didn’t agree with those other thoughts.

‘W-who?’ The shiver running down her spine attached itself to her voice like a Facehugger to another life form.

‘Thought you might ask,’ his smile seemed friendly enough, and offering a hand was pleasant enough. She gratefully took it, and brushed herself down.

‘So?’ she said.

‘Gweh?’ he seemed awfully confused.

‘Who are you?’

‘Oh!’ He smacked his forehead with his palm. ‘I don’t have a name.’

She leaned on her hip and raised an eyebrow. This was unbelievable. ‘Don’t play games with me. Now who are you?’

A sweat broke out on his face. Her posture, that attitude. ‘Erm, I was, er, the little Praetorian ‘hugger on your forearm, Hazel.’ He bit his tongue and gave her a gooey look.

Now it was her turn. ‘Gweh?’

‘I took Kadinsky, as you asked, yeah? Then he went splat and I grew into a Praetorian. Something turned me human,’ he explained, afterwards sticking his tongue out like a little boy.

‘Aw, cute,’ she grinned, finally believing him. She gave him a little pat on the head and felt his hair. ‘So soft…’

‘Keep petting me like that and I soon won’t be,’ he gave her a wily grin. She pulled away immediately.

‘Ew.’

‘Just kidding. Let’s find the others!’ He dramatically pointed a finger towards the exit. ‘To the end of time!’

‘What…are you on about?’ She was lost for so many words that an explanation would be pointless.

‘I’m a Runner Praetorian…work with me,’ he whispered to her, then returned to his awesome act. ‘Let us go forth into the unknown!’

They came downstairs, and scanned the entire room for any signs of life. But there was nothing. The others had…vanished.

‘So…what should I call you?’ Hazel enquired suddenly. He cupped his chin and leant in a thoughtful pose.

‘You pick, miss,’ he smirked.

‘Hmm…’ she thought for a while. Then the perfect name hit her. ‘I’ll call you Dryden.’

‘Whys?’

‘It’s my favourite name…’ For this comment, she received a little nuzzle and purr. ‘Heh, you’re going to have to get used to being a bloke.’

‘Fine with me…if you’re my teacher…’ His taunts were going to make this trip stranger than previously thought.

‘Alright, let’s get going,’ she said, moving out of the centre.

‘ROAD TRIP!’ he roared.

It looked like this was going to be a long voyage indeed…

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Author’s Note: Hope you like this chapter. I think Dryden’s awesome, but I’ll leave it to you to comment. Please review. I’d love to hear what you think of this.