A\N: Yay, joy, another chapter. I usually don't write author's notes, but I did this time just to inform you of an important update. This is the last chapter to be archived on . No, Nycticorax's Flight won't be killed. Rather, the version will die, but the story will live on at my homepage, which can be reached from my profile. All future chapters will go to that archive. Yes, well, now enjoy!

At first, the sudden attack shook Roc right to his bones, and he sat transfixed as Xyme pulled him closer. A nice, tingling warmth ran through him, however, and he soon gave in eagerly. Within seconds Xyme had pinned Roc to the side of the bunk. Not that Roc cared. Xyme chuckled to himself when the Roc began to accept the kisses enthusiastically. It felt good; so good, in fact, that both prayed desperately that it wouldn't end soon…

"Hey, Xyme. I need to talk to you…"

The door suddenly slid open, interrupting them. Instinctively Roc immediately broke the deep embrace and thrust Xyme away. Dias walked in and stopped. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of the strange kid locked in the arms of her partner. The red eyes glittered brightly, though the rest of Xyme remained calm. Roc had begun to blush furiously. The two stared blankly at the intruder. Dias gaped back. Finally she spoke with a hint of amusement, "I'm thinking I shouldn't ask, huh?"

The spots of red colouring Roc's cheeks intensified in hue. Noticing this, Xyme gave a short laugh. "Would you, Dias?" he requested. Drawing Roc closer to him, he propped his chin down on the top of Roc's head. Roc's face was now shimmering with a bright red glow. "So, what did you want?"

"Well, it seems like Sky Lark is searching Tristan once again. The last time we were both lucky: this time, there's no guarantee that it'll happen again." Dias flipped her hair and continued, "We should leave immediately, maybe to Eirene. I heard Sky Lark doesn't bother with that place very much."

Xyme turned his attention to Roc. Deep in consideration, he stared thoughtfully at him for a full minute. Roc began to squirm during this time. So much attention (especially this type of attention) in a short amount of time was something he wasn't accustomed to. Dias waited patiently for her superior's decision. Xyme sighed. "Alright, then. We'll leave Tristan, but not to Eirene. Momus."

Dias staggered at this, as if the words had slapped her literally. She blinked. "Momus?" she repeated skeptically. "Momus?! Xyme, are you out of your mind?!" She raised her hands in the air and turned around. Roc and Xyme watched on. "Please don't tell me Maice's visits got to your head. Really, Xyme: Momus." Facing the two once again, Dias glared almost threateningly at Xyme, who stared back with a slight smile. "That place is literally crawling with those Sky Lark creeps, and you want to go THERE?"

"Yes, but I have a reason."

For the second time that day the two were deeply engaged in a conversation that Roc had no part in. Neither side seemed to be asking him for his opinion, or encouraging him to participate in the debate. Not that was a bad thing: had they asked him, not only would Roc have no idea what to say, he would refuse to even remotely stick his nose in their business. The idea that they were leaving him out, however good a reason for their intent, made him feel useless again. He struggled to stand up, but Xyme held him down firmly, informing Roc of his desire for him to stay. Roc looked on helplessly.

"Okay, fine. What is it? You have a death wish already?" Dias snorted. "Honestly, Xyme. You'd think the last thing anyone with a history like yours would do is fly right into the nest of the one gang that wants them dead."

"You forgot Fenrir."

"Look, pal: I don't care how many gangs are after your hide. We are not going to Momus, where Gary awaits you with open claws or whatever."

"Yes we are, Dias." The tone in Xyme's voice was firm, stating plainly that, no matter what, Dias wasn't going to change his mind. Dias sighed.

"Okay, fine. Fine. Just… tell me why, Xyme."

"Gary wouldn't expect me to fly to Momus instead of somewhere safe, like Eirene. And anyway, he can't catch me that easily," he explained. Roc smiled to himself. He's so confident of himself. He snuggled into Xyme affectionately. He was, however, thrown off completely when Xyme spoke up again: "Plus, I think Roc should be getting his ship back."

Both Dias and Roc stared at him with a mixture of admiration and disbelief. At that moment, Roc loved Xyme even more than before. Dias blinked a couple dozen times. "WHAT?!" she practically screeched, "You're tellin' me you're going all the way to that haven of - of - of goddamn bastards just for the kid's ship?!" She groaned and clutched her head dramatically. Roc could help but sense that her overreaction was nothing more than a show for their enjoyment. Mumbling about the stupidity of it all, Dias stumbled out of the room, waving her hand absentmindedly with the occasional, "Okay, okay."

When Dias had left them to start the ship, Roc looked up at Xyme. "…Really?" he asked quietly. Xyme lowered his head so that his red eyes met with Roc's gray ones.

"Hmm?"

"You're really going to Momus for me?"

"You're damn right." Xyme kissed the top of Roc's head. Locks of his golden hair gingerly tickled his nose and cheeks as he did so. "It's kinda my fault that your ship got stolen: if I had never convinced you to come with me, this probably could've been avoided. So," he sighed, running the back of his hand against Roc's face, "we'll get your ship back for you."

At this, Roc threw his arms around Xyme's neck. The act almost succeeded in knocking the larger man to the ground. Burying his face into Xyme, Roc laughed. "Thank you, Xyme."

As the faint humming sound grew louder, the Wyvern slowly came alive, awaking after a few days' worth of slumbers. Roc stood behind the two pilots, watching with amazement at how quickly the pair worked. Within minutes the ship was ready for take-off. Dias leaned back in her chair and cracked her fingers.

"So." She threw her head back grinning. "Just sit back, relax, and before you know it your ship will be safe and sound again. Oh, and, uh," here she sent a wink at Roc, "snacks cost extra."

Xyme smiled at Dias' joke. The back of Xyme's chair was gripped firmly as the Wyvern started to lift off the grounds of Tristan. The force of the ship's movements caused Roc to sway. Looking back, Xyme could see that Roc was leaning against his seat for support. "You should go get some rest, Roc," he advised. Roc smiled at this. "We'll be at Momus by the end of the day."

"Oh goody," Dias muttered.

Xyme chuckled. When they had cleared the atmosphere of Tristan, he handed the ship over to Dias. "C'mon." Roc's sleeve was grabbed tightly. Xyme proceeded to drag him to his quarters. As the door slid apart Xyme gave Roc a gentle push into the room and watched as he sat down on the bunk. "Sleep, old man," he teased. "You'll need it." A pillow thrown at him countered his remark.

Roc giggled at the sight of the pillow smacking him across the face. A screwed grin appeared on Xyme's face, making Roc laugh harder. "I'll come back in awhile." With the skills of an expert Roc caught the incoming pillow before it could hit him.

The thin mattress bounced slightly, stirring Roc awake. Groggily he lay there. What was going on? A pair of strong arms slid around his body, pulling him close. He could feel the breath of someone on his ear. Moving his head back a bit, he whispered uncertainly, "Xyme?"

A short, quiet laugh answered him. Roc smiled. He felt so much better knowing that whoever was with him in bed was at least someone he knew. "What, are you still not asleep yet, Roc?" Xyme demanded playfully. Roc turned over, so that he was facing Xyme.

"Good night to you, too."

"Oh great! Just what I wanted. We could've gone the other way, but noooo. We needed to take that short cut!"

Dias's complaint broke into the silence. Once again Roc was awakened. Blindly he hoisted himself up into a sitting position. He stared around, trying to make sense of the blurry images. Roc blinked a few times. He rubbed his eyes. The world suddenly seemed a whole lot clearer.

From the other side of the door Roc could hear Xyme's voice answering Dias, though he couldn't make out the words. Dias, on the other hand, he could hear perfectly: "I don't care if it only made the flight six hours shorter! If we had gone the other way, like I had wanted to, then I could've spent six more hours happy. Now, I have to start worrying 'bout you!" A groan finished the statement. Xyme spoke again. "Look! I don't frigging give a DAMN, Xyme. Just - just try not to lose an eye or something, that's all I'm saying."

The door opened again while Roc was still in the process of putting together Dias' words. He stared up at Xyme and murmured a greeting. Xyme plopped down beside Roc on the bed. He threw his hand around Roc's shoulders. An irritated frown came over Roc when Xyme ruffled his blonde hair affectionately, resulting in his bed-head hair style to become even messier. A small smile replaced the look, however, when Xyme pecked Roc on the cheek. "Good morning, young sir," Xyme chirped cheerfully.

"Did you guys have another fight again?" Roc asked shyly. Xyme nodded thoughtfully.

"Yup. We're on Momus. I've managed to make Dias promise that she'll watch over you - "

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're not going with me to get your ship back. I've talked about it to Dias already: you and her stay with the Wyvern. In three days you guys leave Momus and fly to Eirene, where you'll get your ship back." Xyme smiled in mock pride. "Brilliant, if I do say so myself."

Roc shook his head. "I'm going to have to agree with Dias on this one, Xyme. That's a really risky plan, and…"

Another kiss on his cheeks caused Roc to start blushing. Xyme nuzzled his nose against the soft skin of Roc's neck. "Shit, don't tell me you're actually worried 'bout little ol' me, Roc. I'll be fine." He pressed his forehead to Roc's and smiled in an assuring way. "I'll be fine," he repeated. "And anyway, you can't come with me."

Roc blinked. That was exactly what he had been thinking. "What?" he cried out in dismay. "But it's my ship - "

"But you're on my ship, and as captain and pilot, what I say goes." Xyme pressed a kiss onto Roc's lips. He held him in his arms for moments. Finally he broke away gently. The grey eyes reflected a silent plea. Xyme bent over and kissed Roc again.

"Shit, Roc."