Manny stood and stared up at the drop-dead gorgeous brunette standing behind the desk. If she hadn't of been standing, he probably wouldn't have seen her at all. Standing at just under four feet tall, the top of his head just came even with the top edge of the desk. He'd have to stand on tip-toes to see over it, and he hated doing that. Instead he cleared his throat, and saw the chick look up and glance around the reception area before giving a shrug and returning to whatever she was doing.

He gave a sigh and reached up and pounded on the desk, catching her attention. She looked surprized them grinned and leaned across the desk, looking down at him. He wished she'd lean out just a tad bit more... "Oh hi! Aren't you a cutie!? What can I do for you?"

Manny frowned, loosing all interest in the woman. He hated when they talked to him like he was some sort of doll or baby or something. "I'm here to see someone about a possible job." he said gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest and trying to look mean. In truth, it wasn't a look he could pull off very well with his golden curls and baby blue eyes.. and what everyone called his 'pinchably cute cheeks'. Which only made him try harder to perfect his glowers and glares.

The brunette smiled some more, managing to look a tad confused as she did so. "A job?" she asked. "As in, you're like to hire us or you'd like us to hire you?"

He gave a soft growl under his breath before answering. "I'd like to apply for a job." he stated. "I have my resume with me. Do you have applications? Or should I meet with someone?"

"Oh." she said and tapped a well chewed pen against her lips in a manner that him start to reconsider his dislike of her. "Well.. what can you do? I mean we just filled our secretarial staff and security is full as well... I don't think we need another janitor, although I can ask..."

A Janitor?!? Manny felt his face turning red. "Look here, chippee, I'm here to apply for the team of hunters. I have loads of experience with the paranormal and preternatural..." he let his voice trail off as he saw that glazed look come over her face, like she was trying not to laugh. "Look, lady. I'm gonna take a seat and you're going to call your boss, got it?"

She nodded, her lips pressed tightly together and pointed towards the chairs as if he couldn't already see them. With a disgusted sigh, he turned and headed towards the seating area. Half way there two guys came waltzing along and slammed into him, knocking him down.

"Oh, hey there little guy.. didn't see ya!" One said and leaned down to smile at him, a ridiculous looking stocking cap covered his head with a long pom pom covered tail that swung over his shoulder. Manny glowered up at the guy who was obviouly trying to hide the fact that he had something growing out of his head.. you could see the lump under the hat.

The muscle bound guy with him looked down and smirked, holding out a hand to Manny. Against his better judgement, Manny accepted the hand and was jerked literally off the floor and set back on his feet. "Sorry, mite. Didn't hurt you, did I?"

Manny growled under his breath. * mite?!?* He gritted his teeth and ground out a reply. "I'm fine, thanks."

"Reese! I didn' know ye had a kid!" A voice hollered out form behind him and Manny turned to see two more men coming out of the stair well. One had silver hair the other looked like some kind of biker cowboy wanna be... The silver hair was grinning. "'Ey, sorry..." he swung a punch at Muscle bounds arm as the two went past them laughing.

The brunette behind the desk leaned foward again. "Nate! Hey!"
The cowboybiker turned. "This guy wants to work with you guys.. got an application or something for him?"

Nate the biker-cowboy and Silver hair both turned to look down at him. Silver hair burst out laughing and slapped Nate's shoulder as he left the room. Nate tipped his hat, a huge grin splitting his face. "Well..er...'suppose ye should ask Kay on tha' one, Shauna.. she normally takes care o' tha' end.."

Manny was fuming so bad he was sure there would be smoke coming out of his ears. Was everyone in this place this rude? I mean, a guy gets tired of his current job and decides to try for something a bit different... and what happens? He gets ignored, babytalked to, tripped over, laughed at.. this was just too much.. did he really want this job bad enough to put up with these idiots?

More laughter form the hall that biker boy and silver hair had gone through did it. Manny gave an indignat and furious sniff, pushed up his sleeves and stalked towards the stairs. He'd made it all the way to the front doors when a sudden idea hit him. No one ever took him seriously. He hated being a cupid... you go around doing your job and you never got credit for it! But no one would give him a shot at being anything BUT a cupid. Fine. If that's how they wanted it, he was going to give them a cupid they would NEVER forget.

Manny turned back to the stairs and shimmered into invisibilty as he started to climb."You people are going to regret this."

The security guard looked up, glancing around the room for the source of the voice. Seeing no one he checked his cameras but none of them showed anyone in the area and there had been no unauthorized entries. He shrugged and went back to reading the newspaper.

**

Lex was looking over some things in a spare office just off the reception area, he'd been emersed in that, that he hadn't heard anything.

Until the soft cough of some one clearing their throat caused him to look up. Estehl was leaning against the door frame.

"What is it with fae sneaking up on people?" Lex asked, giving him a look.

"Well that wasn't exactly sneaking up on...if I wanted to sneak up on you Lexine, I would have." Estehl said with a chuckle.

"Looking for something?" Lex asked, sitting back in the chair.

"More like someONE." Estehl answered, before moving into the room and flopping down in the other chair. "But that can wait. I never pass up a chance for a good coversation." He said with a smirk.

Lex shook his head, bemused, before shutting the folder. "No, I don't know where Jasmine's been hiding the last couple of days. She was rather annoyed at you. And I doubt Faal would really tell you if he knows." Lex said with a pointed look.

"How do you know it has anything to DO with Jasmine?" Estehl asked.

"Then what is it you want to have a coversation about?" Lex aske with a look in reply.

Estehl gave an non chalant shrug, with a slight smirk. They were quiet a moment, then Estehl asked softly. "So you really DON'T have any idea...she's rather good at hiding isn't she?"

"I have an idea...but since Jasmine's a good friend...I'm not goign to say. You could always go pester Candy though." Lex replied, he'd gone back to his folder again.

Estehl chuckled, watching the red head a moment. He started to get up, when something hit him in the back of the head. He wasn't sure if it was physical or just a thought. But if it were a thought, it was a rather intense thought, and he dropped back down into the chair, suddenly seeing the devestatingly alluring redhead differently...

"Lexine, I feel I have to say something..." He said after a moment.

"Hmm?" Lex was running the end of his pen over his lips while he read. He had no idea how much THAT was driving Estehl suddenly crazy.

Estehl groaned softly, watching the action, then said. "You have the most amazing and beautiful eyes I've ever seen..."

Lex dropped his hand suddenly, looking up at Estehl slightly wide eyed. "Excuse me?" He asked in a near whisper.

"You're eyes, their gorgeous. Well, that's not all that's lovely about you..." Estehl replied a bit earnestly, before leaning for ward.

"Um...that's nice and all but..." Lex started to say.

Estehl suddenly seized his hand. "DOn't tell me not to say it, Lexine. It's impossible not to say it when it's true!" He said with an almost pained expression before kissing Lex's knuckles.

Lex stared at him in horror. "What. In. The. World. Has. Gotten. Into. You?" He stressed each word.

"I don't know..." Estehl gestured it off with one hand before kissing Lex's hand again. "I really don't, but I just realized, you are the most gorgeous creature I've ever seen!"

Lex snatched his hand back. "Thank you, but this really isn't...no, you've totally lost it Estehl!" He said, grabbing the folder and starting to get up.

Estehl sprung up and around the desk, capturing Lex by the shoulder. "I know I mad...madly in love...with you."

Lex suddenly stomped a foot on Estehl's toes. "Estehl...let me go...Jasmine would be very mad at you if she could hear this...and I don't think Faal would be to happy about it EITHER!"

"Oh, forget about them!" Estehl said desperatly, still holding Lex by the shoulders. It was a tight hold but not rough. "Lets leave here together...run away...anywhere, just you and me! We can do anything you like, just as long as I can be with you...I love you Lex, I really do!" Estehl said seriously.

Lex stared at him in fright. "Okay, Estehl...you are really starting to scare me here...I think I'll go have Chaos...or some one call the nice men in the white coats..."

"Oh Lex, stop teasing!" Estehl said with a groan, leaning forward.

"Estehl, no...don't...no...I'm warning you!" Lex didn't have a chance to finish, Estehl kissed him.

Lex did the only thing he could think of, he stompped even harder on Estehl's foot and shoved away from him, before dodging around the desk. Estehl followed.

"Estehl, I'll scream! I swear to god I will!" Lex warned.

"I understand..." Estehl said reasonably, before snatching Lex's hand. "I have that effect..."

So that was exactly what Lex did. He screamed.

**

Auron's head jerked up at the sound of the scream. "That sounded like Lex!" he said and shoved himself away from the desk.

Sands had his gun drawn and was half way to the door by the time Auron had stood up. The two men reached the closed door from which the screams were resonating at almost the same time.

Auron slid to one side while Sands slid to the other and reached for the door knob, shoving the door open. A heart beat before they could look into the room, Lex came running out.

"Lexine! Wait! Please!" Estehl came running out after him.

The two men glanced after the two fleeing figures and slipped into the office, weapons ready.

Auron looked around the room, and scratched the back of his neck, a puzzled expression on his face. "I don't get it... there's no one here..."

Sands holstered his gun and shook his head. "What do you think got into him?" he asked and suddenly slapped the back of his neck.

Auron raised an eyebrow and banished his sword. "I don't know... it was just him and Estehl in here... I can't see Estehl doing anything to... is something wrong?" he asked suspiciously as Sands walked closer, a predatory look on his face. He turned, thinking something had appeared behind him, but there was nothing. When he turned back, Sands was inches away from him, a half smirk on his face. auron stumbled in surprise at Sands closeness and expression and found himself half sitting half leaning on the desk.

Sands placed a hand on the desk to either side of him and leaned in, peering over the edge of his sunglasses. "It appears that we're all alone in here..."

Auron swallowed hard, trying to figure out what Sands was up to. "Yes, it appears so. We should go see if we can't find Lex..."

Sands leaned in a bit more, preventing Auron from standing up any further. "Nah. I'm sure Lex will be fine... probably saw a mouse or something." The predatory smile returned as Sands let his gaze rove over Auron form head to foot, then back again. "I like it in here."

"Sands... what the devil are you up to? Are you feeling alright?"

The smile grew even bigger as he took a step closer, pressing Auron against the desk. "Never felt better." he said and slid both hands across the desk until they came to rest against Auron's hips. "As to what I'm up to... that should be obvious..."

Auron's eyes went wide in shock as Sands leaned even closer....

**

Chaos had been on her way her office when she'd heard laughter up ahead. Eire and Nate. the two men were standing outside Nate's office and Nate had his hand on the knob as if he was about to go in. Eire suddenly ducked down to pick something up off the ground, and at that moment Chaos felt a sudden sting hit her stomach. she scowled and bent over rubbing the spot, lookng to see if something had bit her. A door closed and she looked up..
...and saw Eire walking towards her.

She smiled. "Hello Eire.." she said and pushed open the door to her office. "Care to step inside for a moment?"

Eire raised an eyebrow at her but headed through the door. "Sure.. somethin' wrong?"

Chaos smiled, letting her body shift to her demon form and followed Eire inside, closing the door and locking it behind her. "No...nothing's wrong... never better..."

Eire heard the click of the lock and turned to look at her and suddenly forgot what he was going to say. Chaos had come right up behind him and he hadn't noticed until he turned around and found him self nose to nose with her. "Uh .. Kay?"

"Yes?" she asked, letting her tail wrap around his waist and pulling him agaisnt her, while her arms slid around his neck.

Eire swallowed. "wha..?"

"Shhh." she said, her face still a breath away from his. "I don't want you to talk right now, Eire. " she said, huskily. "I have other uses for your mouth."

Eire's eyes opened wider. "Uh..Kay.. really.."

Her tail sudden gave his wasit a squeeze before the tip of her tail slid between his legs. "Oh .. boy.. ..uh.. Kay..?"

"Damn it Eire.. didn't I tell you to shut up?" Chaos asked softly, a smile on her face and her eyes glittering. "Now are you going to kiss me, or do I have to do everything myself?"

Somewhere nearby a scream rang out. Chaos glanced to the side but shrugged and turned back to Eire. "Tha'.. tha sounded Like Lex... "

Chaos sighed. "Lex is fine, Eire. Lot's of people to run to the rescue. Am I to take that as my answer?" she asked, letting one hand slip donw from around his neck and stroke her nails over his throat as she spoke.

" uhh....."

Chaos smiled and shrugged. "Okay." she said and slipped her arm back around his neck. She brushed her lips over his lightly once before catching him in a kiss that made his knees buckle...

**