[center][h2][b][u]Hide and Seek: Part 4[/u][/b][/h2]
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[indent][indent][color=80ffbf][b] L O C A T I O N:[/b][/color] Somewhere in New York City
[color=80ffbf][b] T I M E:[/b][/color] Present Day [i][b]([/b][/i] July [i][b])[/b][/i] Sometime around 4 PM[/indent][/indent]
[I]*italics in dialogue means it's spoken in either Chinese or Korean[/I]

         Athena flashed a smile. [color=ff99cc]"Of course! Thanks, [i]ajumma[/i]."[/color] She leaned forward to press a kiss to the woman's cheek before grabbing her bag and following after Benjamin. As they left the kitchen and made their way through the mansion, Athena's smile waned when she noticed the decorations had drastically changed since she was last here.

         [color=ff99cc]"I hope she didn't touch your room,"[/color] she mumbled. Athena puffed her cheek as she tried to ignore the childish protest in the lack of Ben's mom's things and was heartbroken when they passed the living room to find the grand piano gone.

         Her hands gripped her bag tightly, trying to fight the grief and the lack of respect for her things no longer being where they used to sit. It's only been a few years since she was here, but for it to change so much.

         [color=ff99cc]"I can see why you call her 'dragon lady,'"[/color] Athena said after a moment, just before they headed in the direction of Benjamin's room.

         [color=chocolate]"She tried to, but I crushed her attempt. I don't think Daniel wanted us to spill blood on the carpet."[/color] Benjamin growled at the thought as he led the way.

         [color=ff99cc]"I feel like a snake would be a better fit for her,"[/color] Athena remarked, [color=ff99cc]"just because a dragon seems too cool for her."[/color]

         They walked through the foyer again then to the study and finally up the stairs. Benjamin walked into the middle of the loft before he turned his head over his shoulder.

         [color=Chocolate]"I've changed a few things since you last visited. Including adding a gym area. The storage is to the right if you want to put your bag in there for now."[/color]

         He pointed at the set of doors across the room from the stairs.

         Athena nodded and glanced in the pointed direction. She made to move to set her bag down; instead, she just held onto it until they decided where to settle down. Looking around, she opted to walk to the game room where she could see the large television and various gaming consoles set up beneath it.

         [color=Chocolate] "So, you want to play some games while we wait for Emma to bring the snacks up? The other option is telling me what you've been up. The last visit was about two years ago."[/color]

         Tapping her chin in thought, she hummed. [color=ff99cc]"Let's catch-up over foosball. Every time you or I score a point, we can ask each other a question."[/color]

         Benjamin waved his hand for her to follow him past the storage closet and into the hallway. They passed two rooms before entering the game room. Benjamin slipped off his shoes then tossed them against the nearby wall. He moved past the couch and began to check the condition of the table, ensuring it worked adequately.

         She set down her bag on the couch that faced the television. Following Benjamin, she removed her shoes and set them beside the sofa. And then, Athena headed over to the table while she loosened her shoulders. She grinned. [color=ff99cc]"Prepared to get your butt whooped, Benjamin?"[/color]

         [color=chocolate] "That's big talk for Ms. [i]Shorty[/i]. I'm surprised you haven't tripped over those heels on the way up."[/color] Benjamin snickered. 

         She crossed her arms as she made her way over to the foosball table. [color=ff99cc]"[i]Aigoo[/i], we're [i]almost[/i] the same height!"[/color] Athena puffed out her cheek in a mock pout, her long black hair swaying behind her. [color=ff99cc]"And besides, I bet your balance is terrible if you tried wearing them."[/color]

         [color=chocolate] "Thankfully, guys don't need to wear heels to be tall. And I'm pretty sure I would break them rather than run in them. The brand you're wearing isn't known for being durable."[/color]

         Athena shrugged. Leave it to Ben to know the brand and its known durability. [color=ff99cc]"Then I'll walk barefoot if I have to. Or you know, break the heel off and use it as a lethal weapon."[/color] She couldn't help laughing.

         Benjamin pulled a coin from a nearby coffee table.

         [color=chocolate] “No one can say you’re not feisty at least. Flip for who goes first. Heads or tails?"[/color]

         Eyeing him, she hummed again. [color=ff99cc]"Heads."[/color]

         Benjamin adjusted the coin then flipped it high in the air. The silver glistened as it twirled and came back to his hand, his palm out to catch it. He slapped it down on the back of his hand.

         Heads.

         [color=chocolate] "You're first."[/color] He tossed the coin to the side as he hunched over his side of the table.

         Rolling up the sleeves of her shirt, she punted the ball into the center and kicked it close to Ben's side. After a few bounces back and forth, twirling of handles and the like, Ben still scored the first point.

         Athena made a noise that was a mix of a groan and a squeak.

         [color=ff99cc]"You scored first… what's your first question?"[/color] she asked with a sigh as she moved to retrieve the ping pong ball.

         [color=chocolate] "Don't feel bad, I've had plenty of time to practice,"[/color] Benjamin said in a soft voice.

         Even with his reassurance, Athena pouted. That just meant he was going to score a lot of points off of her. And that meant a lot of questions.

         His face turned serious as he spoke again.

         [color=chocolate] "So... Why now did you decide to visit? You can't tell me you haven't come this way a few times before. I mean, you're pretty popular after all."[/color]

         [color=ff99cc]"I was originally headed for Lost Haven,"[/color] Athena replied, holding the ball in hand as she stood. [color=ff99cc]"My manager said it was a better idea not to go somewhere that was already hot with the press and put me somewhere I could blend in with the crowd."[/color] She shrugged in resignation with a shake of her head. [color=ff99cc]"Hiding in plain sight, so to speak."[/color]

         Setting the ball in the center, she flashed a smile. [color=ff99cc]"I think my manager remembered I grew up here, at one point, and wanted me to come back to relax. So, a perfect time for me to see you. And besides, didn't you miss me?"[/color]

         [color=chocolate] "I did. I wish you had more free time. It's a good thing you didn't go to Lost Haven. It's..."[/color] Benjamin paused for a moment.

         His lips curled into a frown as he seemed to have lost his train of thought. It took a few seconds, but he recovered and cast away the strange feeling.

         [color=chocolate] "I can't recall, but it's not a good place. It seems to be a hot spot of some sort."[/color]

         Athena tilted her head, puzzled. He seemed to have recovered, but, Something seemed missing, and his answer felt like he knew what he wanted to say before whatever thought he had disappeared. How strange. No wonder Morrigan sent her. Something settled uncomfortably in the pit of her stomach, but she clung to the conversation she had, once upon a time.

         He pointed to the table. [color=chocolate]"Want to continue?"[/color]

         She nodded and set the ball in the center. After a huge back and forth, Athena lost again by a close battle between the two to her far left. With a groan, she held her head with a sigh. [color=ff99cc]"I should've picked Mario Kart. I forget how good you are at this."[/color]

         Ben laughed when she mentioned she should've picked Mario Kart.

         [color=chocolate] "I did warn you I've been practicing. So, what're your least favorite parts about being a popstar? I know you got some aside from the paparazzi."[/color]

         Athena frowned. [color=ff99cc]"Probably how intrusive they can get about my personal life, especially since I started on this movie."[/color] She sighed. [color=ff99cc]"I wasn't known for any other roles before this movie, so everyone wants to know who I am and where I've come from. But, it's not like I've hidden the truth too much on those."[/color]

         They know a myriad of random facts about her. It was peculiar to see a magazine with a profile of her inside it. And it was bewildering.

         She picked up the ball again and posed as if she was about to drop the ball again. [color=ff99cc]"And here, in the States, in Hollywood, they get… aggressive."[/color] She winced as if remembering something she didn't like. [color=ff99cc]"Anyway, ready for the next round?"[/color]

         [color=chocolate] "Everyone wants to know what it's like to be wealthy or famous. Few people realize what we give up because of it. Privacy. It's a sad truth of life."[/color] Benjamin resisted the urge to lament about the loss of such a precious thing.

         Lifting her gaze to her friend, she nodded, remembering how little they were exposed to paparazzi differently than how she was exposed to it now.

         He smirked, trying to change the topic to something more cheerful, [color=chocolate] "Though I admit, I'm lucky to know you as I do."[/color]

         Athena couldn't help the curling of her lips, grateful for both his friendship and sincerity.

         His attention turned back to her as he readied himself for another round. [color=chocolate] "Oh hell yeah. I'm ready to kick your butt again."[/color]

         And then immediately pouted. [color=ff99cc]"[i]Aigoo![/i] You're not going to win all the time! I'll score points, you watch!"[/color] She stomped her foot in frustration. Her eyes flashed; briefly, a luminescent blue-green just from the inner edges of her pupils twinkled.

         And a shadow passed over Ben's head.

         Ben's eyes jerked up just when he was about to defend his goal. For a moment, something sweet and spicy hit his nose. It twitched before his attention drifted back to Athena. For a moment, the confusion increased as he tried to understand what happened.

         Distracted, she took the opportunity to swoop in and kicked the ball into his goal, scoring a point for herself. She made an incomprehensible noise of jubilation.

         [color=chocolate] "Did you see that?"[/color]

         [color=ff99cc]"See what?"[/color] she asked, blinking up at him. [color=ff99cc]"Did you see something?"[/color]

         Benjamin frowned and thought about it. He bit his lip then shrugged it off.

         [color=chocolate]"I thought I saw a shadow. Maybe I've been working out too hard."[/color]

         Athena blinked at him as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

         His eyes looked down and noticed the pong ball vanished. He clicked his tongue on his teeth, accepting his defeat.

         [color=chocolate]"I guess you won, so ask your question."[/color]

         And then she grinned. [color=ff99cc]"I sure did!"[/color] Tapping a finger to her chin in thought, she hummed. Well, she wanted to find out what he was doing recently. Perhaps she ought to find out what he's been up to since they last talked.

         [color=ff99cc]"What were you doing for the last two-ish weeks since we talked? You and I both got so busy, we hardly called or sent texts that I got worried. You doing okay?"[/color] Her voice softened in that way that showed her concern.

         Athena didn't want to believe he holed himself up here the whole time. But, with what Morrigan told her, he was in Las Vegas and unfortunately, that's not information he told her himself. Instead, her genuine concern that he had to face the snake woman by himself for three weeks of summer vacation seemed highly unlikely, but still possible.

         Benjamin had leaned over and began to collect the ball when he paused again. His mind tried to think to yesterday, but nothing surfaced in his recollection — not even the boring stuff.

         His figure stood upright as he pushed against the table's edge, trying to recall details. He crossed his arms while the throbbing increased.

         [color=chocolate] "I-I..."[/color]

         [color=ff99cc]"Ben?"[/color] Athena called out softly, frowning.

         The blood rushed to Benjamin's head, the thumping drowned out his hearing. His mind ignored the pain in its search for answers. Images of a wolf biting him flashed through his mind, a woman in a coffin, and followed by numerous other unfamiliar faces.

         His eyes began to yellow before the sounds of bones cracking filled the room.

         The change in his eyes didn't stop Athena from squeaking in surprise at how she provoked his change.

         Footsteps were coming up the steps, Emma's familiar humming echoing up the halls. The sounds didn't sound right together—his bones cracking as fast as she could move to slam the door shut, Emma's humming, and her feet padding on the hardwood floor. She skidded, slipped with practiced ease to kick the door shut, and muting the sound so Emma wouldn't hear it slam closed. It was as though she choreographed it and pressed her feet against it in time to stop Emma from seeing the transformation.

         [color=ff99cc]"Oh, Ben…"[/color] she breathed as she looked upside down toward him.

         There were sounds from the other side of the door amid the cracking of bones and then the knock. If Athena weren't so close to the door, she would've missed the knocking. The knock came louder. 

         Athena made her voice sound like she was yelling from the couch, [color=ff99cc]"One second! Just leave it by the door!"[/color] 

         On the other side of the door, Emma frowned. Her hands were holding the tray filled with the various treats, including the rustic tart and numerous cookies. And of course, macarons. 

         “Are you sure? Are you two all right? What’s that cracking sound?”  

         [color=ff99cc]"Yeah! We're—"[/color] Athena didn't like lying on a bad day, and even on a good day, she still didn't like lying. But lying in this case… well… She winced, swallowing her moral compass for Ben as she continued, [color=ff99cc]"—we're watching a movie! So everything's dark! Give us a sec!"[/color] She tried to make sounds that sounded as though they were moving around in the dark, looking for the remote amid the cracking bones.

         Ben's heart kept pounding and rushing blood through his veins. His figure fell onto the floor. Small shreds of skin began to peel from his muscle where blonde fur began to show. His height increased as his back legs distorted into something more wolfish in nature. A long snout extended from his skull, his nostrils caught the blanket of scents.

         As the transformation drew to an end, Benjamin lifted upright. His gaze fixed on Athena as his black lip curled back and a warning snarl escaped through his teeth.

         The cracking of bones finally stopped that she lifted her chin up to look at him upside down again. Well, the sound of a body falling to the ground hadn't been something she liked hearing [i][b]([/b][/i] or at all, for that matter, when she could feel it through the floor [i][b])[/b][/i], but he was breathing.

         Listening through the door, she heard Emma shuffle, as though she was hesitant, and then the familiar sound of a tray was set down on the ground and heard her departing.

         Her dark eyes connected with his, and she shifted slowly to sit up, hands on the floor and twisting, so her legs still faced the door as she watched him from where she sat. Her heartbeat rapidly against her chest from the rush and her eyes wide with breathless surprise.

         [color=ff99cc]"Ben?"[/color] Her voice was soft, concern evident on her features, but filled with wondrous curiosity to his changes. It's the first time she had seen him transform, and there weren't words to describe it. [i][b]([/b][/i] Other than startling cause that scared the daylights out of her. [i][b])[/b][/i]

         Benjamin growled deeper. His tail confidently held as he lowered his front half, dropping to all fours. He moved cautiously around the foosball table toward the door. The whites of his teeth flickered through his lips on display to her. His muscles rippled under the spiked blonde fur while he drew closer and closer to Athena. Tension laced his frame, but it didn't hinder his movements.

         She couldn't breathe. Or at least, felt like she couldn't when she watched Ben approach her. She was wary, but this was Ben, right? Athena didn't move, but her body twitched with the urge to do just that.

         [color=ff99cc]"Ben—?"[/color] She tentatively tried again.

         For several seconds, the werewolf stood just inches from Athena's face. The air seemed to be thick with irritation and aggression. Without much warning, his jaw opened.

         A long purplish tongue slipped out then began to lick Athena's face.

         And she blinked in surprise, squeaking her surprise when his tongue licked her.

         His tail thumped back and forth as he whimpered in happiness. The wolf's head pressed up against her cheek, and his front lowered before it bounced back up. It was obvious he was happy to see her.

         With his head pressed against her cheek, she giggled, wrapping her arms around his snout as she reached for behind his ears, scratching. [color=ff99cc]"Oh, that's a good boy,"[/color] she cooed. She moved to stand so that she was more at his height, though, even with him dropped on all fours, and he was massive.

         [color=ff99cc]"And you're [i]beautiful[/i],"[/color] she murmured, rubbing and running her fingers through his fur. [color=ff99cc]"And soft! Hehe!"[/color]

         Benjamin just took affection. Absorbed it like a sponge as he panted, his tail still whipping back and forth. It smacked the foosball table, but Ben didn't seem to notice. As Athena's fingers brushed through his soft fur, he flopped over to his side and stretched out. He appeared to be complete bliss.

         After several long and drawn out minutes [i][b]([/b][/i] make that about fifteen minutes of her simply loving on him, actually… [i][b])[/b][/i] of Athena essentially giving wolf Benjamin a rub and a brush through with her fingers, the idol rested her chin on him and looked over at him, recognizing the look of intelligence behind those eyes.

         [color=ff99cc]"A werewolf, hm? I wonder how long you've been hiding this from me—I'm hurt,"[/color] she said, scratching behind his ears. Her voice softened. [color=ff99cc]"[i]Dàn wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng gàosù wǒ...[/i]"[/color] Shaking her head, she sighed.

         [color=ff99cc]"Okay, [i]wǒ de qīn'ài de péngyǒu[/i], time for you to change back because I don't think I can hide you while you're like this and Emma is gonna be coming back up again soon for supper. And I got nothing that can hide you like this."[/color] Athena helplessly shrugged, moving to rub his head now.

         Benjamin tilted his head, showing confusion, appearing lost at her word. His eyes closed while he enjoyed the rubbings on his head before he began to shift upright. He inhaled then exhaled, his body completely still.

         Once more, bones cracked and fur fell off. Ben's transformation reversed until a naked Benjamin stood on all fours before her.

         Athena tried her best not to scream. The moment her hands and arms were on the skin instead of fur, she [i]knew[/i]. Swearing in all the languages she knew, wishing he had warned her before he straight up just changed back while [i]she was on top of him[/i].

         His eyes opened but didn't look her way.

         Instead, she squeaked, jumping off of him when he stopped.

         [color=chocolate]"Ummm... Athena, can you look away and get me the blanket off the couch? Please..."[/color]

         She tried to fight the blush from coming to her cheeks, but it came anyway. [color=ff99cc]"S-Sure!"[/color] Athena squeaked. She shuffled away to the couch, pulled off the blanket, and kept her gaze locked to the floor when she made her way over to hand it off to him. It's when he's appropriately covered himself that she lifted her gaze. 

         [i]Okay, that's going to take some getting used to,[/i] she thought.

         [color=ff99cc]"You're cuter as a werewolf, you know,"[/color] she said with a raised brow. It's her attempt at trying to diffuse the awkwardness of Benjamin being naked only moments ago. But, her blushing cheeks were fading as she tried to focus on anything else.

         Benjamin chuckled. [color=chocolate] "Yeah... Someone else thought so too."[/color]

         His humor died off at the end, despite his attempt to hide it.

         Let her dig a hole and stay there. Or the ground swallowing her whole would be okay, too. Something was off, and she just stepped into it.

         He coughed and decided to move on. His hands secured the blanket to his hips, moving it slightly where he could grip the fold. It wasn't the best coverage, but he didn't want to walk around naked in front of his best friend. Especially a female one.

         [color=chocolate] "Anyways. Hi... I'm still hazy on the details, but I'm sorry about this. If you could let me dressed properly?"[/color]

         He didn't wait for her reply as he slipped past, beelining for the door.

         Athena didn't watch him leave, instead, decided to take a deep breath, blowing some of her hair out of her face and sighed. Moving to the door, she opened it and picked up the tray of goodies left by Emma and then closed the door behind her. She set the tray down on the coffee table in front of the couch, picked up a macaron, and plopped down on the couch.