A RUMOR OF PEACE

          Roark gave a nod.  Standing suddenly, he moved to the shielded window behind his and Harry's desks.  Reaching out, he pressed the yellow button to allow the slate to lift, letting in the bright, mid-morning, winter sunlight.  It was only a few microns {seconds} later that he felt hands on his shoulders, felt them begin to knead the knotted muscles.

          He gave a sigh as those strong hands worked to release the knots, feeling some of his tension ease at the so calm presence behind him.  "Ethan," he murmured.

          "You cannot remain this open, Roark," he told him, turning him to face him.  "Tell me when you felt the seals shatter?"

          "When Rodolphus Lestrange entered my apartment that first time.  They had been slipping for some time, but as soon as our eyes met...I felt this...I don't know, it's really hard to explain what the feeling was.  All I knew for sure was that I didn't understand what had just happened."

          "I'm not at all surprised by that," Ethan told him, "as we never told you what we had done, let alone why we had done it.  We SHOULD have pulled you aside as soon as we knew you were ordered to report to Virgon, but as you were showing no signs of leaking, and your magic was well in control, we just didn't think it necessary."

          Slipping his fingers under his chin, he lifted his head to meet his eyes, holding them.  "Oh, Roark," he shook his head, his tone very concerned.  "This is NOT good.  You're completely open to everything, and EVERYONE, and all of them at nearly at full strength."

         "I know," he murmured.  "What do we do about it?"

         He reached up, fingers brushing dark hair out of his eyes.  "After we're done here, we're going to take the rest of the morning, and probably most of the afternoon to get you grounded and centered so that your magic isn't so out of control.  Harry and the others can handle what needs to be done for the raids tonight."

         "Absolutely," Harry spoke up at once, "Rory, please let Ethan--"

          He raised a hand to stop his brother.  "I was planning on it.  I know how important this is, and as much of a help as Severus has been, Ethan and Roan are the best ones to actually get this done," he turned and smiled up at Ethan.  "There is a shield workroom we can use a few doors down from Severus' workroom."

          "Good, because shielded is what we are going to need."  His eyes widened suddenly, and he asked, "Do you really trust him THAT much?"

          Knowing what he had picked up on from his mind, he nodded.  "With my life."

          "As so I," Harry said quietly, knowing at once what they were talking about.

          Ethan looked at the both of them sternly.  "It will BE your lives if you're wrong about them."

          "We're not wrong, Ethan.  From the moment we met, they've been nothing BUT honest with us, have never dissembled, held anything back, nor have they hidden anything.  We are fully aware of who...and WHAT they are."

          The sound of a sudden, deeply indrawn breath behind them had them turning to the source.  "KOBOL!" he gasped.  "You've fallen in love with him!"  He looked at Harry.  "You too."

          "Kili--" 

          "Roark, Hadrian, they're TERMINATORS!  They're cold-blooded killers who work for the very man we are trying to bring down.  The exact same man that murdered your parents!"

          "We are very well aware of what they are, Kili!" he snapped out far more harshly than he had intended, making Kili flinch.

          "Easy now," Ethan said softly.  "He's just worried about you, about BOTH of you," he said, looking over at Harry.

          "I know," he said with a sigh.  "I'm sorry Ki, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, but I also know what he isn't.  What they BOTH aren't.  Don't you remember Tristyn's words to us the night he passed?"

          "He said that Rodolphus and Rabastan were not at all what they seemed.  He made it seem like they were holding some secret close to their chests."

          A smile.  "Exactly."

          "Then what are they, and what secret are they holding so close?"

          Harry couldn't help the snort that escaped him, amusement clear in his eyes.  "Now THAT would be the real question, wouldn't it?" he said.

          "Agreed.  What that secret may be, we can only guess at, but as we would rather not make the wrong guess, we aren't going to speculate.  When the time is right, and when it's safe for them to do so, they'll tell us."

          "Then for now," Robin said as he came to stand beside him, slipping an arm around both of their shoulders, pressing kisses to each of their temples, "enough has been said, but we want you two to be aware that if they EVER hurt either of you...well, the gloves will come off.  I'll kill them with my--" he felt Roark tense suddenly.  "What is it?"

          "Oh, Kobol," he breathed, his eyes widening.  Drawing free of Robin's encircling arm, he returned to the window, looking down into the busy street three floors below, eyes searching.

          Harry was at his side, emerald eyes looking down, searching the busy streets.