Smiling, Taco replied, “No, he’s talking to his maharishi. His dragon is not outwards verbal. He communicates within Wiz’s mind. It’s the way of a few of us.”
“So, not all of you can talk?” Gio asked.
Shaking his head, Taco replied, “No, Azul is the same. He talks within the minds of Bren and Pit… well, all of us now that we are blood bonded, as does Wiz’s maharishi.”
“Blood bonded?” Gio asked in confusion.
Nodding, Taco replied, “A while back, Jude, Bren, and Rylee were talking about how they wanted so much to be brothers they had done a human ceremony where they cut into each other’s palms and brought them together, making a blood oath of swearing loyalty to each other and now consider each other brothers. The other D.O.A. wanted this, and they all cut their palms and joined hands. It brought about an interesting effect none of us had predicted. Not only can we now speak to each other within our minds, the D.O.A. agents and mates can share in our gifts. Lex and Stone will be going through the blood bonding soon, and I know Cobra and I hope you would too.”
“So, if I was to do this, any of you could use mine?” Gio gasped, not certain he could do that. It was hard enough being a multiplex elemental and trusting himself, let alone allowing someone else to be given this type of power.
Taco shook his head, saying, “We don’t know. So far, it has only been done with the humans and our own soul bonds. However, the soul bonds and humans can call on the dragon powers. For example, mine is astral projection, Blade’s dragon has telekinesis. That little guy on Wiz’s shoulder has a super-smell ability, and so on. At any time, due to the blood brother bond, any of us bonded can call upon those gifts if needed. It has made our job as D.O.A. agents much easier.”
“So, you don’t know if I was to do this that they would be able to call on my gifts?” Gio asked, for clarification.
Again, Taco shook his head, “Lex is the only one who is not completely human who will enter into the bond, and since he hasn’t done so, I can’t answer that question.”
“Not completely human? What is Lex if he isn’t human?” Gio asked, with a slightly shaking voice.
Lex spoke up, saying, “I’m a shifter.”
“Shifter?” Gio asked, not really understanding what that meant.
“I share my soul with a snow leopard. When I want to, I can call on him and I transform from man to cat. I am completely cognizant when I do this, so you don’t have to be concerned.” Lex explained.
Gio’s eyes went wide, “Seriously? I would love to see that one day.”
“I’ll gladly show you. Now can you explain to us what you just did, because I have to tell you that was so fucking cool.” Lex said with a wide smile.
“How do you not know about shifters? I mean, you are considered a paranormal after all. Shouldn’t you know about shifters?” Taco asked.
“My father didn’t exactly sit down and talk to me. He used me. And to answer your question, Lex, as you all know I am a multiplex elemental. That means I can call on earth, water, air, and fire. I have had to learn many things on my own, because I was not allowed to train with my grandfather, as he had his own grandfather before him. One of the times my father had beaten me was because I couldn’t do what it was he was asking of me. I didn’t know how. I was bleeding and sore all over when he left me, insisting I was to stay out there until I got it right. I was working with my fire side and when I called on it, I felt myself heating until it was like a fire poker was within my body. I collapsed to the ground and when I opened my eyes all my clothes were gone, and any signs of injury my father had inflicted were gone, and the ground around me was scorched. I felt like I could sleep for the next month. I’ve learned since then, how to control the fire to use for an attack and when to use it to heal…” Gio wiggled his blanket around him, saying, “...but as you can see, I haven’t learned to save the clothes.”
Lex snickered, “I can relate. When I shift while still being dressed, my clothing shreds. It really sucks big hairy monkey balls, but it is what it is.”
“Eww, now I have the image of you sucking hairy monkey balls and getting the hairs between your teeth and… just fucking nasty, Lex.” Jude grumbled.
Some of the men snickered, but Taco was too busy looking at Gio in horror. Gio had been smiling at Jude’s reaction, until he saw Taco. “What is it? Why are you angry? If it’s the clothing thing, I’m sorry, I really have no idea how to control them from burning off.”
“I think he’s upset because of the reason you discovered you could heal yourself. I know I am.” Boomer stated, with a slight growl at the end of his sentence.
Gio patted Taco’s clawed paws, “Don’t be angry. It was what it was and there’s nothing you or I can do to change the past, and I wouldn’t if I could.”
Taco gasped, “How can you say that? Your father is beyond a monster. He is…”
Gio quickly jumped in saying, “If not for who my father is, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and if that’s the case I wouldn’t have met you or Cobra and… and I will never be sorry for that, Taco. Yes, the hows of it all suck those hairy monkey balls Lex spoke of, but that being said, I still wouldn’t change anything. You guys think that if you had gotten my father during your raid I would never have had two more threats placed against me after that, but had that not happened I would never have been sent to Drago. That is unacceptable to me. So, let my past go, Taco. Help me focus on the here and now, and maybe when we get Cobra back, we can have a future we can all look forward to.”
“Oh, my gods, that was so beautifully said.” Jude whispered. “He is just too damn sweet.”
“Maybe he’ll rub off on you.” Boomer said with a snicker.
Casper hissed, “No one is rubbing off on my sentience but me.”
“Not unless they want to be a light snack for me.” Smoky snapped, as he lifted from Jude’s arm in that cartoony way Gio was still getting used to.
Jude rolled his eyes, asking, “Gio, if you could heal yourself why didn’t you do it after you were shot?”
“Healing takes energy and mine was depleted due to blood loss, and then the painkillers you’ve been giving me. This last time whatever you gave me wasn’t for pain, so when I awoke I wasn’t feeling drained like before.” Gio explained.
