Rhia was more than just sure, she was actually excited. ”I’m sure.“ Either Tommy would get things settled with his brother or Rhia would have some fun. Either way someone won.

”Depending on how things go… you might get to see what I did.” Rhia replied with a mischievous look on her face. ”Let’s just say he was beside himself literally and figuratively. And yes, the beer is wonderful.”

It seemed that was all Tommy needed to hear. He was up and worked out whatever nerves he had about going over to see his griffon-brother. He offered his arm and Rhia took it with one while holding her beer in her other hand. The night was getting more interesting. Rhia couldn’t help but smile.

Rhia also couldn’t help but try to give the griffon a heart attack. ”Howdy there, fancy seein’ you again.” Rhia said from behind the griffon with a friendly smile on her face.

>> ”Well love, elegant it might be but a bit more dangerous eh? I mean, I did have to save ya from some magicians.”

"And you had to be saved from government agents. Your point is?" Amethyst shot back. Sure, being able to produce gemstones made her valuable for all kinds of people, many of them with no concept of consent. But she still loved her gift.

>>”Sides, you imagine if I could do that too? **** I’d never have to worry about money again, get a new guitar everyday fer the rest of me life. Maybe even buy a recording studio?”

Amethyst gave him a disapproving look. They had been over this topic before. Carrick, who did not grow up with the kind of wealth she had, always had grand ideas when it came to shiny things. But even with those, Amethyst knew that had never been the reason he was with her. Which was definitely new.

>>”Wait, I’d flood the market then... and that’d be bad.... right?”

"Indeed" she smiled, glad he remembered. But in the next moment, his eyes narrowed again, as if he was sensing danger. Something was off, about the whole evening. Amethyst looked up first, seeing the man and the green-dressed woman walking towards them.

>>”Howdy there, fancy seein’ you again.”

The princess glanced between the newcomers and Carrick's hostile look.

"Are they... friends of yours?"

They probably weren't.

Tommy didn’t want to find out anything else after her comment. He wasn’t sure what to make on it but figured this would be entertaining either way. It was known that the O’Conners were suckers for entertainment. Even his half-brother the freak with the wings and tail seemed to inherit the trait from their father.

>>>> ”Howdy there, fancy seein’ you again.”

It felt like time stopped, his brother’s tail perked up for a moment and Tommy had a flashback to what was going to happen next. He was tempted to take a step back but decided if he needed to he could pull Rhia in the way if his brother did attack. Carrick also inherited their fathers rage issues.

Tommy didn’t say anything. He never did. His phone sat in his pocket and his arm was wrapped around his date’s. His free hand raised a pint when the pair turned and he smiled as well. His toothy grin, one Carrick knew all too well. The one he smiled when he was going to hurt the little shifter.

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Carrick played a ladies man often in fact having confidence and the ability to flirt had open many doors, got requests and usually kept the audience focused on his performance. The Princess knew however that in real life he was rarely that. He’d only just started to communicate with her and actually talk about how he felt about her. Carrick knew this so before he could turn around, he spoke clearly.

”Well, howdy yerself lov- oh it’s you.... Blondie....” he said first noticing the woman as he turned in his chair his hand on his pint and the other reaching out for the Princess’s. ”Ya come fer the show....” Carrick trailed off and locked eyes with his brother. His eyes narrowed on his brother look changed. ‘Fight!!!!!!’

Instinctively a low growl started to rumble in his chest as he stared. What was Tommy doing here? Did that mean their deadbeat Dad was as well? If he held onto the pint glass it would have shattered in his hands. He made sure to pull both hands incase he hurt Amythyst as well. His nails did start to elongate and become razor like. So it was good he had enough sense to do so.

”Tom.” Carrick growled. The owner’s ears perked up and noticed the O’Conner boys meeting for the first time in their establishment since they had a pub back home. One that the two boys and their father destroyed multiple times. “Fer **** sakes...” he said placing his hand on the shotgun under the bar.

Moving his hands signing out what he was saying, ”Ya got no business here brother.” Carrick knew it pissed off Tom. Who was just mute. Not deaf. ”Better tell me Da isn’t here...” he needed to call his moms at Super. They’d want to know.

The whirlwind griffon boy went through was wonderful. Applying some charm until he saw Rhia. Then when he saw Tommy it looked like he was ready to go to blows. When griffon boy called her blondie, Rhia wiggled her fingers that were around Tommy’s arm. ”Hi.” Rhia was ready to use her power were griffon boy to do something so silly as to start a fight. Shift him with the waiter, someone at a nearby table, or the woman he was with that was wearing a gorgeous green dress.

It didn’t make a difference to Rhia, but some of the options were more amusing than others.

While griffon boy was busy showing his claws and growling, Rhia turned to the woman griffon boy was with. ”Howdy, I’m Rhia. I love your dress.” She was used to being just on the outside of or at the heart of a chaos tornado so she spoke calmly as if there wasn’t a strong chance of a violent altercation.

Carrick greeted the girl first; apparently, they knew each other. Amethyst looked her over with more attention to detail this time. She had a warrior's build. She didn't have much time to muse about that, however, because Carrick tensed up the next moment, talons extending. Was this an ex-lover?... No, Carrick didn't have ex-lovers...

>>”Tom. Ya got no business here brother. Better tell me Da isn’t here...”

Oh. Brother. The brother.

>>”Howdy, I’m Rhia. I love your dress.”

"Princess Amethyst of Atlantis." she said, a little reluctantly. If Carrick was about to throw down with his brother, then it would have been awkward to carry on with polite small talk. "Is that Carrick's brother? Are you his lover?"

The O’ Conner brothers stared at each other for what seemed to Carrick like an eternity. It was only moments but every fiber of his being was shouting at him to charge him. Attack, and then kill him. It wasn’t just his beast form’s suggestion even his Gryphon form suggested it. Tommy was right up there with their father for Carrick’s least favorite person in the world.

Tommy was the first one to break eye contact with his half-brother smiling, knowing it would only infuriate his brother more. Shaking his head thinking, ‘No, Da isn’t here. Yer lucky. It’s only me he sent. Ya bastard.’ Looking from Rhia to the woman Carrick was with he smiled more offering a hand to shake it. ‘A Princess?’ Carrick had seen the smile before, recognized it well. This was something of Carrick’s he wasn’t going to allow Tom to break. Amethyst meant too much to him.

Carrick stepped forward and in to the way of the offered hand preventing Tom from touching her. The princess didn’t know much about Carrick’s brother it was a subject he didn’t like to talk about. She didn’t know what he was. What he was capable of.

Showing off his claws he signed again, the gestures might have looked more menacing now Carrick made note to ask the princess about it later ”I’ll ask once, what are ya doing here.” Tommy threw his hand back like he didn’t mean any harm and then gestured to Rhia and then cheered Carrick and took a swig.

Mismatched colored eyes shifted from Tommy to Rhia, while their last interaction didn’t really leave pleasant memories about the woman Carrick didn’t think she deserved this kind of punishment.”Blondie, don’t think ya know who yer with....” he let the comment sit in the air before looking backing to Tommy. ”Surprised they even let ya in. Aren’t ya still a wanted man? Be a shame if someone found out yer here.”

The bartenders hand hovered over the shotgun for a moment. He looked to his wife who two was looking at the brothers she shook her head and sped up with a round of drinks prepared for the O’Conner boys and their dates. One proven method to keeping the peace.

Princess of Atlantis. That was not something Rhia was expecting. Hey eyes widened, then narrowed. She could always claim to be royalty without it being real. People seemed to do that all the time in malls dressed up like soldiers. Finally she considered if the princess being a princess mattered. What did her uncle say? ‘We fought a war so we wouldn’t have to care about the royal wedding.’ Not exactly the same, but I guess it still applied. The princess was just another woman… Just one with the griffon.

Amethyst’s questions drew Rhia back to the conversation she’d started with her.

”Yes… and what?” Rhia looked at Tommy briefly, ”This is a first date.” A first date that was proving to be very interesting.

Tommy answered the griffon’s question by gesturing to Rhia, who smiled. The griffon then addressed Rhia. Said she didn’t know who she was with. Rhia cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. She certainly wasn’t with a buzzkill.

What was interesting to Rhia was what the griffon said next. Tommy, a wanted man? One, his profile didn’t mention that. Not that it would. Two, he didn’t seem the type to be a wanted man. Not that she was a good judge of criminality.

Carrick's brother was here, with a date. Amethyst did not know much about him, but she knew Carrick really disliked him, and if the claws were any indication, he was definitely on edge. Taking another look, the princess decided she didn't like him either. The woman seemed alright, though. Maybe she didn't know better.

>>”Blondie, don’t think ya know who yer with.... Surprised they even let ya in. Aren’t ya still a wanted man? Be a shame if someone found out yer here.”

"Maybe we should go. And find a better place to patronize." Amethyst suggested. Wanted brother or not, Carrick beasting out in the pub was not bound to end well.

Tom’s eyebrows raised when the princess introduced herself. He didn’t need to say anything. His eyes said it all to Carrick like Tom just discovered Carrick’s new favorite toy. Just like when they were kids. Setting his pint glass down he leaned back in his chair and eyed the fingers that had started to turn.

The golden boy’s trump card. If he couldn’t talk his way out of something he’d turn wreak havoc and then leave. Just like when he was back home. Ever since their father had seen this side of Carrick he wanted him back even more. To join the fight. Prove mutant superiority. How would argue if they could sick Carrick on them?

The half brother knew however that he wouldn’t come willingly. Tom turned his head to the princess and smiled flashing all his teeth. ‘I like her.’ No longer was he concerned with his date and keeping things civil. The wanted man had a reason to be here.

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Carrick’s eyes narrowed and turned more cat like. His tail flicked behind him now wildly like he was going to pounce. At this time a few people were watching the exchange. Ignoring the princess for a moment he continued to stare to see his brother flash his hands in an attack. His hair stood on end waiting to warn him of the attack.

”Best make it yer last if ya don’t want to get dragged down into the O’Conner ****show. Ruined a lot of peoples lives.” his hands flashed in the air as he signed what he said. At this point it was who could piss the other off the most to force someone to make the first move. 'fight’

”We were here first.” ‘and I’ve been running all my life from them. I don’t want to run anymore.’ he didn’t say the words but his low growl started to rumble in his chest. ”Fine...” Carrick said waiting for the princess to move first so he could make sure she wouldn’t be attack from behind when she turned her back. ‘Fight!’

”**** on back home. Run ta da and tell him I’m never joining his little club. I didn’t want ta when I was older and I sure as hell don’t now. Ya got one day. I find out yer still here I’ll be coming fer ya. Only warning ya get. I’ll kill ya if I have to. Yer done ruining me life. Both of ya.” he huffed and it sounded like the beast from the back of his mind let out a low warning growl. 'Kill! Danger!’

“O’Conners!” the bartender shouted from across the bar. ”Got it! I’m leaving.” Carrick stood abruptly and waited for the princess. ”Let’s go get blasted somewhere else. Got a bad taste in me mouth now.” he said showing off his superior pointed canines.

”Best of luck blondie. Ames, ya ready?” Carrick waited till they were up then wrapped one of his wings around the princess’s back to block any attack as they walked to the door.

Tommy and the griffon had some serious beef. The griffon looked ready to change forms and rip out Tommy’s throat. And now the griffon was trying to warn her off of Tommy. Well, Tommy wasn’t the one who turned into a griffon and looked ready to tear the other to pieces.

Then, the bartender yelled at them and… Just like that griffon boy was trying to leave. That was a bit of a buzz kill, but it also kept the chat Tommy wanted to have from turning violent. The griffon wished Rhia luck and asked if Amethyst was ready. Rhia sent Tommy a quick text.

Let them walk out. I’ll make sure you get to have your chat without him griffoning and no one asking you to leave.

After she sent it she winked at Tommy.

Knowing that Carrick had trouble with his brother was one thing, but seeing it was a whole other thing. The way he growled made it clear that trouble was mere seconds away. And Amethyst had never seen him sign before.

>>”Best make it yer last if ya don’t want to get dragged down into the O’Conner ****show. Ruined a lot of peoples lives.”

The brother was not really reciprocating. Or saying... signing?... anything. That was probably pissing Carrick off more than anything. Amethyst placed a hand on his arm. She was not above people getting beaten up for being horrible, but she did not want Carrick to get picked up by a black van again.
He was not ruining anyone's life. Especially not his own.

>>”**** on back home. Run ta da and tell him I’m never joining his little club. I didn’t want ta when I was older and I sure as hell don’t now. Ya got one day. I find out yer still here I’ll be coming fer ya. Only warning ya get. I’ll kill ya if I have to. Yer done ruining me life. Both of ya.”

She walked ahead, pulling Carrick along. The blonde woman seemed innocent in all this. Hell of a first date.

>>“O’Conners!”

>>”Got it! I’m leaving. Let’s go get blasted somewhere else. Got a bad taste in me mouth now. Best of luck blondie. Ames, ya ready?”

"Let's go." she agreed, hurrying towards the exit, with a wing wrapped around her. "Stay calm. I think you have scared them enough." the patrons, anyway.

”Got it.” the shifter said clenching his jaw and his fists. Amethyst said he needed to stay calm. If anything he should have turned and jumped his brother and ended the fight before it started. They didn’t know his brother like he did. Didn’t know what he was thinking or what he was capable of. The way he tortured Carrick when he was younger and smaller. How he tried to pull the wings from Carrick’s back and when that didn’t work he tried to cut them off.

Carrick growled frustrated with everyone feeling like no one was on his side. He looked to the princess though and his pupils rounded when he saw the look on her face. She was concerned. ”I never wanted ya to meet anyone from my family.” he said stubbornly.

They got to the door and Carrick didn’t look back. He didn’t want to see the smug look on his brothers face when he did so he made sure he fought the urge. His wing was still behind the Amethyst making sure there wouldn’t be anything that could hurt her while anyone from his family was around. She didn’t know them and Carrick wasn’t going to let the most important person in his life come to any harm.

The door shut behind him and he relaxed a little. ”..... Sorry about that....” he started to apologize. He didn’t like losing control. She knew that much. ”There’s a reason I don’t talk about my family too much.” he said unclenching his fists revealing his elongated finger nails had dug so far into his skin they broke it.

”I just don’t want anything to happen to you.” his tail flicked behind him furiously. His beast form didn’t let him think this was over. ‘Fight!’ ‘Kill!’ ‘Protect!’ was being repeated in the back of his mind.

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Tom felt Rhia look at him then felt his phone go off. He however didn’t bother looking to his phone or to her till his brother left. He knew where he lived so he could always confront him then. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal right? When the golden wings of his brother disappeared from the other side of the door he relaxed slightly. How much he hated those wings.

When the door shut Tommy felt his interest in staying leaving. Maybe it was time to end the date. His cover was blown anyways and the way his brother threatened him he figured he’d better hurry. While he doubted his brother would actually kill him (he was too soft) the threat of calling the police was a different matter. Tom had been warned by their father don’t get caught in New York. Between the police and the X-men they were far trained to deal with mutants. Blood traitors. If Tommy had his way he’d cut them all down.

Looking to his phone he raised an eyebrow and started typing, ‘How do you plan on doing that?’ he waited a second suddenly becoming very interested in his date again. If She could neutralize that unpredictable beast Carrick has changed up in him. The reason why his father was so interested in him... ‘I’m very curious now. Another reason you Texas girls are in a league of your own.’ he sent the text and smiled. Once again hiding his intentions.

The griffon and the princess took their leave. It was only after they had left that Tommy checked his phone. Rhia’s text had piqued an interest as his eyebrow went up and he asked her how.

”The same thing I did to make an impression in the first place.” Rhia’s eyes had a mischievous twinkle as she added, ”Let’s just say he’ll be beside himself and getting a new perspective.”

Rhia turned her eyes to track her targets. When they were nearing the exit Rhia set her drink down and set off after them, motioning for Tommy to follow her. It wouldn’t do any good to spook the griffon and have him fly away or turn into his murder-bird form.

Stopping at the door, Rhia turned to Tommy and said, ”Here’s where the fun starts.” Rhia stepped through the door with the griffon and the princess in her range. She smiled and called up her power. She focused on the pair of them and willed their minds to swap bodies.

The deed done, Rhia said to Tommy, ” I swapped their bodies. Your brother’s in the green dress now.”

>>”I never wanted ya to meet anyone from my family.”

Well, that went both ways. Amethyst was not very keen on introducing Carrick to Atlantean royals either, and at least this way she was not feeling one-sided about the decision. But now, having met the brother, she was beginning to understand why Carrick was not a family person.

>>”..... Sorry about that.... There’s a reason I don’t talk about my family too much. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Amethyst placed a hand in his. He had claw marks in his palm, but they were already closing over. Fast healing.

"We are fine." she said, patting his hand.

And then the world spun.

Amethyst felt dizzy and disoriented. She paused, shook her head, and blinked to clear her vision.

She was looking at herself.

"What?" she gasped. The voice came out... deeper. Strangely familiar. Definitely not her own.
And not the only one.

FLIGHT!

Something was wrong. Something was not okay. Amethyst was not well. She moved to jump and flee, hands flailing. Wings flailing. Tail flailing.

TOO MANY APPENDAGES

She landed hard on her ass.
His ass.
Her boyfriend's ass...?

"What in Poseidon's name just happened?"

”Royal we? Or us?” the Irishman asked suddenly relaxing a bit when she grabbed his hand. His beast form even shut up for a moment. Only a moment though. It quickly added ‘mate’ to it’s repetition as he slowly forgot he ran into his half brother who wanted so badly to cut off the wings from Carrick and keep them as some sick trophy. He hated all the living members of his family. Why couldn’t they be the ones to have died painfully?

”So whe-” the world spun, colors flashed before him and he felt himself looking at his own self from above. Was this it? Did his brother finally do it or was there someone else who pulled the trigger and killed him? Carrick’s vision went dark and he opened his eyes.

The dead didn’t open their eyes. Unless he was a zombie, which would only have been bad if he was one of those slow moving zombies that were an easy kill. No one wanted to be those zombies.

”re we want to go.... awww.... fer **** sakes!” he shouted wishing he was dead. Being dead would have been better than losing his wings again. It seemed Carrick had switched places with someone again. His voice was different again, his balance was off again and he suddenly felt colder and less constricted.

His head shot around to see if he could find his old self (which he did) and within seconds he was helping himself to his feet. ”We got freaky-fridayed.” Carrick said struggling to pull his old body up. ”Blondie in there did it. Second time now.” Carrick said sighing, ”Guess she’s just best to be avoided.”

”Take a breath handsome.” he said finally looking down at his now darker skin and perfectly manicured nails. ”Look at me, I’m beautiful.” he said grabbing a bit of the green dress the Princess was wearing the one he was now wearing. The distraction was welcomed and he almost forgot everything that happened that evening.

”Wings are just like moving yer arms. Keep ‘em down till we can figure out where blondie is. She can change us back.” last time wasn’t permeant which meant this time wouldn’t be either.

”Ah ****” the now royal said as she looked up to see Rhia and Tommy in the door way. ”Love, figure out the limbs later! Time to go.” he grabbed his old body by the hand and pulled.

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The older O’Conner brother’s eyebrow remained raised as he was even more curious about the next encounter with his brother. A new perspective? Did that mean he’d be smaller? Different? Weaker? His bloodlust started to grow as he thought of all the knew ways he might just become an only child. The lie of what happened was already starting to form in his mind. ‘I got there and Carrick was dead. Your intel was wrong.’ No, he could flesh out the lie after.

She was on her feet and Tom was already moving to the door to see what she meant. Clearly this was going to be a reveal of some kind and Tommy was practically giddy with the thoughts of torturing Carrick. Maybe he’d start by plucking the feathers from the wings?

His date did whatever she said she was going to do. Fun. Tom smiled more and gestured to the door as he pushed it open. Their bodies were swapped. Carrick was in the green dress.

His jaw dropped and he witnessed something he never thought he’d get to see. The biggest target he was ever going to get. Not only could he hurt his brother physically once but twice! Tommy’s eyes started to water and he grabbed Rhia by the cheeks and kissed her on the mouth.

Without waiting for a reaction he walked out of the bar and started slowly strutting to his brother and his brother’s body. Tommy almost felt bad for the woman who introduced herself as a princess. Almost.