"Lian!"

The new voice came just before the door banging open, but it was warning enough for Killian's eyes to snap open and his hands that had been resting softly on Axel's waist to reach up and push hard at his chest until they were thrown to opposite sides of the small storage room.

Axel's back hit the wall but Killian's back hit the shelves of liquor.

Axel dashed forward just in time to catch one of the three bottles that had toppled over. He'd only reached for the one falling towards Killian's head. Axel barely heard the other two bottles crashing to the floor.

A boy with the same features as Killian stood by the storage room door, barely concealed rage on his face and his fists clenched at his sides.

"Ye've got a lot of nerve, ye gods damned arsehole! Get ye bloody hands off me brother or I'll make damn sure ye be regrettin' it in the morn."

The thick Irish brogue made it hard to understand the boy, but Axel could read between the lines. Slowly, he backed off from Killian, his eyes narrowed and firmly on the angry twin in case he came after Axel like he'd promised.

"No! Stop Conner! Ye be understandin' it all wrong."

Axel's eyes flicked to Killian who again looked like pure panic, but it wasn't like it had been on stage, it wasn't the attack sort of panic. The Irish there was rougher too, Axel found that in Killian's softer voice, he actually liked the brogue quite a bit.

"I be understandin' it just fine brother mine." The other twin, Conner, glared at Axel as he took a few steps into the storage room. Behind him came two more bodies. One was a girl, probably as tall as the twins but not as pale. Her hair was long and brown, a natural wave to it that made it look soft. She had bright emerald eyes that looked more curious than furious. She was also smiling a bit, it was a sharp contrast to the tall boy coming behind her.

Short red hair and glaring green eyes, the other boy was surely just as Irish as the twins. His arms were crossed over his chest and his stance was one of aggression. It was too dark to tell, but Axel was sure that the tall boy had freckles all over his pale face.

The fight inside Axel was back, his hackles rising in the presence of two threatening dangers. Despite knowing these people were connected to Killian, he couldn't stop his instincts from putting himself in front of the smaller man. His will to protect at all costs flaring up like it had when he'd first seen Nathan after their mother's death.

His actions caused the two males at the door to falter in their posture. The smaller boy losing his glare while the taller one let his arms fall to his sides.

"Ye freakin' idiots." Killian said moving slightly from behind Axel.

When he was standing beside the taller man, Killian looked up at him and Axel allowed his gaze to drift down to the sweet creature.

"They're not here to hurt me." Killian assured, his eyes hard but his lips smiling. "And they won't be hurtin' ye either." He said, turning those hard eyes on the two other Irish men.

"I know." Axel rasped back. His voice had dropped an octave, a reaction to aggression that he'd never been able to stifle. Axel couldn't help but smile when Killian's eyes fell closed and his whole body shivered. Axel wanted to cause that reaction again.

"What the feck is goin' on 'ere?" The taller Irish man at the door exclaimed with a disbelieving frown. "We saw this rough lookin' motherfecker drag ye here like a pack of wolves be chasin' ye."

"He was panicking." Axel responded, the growl slightly gone from his voice. "I had to get him somewhere quiet, had to get him back."

Axel felt everyone's eyes snap to him and he stiffened, but just as quickly the three people at the door were looking at Killian with worry all over their faces.

"Lian, brother, are ye alright?" Conner asked softly. He looked like he wanted to take another step into the room but he was afraid of the reaction. Axel wondered if that was because of him or because of Killian.

"I'm fine ye feckin' eejit!" Killian glared at his brother for a moment making the other boy wince.

"How'd you know to get him alone?" This one came from the girl.

Axel shrugged, almost unwilling to answer, but it seemed that Killian wanted to hear an explanation too as his attention focused on Axel's face.

"I've had them before. Used to live in an orphanage with this scary kid, gave most of the other boys PTSD from the stuff he used to do to us. A few of us had the attacks every time he looked at us." There, it wasn't the whole truth, but it would do.

The girl nodded before moving past Conner and into the storage room.

"My name's Krystal. I'm the bassist and cellist and keyboardist for Moonstruck. It's nice to meet you Axel St. Jonh." She stuck her hand out and Axel only hesitated a second before reaching for it.

"Please just...just Axel."

She nodded before giving him a wide grin and pointing her thumb behind her.

"The tough guys over there are Conner O'Connell and Declan Morgan. Conner plays guitar and vocals, Declan's our drummer, but he's been known to grab the fiddle from time to time. Likes to tease our violinist into a duet when he's bored."

"Krys, he doesn't need to know that kind of shite." Declan grumbled, but his demeanor calmed considerable with the girls easy acceptance of Axel.

"If you've got a second fiddle, I'll give you a run for your money." Axel said without thought.

Declan's look of incredulity made everyone in the room but him and Axel laugh.

"Ye play the fiddle?" Declan asked skeptically.

"I play a lot of things." Axel said cryptically.

"Well, as curious as I am with a statement like that, we've got a band to talk to yeah?" Conner turned on his heel and pushed Declan out of his way as he left. "Yer brother's probably waitin' for ye too Axel."

Declan looked back to Conner before turning to Axel again. A few heartbeats passed in silence, until Declan finally turned away himself and left the room.

"I can't wait to see you play the fiddle. You've got quite a bit of muscle for a musician." Krystal said as she too left the room.

Left alone with the beautiful creature, Axel felt himself calming.

"Ye were quick to step in front of danger. Ye sure yer not stupid?" Killian's tone was teasing, the twinkle he had seen on stage was back in Killian's eyes and Axel was glad for it.

"Maybe." Axel admitted. "But treasure was made to be protected."

"Are ye callin' me a treasure?" Killian said with a small laugh.

"I guess I am." Axel said thoughtfully. He was attracted to Killian, that was no question, but Axel couldn't help wondering why. There was something about this boy that brought Axel peace. Nothing had done that before. Nothing but music that is.