The Falcon swooped in through the large, glassless window of the huge museum's top level. The top level was only about half the length and width of the entire building and no one ever went up there. There was nothing there but some scattered, long-forgotten artifacts that were broken, useless, and mostly worthless. It was his sanctuary. His safe haven. He kept a few items hidden amongst the riff raff. A mat and blankets, a small stove, a small portable refrigerator, some various items to cook with, personal items, and a few books. He didn't need much and kept his possessions to a minimum.

He landed gently and shook his wings once before closing them around him protectively. He was about to move forward toward his resting area when something caught his attention. His eyes darted around the nearly pitch dark enclosure. He could see well in darkness so it wasn't an issue. He was used to keeping to the night. He had less chance of being spotted by the general public that way.

Someone was there. Hidden from direct view but he could sense them. He sniffed the air gently. He didn't sense danger. He just sensed.... someone. A dark figure stepped out from behind the cover of one of the dust-covered objects that had an old, tattered sheet draped over it.

"Who are you?" The Falcon's voice was smooth as silk and almost musical.

"Please do not be alarmed. I mean you no harm," A female voice spoke back to him softly. "I need to speak to you." She had an accent. It wasn't strong but it was definitely foreign. The Falcon tried to place it and failed.

"You may come forward. Out where I can see you." He gestured for her to come toward him. She moved... no... More like glided out from her hiding place into full view. Over her head she wore a shawl of some sort which she reached up and lifted away, draping it around her shoulders so that he could see her face.

His breath caught in his throat when he looked at her. She had beautiful, milk-chocolate skin, hair that hung down her back in one thick braid, and she was dressed in clothing that would seem to make her... Jamaican! It came to him suddenly, and he was relieved to now be able to place her accent. The most striking thing about her were her eyes. They were a beautiful, glowing green. He knew those eyes. He'd seen them before...

"I am Tya. I am… different like you are and you can trust me. You have my word."

"I know that I can." He eyed her, his mind trying to place those eyes.

"I look familiar to you, yes?" Her eyebrows rose slightly in question. She was so beautiful. He found it difficult to find his voice. He stepped closer to her and breathed in as his sensitive sense of smell picked up her exotic scent. She smelled of vanilla and jasmine. It was intoxicating.

"Why are you here?" he asked, ignoring her question. Only a select few even knew of his existence much less dropped in to visit. His origins were a mystery even to him and he'd been fortunate to have been discovered by those he now considered his friends and even family.

..........

Tya moved a bit closer to the Falcon cautiously. She didn't want to startle him. She knew how sensitive this amazing bird-man was and how easy it would be to cause him to spread those giant wings and fly away from her. He had the instincts of a bird. A bird of prey but a bird none the less.

He didn't flee. In fact he seemed mesmerized by her. She wasn't certain that aspect of her power would have any effect on him but apparently it did. She didn't like to use it on anyone unless they were an enemy, but she needed him to stay. To trust her and talk to her. She didn't want to scare him away and have him deny her the chance she had been preparing and waiting for.

"I have been waiting for some time for the opportunity to speak with you," she began while slowly decreasing the hold on him, little by little. She didn't want him under her spell while they talked. She wanted him fully alert with his mind under his own control. "It seems the two of us have interests involving the same man. I should like to help you while, perhaps, you might help me." Her accent, although faint, added just the perfect lilt to her voice.

"What man are you referring to?" he asked in his melodic voice.

"His name... is Tyrone. He is my brother. My twin. He does not know of me. He has blocked the memory of me from his conscious mind. We were separated as small children when our mother passed. I have been watching over him for some time now."

His gaze broke free of hers finally, as the power she had held over him faded. He was calm and seemed to have no inclination to flee. He turned around to face the window through which he'd entered the building and stared out into the darkness. "There are others beside your brother who I am interested in."

"I am aware. I realize he is involved with dangerous people and that his path has taken him to dark places. But you must believe me when I tell you that he is not a bad man."

The Falcon turned to her abruptly, narrowing his golden eyes. "Your brother has involved himself with people who murder for no other reason than to keep them quiet. Who terrorize innocent humans who have done nothing save been in the wrong place at the wrong time. These people... this ring of men and women who think that they can take whatever they want and hurt whomever they please in the process... they must be stopped. And your brother, my lady, is nearly at the heart of the operation...”

"Which is why we must help each other!" Her voice contained just a touch of urgency but she remained calm and kept her actions soothing. "I am a seer. This is a power that my people have perfected for centuries before most of the rest of the world had even begun to realize they had capabilities beyond the physical and intellectual. You are unique. An angel amongst us, but you do understand that most of us develop what we have an affinity for. Some quickly. Others slowly. Some not at all. Well, my ability to see has been handed down to me through the generations. My brother has it too, but he does not know it yet."

"Tyrone has super-human abilities?" 

"He is like me, yes, but his mind has blocked things out and he has no hope of discovering them unless I am successful in removing him from his current occupation. I must extract him, but I know they will not allow him to just go. They will kill him most certainly. This is where I believe we can be of help to each other. I am able to project my memory into his mind and speak to him. He can receive it because we are alike. There is much more that I can do to help you. I am known as Oracle. I have been aware of your operations for a while, now.  You and your friends."

"So, you would like to join forces. Is that what you are telling me?" He took another tentative step closer to her, his heightened senses picking up no danger from her. "You want to help my friends and me?"

She nodded her head, relieved that he was understanding her. Of his own accord he was warming up to her quickly. This wasn't surprising considering his fine-tuned instincts. They would pick up any ill intentions very quickly if she had them. "I believe that we share a common interest, if not goal. My interest is channeled toward my brother, but I can appreciate what you are trying to do as well. I have been waiting for the right time to approach you. I chose to speak to you because you are the eyes and (in the physical sense) the 'seer' for your own operation. We have something in common, you and me. We are both seers. You know the most about my brother. These facts, all of them together, brought me to you."

.......

The Falcon stood there contemplating her words. When she spoke she made more sense to him than any other human he'd ever had conversation with. He was drawn to her in a way he didn't yet understand. He trusted her, which was unusual for him of someone he'd only just met.

He stepped another step closer and held out a hand to her.

"I am Jerome."

She placed her hand in his and he dipped low before brushing the back of it softly with his lips. When he released her hand his eyes bore into hers. He felt her open her soul to him, allowing him access. Allowing him to see inside of her. He could not ever remember laying eyes upon anyone more beautiful.

"I will arrange for us to meet with my people. They will know that this will be a good union because I know it will be. You may return here this evening. The necessary members of our organization will come. They will meet you. I believe what you say. That we can help each other."

She nodded in agreement and smiled at him. "I will come, Jerome. I am so pleased that you have been so quick to understand. You are a remarkable creature... I-I do hope you do not take that in a negative way. I am fascinated by you. I will return this evening and I very much look forward to seeing you again."

He returned her smile, an expression that was almost foreign to his face. It enhanced his exotic features so that anyone fortunate enough to have witnessed his smile longed to see it again. He moved to her side and held his arm out to her. "Allow me to escort you to the exit. I trust you will get home safely?"

......

Tya nodded as she took Jerome's arm. She had been watching him for a while from afar, but up close she felt as though she stood in the presence of a heavenly being. He had no idea of his own majesty. It was fortunate he chose to keep himself hidden. Human-kind was not ready for the likes him.

(Author's Note: PLEASE do not forget to vote for each chapter if you like it so far. This is the only way I have any idea whether it's good. I don't go seeking to escalate it by exchanging reads and votes with other writers, etc, so... you guys please let me know. If it sucks, I will move on to something else. I've lots of ideas.)