Coop island had started out as a prison village for banished criminals who were no longer welcome in their own kingdoms. Why waste money on keeping criminals alive in prisons when they could be sent to Coop Island? If you were unlucky, you were swung off a death bridge on a tight noose. If you were lucky, you got sent to Coop Island.

The island was a giant atoll with a lagoon in the middle of it. Sandy beach stretched out for thousands of kilometres only disturbed by patches of coconut groves and rocks that dotted the island's monotonous line. The villagers survived on fish, crabs, and coconuts but it was a hard life. Scurvy was rampant among the prison population. Escape was impossible unless a boat arrived from beyond the waters. But no one was foolish enough to approach the island of criminals. That was until the pirates decided to recruit from Coop Island. Fast forward to the current day and it was a hotbed of activity and a haven for rogue mages and anti mages that had bounties on their heads.

Syryn had done a thorough research of the island. Pirates, criminals, and all sorts of unsavoury characters inhabited the island. With his lack of discretion and tendency to court trouble, Syryn knew he would have a difficult time at Coop Island. Death and maiming were troublesome problems but there was one other crisis that plagued Syryn more than the possibility of meeting injury - there were no accurate maps of Coop available on the market.

A solo trip meant he had to rely on his undeveloped sense of direction. Syryn glanced at the orange tabby sleeping on a plant. Navi's huge orange body was pressed over the leaves of the unfortunate plant into its pot.

"Navi, can you take me to coop island?" Syryn asked the cat.

Navi stared at Syryn. The mage stared back at the cat.

"I guess that's a no..."

The door to his room swung open forcefully. A fuming redhead was standing at the threshold of his room.

"I'm coming with you!" Red declared.

"You are going to attend classes with Luci."

"It's unfair!"

Syryn dared not believe what he was suddenly seeing. Lucien's eyes misted over and the redhead's cherubic lips wobbled.

"Big Brother.."

"No."

The older boy's resolve was already weakening but he reminded himself that he was going to Coop Island. This wasn't Nua.

"Please.."

"Stop that, Luci! You can't act cute and pathetic, and expect everything to go your way."

The tears were fake. His face went back to looking annoyed. "Well, it was worth a try."

"I'm going to Coop island, Red. I won't risk Luci's life just because you want a vacation away from school."

"Fine fine," the child replied. "Who are you going with then?"

"Alone."

The redhead snorted. "You'll get lost. You know that right?"

"I have a map."

"Okay," Red smiled like he knew the map was not going to be of any help to Syryn. "When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"Hmm... I won't risk Rowan's condition more than we already have."

"At least take Navi with you. You'll have company, and once you visit a place, he will remember the directions for you."

That had been his plan too. But if Syryn met with trouble, Navi would be risking his life as well. And for some sentimental reason, the mage wanted to keep the orange tabby safe. Milky on the other hand was fair game.

"I think I'll take Milky with me instead of Navi," Syryn said to the redhead. "Where is Milky?"

"Don't know. Navi will be lonely without Milky so you might as well take them both."

____

When Rowan reached home from a quick stop at the HQ, Syryn was already done packing. He was a dead starfish on their shared bed. The blond breezed in with his choppy hair, starched shirt unbuttoned at the collar bones, and he was lethal in his beauty. That was unfair.

"I have a contact for you at Coop Island," Rowan said to the sad starfish. "An undercover Sanguine who goes by the moniker of Robin. If you find yourself in trouble, establish contact with her."

Syryn lifted his head and nodded before letting it fall back on the bed. He was parting from Rowan again. It was happening too soon.

"Syryn, how are you going to get around without someone guiding you?" It was a genuine concern for anyone who knew the mage.

"I don't know. I'm not taking the cats with me. I'll figure something out," he said with lethargy.

It sounded to Rowan like Syryn was planning to throw his dice to the fates decided by luck. For such a dangerous journey, his lover's flippant attitude towards preparations did not sit well with Rowan.

"Syryn, if you get lost at Coop, you can't just ask for directions."

"I don't intend to, Ro. I'll just look at my map."

"You have a map?"

"It's not very accurate but it'll do. If push comes to shove, I'll kidnap some weak looking criminal and force him to lead me around."

A frown marred Rowan's brows.

"Come here, Ro. Let me squeeze your boobs."

It was the most un-erotic thing the anti mage had ever heard.

"Come to think of it, since we're parting tomorrow, we should fuck." Syryn rolled to his stomach and looked up at Rowan.

"Are you... we- wet?" The mage asked with some hesitation. A blush appeared on his cheeks and he couldn't look straight at the blond who hadn't said anything.

"No," the anti mage replied. He was one breath away from laughter. The anti mage found the situation ridiculous but since Syryn was trying to be supportive, he held a straight face at the mage's attempt at whatever he was trying to do. "Do you want me to be?"

Rowan didn't appear the least bit interested in exploring his new body, the mage observed.

Syryn's throat bobbed. "Ro, if you want, I can - I can.."

"Go to sleep, Syryn."

The mage sighed in relief. He had half expected Rowan to agree.

"Yeah, I'm going to do that. Goodnight Rowan."