Hello! Hi again. I know! I know! I told you guys last time that I'll not be writing again until my exam is over at the end of April but I JUST COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!! I'm just soooooo sick of studying so I thought I'll just take a break and write something. But BE WARNED that this is not gonna happen every day. After the exam, I'll write on, but till then, well... if I got sick of studying again, I'll write again :) Otherwise, well, if I'm still alive after the bloody exam (Please God, I hope!), I'll continue writing. So guys and gals, here's the next part of Dreams of an Angel! Hope you enjoy it. And thanks again for the cool feedback guys. You guys are the coolest! :) If you have any suggestions or comment, well, the email addy is below, so you know where to drop the note.
Onwards to the boring part! Legal matters! Hehehe. You can press 'fast-forward' now.
Well, first of all, this story, as you will certainly find out soon, is TOTALLY fictional. So! If any of you truly believe in it... well, my brother is studying psychiatry right now for his final medical examination in April, so maybe I'll just refer you to him. You'd make a good delusional subject. Secondly! None of the guys in the Backstreet Boys are gay! (No matter how hard I wished it :P). But nobody say we couldn't dream it, heh heh. Thirdly, Warren Worthington is actually a character from Marvel Comics, X-men known as Angel or recently Archangel. Okay fine, I admit it. I'm bored and I am making a pathetic attempt to make life a lil' bit interesting. Its not like I'm gonna publish it or something. What else to talk about hmm? Oh, there may be some adult gay scenes in this story. Unlike my brother, I don't mind writing naughty stuff ;) so! If you're underage, naughty, naughty! I can only ask you to go away, but I cannot do anything else to stop you from reading on anyway. Hell! I've been sneaking into the internet to watch gay porns since I was 13! So, if your parents or whoever responsible for you catch you, don't say I didn't warned you. However, if you're homophobic... well maybe I can seduce you enough to turn you around heh heh. I do so love a challenge ;)
Anyway, enough talk. Any comments or boos or suggestion or whatever, just sent it to the same address as in NNTs, goldenknightuk@yahoo.co.uk . Yeah, we shared the same address. Don't ask. Long story.
Okay then! On to the show. Now, don't be shy now. If you got any comments or suggestions, just drop me a note. You do the request, and I'll do the show.
Andy
"You sure you're gonna be all right on your own, buddy?" asked AJ. "I can go with you if you want."
"Of course I'm gonna be okay, AJ. Quit treating me like a lil' kid, will you?" Nick replied in an irritated tone.
"Whoa, there. Don't get pissed on me. I'm just looking out for you. That's what friends are supposed to do to each other right?" AJ backed away quickly, smiling cheerfully.
Nick smiled back at him and adjusted his tone. He didn't mean to get pissy with AJ. The man IS trying to look out for him. Even without empathically reaching out to him, Nick could actually feel the sincere concern emanating from AJ's mind.
They are in the VIP lounge of the airport, waiting for AJ's and Howie's flight to be announced indicating the time for boarding. Howie has gone off to make some phone calls while Jubilee and Warren went off somewhere to arrange for their own private flight to Westchester.
"What are you gonna do for your vacation, AJ?"
AJ simply shrugged.
"I haven't really made any plans yet." He answered. "Spend a couple of weeks with my folks, then maybe off somewhere for a nice relaxing time. Maybe dabble with something else or another. We'll see. And you?"
"I'm going off to pay Brian and Leigh Ann a visit in a couple of weeks. You wanna come along? The more the merrier."
AJ looked at him consideringly.
"Yeah, why not." He smiled. "We'll call the others and have a barbecue party or something. Then we go out, hit the clubs and hang out just like the old times."
"Yeah! That's a great idea." Nick agreed happily.
"Anything else you gonna do besides going to Brian's?"
Nick just shook his head. He knew AJ wouldn't have any problem with him being a mutant but he's not prepared to make that little step just yet.
"I think I'm gonna hang out with Warren and Jube for a while. At times, I'll go and check on my house and my folks. And for the rest... well, like you, I haven't made any plans just yet."
"You and Warren seem to get along really well." Said AJ as he lounge on the couch lazily. "I never seen you click that well and that quickly to anyone so easily before."
"I like him." Nick admitted steadily. "He's way cooler than any rich guys I ever met. Most of those rich and famous people I encountered are either too snobby or too annoying."
AJ laughed.
"And being rich and famous yourself..."
"Don't go there, AJ," Nick interrupted with a warning glare at the laughing guy.
"Warning noted," AJ surrendered as he smiled cheekily.
"What about Howie?" asked Nick curiously, "Is he gonna be with you?"
"He was at first," AJ answered in a somewhat annoyed voice. "But then he received words that he is needed in New York; something to do with 'The Right' meetings or something. I wish he didn't get involved with those lot. People there always give me the creeps."
Nick tensed up upon hearing that name. The people involved in that organization always gave him the creeps too in the past, and now that he learned that he's a mutant, those people now practically frighten him out of his boots.
"Howie's still not over with Jessica's death, huh?" Nick said softly as he struggled hard to control his fear.
"He was in love with her, Nick," AJ sighed. "He might not say so in the past, but, well, you saw how his eyes lights up whenever she was near. And when she was not around, he'd become moody and quiet. The signs were there all the time. Kev and I were actually waiting for the big news that they'd actually get together at last. But... well, I suppose that will never happen now."
"I never noticed those signs," Nick admitted sadly. "You know how bad I am in noticing any signs and figuring things out. But I got my own suspicions at the time."
The two remained quiet for a moment as they remember the fun time they had with the girl.
"Brian suspected that Howie was going to tell her of his feelings a couple of days before the whole incidence happened," said AJ suddenly. "He overheard Howie booking a flight to New York one night."
In a way, that little piece of information makes Nick felt ever more sorrier to Howie than before. He never knew about that.
"I guess Howie has all the right reasons to hate mutants." Said Nick, but he was surprise when AJ only gives a weary sigh at his remarks.
"Things happen, Nick. Sometimes thing in life doesn't go exactly the way you wants it." He said tiredly. "I was sad and angry at the news of Jess's death too. But I don't go around blaming all mutants for it. There are good mutants and there are bad mutants, just like there are good humans and bad humans in this world. If Jess got caught in some crossfire between some crazy mafia mob bosses and the cops and got killed because of it, would you blame everyone involved in that shootings? Both the cops AND the mob bosses? I'd only blame the mob bosses. The cops are only doing their jobs to protect the people and eliminate the threats. The same goes for those mutants out there. I only blame the bad mutants. Those good ones are only trying to help us but sometimes, people die no matter how hard they try."
"And I definitely wouldn't associate myself with those honchos from 'The Right'. They are up to no good, Nick. I'm willing to bet all my money on that. That's why I'm keeping an eye on Howie. Hopefully I can pull him out before the bomb explodes. Revenge because of love is one thing, but mass murder is another. And the way those fanatical idiots in 'The Right' are behaving, I've no doubt they are heading towards that direction."
"You've been attending their meetings?" asked Nick.
"Someone needs to keep an eye on Howie." AJ shrugged. "Friends take care of each other right? That's why I felt bad when I didn't notice that you were having problems. I was too busy looking the other way to notice things right under my nose."
"Hey, dude, for the last time, don't worry about it!" Nick smiled. "You can't look at every directions all at the same time. Don't beat yourself up for it."
"Well, don't say Kevin is the only one working for the good of the group." AJ laughed softly. "While Kev fusses around with y'all like a mother-hen, I'll be the group's secret guardian angel."
Nick laughed at that.
"Got any feather wings or a halo of light to show me, O Guardian Angel?"
"Nay, my child. Thou art not worthy yet to see me in my full glory," AJ attempted a sagely smile as he assumed a mocking self-righteous pose.
The two chuckled for a moment before falling silent.
"Speaking of feather wings, look at what I found in Warren's room last night!" AJ exclaimed as he digs into his bag. "I've never seen it before in my life."
Nick's eyes widened in shock as AJ pulled out a pure-white feather about the size of Nick's forearm.
"This must come from one HUGE bird!" said AJ laughingly.
"Gosh, AJ, you've been stealing from Warren's apartment?"
"Hey! I wasn't stealing! It was lying on the floor at the edge of the balcony, nearly falling off it. Some birds must have dropped it. I picked it up out of curiosity and took it back to my room when we left the place. It's beautiful isn't it? I've never seen something so pure-white like this before. And soft too!"
"Man! You really should stop picking up strange things wherever you go, AJ," said Nick, barely hiding the nervousness in his voice. "It's becoming a bad habit. Last time you picked up some dirty old stone from some woods because you think its shape is interesting."
"Hey! It does have a shape like a sea-horse!" AJ defended. "Anyway, I can't help picking up strange objects that I find interesting. I've been doing it since I was a kid."
"Well, at least you didn't pick up some dirty old tampons like the last time when we were in Europe." Nick laughed brightly.
AJ blushed indignantly.
"I wasn't aware it was a tampon!!" He said in frustration before laughing again. "Ooooohhh! Don't remind me of that incident!!! I've never felt so embarrassed in my life!"
The two lost themselves in chuckles once again before falling silent.
"Hey, AJ." Said Nick. "Think I can have that feather? You're right. It is beautiful."
AJ grinned.
"Hah! Look who're collecting strange things now."
"Pleeeeaseee?" Nick pleaded, giving him his best puppy face.
"Say 'AJ is the greatest guy in the whole world with a golden voice and a gorgeous god-like body and the best personality amongst the Backstreet Boys' first." AJ smiled smugly.
Nick's eyes widened at that.
"Good God! You really have a high opinion of yourself, don't you?"
"Hey! It's not everyday I have the star-attraction of the Backstreet Boys right under my thumb," AJ laughed again. "I might as well savor the moment."
Nick looked at the feather and was surprised that he really, really wants it. That came from Warren's wings and if he has it in his possession, he could always feel and cherish the softness of the wings whenever he wants to.
"AJ is the greatest guy in the whole world with a golden voice and a gorgeous god-like body and the best personality amongst the Backstreet Boys." Nick could feel the shameful blush creeping up his face as he recites those words.
AJ nearly fall of his seat laughing.
"Wow, you really want it don't you?!" He gasped.
"It's beautiful, you said so yourself." Said Nick. "Now can I have it."
"I should have recorded that. Oh well, next time you want something else from me, I'll do that." Said AJ. "Here. Take it."
Nick took the feather almost reverently and softly strokes it. The softness, the smoothness of it... he will treasure this for the rest of his life. AJ has no idea how valuable this feather is to Nick. Carefully, he placed it into his own bag.
"Hey! Would you mind if I come over and visit Warren and you at Westchester?" said AJ suddenly.
"Umm..." Nick replied uncertainly. "Well... maybe... I mean, you need to inform me in advance first because... well... I might not be there, you see. I may go and visit my families and all... you know. And of course, you need to tell Warren about it."
"Of course," said AJ. "Maybe I'll pay a visit there later. I'll bring Howie along and Warren and Jubilee can show us around this school they go to."
Nick received that little statement with a grunt, but didn't say anything... because he doesn't know what to say! Howie wandering about in a school full of mutants? Okay! He must warn Warren about this.
"Umm..." Nick began but was relieved when the door opened and Warren and Jubilee came in, laughing.
"Guys! Can you sign this pictures for me??" Jubilee shrill voice lit up the whole room as she bounced into the room with a teenybopper magazine bearing their faces on the front cover in her hand.
"My pleasure, sweetheart!" AJ laughed merrily. "Anything for my little wild princess!"
Warren looked with amusement at Jube's blushing face.
"My God! AJ! How the hell did you do that?? You just made Jubilee blush!" Warren exclaimed.
"Ah! Some questions are better left to aged sages, my dear Warren," said AJ sagely before laughing. We Backstreet Boys have many talents other than singing and dancing!"
"Hear, hear!" Nick clamored in as he joined the laughter.
They all looked up when the door opened again and Howie stepped inside, looking at them quietly, especially Warren. Alarm set off in Nick's mind as he immediately sense something is wrong. Howie's mind is radiating with... suspicions... and wariness... Does he know about Warren?
"So, you're not gonna hang out with me for the holiday, D?" asked AJ.
"Maybe in a few weeks, buddy." Howie replied apologetically. "I know, I know. I promised we hang out more during the holiday. But 'The Right' is organizing a rally next week and they've selected me to be part of the organizing team. Hey! You can join me if you want."
Nick noticed Warren and Jubilee's head snapped up upon hearing that name. Luckily, the two didn't notice.
"Sorry dude." AJ politely declined as he shot Nick a look that asked him not to reveal what he has just confided earlier. "I've been waiting for this holiday for ages and I'm not gonna waste it on anything else other than eat, sleep and clubs."
"Well, it's your choice. Wish you come along though." Said Howie. "What about you Nick? Jube?"
"No, thank you," Jubilee politely declined, but Nick could empathically feel the disappointment, contempt and loathing from Jubilee's mind, all directed towards Howie. "I have better things to do."
"I have nothing against mutants, Howie," Warren spoke emotionlessly, "In fact, some of my friends are mutants. In any case, I don't think some of the people in that organization would be pleased to see me. We had some... encounters before, and it was not on a friendly term."
Nick body began to tense as he looked nervously at Howie. The hatred from Howie's mind flared so brightly it almost drowned all other emotions from everyone else in the room. Even now, he could see Jubilee and AJ looking up at Howie warily as they felt the sudden tension in the room. Howie is looking at Warren with a sudden contempt in his eyes.
"So I heard," Howie replied coolly. "I mentioned your name just now to Kirk, a friend of mine in 'The Right' and he didn't like you at all. He told me that you rejected their request for you to be our sponsor. He also told me you've been consorting with mutants, even supporting them."
"As I said, I have no problems with mutants." Warren replied. "As for whether I have any dealings with mutants or not, well, you cannot be choosy when you're managing a business empire. Either way, you let me worry about that."
"Kirk also told me you were involved in Hodge's death." Said Howie quietly.
Warren's eyes suddenly become sharp and Nick looked at the two men worriedly. Now, the dominating emotion he sense comes from Warren... hatred, tinge with something else... betrayal?
"Hodge was my trusted friend once, but he betrayed me." Warren spoke quietly. "He tried to kill me and steal my money. It has nothing to do with mutants. He got what he deserved."
"That's not what they think in 'The Right'." Said Howie.
"I don't give a damn about what 'The Right' think." Warren snapped. Nick looked at Warren, startled. That was the first time he heard anger in Warren's voice.
They stared quietly at each other for a while.
"Don't involve yourself with mutants, Warren." Howie spoke at last, his voice as cold as ice. "It's not worth it. They are not worth it. They only bring misery and sufferings to us all. I'll be waiting for the day when humankind will rise and wipe them all out once and for all."
Jubilee stirred slightly at the side and when Nick looked at her, she was looking outside the window quietly. Nick also noticed the teenybopper magazine lying unnoticed in the wastebasket... not to mention the strong feeling of disappointment, loathing and sorrow rolling from her in waves.
"You're entitled to your own opinion." Warren replied. "I'm sorry if my opinion on the matter is entirely different than yours."
Nick felt relieved when the announcement AJ and Howie's flight suddenly arise from the speaker, breaking all the tension in the room.
"Well, D," said AJ soothingly. "We got to go. C'mon, don't take these things too seriously, dude. So you have your own opinion. But you cannot help it if other people have different points of view about these things. C'mon. The plane is waiting."
Howie simply picked up his bag without even breaking his gaze from Warren.
"Bye, Howie, AJ." Said Nick as he hugs AJ. "Keep in touch will, ya?"
"Of course I will!" AJ laughed.
"You sure you want to follow Warren, Nick?" said Howie. Nick shivered inwardly as he felt Howie's gaze directed towards him. He couldn't imagine what Howie'd do if he finds out Nick's a mutant. "You can hang out with AJ... or me."
At the corner of Nick's eyes, he could see Warren looking at him silently. Nick smiled at Howie.
"Naaah. I need some time off and I think Warren's a cool guy. You take care of yourself, okay, D? Don't takes things too seriously, buddy. Me, I'm gonna enjoy myself to the fullest while I'm still young and good-looking."
"You say it, bruddah!" AJ cheered beside Nick and gives him a high-five.
"If you say so, Nick." Said Howie quietly, throwing a glance at Warren as he did so. It's obvious that he identified Warren as an enemy now, and tried to get Nick away from him. "Just be careful you don't end up like Jess."
'This is it,' Nick though quietly. 'It's starting. It's only a matter of time before all hell break loose.'
Howie paused before Warren for a moment, as he walked to the door.
"Mutants are a menace to the society." He declared quietly. "And so are those who help and support them."
"Jube?"
The girl looked up from her brooding to gaze expressionlessly at Nick. For the past hours in Warren's private jet, Jubilee has not said anything to anyone at all. She spent all her time sitting near the front of the plane, gazing out of the window. But Nick knew better. He is after all, an empath.
"You're an empath, right?" said Jubilee. Nick simply nodded his answer.
"Then you know what I'm feeling right now, right? What mood I'm experiencing right now?"
Nick simply nodded his answer again. For all the hours of their flight since leaving LA, Nick could sense nothing else from her except disappointment and anger. Howie's words seem to affect her deeply.
"Then you understand if I tell you I prefer to be left alone." Jubilee said flatly as she turned her gaze back to the window.
Deep inside, Nick felt sad to be turned down like that. He only wanted to help. He felt like he's partly responsible simply because he's Howie's friend. Howie shouldn't have say those hurtful things about mutants, but then, Nick understood perfectly WHY Howie said that; WHY Howie hates mutants very much.
"You... you dropped your magazine back there at the airport." Nick spoke slowly, holding out the rumpled magazine towards her.
He could hear Jubilee chuckled softly to herself. A sarcastic chuckles, because empathically, he couldn't detect any joy or amusement in her mind.
"What's the point of keeping it, Nick?" she spoke softly. "Seeing his face on it only reminds me of his hurtful words; his hate."
Silence stretched for a moment or two before she continues.
"You know, I used to think very highly of all of you. You were like... every teenage girls' gods. I used to have this... fantasy of meeting all of you, and then you all would take me out for dinner and have a good time and all. But after hearing his words... it really hurts, Nick."
"I'm sorry, Jube." Said Nick softly. "I... Well... You know AJ and I didn't share his opinion. And I'm pretty sure Brian and Kevin don't share his opinion too."
Jubilee merely smiled.
"You know, Nick, I used to live in the streets before ending up at Westchester. My parents turned me out of the house when they discovered I'm a mutie. I lived in the streets and sewers for 3 whole years, making money by performing at the street side. I used my pyrotechnics ability to create sparks of fireworks and pretended that it is some sort of street performers tricks. Sometimes, I was discovered and then the whole nightmares began. Mobs of people began to chase me with sticks and metal bars, shouting 'Mutie' and 'Freaks' and thousands other hurtful name. Sometimes I got lucky and managed to outrun them and hide. Other times, they caught me and beat me up, and I'll ended up bruised and bleeding for days."
"On the streets, I heard all your songs and watched all your concerts on the TVs on sale in the shops. I love all your songs and I really, really envied you guys. When I got beaten up, I'd find some cracks or corner in some alley and I would just hide and dream of you guys so that I wouldn't notice the pain that much. I really looked up on all of you."
"Then, Howie spewed all those hurtful words and the whole things just evaporate. I don't think I will ever look at you guys the same as I did before. I'm a mutie, Nick, and one of the X-men. One of the good mutie. Without the X-men, Magneto and the rest'd have destroyed all of you hundreds time over long before now. We are stuck in a thankless job of protecting all of you only to be spit and hunt down and beaten by the same people we are protecting. Sometimes, I found myself wondering why we even bother."
"I sure hope you're prepared of what you're going through in the future, Nick." Jubilee continued. "You're a mutie now, just like Warren, me and the rest. You'll be Howie's target practice as much as any other muties. I just wished I can see the look on his face when he realizes that his beloved bandmates is actually a mutie. It'll be a war between you against the rest of the world, the latter also include all those big-shot mutie who wants to see you dead too. Yeah, it's a crazy world out there, Nick. But that's your road now. Be strong, and you'll survive."
With that, Jubilee just turned away and stares silently out of the window, leaving Nick to get up and walks back to his seat, wondering about his future. He dimly heard Warren's voice droning from the back of the plane as he talks to the Worthington Industries board members through the phone.
The Backstreet Boys have lost one fan today. Anyone would say it's an insignificant loss, but to Nick, it really hurts. He loved his career more than anything else in the world, and has worked hard all these years to get it off into the air. Losing a fan is not a small matter in Nick's mind. How many fans would they lose when Howie finally decided to act openly? How many more fans would they lose when they find out that Nick is a mutant? Hell, the British boyband, Boyzone, started falling apart just from the rumors that one of their member is gay. Would the same happen in his case?
'It's a crazy world out there, Nick. But that's your road now.' Jubilee's word echoed on and on in his mind.
She's right. This is his road now, where he has to confront all the hate and prejudice of the world. The real question now is, is he strong enough to survive it?
Only time will tell.
Glancing at the seat next to Jubilee, he saw the magazine Jubilee had thrown earlier. Brian, AJ, Nick, Howie and Kevin's faces are on the cover of the magazine, smiling happily - remnants of the old days. Nothing will ever be the same again, now. Nick is a mutant and Howie is out seeking vengeance and mutant's blood. AJ, Brian and Kevin are going to be caught in the middle. Hopefully, they won't be around when the bomb finally explode.