Hey y'all. Here's the next part of Dreams of an Angel. Kinda long is it? I know. But then, I'm kinda in the mood to write, so bear with me okay :) Hope you don't fall asleep reading. Hope you all enjoy it! Any comments or suggestions, well, you know how to contact me. My Yahoo ID is Goldenknightuk if you wish to send me an instant message. Sorry for any bad grammars boys and girl. C'mon! Nobody's perfect!! :)
Before the show, 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... dude, I'm worried about you. 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
Part 47: 'Songs of Sorrow'
Xavier's Mansion...
Hank stood at the hangar entrance expectantly, watching the Blackbird land slowly. Behind him, stretchers and medical trays stood in readiness. How many days had it been since the team went off to the northern region of Canada where they found an old abandoned lab belonging to their arch-foe, Sinister?
It began when Jean and Moira finally completed their analysis of Cerebro's data log several days after that unfortunate attack on Professor Xavier. With Cerebro's aid as well as the information they acquired from the data-log, Jean was able to determine the exact location of Xavier's attacker when the attack was made. And surprise, surprise, it was right next to the scene where Nick and the others were attacked by the Marauders, at the top of one of the neighboring buildings.
Then, one bad news leads to another. Scott ordered Logan and Remy to go to the scene and do a little bit of investigation of their own to find out any scraps of clues that can help them uncover who the attacker was. The result of their investigation was... very unsettling...
As soon as they arrived there, Logan immediately detected a scent... a familiar scent... belonging to no other than Psylocke... one of their own...
Such thing is... impossible... not to mention unbelievable! Betsy is a respectable member of the X-men. More than once in the past, she has proven her loyalty to the group by saving their lives again and again. Granted that her cold features are somewhat... unsettling... everybody here respected her and she respected everyone else in return. Even Xavier respected her talents and abilities. It's hard to believe that Betsy would actually attacked Xavier... her very own mentor.
At first, Hank was more than willing to dismiss that idea... if it were not for the second piece of evidence Remy found at the scene.
Careful study of the item reveals that it is... was is a better term... some sort of a telepathic enhancer - like a 'portable Cerebro'. The circuitries appear to have burned out completely... as if it was used to the extent that exceeded its normal capability. Even worst... detailed analysis of the circlet also reveals several strands of hair on it... probably got caught when the circlet was wrenched away quickly as the circuitries crackled and burned the flesh. DNA studies of the hair cells matches those of Betsy...
The third finding is even worst. Comparative analysis of the circlet shows distinct similarity in design and pattern to all known technologies created by Sinister.
So the main question that send a shock through everyone in the team is... has Betsy betrayed the X-men, and allied herself to Sinister?
Not even Bobby knows how to react to that. Jean and Rogue were the most furious. Scott and Storm received the news with stunned silence. Remy was... expressionless... but then, he had a history of betrayal in the past as well. Logan only growl and Hank doubt things would fare well for Betsy should the Canadian ever get his hands on her.
And God only know how Warren would react if he hears about this. Eventhough he is with Nick now... Hank has no doubt that Warren still loves Betsy deep in his heart... perhaps not as strongly as it was before but it's still there. Perhaps it was well that they heeded Storm's advice and kept this from Warren. Perhaps, it was a blessing as well that Nick decided to go home and Warren decided to accompany him. Nick's empathic ability can certainly detect the unrest atmosphere amongst the team in the mansion.
The big question is... why? Why would Betsy do this?
"Hank!"
Hank looks up, startled, at the sound of Jean's voice and it was then, he realized that the Blackbird has landed. Jean staggers tiredly as he half-carry, half-drag Bobby in her hands. Both looks worst for wear. Scott got out behind them with an unconscious Jubilee in his arms.
Right after their trip to Sinister's abandoned lab up north, they received a distress call from Forge and Cable, who evidently got themselves into trouble with Magneto and his followers down in Genosha. They change their course and rushed there immediately. Then, one thing leads to another, and then they all ended up getting caught in between the uprising of the Genoshan anti-mutant militants and Magneto.
"Looks like you had a good welcoming committee in Genosha." Hank remarked as he helped Bobby onto one of the stretcher.
"Shut up, furball." Bobby groaned. "Sheesh, I'm beginning to understand what my clothes feel when they go into the washing machine."
"Magneto roughed him up bad, Hank." Jean spoke mildly, patting Bobby gently on the shoulder before turning to help Scott with Jubilee. "I've never seen anyone got slammed against the wall as hard as poor Bobby did several hours ago."
"Even in my ice-form... I still feel like pancake." Bobby moaned.
"Take him to the medlab, Jean." Hank murmured as he turned to examine Jubilee. More people are staggering out from the jet. Remy, all bruised up, torn and bleeding, steps out with Rogue, limping slowly in his arms. Kurt and Logan followed, the Canadian scowling at almost everyone he sees. "Oh, Bobby, Lance left you several messages in your mobile I think."
"He did?" Bobby turned to stare at Hank in wonder.
"Don't move too much, kiddo." Jean smiled at him as she wheeled him out to the medlab. "Lance can wait a little longer. First, we need to get you to the medlab and run some scans on you to see if anything is broken. We don't want to give Lance a broken toy to play with now, can we?"
"Scans again?" Bobby groaned. "I had like a gajillion scans done on me already! You do know that it's unhealthy to expose yourself to too much X-rays, right? Gosh! It is as if poor Bobby Drake is not mutated enough already!!"
"Quit complaining or I'll put you to sleep!" said Hank as he moves on to examine Sam. He looks up at Scott after a while. "So did you find anything in Canada?"
"We downloaded some data from the main computer." Said Scott. "But it was so fragmented, it could take days to put it all together. And even then, I'm not sure it'll be helpful."
"Did you try tracing Betsy's location, Hank?" asked Storm.
"I did. No success." Said Hank.
"How's Charlie, Hank?" Logan walked up to them. "Any improvement?"
"I've already talked to Emma Frost and she said she'll be coming over tomorrow." Said Hank. "Other than that, there hasn't been any improvement."
"Ah swear ah'm gonna gut that bitch alive when ah next see her." Rogue growled weakly on her stretcher where she lay.
"Relax, chere. Don't excite y'rself." Said Remy as he stood beside her. "As for Miss Braddock, p'haps it's better t'listen to her explanation first before judgin' her, non?"
"Speaking from yer own personal experience, Cajun?" Logan spoke sourly. "After all, you did betrayed us in the past as well."
Remy straightened himself as he eyed Logan dangerously.
"De past is past, mon ami." He spoke softly. "What's done is done. Remy did what he has t'do and he ain't proud of it. Dat doesn't mean he 'ppreciate it if y'keep on rubbin' it on his face again 'n' again. Mais, if y'want t'play words with dis Cajun, perhaps a brief reminder on how you turn feral in de past would be appropriate, non?"
"At least I ain't responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent Morlocks, ye treacherous thief!" Logan snarled angrily, his claws sliding out even as Remy's staff clicked to its full length and three glowing kinetically charged cards appear in the Cajun's hands readily.
"Enough! Calm down both of you!" Scott shouted angrily. "It's bad enough that Betsy betrayed us without you two starting to turn against each other. What past is past! And that's the end to it!"
Silence fell over the hangar.
"Scott is right, Logan." Said Storm calmly, putting a hand on his shoulder gently. "We all has our own dark past haunting us again and again and nothing we do now can change it. We just have to face it, let it go and move on."
Logan snorted and the claws disappear back into his wrist. At the same time, the glow from Remy's cards dimmed and vanished. The staff remained in his hand though.
"I'm afraid, I also have to agree with Remy." Storm continues. "Perhaps, Betsy has her own good reason to do what she did. We have no right to condemn her before hearing her out first. We need to find her and let her speak for her defense first before judging her ourselves."
"Always listen to all sides involved before making your judgment. That's what my pa used to say." Sam agreed quietly from where he sits.
They remained silent for a while before Scott sighed and helps Sam to the medlab.
"What about Warren, mein freund?" Said Kurt. "Should we at least tell him about this?"
Again silence greeted him for a moment or two before Scott shook his head.
"Warren is still recovering from his own ordeals concerning his nightmares and his past... I don't think it's a good idea..." He spoke reluctantly.
"Betsy is his ex-girlfriend, Kurt." Said Logan. "Even now, he still loves her. I can't imagine how he'd react if he discover she was working for Sinister all these time, but he still has the right to know. Or perhaps we've degraded ourselves into keeping secrets from each other now?"
"It won't be the first time." Remy murmured so very softly and Logan glares at him.
"Yuh seen the Archangel angry before, sugah, and although most of the reasons are trivial, it sure ain't pretty." Said Rogue. "Think on how he's gonna blow up when he learned tha' he's been sleeping with the enemy all these times... not to mention Sinister's lackey at that."
"Let him rest for a while." Said Hank. "Scott is right. He has gone through a rough time emotionally. I will ask Nick on how he is holding on later. If he is doing well, perhaps we can tell him... after all, Logan is right. Betsy is his ex-girlfriend and he still loves her even now. We have no right to keep it from him."
"How's Nick and Warren anyway?" asked Scott.
"They're alright so far." Hank replied. "Warren is in New York now. Something urgent turns up at the Worthington Building that he has to attend. Nick is still at his home in Orlando."
"Alone? With the Marauders after him??!" Scott asked sharply, his leader-mode came up instantaneously. "Who's looking after him?"
"Relax, fearless leader." Hank answered soothingly. "I've already arranged for someone to look after him."
"Who?"
"Our second best member of the team." Hank grinned at Scott. "Your one and only bad-tempered brother."
"Alex?" Scott asked in surprise. "I thought he's still vacationing in California. And never say he is second best again. He'll kill you if he hears that and I don't think I'll be able to stop him."
"You know how fickle Lorna can be." Hank shrugged. "They are staying at her beach house in Tampa now, not that far from Nick's place I think. Oh by the way, Warren called some time ago and he said Nick needs a favor." Hank continues.
"What kind of favor?" asked Scott.
"Something about a missing friend..."
Dream...
"Laaance. Over here!! Check out this scene!!"
Lance looked up questioningly at his sister's excited face before turning away from the path and head off uphill towards her. When did his sister arrive here anyway? And for that matters... where the hell is he? The scene is beautiful all around him. Peaceful... with soft gentle wind whipping around him and pure white clouds rolling slowly over him.
"Geez! What's taking you so long, you big oaf! Hurry up!"
"I'm coming." Lance grumbled as he climbs the rocky hill. "What's so interesting up there anyway?"
"Hey Lancey! Don't fall down!"
Lance looks up at the sky only to see Justin skipping happily from one cloud to another. Hmm... somehow he couldn't help thinking there's something wrong with this whole picture. Justin laughed again above and Lance continues on climbing up the hill that somehow has gotten steeper and rockier. What happened to the grasses?
"I'm going for a swim!" His sister's shrill voice appears again before it becomes a happy shout followed by a splash.
He climbed on... the hill has somehow became a mountain and looking down, he realized that he is thousands of feet above ground. Clouds swirled around him, and the wind howled to its mightiest... and yet, he didn't feel even a slight chill.
"Climb, climb, climb. Just don't look down." He passed Joey sitting on a nearby rocky ledge, singing at him playfully. "When you reach the top, get me a star will ya?"
Looking back up, Lance groaned as he finds himself staring at the towering mountain. It'll take forever for him to get there!! How in the world did he end up climbing a mountain anyway?
The sound of someone laughing beside him makes him turn around irritably.
"You could make yourself useful by helping me reach the top, Fatone!" He grumbles.
"Well! If that's how you're gonna be, I won't carry you up then."
Lance's eyes widened in surprise as he stare at Nick huffing and frowning at him just as grumpily, arm crossed before him. What's even more surprising is to see the pair of pure white feathery wings flapping behind him again and again to keep him afloat.
"Nick? Since when did you have wings?" Lance asked incredulously as he continues climbing.
"Well, duh! I am a mutant you know. Now, gimme your hand."
"What the... Bobby???" Lance's eyes widened when he saw it is Bobby now that floats behind him instead of Nick... right before he loose his foothold and fall backward. "OH GOD, I'M FALLIIIIIIIIIGGGGG........."
Closing his eyes tightly, he screamed as he envisioned himself plunging thousands of feet towards the earth below. His scream stopped abruptly when he heard Bobby's laughter above him.
"Huh??" Lance opened his eyes only to see Bobby's gleaming blue eyes looking at him in amusement. It took him a moment to become fully aware that he is gripping Bobby's hand tightly and that Bobby's wings is flapping hard to keep both of them afloat.
"I was gonna say Boo but I think Gotcha! is a better word!" Bobby giggled as they flew upwards.
Lance laughed as they soar on to the top.
"I'm gonna reach the top at last!!" He laughed on happily.
"Why settle for the top when I can take you to the stars?" Bobby answered just as happily.
"But my sister is waiting for me at the top." Lance pouted.
"Fine. To the top we go then." Bobby shrugged. "Bobby's express elevator at your service. Going up!"
"WOOO-HOOO!!!!!" Lance shouted laughingly as they swoop through the clouds and onwards to the mountaintop. "Bobby?"
He looks up only to realize that he is alone in the sky... he is floating in the air... how can this be possible??
His attention was quickly drawn to his back when he heard the soft flapping sound behind him. His eyes widened when he saw a pair of feathery wings flapping again and again from his back...
"What the hell...?" He cried out in surprise.
He turned around just in time to see the mountaintop looming towards him.
"Whoa!!" He cried out in surprise before instinctively maneuvering himself away, turning around and landed gracefully. "I've reached the top!!!!"
He smiled happily as he feasted his eyes on the beauty of the world below him. For some strange reason, it is not cold at all up here. The sun is shining brightly, the grass whipped calmly against the breeze... this place is... beautiful...
"Stacy? Nick? Bobby?" Lance called as he looks around.
A soft whistle answered him instead and he whirled around only to end up gazing at a familiar figure standing amidst the clouds in the distance, smiling fondly.
"Tristan?" He called out softly, his eyes blurred with tears when he saw a beautiful dark, haired young man standing in the distance. "Tristan..."
He walked a couple of step forward towards the smiling man but halted and stood helplessly at the edge of the ledge, his eyes never breaking from his lover's image.
Tristan only smiled at him lovingly and shook his head in silence.
"Tristan..." Lance called helplessly at the edge of the ledge, his eyes blurred with tears and he began to contemplate on stepping off the ledge.
Tristan's eyes grew sad but he maintained his loving smile. He shook his head again but this time he raised his hand as if to tell Lance not to step off the ledge.
"Why did you have to die?"
Again, Tristan only replied with a sad, silent gaze and his smile also grew sad.
"I never stopped visiting you." Lance spoke again, smiling despite the tears flowing down his cheeks. "I never stopped praying for you. I never stopped loving you."
Tristan smile grew happy again and he nodded.
"I miss you." Lance whispers as another tears rolled down.
Again, Tristan only smiled in reply.
"Lance." Another familiar voice appears from behind Lance, causing him to turned around in surprise.
"Bobby." Lance whispered as he gazes at Bobby standing in the far distance, struggling to create a snowman.
"Lance, c'mon! Help me built this snowman!" Bobby called again cheerfully. "If we put this visor on it, we can make it looks exactly like Scott!"
Lance turned to face Tristan again, uncertain on how he should explain this. But Tristan's smile merely widened and turned into a grin and he nodded silently at Lance.
"I love you." Lance whispers hoarsely, sinking to his knees as he gazed at his lover helplessly.
Tristan nodded and a sob escaped from Lance's lips as he watched Tristan blew a gentle kiss towards him, letting him know how much he loves Lance back as well.
"Laaaance. C'mon!" Bobby's voice floated again and Lance half-turned to look at the mutant before halting to gaze back at Tristan.
Tristan smiled and nodded, mouthing the word 'Go' as he did. More tears leaks down Lance's eyes.
"I will never loves him more than I love you!" Lance spoke hoarsely, stressing every word determinedly.
To his surprise, Tristan shook his head in answer. His smile never diminished and so does the love in his eyes.
"Love can be shared, James. Remember that always, when you're with him. Make him feel special... the way you make me feel special."
Tristan's lips never move, but Lance looked up in surprise when his whispered voice appears beside him as if Tristan is standing there right beside him...
End dream...
"Huh!!" Lance jolted up from his sleep in his bed, his heart racing away as if he has been running for miles. Breathing heavily, he hugged his knees tightly, resting his sweat drenched forehead against it wearily before rocking himself slowly back and fourth as he calm himself down.
The dream was so real, so... genuine...
"Tristan..." He whispers softly before starting to weep quietly.
Perhaps, his... revelation about his long dead love with Nick has reawakened the feelings and memories. He knew it was a bad idea to go through with it. But then...
Minutes pass by and he gradually mastered his weeping.
He lay down on his bed again and sighed, thinking of the time back then when Tristan was alive. He never felt so happy... so special. He would lie down on his side, and Tristan would spoon him from behind, wrapping his arms around him caringly, keeping him warm. At times, they would take things a step further in that position where he would surrender himself to his lover heart and soul, sighing blissfully as Tristan slid himself into him slowly and stay there, as close and deep as they could ever be in life. He would close his eyes and smiled against the kisses on his neck and shoulder even as they start to rock gently as they make love in blissful silence through the night, slowly, gently, taking all the time they need for the night is theirs to do as they pleased. They would then sighed together as they reached their climax and bask in the afterglow of their love together as they fall asleep with Tristan still inside him and he safely in Tristan's arms.
A single tear slips out and fell onto the pillow. Those special moments are gone forever now, long dead and buried. Only memories remained... and Lance couldn't decide if such memories are a blessing or a curse - a blessing because it was memories of a truly special period of time for him and a curse because he will always be aware that it is gone forever.
The clock on his bedside table clicked 3 a.m. and he never felt as lonely in the past as he is now. Usually, when he felt lonely, he would go out and find some lonely guys or girls who would be willing to spend the night with him. It does fill the void to an extent, but only temporarily. By morning he will go through the usual unpleasant feeling of guilt and dirty... not to mention emptiness.
Sarah was the second person he ever opened himself up to, after Tristan. He allowed her to look past the shell he wrapped around himself, to see the true him. He thought he found peace at last. But it was an illusion. Sarah left him for the dead, and shattered his hope and heart into million pieces. Now he is alone again... until Bobby comes along... a mutant... and yet... with an innocent heart more human that any he ever encountered in his life save Tristan's. Is this an illusion too? Is he setting himself up for another brokenhearted tragedy?
Nick said Bobby will love him back... and Tristan... Tristan gave him his blessing...
The dream... was it real or was it just a dream? Was is really Tristan or was it just... a figment of his imagination... twisted by his loneliness into a dream...? Or twisted by his feelings towards Bobby?
"Oh Tristan..." He whispered again before weeping again quietly.
A gentle breeze blew through the window, swaying the curtain slightly and for a moment, it really feels like Tristan is sitting beside him. Wishful thinking. But then... a man can always dream...
He looks up when his mobile phone beeped once, signaling an incoming text message. Knowing he wouldn't sleep for anytime soon, he reaches out and picked up his mobile phone. His eyes fell on the small, framed photographed picture on his bedside table depicting him and Tristan, sitting side by side by a cliff overlooking the ocean. He is laughing in Tristan's arms, and Tristan is smiling at him in amusement... How happy he was when Tristan was at his side... How happy he was back then at those time... Why did he have to die?
Swallowing the sob that threatened to engulf him there and then, he shifted his gaze away from the picture and stares at the phone in his hand dully before pressing the button to check the message.
It's from Bobby...
'SORRY FOR THE LATE REPLY... JUST GOT BACK FROM MISSION... KNOW IT'S LATE AND YOU'RE PROBABLY ASLEEP... CALL YOU TOMORROW...'
Lance smiled despite his tears. Bobby hasn't forgotten him after all.
He held the phone indecisively. Should he call or should he wait for Bobby's call tomorrow morning?
He leaned against the pillow quietly, staring at the phone. He feels lonely... and sleep won't come to him any time soon... But then, his nerve is a little bit fragile now... he is afraid thinking of Tristan while talking to Bobby might make him break down and cry. After all, Bobby does remind him of Tristan from time to time... but still...
Another gentle breeze swept through the window and Lance never even realizes that his thumb is pressing the numbers slowly.
"Hello?" a familiar voice appeared on the other side.
"Bobby?" Lance's half-whispered, half-sobbed.
"This is Bobby's phone. Who's speaking?" the man answered on the other end.
"Scott, who is it?" Bobby's voice appeared from the background. "Oww!! Hank you're suppose to heal me, not hurt me even worst than I already am right now!!"
"It's Lance." Lance answered softly. Bobby? Hurt? "It's okay, Scott, I call back tomorrow."
"Oh, hey Lance." Scott greeted absently and Lance could hear a slight rustling of papers on the other end as Scott rummages through the various medical files in the medlab office. "You okay? You don't sound so good. Hey Bobby, it's your Lance."
Your Lance? What does he means by that?
"Lance?" Bobby's voice appeared again. "Scott, gimme the phone. No Hank, I don't need another X-ray. I'm fine... Yeeooowww!!! Okay, okay, daddy wins. You can do your scans again. Just wait till after I talk to Lance, will ya? 5 minutes. 10 maximum. Promise."
"No, Scott, it's okay..." Lance protested but Scott was already throwing the phone to Bobby. He sighed resignedly.
"Lance. I thought you're asleep." Bobby tired voice appeared suddenly.
Listening to Bobby's voice, tired yet still filled with warmth and gentleness, caused his eyes to water once again. It really sounds like Tristan's voice.
"Lance? You there?" Bobby's voice appeared again, this time with a touch of annoyance. "Aw man! He must have got cut off. I told you not to throw the phone, Scotty!"
"No, Bobby, I'm still here." Lance finally gasped out shakily before losing himself into another bout of weeping.
"Lance?" Bobby asked in surprise, sitting up on the bed worriedly. "You alright? Hold on..."
Hissing and grunting in pain amidst Hank's protests, Lance could tell that Bobby is stumbling out of the medlab and into the corridor.
"Lance, you still there?" Bobby's voice appeared again.
"Yeah."
"Lance... what's wrong?" Bobby asked in concern.
"Nothing, Bobby." Lance replied quickly, forcing his depression back and wiping his tears as he smiles. "I'm fine."
"You ain't foolin' me, Mr. Superstar." Said Bobby. "Spill it. What's wrong?"
"I'm alright, honest." Lance lied. Sniffling once, he proceeds to change the subject. "Just had a bad nightmare, but I'm fine now. I just received you message. Nice to hear from you again. I kinda missed talking to you."
"You're changing the subject." Bobby replied instead. "If you don't wanna talk about it, it's okay. But if you need to talk, I'm a pretty good listener."
Silence greeted him instead. Lance only listened quietly as he struggle not to cry.
"Thanks. Maybe later." He answered softly.
"Then, something is wrong." said Bobby worriedly. "But I'll wait till you're ready to talk about it. Ouch!! Stupid wound... damn that Magneto...!"
"Are you alright?" Lance asked in alarm, his depression vanishing quickly only to be replaced by concern.
"Sorry..." Bobby hissed again in pain. "Magneto roughed me up good and I think the forearm that got injured last time is broken again... and my body is aching all over..."
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!! I didn't mean to disturb you!! I thought you're all right..." Lance answered in panic. "Quick! Go back to Hank!!"
"Hey, hey, handsome. It's all right. I'll live." Bobby replied soothingly. "Don't worry about it. I'm the least injured anyway. Jubilee and Rogue was in an even worst state than I. Hank has his hands full of them at the moment."
"When did you return?" asked Lance.
"About an hour or so. I got your messages. I'm sorry for not being able to answer. I never bring my phone along with me during a mission." Bobby smiled.
"Scared that it might ring at the wrong time huh?" Lance smiled.
"Yup. That and the fact that it tend to get destroyed along with my clothes when I ice up my body." Said Bobby. "You never know when I need to shift into my ice-form."
"Don't tell me you've been prancing naked all the time during mission." Lance giggled. "That's kinky! Plus I think the law called it 'Indecent Exposure'."
"Heck no!" Bobby laughed before hissing in pain. "God, it hurts when I laugh... anyway, no I do not prance around naked, dummy. The uniform that I wear is specially designed, and I always wear it underneath my clothes wherever I go. If I have to ice up, my clothes'll be destroyed but not the uniform."
"You mean those skin tight uniform that you guys love to wear?" Lance laughed. "That's almost the same as being naked, you know."
"Hmm..." Bobby smiled before laughing. "You got a point there. Ouch!! Oh God, Lance, I need to lie down before I pass out from the pain..."
"Yeah, you better." Said Lance. "I'm sorry to even call you... I just..."
He fell silent suddenly.
"You just what?" Bobby asked quietly.
"I just need to talk to someone..." Lance sighed.
Bobby remained quiet for a moment before answering.
"I'm always here if you need to talk, Lance." He answered at last. "Anytime you want...well... unless I'm on a mission of course."
"Of course." Lance smiled. "Thanks Bobby."
Again silence stretches.
"I better let you go back to Hank." Lance spoke again after a while.
"Yeah." Bobby answered reluctantly. "Hey Lance."
"Yeah?"
"You going anywhere tomorrow?"
"No. Justin and Joey are coming over tomorrow for a game of poker. So I'll be around the house... except during the night where we planned on going clubbing. Why?"
"I'll talk to you tomorrow then... at around 4 in the afternoon?" Bobby replied.
"Gee. That specific huh?" Lance smiled. "Lemme check my appointment book and see what I'm doing at 4."
"Don't get smart-assed on me, Spiky." Bobby smirked.
Lance sighed wearily.
"I'm beginning to think you're not gonna stop calling me that."
"Nope." Bobby smiled. "It sounds cute on you. So get used to it."
Lance sighed in defeat.
"I've pushed you into a lake, I slapped the back of your head, I even kicked you in the ass... and it still doesn't stop you from calling me that..." He murmured and Bobby laughed before hissing in pain. "Fine. You win. But only you get to call me that. Woe to anyone else who dares calling me that."
"Deal." Bobby grinned victoriously. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Spiky."
"Whatever." Lance answered sourly.
"Hey Lance." Bobby called again, seriously this time.
"Hmm?"
"You alright now?"
Lance remained silent for a while before answering.
"A little." He answered at last.
"We're are going to have to talk later about why you're crying just now, Lance, when you're ready to talk about it." Said Bobby. "Until then, go and get some rest."
"Yeah." Lance whispers. "Thanks for caring."
"Remember, call me anytime you want." Bobby reminded him seriously. "I mean it. Anytime, even when I'm in the shower or training session. If you need to talk, call me and I'll listen."
Silence.
"Thanks Bobby." Lance smiled at the caring note in Bobby's voice. He truly does care... just like Tristan when they first met. Perhaps, it truly was Tristan who spoke to him in that dream. And if it was Tristan... then... he truly did approve of Bobby... "I will."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow." Said Bobby. "Remember, 4 o'clock."
"Can't I call you earlier?"
"Of course you can. But I'll still talk to you at 4." Bobby smirked.
"You're weird." Said Lance.
"Geez. You just noticed that? Damn Spiky, you're slow." Bobby snickered.
"Whatever. Go and have that wound checked, Snowman." Lance rolled his eyes. "I don't want you to be more broken that you already are right now. Damaged goods are no good to me."
"What am I, a Ken Doll?" Bobby huffed.
"Just go, Bobby." Lance smiled. "Go, go, go!! I need my beauty sleep. I am the famous adorable boyband singer here. I need to maintain my natural beauty."
"Ugh. My tuna is coming up." Bobby grimaced in Lance's laughter. "Alright, I'm going, I'm going. Just..."
"Just what?" asked Lance.
"Don't be sad anymore, okay?" Bobby asked quietly.
For the first time that night, Lance felt warm deep inside his soul.
"Tristan used to say that..." Lance murmured absently.
"Huh?" Bobby answered curiously. "Tristan?"
"Huh? Oh! Nothing, nothing... just... umm... running down memory lane... I feel better now, Bobby. I'm sorry for... crying... earlier... I... umm..." Lance flustered uncomfortably as he tried to get out of this.
"Hey, don't worry about it." Bobby smiled. "I'm glad you are better now. I wish ouch!... I can say the same about me."
"Go!!" Lance ordered firmly. "I'll call you tomorrow morning to check up on you."
"Yes SIR!!" Bobby laughed. "Bye Spiky."
"Whatever." Lance smiled before hanging up.
A moment later, he is smiling to himself as he lay comfortably on his bed. He wasn't lying to Bobby at all a moment ago. He is feeling better now. The curtains swayed again and he watched the stars in the night sky dreamily.
"Thanks, Tristan." He whispers softly. "I'll love him as much as I love you."
Next Friday, Part 48: 'One Heart, One Mind, One Soul, One Love...'