Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. It has no intentions of resembling any real persons dead or alive. This is entirely from my imagination, with a little help from already established sources. This story is based loosely on the comic book character "The Punisher" from Marvel Comics. Other characters may appear from Marvel comics as well as DC Comics.
Punisher and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.
Blade and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel copyright Joss Whedon, United Paramount Network and Warner Bros. Respectively.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
I have written another story on nifty entitled "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". It is in the Celebrity/Boy Bands section. Batman may appear in this story once or twice, as the Punisher may appear in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". Any comments may be sent to authorjames2002@yahoo.com
Thank you and enjoy.
Chapter 2 Auditions
Harris and Davey arrived at the auditions for the gay boy band. There were many here to try out. Some from other cities already chosen to go on to competition were present and helped keep the singers calm and collected. The two young men could not believe all the other teens and those in their early twenties who had shown up for this. The announcement had requested young, gay boys between the ages of fifteen and twenty-one who had a talent for singing. It seemed every gay boy in the city of Columbus showed up.
Davey smiled looking at people he recognized from his stint as Marvel Boy. As he looked over at Harris, he noticed Harris seemed uncomfortable. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Harris said.
"Something's bothering you. What is it?"
"Look at everyone here. They are all gorgeous. They have nice hair and nice bodies, and I don't look anything like them."
"Harris, don't be like that. They are vain. They concentrate all their energy into looking a certain way. You do not have anything to be bothered about. I like you just the way you are. Besides, most of them are shallow and superficial. You have substance to you. You have a great mind, a talent with your voice and the computer, and you care about other people. All they probably care about is the next party. You..."
"Harris and Davey," the announcer said.
"We're up," Davey said stopping his speech. "I'm really psyched for this."
Davey stood and headed toward the announcer. Harris stood up and felt all eyes on him, just as all eyes were on Davey as he stood.
'Only,' Harris thought, 'everyone is looking at him because of his good looks. Everyone is looking at me as their amusement.'
Harris followed Davey out the door and down the corridor. Davey stopped until Harris caught up.
"Isn't this exciting?" Davey said.
"Yeah," Harris replied.
The two entered the room and the judges sat behind a table with papers in front of them and pens in their hands.
"Hello, Davey," the first judge said. "I'm Steve, a local radio personality. And this must be Harris." Steve shook both of their hands. "It says here that you will be singing a Whitney Houston song."
"Don't look so stressed," Davey said to the audience. "These aren't the eighties songs. These are A.C."
"A.C.?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, "After Crack."
Several of the judges chuckled.
"It's 'Could I Have This Kiss Forever', the one she sang with the oh-so-hot Enrique Iglesias."
Steve returned to the table with the judges. "Feel free to start whenever you're ready."
Davey and Harris looked at each other and winked. Then Harris nodded to the woman operating the sound equipment and she began the music.
Davey: Over and over I look in your eyes
you are all I desire
you have captured me
I want to hold you
I want to be close to you
I never want to let go
Harris: I wish that this night would never end
I need to know
Both: Could I have this kiss for a lifetime
Could I look into your eyes
Could I have this night to share this night together
Could I hold you close beside me
Could I hold you for all time
Could I could I have this kiss forever
Could I could I have this kiss forever, forever
Harris: Over and over I've dreamed of this night
Now you're here by my side
You are next to me
I want to hold you and touch you taste you
And make you want no one but me
I wish that this kiss could never end
oh baby please
Both: Could I hold you for a lifetime
Could I look into your eyes
Could I have this night to share this night together
Could I hold you close beside me
Could I hold you for all time
Could I could I have this kiss forever
Could I could I have this kiss forever, forever
Harris: I don't want any night to go by Both: Without you by my side Harris: I just want all my days Both: Spent being next to you
Lived for just loving you
And baby, oh by the way
Could I hold you for a lifetime
Could I look into your eyes
Could I have this night to share this night together
Could I hold you close beside me
Could I hold you for all time
Could I have this kiss forever
Could I could I have this kiss forever, forever
The workers clapped at the emotion and power with which the two youths sang. Steve even joined in the clapping even though the judges weren't supposed to show support for any one person. Steve was a local judge. He was to help them pick those who would go on into the final auditions that were to take place in Orlando, Florida.
"That was just great!" Steve said as the judges murmured amongst themselves.
One judge cleared his throat. "We would like you two to sing by yourselves now. You've both proven you can sing with others, but this competition is looking to see how you do as a soloist. Please, reach in the basket and pull out a song. Whatever song it is, that is what you will sing."
"Go ahead," Harris said to Davey.
Davey smiled and went to the basket. As he reached his hand in, Harris realized the change in Davey. At first Davey wasn't into it. But now he seemed to be more into the competition and singing. Harris was glad of that. Even though he felt bad about his appearance compared to the rest of the persons auditioning, he hoped he would go on to the final rounds. He loved to sing and could belt out a note like the rest.
Davey pulled his hand back and opened the paper. The song was "Oops, I Did It Again" by Britney Spears. He handed the title to the technician who found the track and played it.
Harris stood off to the side silently cheering his boyfriend on as he sang.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
I think I did it again
I made you believe we're more than just friends
Oh baby
It might seem like a crush
But it doesn't mean that I'm serious
'Cause to lose all my senses
That is just so typically me
Oh baby, baby
Oops!...I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops!...You think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent
You see my problem is this
I'm dreaming away
Wishing that heroes, they truly exist
I cry, watching the days
Can't you see I'm a fool in so many ways
But to lose all my senses
That is just so typically me
Baby, oh
Oops!...I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops!...You think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oops!...I did it again to your heart
Got lost in this game, oh baby
Oops!...You think that I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent
"I'll bet you're not," someone muttered behind Harris.
Harris turned to see a very attractive guy a little older than he and Davey standing behind him. He wore a tight white shirt, jeans, and had black hair styled with the wet look.
'Figures,' Harris thought to himself, 'I'll bet he won't say that about me.'
After the judges wrote down their thoughts and score, Harris grabbed his paper. It was "Pretty Baby" by Vanessa Carlton. He was surprised that such a slow song was in the mix. If they were looking for a boy band, the music would probably be fast-paced, perfect for dancing to.
Harris went where he was supposed to stand and Davey stood off to the side. Harris cleared his throat and sang.
You light me up and then I fall for you
You lay me down and then I call for you
Stumbling on reasons that are far and few
I'd let it all come down and then some for you
Pretty baby don't you leave me
I have been saving smiles for you
Pretty baby why can't you see
You're the one that I belong to
I'll be the embrace that keeps you warm
For you're the sun that breaks the storm
I'll be alright and I'll sleep sound
As long as you keep comin' around, oh pretty baby
While Harris stood quietly waiting for the music interlude to end so he could continue, he noticed Davey talking to the guy who muttered. 'Okay, don't get jealous,' Harris thought. 'I'm not Tandy.' Then the interlude ended and Harris continued the song.
And I know things can't last forever
But there are lessons that you'll never learn
Oh just the scent of you it makes me hurt
So how's it you that makes me better
Pretty baby don't you leave me
I have been saving smiles for you
Pretty baby why can't you see
You're the one that I belong to
I'll be the embrace that keeps you warm
For you're the sun that breaks the storm
I'll be alright and I'll sleep sound
As long as you keep comin' around, oh pretty baby
Why can't you hold me and never let go
When you touch me it is me that you own
Pretty baby oh the place that you hold in my heart
Would you break it apart again... oh pretty baby
Pretty baby don't you leave me
I have been saving smiles for you
Pretty baby why can't you see
You're the one that I belong to
I'll be the embrace that keeps you warm
For you're the sun that breaks the storm
I'll be alright and I'll sleep sound
As long as you keep comin' around, oh pretty baby
Harris did such a wonderful job on the song that all remained silently. He even watched as Steve wiped a tear from his eye.
"That was really good," Steve said. "Thank you. Thank you both. We'll be in touch when we decide."
"Do you know when you might know?" Davey asked as he and Harris moved toward the door.
"We'll audition the rest of the people, take a day to decide, and then notify those who go on by phone. The others will receive a letter in the mail."
"Cool," Davey said and the two left.
As they drove up the highway in Davey's "new" car, the ZX2 he obtained through the Vampire War, he turned to Harris and asked, "How do you think we did?"
"I think we did great! You were awesome and, as a duet, we did well."
"I think so, too! You were awesome with "One Day". I was ready to cry! I think Steve was crying!"
"Hopefully, we'll go on to Florida."
"Wouldn't that be cool? We'll meet up with Whistler's Watcher and her Slayer, Batgirl. I thought Nightwing and Robin were kind of hot. Didn't you?"
"Yeah, they were kind of cute. Not as cute as you, though."
"Aww, how sweet!"
Davey leaned over and kissed Harris real quick. There was no possibility he could get arrested for driving, even though he wasn't quite old enough to drive. Whistler had used his contacts in the Watchers Council to legalize his ownership of the car and legalize his driving. He was grateful for that.
"Who was that guy talking with you?" Harris asked.
"Umm, I think he said his name is Ryan."
"Was he competing?"
"Yeah. He sang in L.A. and they really liked his voice. He will be heading to Florida."
"I hope we can join him," Harris said.
When they arrived at the mansion, the two boys ran inside laughing and giggling. Whistler watched as they ran passed the doorway to the study. He just shook his head and went back to reading his book.
Blade watched from the balcony as the boys ran through the hall toward the back of the house. He turned and listened for a sound coming from Johnny and Michael's room. Sure enough, it was the sound of the bed rocking and squeaking. Instead of going to his room, like he planned, he headed down to the lair to practice for a while.
When he entered the lair, Ty and Tandy came out of the locker rooms and smiled at him.
"Hey, Blade," Tandy said as she skipped up to him. For a teenager, she sure was sing-songy.
"Hi," he said. "What are you two doing down here?"
"Just practicing," Ty said. "We need to keep in shape to stay on top of the game."
Blade just nodded.
"Are you okay?" Tandy asked.
"Just fine," he said and walked passed them into the gym to practice.
Ty and Tandy looked at each other, shrugged, and went on their way.
To Be Continued...
Author Note: With the requests to see pictures of the characters in both "Real Dark Knight" and "Marvel Knights", I have created a Yahoo! Group to display the pictures, as well as host any thoughts on events happening in the stories. The name of the group is "RDK_MK" minus the quotes. Just do a search on Yahoo! under the "Groups" section. From there you can request to join. Please, give me several days to approve your request. Thank you.