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 7 Every Time
Nothing had come of the patrol the Knights went on. The IV gave Davey back his strength, though the team wasn't much closer to finding out what was going on with him, how he contracted it, and what they could do to cure him.
The Pride Parade had come and Davey had gathered enough strength to perform. He was asked by several LGBT groups to perform on stage in Bicentennial Park. He said yes despite the protest of Whistler. But Davey would not give up.
"I have enough energy to sing," he argued. "If I have enough to go out at night and slay a vampire every now and then, I have enough energy to sing a song or two on a stage."
Whistler, after talking with Dr. Strange and the Punisher about it, reluctantly agreed, even though he technically had no power to stop the youth. Besides, he had other concerns as well. The Council wanted him to check on the youths that had won the competition in Orlando. After the incident in New York, they weren't taking any chances that Mr. Sinister, or anyone else for that matter, were behind the collecting of male DNA.
The day of the Columbus Pride Parade came in June and the people lined the streets. The group the Knights were to watch was given a float and special arrangements were made by the Watchers' Council so that Blade and Michael could ride the float as security. Unfortunately, they had to dress for the event. Blade had to wear lime green Speedos while Michael had to wear a baby blue thong. Their equipment was readily seen by anyone with working eyes. They had no way to conceal any weapons but they didn't think any vampires would interrupt the parade. Not in the middle of the day, at any rate.
"Check out those guys," Ryan said to the group members. "They are hot as hell!"
"I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those packages," another stated.
Everyone piled onto the float and it made its way out into the streets. Tandy and Ty marched near the float as allies and Marc, Whistler, and Strange waited in Bicentennial Park with Davey.
The floats arrived at the park as well as all the marchers and watchers of the parade. They gathered around to listen to the entertainers on stage.
Harris had found a spot in the grass where he sat under the shadow of a nearby tree and watched the performers. He had grown more and more despondent toward life. It seemed as if he were going through the motions of living.
The group that Harris could have been part of took the stage and sang the parody of the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" which was retitled "Which Backstreet Boy Is Gay". The song was funny and Harris would have enjoyed it had it not been sung by the two young men that stole Davey away from him. In a way, though, they didn't steal Davey. As far as Harris was concerned, Davey was a willing participant and he shouldn't blame the singers totally for what happened.
When the group finished, the drag queen emceeing the event introduced the next act as a local talent that went to Orlando to compete. She announced Davey's name and the crowd cheered. Harris became instantly uneasy. He had neither spoken to nor seen Davey since his return from New York.
Davey came out on the stage with several young men, who were his back-up, and the crowd cheered even louder. Harris saw Ryan standing off to the side whistling and he became instantly angry and hurt.
"Thank you for the warm welcome," Davey replied. "It's nice to see so many people out to support LGBT equal rights. Now, if we could just get the state government to support us... That's why we're here, isn't it? To have fun and be visible to the rest of the community. To let them know that we exist and we aren't going anywhere."
The crowd cheered in support of Davey's words.
"To be honest, all we want is recognition of our love. We are treated as second class citizens because of how our hearts love. Love should never be treated as wrong or immoral. We do the same things they do, the same kinds of jobs, the same kinds of friends, the same kinds of mistakes." Davey looked right at Harris when he said that.
"I'm hoping to rectify a mistake I made seven months ago."
The music started and Davey sang.
"Lately I'm not who I used to be
Someone's come and taken me
Where I don't wanna go
"If I knew exactly what I have to do
In order to be there for you
When you were feeling low
"And all the things we ever wanted
Were once yours and mine
Now, I know we can revive it
All the love we left
"Everytime I kiss I feel your lips and
Everytime I cry I see your smile and
Everytime I close my eyes I realize that
Everytime I hold your hand in mine
The sweetest thing my heart could ever find
And I have never felt this way
Since the day I gave your love away
"Save me, I've fallen from my destiny
You and I were meant to be
I've thrown it all away
Now you're gone
It's time for me to carry on
But baby I just can't go on
Without you by my side
"And all the things we ever wanted
Were once yours and mine
Now I know we can revive it
All the love we left
"Everytime I kiss I feel your lips and
Everytime I cry I see your smile and
Everytime I close my eyes I realize that
Everytime I hold your hand in mine
The sweetest thing my heart could ever find
And I have never felt this way
Since the day I gave your love away
"We can survive it
All the pain we feel inside
You relied on me and now I've let you down
Now I promise you forever
I will be the best I can
Now I know we can revive it
All the love we left
"Everytime I kiss I feel your lips and
Everytime I cry I see your smile and
Everytime I close my eyes I realize that
Everytime I hold your hand in mine
The sweetest thing my heart could ever find
And I have never felt this way
Since the day I gave your love away
"Everytime I kiss I feel your lips and
Everytime I cry I see your smile and
Everytime I close my eyes I realize that
Everytime I hold your hand in mine
The sweetest thing my heart could ever find
And I have never felt this way
Since the day I gave your love away"
The crowd exploded in applause. Harris wiped a tear but knew in his heart that, after what happened, a song wasn't going to fix it. Tandy came up and put her hand on Harris's shoulder.
"Harris, can you come back and talk to Davey?"
"I don't know," Harris replied.
"We know you've had it rough. But we think you should at least hear Davey out. Please, if anything, do it for yourself. It might help you heal if you talk to him. Maybe get some closure to what happened."
Harris looked at her reluctantly. Then, he nodded. "I'll come by tonight."
"Good," she said. Then she took him into a hug. "It was good to see you."
She released her embrace and departed.
Davey walked up to Michael and Blade and smiled at them. "I guess this is the closest I'll ever get to seeing you guys naked, huh?"
The two men glared at Davey.
"Hey, I say, if you got it, flaunt it. And they definitely made sure you guys were flaunting today. Those washboard abs, those long, thick cocks in those tight clothes, if they could be called clothes. Damn!"
Ty, who was standing nearby couldn't help but laugh.
Tandy came up and walked over to Ty. "What's so funny?"
"Davey. He's really gushing over Blade and Michael's clothes, or lack thereof. Davey is definitely feeling good today."
"He's back to his old self, for the most part. That's good." After a moment, Tandy said, "Speaking of old stuff and what not, Harris is going to come over to the mansion tonight."
"Good. He and Davey should really talk about what happened."
"And what's currently going on."
Ty nodded. Then he said, "Why did you bring up 'old stuff' and Harris?"
"You know, because he's part of our life from before OO."
"OO? What's that?"
"Orlando Orgy. You know, the one Davey had and screwed up his relationship with Harris?"
Ty nodded in understanding. "I would be careful using that around Davey, though. He might get a little pissed off."
'I still can't figure out how Davey contracted this thing,' Whistler thought while watching the group perform another song.
"It's strange," Dr. Strange said.
"What?" Marc asked.
"We're protecting the youth that caused Davey and young Harris to break up. Had they not been intimate, Harris would be with us right now."
Realization dawned on Whistler. "Oh my God, that's the connection!"
"What is?"
"The boys that Davey had sex with, what if they are the carriers of the virus?"
"They wouldn't necessarily have to be mutants to carry it. It could be that their non-mutant DNA acts as a natural immunity for the disease."
"If that's the case, we're protecting the potential cure for Davey. We'll have to have a little conversation with them once they are done performing."
To Be Continued...