Usual disclaimers concerning who should read what and whether or not it is legal for you to do so, so forth and so on. This is a work of fiction and should be treated as such.
After a lonnnnnng delay and many anguished days away from the computer, here is the next chapter in the Eros saga. Forgive its lateness. Special thanks to Fred for editing on incredibly short notice. hug :) I am keeping this short, so go read!
"Near Collision"
By Lael Stalnaker
Chapter 8: Filling in the Gap
Eros landed in the garden at the center of the wondrous marble structure. No trace of the gigantic cloud formation showed, which supported the grounds everything rested on. Even the movement of the palace could not show noticeably once on the ground here. Roses, hyacinths, cypress, magnolias, laurel, jasmine, honeysuckle and many other flowers and plants all blended together into an incredible scent and sight in this garden. Waterfalls fell into pools that, in turn, surrounded grottos suitable for privacy or company, as desired. Paths wound throughout, leading strollers on roundabout journeys all over the garden.
Marvelous marble statues stood within sight of the smooth cobble stone trails. Comfortable benches placed always near at hand so that an observer would be able to sit and really study a piece of sculpture at their leisure and to their heart's content. All periods of art and cultures were represented, based on their beauty and suitability to the section of garden that they were placed in. The background flora always enhanced the piece of art that graced the nearby path. No sculpture or statue stood within sight of another, keeping them from competing with each other unnecessarily. Occasional marble arches or grape arbors spread over the path. Spectacular wind chimes, hung from random trees and arches, added sound to the assault on a visitor's senses. They blended well with the splashing and burbling of the waterfalls into the plentiful pools and ponds.
Jewel toned hummingbirds flitted from flower to flower, while bees tended the flowers side by side with them. Butterflies wafted on gentle breezes. They lit the air, just as magnificent as the hummingbirds, if not more so. Incredible iridescent blue butterflies from the Amazon Basin flew within spiral patterns of Swallowtails and Monarchs. Dragonflies hovered over the pools, as brightly colored as the rest. Ornamental fish swam in the pools and deer grazed in glades. Swans, also plentiful, glided in pairs on many on of the pools. Flights of doves often took to the air. The gardens actually seemed larger than the space indicated. Still, in the Dream Realm, all things must be possible, therefore all worked together.
It hardly seemed possible that one would not get lost in this garden. It rivaled the ancient wonder of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The only mitigating factor to prevent total disorientation: the plainly visible palace itself. It could be seen from any part of the garden, day or night. Anyone could see into the garden from the second floor balcony that went all the way around the inner court. Beautiful stonework invited the eye to linger on it when the gardens palled. Tiny friezes became life-size, on closer examination, moments of passion from history and fiction from throughout the world. They blended in a way that caused them to enhance each other, rather than conflict.
Despite the universalness of the artwork and themes, classical Grecian architecture dominated the actual palace itself. The fluted columns were both inside and out. Incredible pillar caps topped each. The appearance of strength dominated the overall look of the structure. Breezeways created an open air feel to the entire building. The blue and gold veining of the marble also lent itself to the magnificence. Massive glazed windows appeared at regular intervals, on both stories of the building. While not part of classical architecture, they blended well with the overall look of the palace.
Skyler gawked at everything his eyes came to rest on. This was certainly a home worthy of an Olympian god! He turned in place, trying his damnedest to see everything from just this one spot. Once it dawned on him that he was attempting the impossible, he turned his eyes back to Eros. Skyler grinned at him. Eros was just as delighted with Skyler's reaction. It had been a very long time since he brought anyone here. Eros took Skyler by the hand to lead him out of the garden. So far his plan worked just the way he envisioned it.
Ethan continued to glare at Joshua. He did not back down an inch as Joshua attempted to calm him. Ethan shrugged off the hands that kept attempting to hold him. He did not feel like being distracted from anything this time. He began to walk forward. Joshua had no choice but to back up or be stepped on, rather forcibly, if Ethan's facial expression meant much. 'These twins are so volatile! Also very aggressive when they feel the other has been threatened,' he musingly thought to himself.
"Need I repeat myself? What happened to my brother?" asked Ethan with even more vehemence than the first time. Joshua found himself backed into a corner at this point, literally. Ethan kept moving forward until his nose touched Joshua's. He stared into Joshua's dark brown eyes, unblinking. His anger was entirely unmistakable. Joshua felt a chill run up his spine and savored the new sensation. Being in entirely human form was still a fresh new thrill for him and he intended to enjoy the good, bad and indifferent aspects of the experience.
"I honestly do not know, Ethan. Had I anything to tell you, believe me, I would have said something long before I ended up in this corner unable to breathe."
"Oh come on! You're trying to tell me that you don't know what Bryce has done this time? Skyler tells me everything. Bryce doesn't tell you his plans? I find that hard to believe," Ethan pointed out. His hands now rested on Joshua's shoulders, as if to keep him from turning away.
The contact between them began to cause a heat to build. Not just a metaphorical one, but a real, measurable one. Joshua flinched as Ethan dug his fingers deeper into his shoulders. Ethan stared into Joshua's eyes intently before finally letting go with a shove. The temperature quickly dropped back to something approaching normal. Joshua then realized that the change had been reflexive on his part. The attraction he felt for Ethan was running rampant through his body. He was more aware of Ethan in these brief moments than he had ever been of anything else in his long existence. His inexperience with mortals in a physical sense showed in the most original of ways. Joshua's face nearly exploded in shades of flame and heat as Ethan's eyes went down to Joshua's raging arousal.
Ethan raised an eyebrow as he studied Joshua. He looked back up into those limpid brown eyes and almost burst out laughing. The utter embarrassment that flickered there was altogether too humorous for Ethan to hold back. His rage now warred with his own attraction to Joshua. Finally, after watching Joshua's face for an eternity, Ethan gave up and grinned at him. He backed up a pace to give Joshua some room and then actually did burst out laughing this time.
Both men jumped nearly to the ceiling as the phone rang. Ethan debated with himself on answering it but decided it needed to be picked up. He walked over and slumped onto the edge of Skyler's bed. Indecision recaptured him as he lost track of his original intention. Worry for Skyler firmly gripped him again. It rang two more times. Joshua moved quickly, picked it up and handed it to Ethan. Ethan stared at it with a strange dread.
Skyler was just as impressed with the inside of the palace as he had been with the outside. Room after room went by in a blur of impressions. As with the garden, the inside was somehow larger, by many times, than the outer walls had implied. The furnishings also kept with the multinational theme that prevailed in most of the outside carvings. Also, many modern conveniences found in the best of homes, managed in this one to keep the flow of line and intent. They in no way clashed with the classical form of the building itself.
As Eros led them through his palace, he made a point of showing the worst of things along with the best. He took great delight in Skyler's reactions to various things and made note of what seemed to truly displease him. After they had gone through the entire edifice, Eros led Skyler to a series of rooms that Eros had noted as being especially remarked on during their earlier tour.
It was a suite of rooms, a total of seven, which had caught Skyler's attention firmly. They were furnished in an Asian geometric style, with all cushions and bedding in brilliant red against a black stained lacquered wood. An anteroom was directly off the main corridor, this room in turn led directly into three others. From the right, it opened onto a sitting room. To the left, it opened into the bedroom. If one went directly ahead, the anteroom opened into a wonderful library. Off of the bedroom were a beautiful bathroom and also a separate closet area fully equal to any of the other rooms. In an odd architectural twist of reality, the library and bedroom had another room annexed between them. The oddness was in the fact that the room was twice the size of any of the others, but still fit catty-corner. This was a private study that could only be reached by the owner of the suite. Eros keyed ownership to Skyler and said nothing more about how the room worked. All of these rooms were gigantic by modern standards. Skyler fully intended to examine them in depth later.
Skyler finally realized that they still had no clothes on. He blushed to the roots of his hair. Still, it felt wonderful, in a way. He wasn't quite sure what to think of all that he had seen. Too many marvels, too much to process quickly. He had great ideas for his thesis now. Eros led him back into his own personal suite. There were far more rooms attached to this one than to Skyler's, but that really didn't matter to him. Eros waved a hand in the direction of an incredible Roman sunken bath, which was really more pool than tub. Cobalt blue tiles of varying shade created a subtle classical Greek key pattern along its sides. Lighter blue tiles led down into the depths of the pool and culminated in a complicated interlocking circle done in bright reds and yellows.
Skyler saw ornate winged statue taps turn on, exotic bottles of oils and salts uncap or uncork themselves, towels floated to convenient perches near the water's edge. The force of the water leaving the taps was immense and soon filled the entire tub. Despite being easily 20 feet across and 40 feet long, the 7 feet of depth reached the lip of the tub in seconds. Physics seemed to be awfully flexible here. Skyler nearly jumped out of his skin as he felt invisible hands take him gently by the elbows and lead him into the bath.
It only then occurred to Skyler that Eros had invisible servants. He frowned slightly at the thought. Here he had thought they were alone all this time and for all he knew they had been ogled from the moment they got here. He turned to Eros, who had also been escorted into the bath, with a deeper frown. He definitely did not like that idea at all. His taste for nudity ran more to the personal level rather than the public one. Still the warm scented water began to soothe him as Eros guided him to a tiled bench that ran along the edge of the pool. They sat and soaked for a luxuriously long time before Skyler broke the comfortable silence.
"Shouldn't we go back?" Skyler asked, once the warm water had begun to loosen his tense muscles.
"Oh. We will. Trust me, beloved. Time has little meaning or hold over the Dream Realm. We will return barely minutes from when we originally left. In fact, we do not have to return to where we left from at all. That is another surprise that I was saving for when we do go. We can go back to anywhere in the mortal world that you choose."
Eros leaned back against the edge of the tub, completely at ease. His wings still looked quite serviceable. Perhaps they had the same water-repellent properties as true swan's wings. Skyler relaxed his angst and leaned into Eros' chest. His eyes then wandered to the ceiling. He whistled softly to himself at the mural that covered the entire surface, from wall to wall. It was a scene of Nereids and Tritons sporting erotically among the waves of Poseidon's realm. Dolphins leapt and frolicked between scenes. Despite the activity of the mural, it was very soothing overall. Skyler felt very safe with Eros' arms wrapped securely around his chest.
"This is all nice and everything, but why?" Skyler finally asked, turning his head slightly on Eros' chest.
"It seemed expedient. You are moving so quickly with what you have learned; you might have stumbled onto this without me being here to help you. There is a limit though... you will have to be asleep to enter this realm. You are still mortal and therefore limited to normal mortal sleep. I, as an immortal, can simply will myself here, waking or sleeping."
"So, this would've happened anyway?" a stunned Skyler asked. He was beginning to get used to the feeling of being pole-axed twice per day with new revelations and information.
"Yes, I believe so. You have taken to the power granted you in a most astonishing way. Other mortals never fully understand or even use all of their abilities, though they have them for decades. Even Psyche took centuries..." Eros' voice trailed off. Skyler could hear the pain in his last whispered words.
Skyler turned slightly and snuck his arms around Eros. He tightened his grip and laid his head against the smooth muscled chest. He felt Eros set his chin lightly on the top of his head. He could feel the motion of sobs against his cheek. Skyler squeezed harder. Eros' arms around him nearly convulsed with the depth of sorrow that racked the winged body. Skyler felt tears welling up in his own eyes in sympathy. It was clear that Eros still loved Psyche deeply, even after centuries of being parted.
Eventually the sobs subsided. Skyler continued to hold Eros tight. After a while, Skyler let Eros loose and sat back up. He was looking with searching eyes, into the deep brown ones that were now blotched from crying. Eros smiled faintly at the intensity. He stroked Skyler's chest with two fingers, up and down. He then leaned forward and kissed Skyler deeply.
"It is time to go back, my love. We will go back to just a few minutes after we left," declared Eros.
"OK. Though I wouldn't mind spending an eternity here with you!" stated Skyler firmly.
They both rose from the bench together. Water streamed down off their bodies in warm rivulets. The towels that had sat unnoticed at the side now floated through the air to them, borne by unseen hands to theirs. Skyler was still really uncomfortable with the invisible nature of the phenomena. They dried quickly, throwing the spent towels into the air, where they were plucked out of mid-flight and carefully placed on racks to dry.
Skyler followed Eros into the sleeping chamber that adjoined the bathing room. He couldn't help himself and he reached out to the feathers in front of him. He thrilled in the tingle that brushing against them brought. Even here, in the dream realm, there was a kind of phosphorescence to them. Eros' head turned and he smiled. Skyler's heart thumped against his ribs as his eyes locked with the immortal's. Eros held out his hand to Skyler, who took it. Eros then led Skyler to the bed.
Eros drew Skyler down onto the bed and leaned back into the ornate headboard. Skyler laid his head down onto Eros' chest. His arms automatically crept around the muscled body under him. He felt entirely safe as Eros' arms encircled him lightly and he again leaned his chin gently on the crown of Skyler's head. Skyler felt his eyes drifting closed and he momentarily fought against the encroaching sleep. Eros' hand soothed the back of Skyler's neck in soft stroking motions. Skyler lost his will and slept.
Joshua held the phone to his ear and then dropped it into the cradle. The line had been silent, just the hiss of an open connection with no one on the other end. His haunted eyes stayed glued to Josh's. Josh shrugged as if in apology for the useless maneuver. Ethan felt all of the energy just rush out of his body as the adrenaline left him. He felt weak and dizzy. His limbs sagged under the sudden weight of remorse. Josh jumped forward as Ethan collapsed down the side of the bed and landed sitting on the floor, legs splayed, hands covering his face. He knelt carefully and pulled Ethan's head to his chest.
Ethan surrendered to that without any fight. He just didn't know what to think or feel at this point. Too many shocks and surprises in too short of a time. His head spun as he pressed his face against Josh's shirt. Then he felt Josh stiffen under him. The arms holding him relaxed and Ethan felt sure that something was up. He pushed himself upright again and looked at Josh's face. Joshua was staring at the bed intently. Ethan turned his head and looked. A faint misty outline of two forms began to take shape. Ethan's breath caught in his throat as he began to hope that they were coming back now.
Ethan watched in fascination as Skyler and Bryce came back into focus. It was the only way he could put a word to the event in his thoughts. It was like when you look through a camera or microscope, but before the focus was adjusted. The entwined forms were blurry and Ethan's eyes fought to shift away. Abruptly, the forms solidified and came into crystal clarity with no transition. Ethan's mouth gaped open as he realized that both men were totally naked, very asleep and very aroused. Josh's index finger shut his jaw for him. Ethan blinked rapidly and turned back to Joshua. He caught a twinkle there as he pushed himself up onto his feet.
Joshua rose to his feet in a fluid motion. He took Ethan's hand and led his quietly from the room. Ethan had the presence of mind to pull the door shut on his way through. A deep blush colored his tanned cheeks. Joshua went down the hall to the living room and plopped himself down onto the recliner. He threw a leg over the arm and rested his chin on his knuckles. Ethan threw himself down onto the couch and tried to get his head back into thinking mode.
"Content, oh violent one?" asked Joshua archly.
"Uh, well, yeah. I am glad they are all right. I guess I worried for nothing then, didn't I?"
"I am sure that your beloved brother will explain things once they wake. Do your emotions always run so heated? So extreme too! It must be exhausting," said an amused Joshua.
Ethan flushed again from the roots of his hair all the way down to the base of his throat. He peeked at Joshua from the corner of his eyes. Joshua was reclined now, one leg still over the arm of the chair. It left a certain bulge prominently displayed through the black Docker's clinging lines. Ethan's blush deepened. He mentally berated himself for the sheer amount of blushing he had done this day. Ever since Bryce's brother had appeared, Ethan had blushed more in the last 6 hours than in the entire last 10 years combined. Still, he found Joshua to be utterly irresistible.
Joshua looked up and locked eyes with Ethan. He could tell that something was troubling the mortal, but had no idea what it could be. He mused on the intricacies of mortal interaction as he watched Ethan's blush finally fade. He lifted an eyebrow and watched a fresh blush race over the handsome features of his newly chosen. A grin quirked at the corner of his mouth. This was going to be a true education in the ways of new love.
"I forgot to mention something while we were at the ocean," began Joshua. He wanted to see Ethan's reaction to what he was about to say.
"Oh?" asked Ethan, interest quickly engaged.
"I am one of those immortals with more than one aspect. Yes, the most commonly known one is of love rejected. I also have another, less well-known duty. It has to do with our birth, you see. Our mother, Aphrodite, felt the Eros was unhappy and so gave birth to me as a companion. Do not ask how she accomplished this, for I have no idea. Nor do I understand why we are called twins if I came so long after. But, she gave me the aspect of love returned. The other one came after and seemed to be the more commonly known one amongst the mortals. The priests and priestesses knew both aspects, the populace at large did not.
"So, you see, I have 2 sources of my being; love that is spurned and love that is freely returned to another. A balance, so to speak, of negative and positive. I am justice for those that wither in the glare of rejection and also the sponsor of those that love those who love them. I take more joy in the latter."
Ethan wrapped his mind around the new information, dissecting, appraising, absorbing and setting it into the puzzle that was Joshua/Anteros. He found himself delighted for a change rather than pole-axed. Joshua relaxed as Ethan smiled at him. That smile warmed his innermost being in ways that he had never in his lengthy existence encountered. He found that he liked it. Intensely, in fact. Joshua's own smile nearly made Ethan gasp.
"Well, that is good to know, Josh. It reflects a better reality of the world," Ethan babbled.
"So, shall we do something, how should I say... naughty?"
Ethan blushed all over again. He really wanted nothing else in the world, but he remembered Skyler's warning about retaining himself. He thought furiously for several seconds. He could see himself becoming completely involved and losing sight of his own goals and projects. All of his hard work for the last 6 years could just vanish if he let himself surrender to what he really wanted right now. His blush faded and he locked eyes once more with Joshua.
"I think not... for now. I want to get to know you. I want to be around you and learn what it means to be your bonded in other ways first, before we take that step. Believe me, I want you and I want us... but... There are times and this is not the right one," Ethan's voice trailed off. He feverishly hoped that he had not just offended Joshua. He held his breath as he waited for what Joshua would say in return.
Joshua took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. He shifted uneasily and then had his own blush as he realized the cause of that shift. His position was no longer so comfortable due a redistributing of his blood supply. He carefully removed his leg from the arm of the recliner. He became more confused as the wash of feelings surged through him. He had no idea why this mortal form had so many of them, and at the same time too! He struggled to identify as many of them as he could so that they would not overwhelm him. It was a race and he found himself both pleased and distraught that Ethan wanted him, but wanted to wait. Frustrated in a very evident physical way and touched in more mental one that Ethan wanted more than just physical gratification. Confused, aroused, intrigued, mystified, vaguely unhappy, delighted: all surged upward from his center in peaks and spikes. The morass was beyond his experience. His breathing accelerated and he tensed up.
Ethan watched, biting his lower lip. As the emotions rippled over Joshua's face, he took pity. He rose from the couch and knelt at Joshua's side. He took one of the limp hands into his and kissed the palm. He looked into Joshua's face intently. Joshua finally began to get a grip on everything. The tide subsided, leaving him feeling odd and disoriented.
"All I'm really asking is that we wait 2 more months before going totally all the way. I need to finish school. So does Skyler. Once that is out of the way, we can devote all of our time to the problem Bryce has. I'm saying this because I think I could lose sight of myself with you. I'm afraid that I'll abandon all of the hard work that I've already done. I want you more than almost anything else in existence, but not at that price. Can you wait for me?" Ethan's voice trailed to a whisper as he hung onto Joshua's hand.
Joshua was speechless. His throat closed tightly as he swallowed down the cocky remark that had instantly come to mind. Instead, he nodded. Ethan smiled and Joshua's heart began to pound so much harder, also in time with the throb in his groin. Ethan leaned forward and kissed Joshua squarely on the lips. Joshua reveled in the first voluntary contact that Ethan had made with him. He became certain that the wait would be worth every second as Ethan's lips branded themselves into his memory.
Joshua pulled himself back to the situation at hand and out of his memories of that night 2 and half months ago. He watched the procession of the ceremony with only mild interest, especially since Ethan had not yet been called to receive his degree. He glanced quickly over at Bryce next to him. Bryce had a secretive smile plastered on his face. He had worked closely with Skyler on getting things right in the final draft that was finally turned in on the thesis.
There had been a lot of things that filled the months just past. Joshua zoned out on the ceremony again as he mentally tallied up the events and changes for the 2 pairs. His eyes focused on the back of Ethan's head. He was not in the least surprised when Ethan turned and looked up at him without having to search at all to find him in the bleachers. Yes, indeed, a lot had happened. His mind skipped and danced erratically as it recalled various things that interested him about the past days and weeks.
Skyler and Bryce had finally woken up and apologized for not leaving word about what was happening. Rather, Bryce had apologized and for some reason, Skyler had just blushed furiously. Ethan was satisfied that it would not be repeated. He had been fascinated with the possibilities that the process of being physically in a dream brought up. Joshua grinned to himself again as he remembered some of those excited monologues that he could hear Ethan having under his breath with himself. The logical part of Ethan was enthralled with explaining and integrating the abilities of the 2 immortals into physics. What appeared to boggle his poor mortal head was how those same theories also had to apply to his brother.
Then there was the discussion on the Dream Realm and explaining what it was and wasn't. They had gone round and round over what it really was versus what modern psychology said it had to be. The four had decided that Morpheus had played an incredibly bad joke on everyone and purposely incorporated mortal aspects into his creation of the Dream Realm plane. Since he was essentially unavailable for consultation, they were not quite sure.
Joshua almost laughed out loud as he recalled some of Skyler's more spectacular experiments with his abilities. Like the time he learned that it consumed less energy to bring something to him that already existed versus making it out of nothing. Skyler had attempted to create some clothes in a hurry as he ran to answer the front door. He willed a shirt and shorts onto his body and then collapsed right as he opened the front door. The sudden drain of energy had nearly knocked him senseless. Plus the fact that this was his first trial of such an undertaking. Joshua snickered to himself. He had been the one at the door and caught Skyler before he knocked his cute nose into the doorjamb.
Then there was the puzzle over what he was hearing and what he was 'really' hearing. None of us had realized that Skyler was hearing our thoughts. Clearly, without any doubt as to whether he was mentally deceiving himself either. That had startled Bryce and me to no end. This mortal, fresh in his gift from my brother, was finding abilities in far less time than many newly minted immortals ever had! Many mortals gifted so never found anything beyond a few simple tricks and rarely did two mortals find nearly the any like what another had.
There was another rather humorous episode where Skyler had transformed himself into an absolutely beautiful Siamese cat. The transformation had been something of a practical joke on his part and certainly succeeded in startling the wits out of all. The real fun came when he couldn't figure out how to get his own form back! Spending a day and a half as a feline had certainly changed Skyler's perception of how it felt to be no more than a foot off of the ground. Even more so on the indignity of being stepped on accidentally. The pure insulted look he gave his own brother when his tail got stepped on was plain as day, feline face or not. Joshua personally thought the crowning insult to the injury was when Skyler's arch-nemesis appeared once more on the patio. Fur raised, tails bristled and ears laid flat from both parties.
Ethan told Joshua that his personal favorite situation was when Skyler overreached himself and tried to convert a favorite crystal sculpture into diamond. He apparently had been unable to keep his thoughts straight as he was trying this out. It flashed back and forth between crystal and diamond for minutes, sweat pouring down his face with the effort. He ended up with an exquisitely shaped piece of coal. So much for modern thinking being an advantage with immortal abilities. It seems that too much education locked thinking in ways most would never have ever known of. After all, what is a periodic table of elements to such as them? When Ethan explained it to Joshua, he was able to see what the problem was immediately. Skyler had gone too deep into thinking about what he was doing and focused too hard on the fact that diamond is pure carbon. He might have done better if he had focused on the crystalline structure in addition to his atoms.
Joshua continued to reminisce on Skyler's escapades until he nearly choked on his laughter. He quickly decided that he should stop or face Ethan's wrath if he disrupted this day. He truly did not want his bonded's ill will. Still, it was better than trying to focus on this entirely silly ceremony. He felt Ethan's gaze again and choked back an outright laugh. Bryce nudged him in the ribs and looked sternly at his brother.
Bryce smiled to himself over Joshua's antics. His brother still found mortals as daunting and mysterious. Nothing they did made much sense to the immortal. He was definitely learning though. The physical form he now used was giving him one hell of a lesson in human practicalities. Bryce almost laughed to himself. He suppressed it viciously, not wanting Joshua to be able to retaliate for the earlier elbow to the ribs.
The memory that almost did him in with his own giggles stayed right there in the forefront of Bryce's memory. The image of Joshua coming to him in very serious 'mortal' pain. Bryce had been totally perplexed. Joshua finally spelled out the problem. Bryce then having to explain what blue-balls were and that he would have to handle that himself. Bryce had to force himself to be compassionate. Joshua was not used to assuming a physical form and therefore did not understand the workings of his 'equipment'.
In a weird twisted turnabout of mood, Bryce began to think about the odd dreams and feelings of unease that went with them. He had an overwhelming sense that he needed to find his fellow immortals and fast. The danger approached and he still didn't understand what it could be. The dreams were very vague and unfocused. They had no real form or order to them.
He felt that if he could get the mortal twins to help, perhaps more of the immortals could be found. Bryce was grateful that this tedious business of their schooling was now over. Skyler had promised to devote his time to helping Bryce search out the missing ones. His only hope, he felt, was to find others and see if they had any other information. Joshua had similar dreams but far weaker and had only been having them since he took physical form. Nothing had come while he had been in his non-corporeal one.
Joshua had described a sense of feeling that even Morpheus was threatened by whatever this was. Bryce grumbled to himself about not being able to find Hypnos on his couch nor Morpheus or any of his brothers within their usual haunts within the Dream Realm. Bryce hoped that whatever this threat turned out to be, it would leave the Dream Realm intact. It was the best and honestly, only, means of rapidly finding and gathering the others. That Realm had to stay stable!
Bryce's worry increased. Zephyrus did not understand what the problem could be and refused to go one step beyond the agreement they had made about guarding and moving Eros' palace. Zephyrus would pay off his debt of honor but would have nothing to do with anything else. Bryce sighed to himself. He really wished that he knew of a way to bring Zephy into this. He felt that the wind god's help would speed things considerably. Still, after centuries of guarding the Dream Realm palace, Bryce really couldn't hope for more from the grump.
Ethan watched the twins on the bleachers with a raised eyebrow. Something was going on with them. He hoped that they would restrain themselves. Ethan shuddered at the possibilities of what those two could get up to. They were a lot like toddlers with new toys. They had to try things out in every imaginable sequence, usually for days, just to see what would happen.
With a smile to himself, Ethan turned back to the stage before him. The department of anthropology was up now. Ethan felt his heart swell with pride and joy as Skyler accepted his degree. He grinned as the pair in the bleachers snapped a ton of pictures. That was their latest combined craze; portable, disposable cameras. Ethan shuddered. He hoped those photos of him in the shower never surfaced anywhere. Or the ones of him and Joshua rolling around naked on the living room floor. Ethan wanted to learn Greco-Roman wrestling and Joshua had insisted that the only way he would teach it was it they did it absolutely the correct way. Ethan had felt up to that challenge, right up until Bryce began popping off pictures.
A blush began creeping up Ethan's cheeks... yet again. He had blushed so much in the last 2 months that he was sure that he was going to pass out from blood loss to his brain. He also had never had so many erotic dreams in his life either. Naturally, they all centered on Joshua. Ethan's brow wrinkled. He would examine that thought more closely later. Ethan remembered some conversations with Bryce about the Dream Realm and the fact that he had some sort of arrangement with Morpheus...
Those two never stopped looking at things and trying to figure out every possible and often impossible use for everything they encountered. Skyler laughed most of it off, saying that they'd figure things out eventually. Ethan, after rescuing several different items from dunkings in chocolate (of all things!) and assorted other liquids, called a halt to their unsupervised experimenting. He could just see them doing something in public that would be horribly difficult to explain and might even get them tossed in jail if it were extreme enough.
Ethan hollered and hooted, pumping his arms up and down as Skyler shook the department head's hand. That thesis of his had really made waves. Still, he had been able to justify everything he had stated and Bryce had made damn sure that everything was traceable back through the timeline, without any missing gaps. The department was still chattering about it. Skyler had collapsed for two weeks after finally sending in the final draft. He had poured that much of himself into the project.
Skyler was shaking as he regained his seat among his peers. He had honestly never imagined getting this far. His focus had been so set on the thesis itself that he had forgotten what came after its successful completion. It felt so awesome to finally have that sword no longer dangling over his head. Skyler chuckled to himself. He was even thinking his metaphors in Greek mythology now!
He loved having that pair of tricksters around. It livened up the hours and minutes of the day. He loved dredging Bryce's mind for details and truths from the myths. It was often surprising what the real deal had been with any given story. Then again, some of them were actually as told. If Skyler could believe Bryce, that is. Somehow, those always seemed to have Eros somewhere in the background, if not forefront.
Skyler snapped his attention back to the stage. Ethan's department was next. He had tears in his eyes as Ethan accepted his degree. Flashbulbs went off for an eternity as Ethan waved from the stage. Skyler couldn't help but think of their parents right now. They would have been so proud of their sons. He hoped that where ever they were, they knew.
They pulled back into the apartment parking spaces within minutes of each other. The Ranchero had been cherried out by now and the Stingray was in as good a shape as ever. They were just pulling in after having had one hell of a dinner out. Skyler shut off the engine and turned to Bryce. He leaned forward and locked his lips to Bryce's. Bryce melted into the heat of the satin skin against his. This was promising to be a very good evening.
Skyler broke the kiss and looked over to where Ethan had parked. Joshua was practically sitting in Ethan's lap, lip-locked. He chuckled to himself. Bryce had told him about Ethan making Joshua wait for the degrees before he was willing to sleep with him. It looked like Josh was taking Ethan at his literal word. They were going to have a night that Ethan was never going to forget, if Josh had anything to say or do about it. Skyler went oomph as Bryce pushed him up against the car door. Someone else had ideas too.
"Let's take this inside, shall we? I really am not in the mood to give a free show to the neighbors!" said Skyler once he was able to pry Bryce back off of him.
Skyler swung open the door and nearly fell out. He grabbed the door and hauled himself to his feet. Walking over to the Stingray, he thumped on the roof loudly. Ethan and Josh broke apart with a start of surprise. Skyler leaned forward and grinned in at the two. Josh had managed to get Ethan's shirt open and half off of his taut body. Skyler shook his head as he outright laughed.
"Don't you think we should head inside? Or do you prefer to educate the neighbor kids on the mating rituals of the newly graduated?" asked Skyler in a mocking tone.
Ethan jumped as he finally noticed that his clothes were in danger of becoming missing in action from Josh's earlier assault on his senses. He blushed again to the roots of his hair. Quickly, he struggled to get his clothes into a condition where they would not fall off if he stood up. Josh got out and waited impatiently at the curb.
"Come on, Ethan! You have a promise to keep!" prodded Josh.
"Hold your horses Josh. You're the one who made such a thorough mess of me that I have to practically get dressed all over again to get out of the car without getting arrested for indecent exposure!" complained Ethan.
Skyler and Bryce headed back into the house. They decided not to wait for the other two. They seemed to be enjoying their back and forth banter. Why step into the middle of their fun? They planted themselves on the couch and waited. Their whispers didn't reach the other pair as they opened the door. Once they were in the living room, Skyler and Bryce broke into frenzied applause, with huge grins.
"Masterful performance!" said one.
"Amazing restraint!" exclaimed the other.
Ethan grabbed a pillow and hit Bryce in the head with it. Josh was left to take on Skyler. He chose to retreat to the kitchen for a moment and returned with a loaded water gun. Skyler yelped as the ice cold water hit him in the face and neck. The gun was usually kept loaded with near freezing water for the invading feline. Meanwhile Ethan was pummeling Bryce into submission. All four guys were laughing hysterically.
After the action died down, they sat around struggling to get their breath back. Other thoughts began to get attention. Within seconds, the living room was empty and two pairs of men were in other rooms. It was going to be a long, exhausting, fun-filled night.
Well, that's all for this chapter. The next one, Chapter 9: Double Trouble, Times Two is essentially going to be a sex chapter. :) After all, it has been ages since Bryce and Skyler have had any fun and we have yet to see Ethan and Josh get it on. Well, all that will be remedied in the near future. Thanks for your patience guys. As always, I can be reached at LaelSt@aol.com or (preferred) ICQ# 11938988.