Friday, December 08, 2006
Love Before Civilization
A/N: This started as a one-shot for “Pay Us No Nevermind”, but uh...that didn’t work out. I started to think about what kind of people these characters were, what their background was...and honestly, these guys are waaaay to hot to be wasted on a one shot... So, lets see how far I can dredge this out for, eh? I think you’ll agree with me that the world of the Golden Sun and Dark Moon clans is quite interesting. If these broadens into more chapters (it won’t be many, I still think this will be rather short, but still have substance) I will add little fun tidbits I came up with as I was writing. Your first LB4C tidbit...
Names in this ‘era’ do not use the letter U. Also, male names typically end in ‘a’, and women end in ‘o’ (which is very unusual, you may notice as it is usually the other way-around). Also, they don’t often use the vowels I and E, except in younger children (like Jorra’s little sister Melee). –Anyway, enough from me! Enjoy!
–Oh, also...this may seem Native American, but is supposed to be...Mesopotamianish... I’m not sure where I was going with this...I was reading WILD ROCK, if you would like an idea of what I was thinking about when I started this. You have no idea how badly I want to use the phrase “Nii-chan”. Lol! –So, this is set WAY BEFORE any kind of large civilization. People lived in clans, and made do for themselves...that kind of thing. Just don’t pay me any mind. It’s alright. No one does. –I would also like to apologize for them being so articulate.
Love Before Civilization
Samma Jaye
The vast wilderness of early culture leant little to the ways of man. Then, the laws were simple, sometimes harsh, but simple. Mainly, be a good man and you will be rewarded. This was the belief of the Golden Sun clan of the West Mountains. The people lived simple, sheltered lives, keeping to their own side of the habitable territories. There was a truce between the Golden Suns and the Dark Moon clan, their nearest neighbors who lived in a valley on the other side of the forest, that kept them from branching over into other parts of the land.
However, before recorded time can show, the truce was broken (by whom, it is not known), and a scuffle began between the two clans. A plan of peaceful war was arranged. Each clan would pit their best warrior against the other in a death match. The two warriors would be put in the middle of the forest, fight, and the winner would drag home to losers remains before the seventh revolution of the sun.
From the Golden Sun, a hearty warrior by the name of Jorra was sent to the center of the forest. He was but nineteen summers old, with long silver hair that gleamed in the sunlight, a broad, muscular chest that told not only of days under the mother Sun but of hunting parties gone awry –a thick white scar crossing from his right shoulder to his left hip. The scar was defining element that made him look even more dashing with his bear skin loin cloth and boots made of deer hide. The only other things he wore included a necklace of boars teeth, a fang earring (from a crocodile he and his brothers had killed), and an eagle feather braided into his hair signifying him as the Chief’s son and heir to the clan.
From the Dark Moon clan was Norrova, an equally dashing warrior of twenty winters. His black, raven hair was pulled back from his face, tied with a string of leather into a braid. He dressed quite similarly to Jorra with the exception of his coverings being made of the pelt of a Sabertooth tiger –his first kill at sixteen winters. Three of it’s best teeth hung at his throat.
Their weapons of choice were simple, stone carved daggers and spears. Each had two of these weapons as they approached each other in the center of the forest.
“You must be Jorra. I have heard much about you.”
“And you must be Norrova. I have heard things of you too. They say you are a good hunter –yet you carry no battle scars.”
“I am careful.” Norrova smiled. “But I am afraid I cannot say the same for you!”
Jorra looked down at this chest as if seeing the scar for the first time, “Accidents happen –even to the best of us.”
“I see...shall we begin?”
“...I shall be honest with you Norrova, as you seem to be an honest man. I do not wish to fight you. I was born to hunt the wild beast –not my fellow man.”
Norrova nodded, “I feel the same way. But do we dare to disobey our clans, Jorra?”
Jorra thought for a moment, “Let us not fight yet, Norrova. We seem to be looking for the same compromise –perhaps we can find a solution to our problem without shedding each other’s blood?”
Norrova nodded, “Yes, that seems honorable. I will agree to that, Jorra.”
The two worked in silence for a few minutes, setting up a crude campsite for the night.
“That feather in your hair... You are the heir to your family?”
Jorra nodded, “And my clan. My father is chief.”
“They took a big risk sending you here then.” Norrova shook his head.
“The only other option was my half-brother. I would not let him come here. You would best him in a heartbeat.”
Norrova laughed, “My reputation exceeds me, I see!”
“The Golden Sun clan is not blind, Norrova. You’ve bested us a few times to often when your hunting parties venture into our territory. That is why we are here today.”
“I only go where my chief tells me the game seems to be located. My clan does not want to starve anymore then yours does.”
“And that is fine until you take the animals from right in front of us.” Jorra sounded slightly bitter. “Which I am afraid you have done on a few to many occasions, Norrova.”
“I am sorry. The hunt often gets away from me. What can I say or do to apologize?”
“Simply help me stop his feud, so we can get on with our lives.”
“I will try my best.”
“Your chief –does he have a daughter?” Jorra asked, a bit later as they began to stoke a fire, after each taking a long while to think.
“Hmm.” Norrova nodded. “But she is young yet –only twelve. Not even a woman yet.”
“Any other children?”
“Hmm.” He nodded again. “But just me.” He gave a slight smile at Jorra’s surprise, “Yes, my father took quite the risk to send me here as well.”
“Then I see we are scarily similar you and I.”
“Apparently.” Norrova nodded. “–And that isn’t really helping our problem.”
“Maybe...maybe not.”
“You have an idea?”
“...No.” Jorra shook his head. “At least, not one that I want to share with you just yet.”
“Something to sleep on, yes?”
“Hmm.” Jorra nodded.
In all truth, Jorra knew more about Norrova then we was letting on. Their hunting parties had often crossed paths since he had joined in the hunt, and he had known from the moment he met him –so long ago now on the frozen tundra of his fifteenth winter, that Norrova was a person he wanted to know more about. After nearly being mauled a year later, Jorra hadn’t seen Norrova, even as their parties moved stealthily along each others fighting to be the first to their prey, in a long time.
And here was his change –a week to get to know this elusive enigma. He knew their places as heirs to their clans was more important then anything else. He was expected to choose a wife, and create an heir so that the Golden Suns could live on through further generations...but he hadn’t the heart to tell his father, the Chief, that he wasn’t sure if these were tasks he was capable of. –Oh, of course there were dozens of pretty Golden Sun girls who could steal a away a warrior’s breath with a single sigh, but...he didn’t want any of them.
Jorra found that he was much more interested in his fellow hunters. He wasn’t sure what exactly it was about them that was so alluring, but he knew he couldn’t join in on their bathing games, or really even play the same way that they did with each other. The others thought Jorra to be shy, or polite. None of them would think that he avoided them because he was trying not to lust after them.
Across the camp, Norrova was having quite a similar chide with himself. However, unlike Jorra, he was more outgoing because of his difference. Rather then shy away from his particular taste in the flesh, he ventured after it, sometimes with interesting effects. Most of the time, the other warriors would laugh him off, or go along with him because he was the Chief’s son. Rarely though, Norrova’s advances would be accepted, leading to an interesting night in his little shelter, a bit away from the camp, enclosed by animal skins on four sides, but usually opened to the sky to allow the Father Moon to over see his activities with approval.
Back on his own turf, it was not unusual for him to seek that kind of company when he wanted. He always had a vast array of Dark Moon warriors to choose from. Now he wanted only the silver haired hunter from the Golden Sun clan, but had no idea how to initiate his scarred beauty into a seductive dance under the loving gaze of Mother Sun and hopefully Father Moon.
Norrova looked across their makeshift camp where Jorra was spreading out his bear skin pelt near enough to the fire for safety, but far enough away to put some distance between the two of them. In fact, it seemed to be just far enough away that there would be no accidental night-time encounters. Now was the time to change that!
“You know, it might be safer if we slept closer together.”
“I doubt that.” Jorra tried to hide his smile as he smoothed out the soft pelt.
“What do you mean?” Norrova asked. “You think I would molest you in your sleep?”
“Jorra’s head snapped up, “No! I never said that!”
Norrova nodded, “Ah, you are afraid of your own actions! Should I keep my weapons nearby, just in case?”
“N-no...” Jorra shook his head. “Of course not.”
“I sense, however, that there is something you aren’t saying.”
“Such as?” Jorra asked.
“...Jorra, I think we are more alike then you think.” Norrova closed the space between them, taking the younger man by the shoulders, his thumb tracing over the beginning of the scar on Jorra’s shoulder. “Say it –what it is that makes us different...from others.”
“I-I don’t think I understand.” Jorra was taken aback, his stomach churning in the beginnings of excitement.
“What makes us special, Jorra?” Norrova’s lips pressed against his collarbone. “Tell me.”
“Uh...why are you...Norrova?” Jorra’s palms pressed against Norrova’s stomach, his fingers flattening against the smooth skin.
“Tell me what you want me.”
Jorra looked up, his eyes gleaming with innocence and surprise, “What?”
“Tell me...you want me.” Norrova repeated.
“I...” Jorra’s breath quickened, his fingers flexing against Norrova’s stomach, “I-I...”
“Say it.” Norrova coaxed, letting his hands move down to Jorra’s elbows, his lips kissing the underside of Jorra’s jaw.
“I...I can’t!” Jorra tried to pull away, but Norrova caught him by the wrist. “Please, let me go!”
“Why can’t you? I know it’s true. You know it’s true, but you will not let yourself say it out loud. I will not reprimand you for it. I want it as well.” Norrova pulled him closer, “I can say it. Why can’t you?”
“Perhaps because I am more chaste. Or because you simply think you understand me. That could be culprit in this dilemma as well.”
“I think my assumption was right on it’s mark. I also believe you are afraid. Is that true?” Norrova linked his fingers with Jorra’s. “You can’t tell me that as handsome as you are, no one has at least ventured a guess at these feelings you have.”
“I...stay away from...them. The others. It keeps us all better. It keeps us all safe.”
“Safe from what? Who benefits from you lying yourself? The others, the ones you are attracted to? They think you are shy or timid. You don’t think that they know the truth behind your reclusiveness. However, I am sure some of them have ventured a guess. You can’t tell me that of all the men you deal with, not one has captured enough of your fancy to warrant a trial of flirtation.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Let me make you mine, and let me be yours. Even it is just for one night, or two nights, or even if you would allow me a lifetime with you. Give me chance to show you what I am capable of. Let me be your lover.”
“No. I can’t. I don’t...I don’t even understand these...emotions I have for you. I don’t know if it is you that I want, or your if it is just your body I am craving. I don’t deserve to share in carnal pleasure with you, Norrova, if that is all that I want.”
“Start with my body, Jorra. Then begin to crave the rest.” Norrova coaxed, placing Jorra’s hands against his chest.
“I don’t even...I don’t even know how.”
“Tell me what you want.” Norrova’s mouth was near Jorra’s ear, “When you say it, I can make it happen.”
“Can you really?”
“Hmm.” Norrova nodded, his tongue lapping against Jorra’s neck for a moment, “ I have enough experience for us both.”
“Even if I agreed, I still wouldn’t...know what to do. How to help.”
“I would teach you.” Norrova promised, pressing his forehead against Jorra’s, “And I would make it one of the most glorious experiences. Please, tell me?”
“No, I can’t. ...What if someone came to check on us? What would they think?”
“Who cares what they would think, Jorra? This isn’t about them. It’s about us.”
“How can you not worry about what others think of you?”
“Because most impressions are wrong.” Norrova shook his head, dropping Jorra’s wrists, “Never mind, I can see that you will not play this game with me.”
“It...it isn’t that I don’t want to, Norrova! I just, I worry, and...I’m nervous.”
“Its alright. It’s not important.” Norrova turned away, “Should we go find something for dinner? Would you like fish? There are plenty of them to be had this time of year, in the river.”
“I...you go from trying to talk me into copulation to thinking about food?”
“Hmm. The two things man cannot live without –Sex, and food!”
“You maybe. I’ve gone nineteen summers without the first.”
“...I find that very hard sad.” Norrova shook his head. “You should let me break you.”
“...Excuse me?”
“Not like that! I mean, stop being so uptight all of the time, and such a nervous wreck. Try something new and exciting. Or you could just come with me to fish.”
“Lets just start with the fishing –and you best hope I don’t decided to change my mind about you when I have that spear in my hand.”
Norrova laughed, “I understand. I will be on my best behavior!”
Names in this ‘era’ do not use the letter U. Also, male names typically end in ‘a’, and women end in ‘o’ (which is very unusual, you may notice as it is usually the other way-around). Also, they don’t often use the vowels I and E, except in younger children (like Jorra’s little sister Melee). –Anyway, enough from me! Enjoy!
–Oh, also...this may seem Native American, but is supposed to be...Mesopotamianish... I’m not sure where I was going with this...I was reading WILD ROCK, if you would like an idea of what I was thinking about when I started this. You have no idea how badly I want to use the phrase “Nii-chan”. Lol! –So, this is set WAY BEFORE any kind of large civilization. People lived in clans, and made do for themselves...that kind of thing. Just don’t pay me any mind. It’s alright. No one does. –I would also like to apologize for them being so articulate.
Love Before Civilization
Samma Jaye
The vast wilderness of early culture leant little to the ways of man. Then, the laws were simple, sometimes harsh, but simple. Mainly, be a good man and you will be rewarded. This was the belief of the Golden Sun clan of the West Mountains. The people lived simple, sheltered lives, keeping to their own side of the habitable territories. There was a truce between the Golden Suns and the Dark Moon clan, their nearest neighbors who lived in a valley on the other side of the forest, that kept them from branching over into other parts of the land.
However, before recorded time can show, the truce was broken (by whom, it is not known), and a scuffle began between the two clans. A plan of peaceful war was arranged. Each clan would pit their best warrior against the other in a death match. The two warriors would be put in the middle of the forest, fight, and the winner would drag home to losers remains before the seventh revolution of the sun.
From the Golden Sun, a hearty warrior by the name of Jorra was sent to the center of the forest. He was but nineteen summers old, with long silver hair that gleamed in the sunlight, a broad, muscular chest that told not only of days under the mother Sun but of hunting parties gone awry –a thick white scar crossing from his right shoulder to his left hip. The scar was defining element that made him look even more dashing with his bear skin loin cloth and boots made of deer hide. The only other things he wore included a necklace of boars teeth, a fang earring (from a crocodile he and his brothers had killed), and an eagle feather braided into his hair signifying him as the Chief’s son and heir to the clan.
From the Dark Moon clan was Norrova, an equally dashing warrior of twenty winters. His black, raven hair was pulled back from his face, tied with a string of leather into a braid. He dressed quite similarly to Jorra with the exception of his coverings being made of the pelt of a Sabertooth tiger –his first kill at sixteen winters. Three of it’s best teeth hung at his throat.
Their weapons of choice were simple, stone carved daggers and spears. Each had two of these weapons as they approached each other in the center of the forest.
“You must be Jorra. I have heard much about you.”
“And you must be Norrova. I have heard things of you too. They say you are a good hunter –yet you carry no battle scars.”
“I am careful.” Norrova smiled. “But I am afraid I cannot say the same for you!”
Jorra looked down at this chest as if seeing the scar for the first time, “Accidents happen –even to the best of us.”
“I see...shall we begin?”
“...I shall be honest with you Norrova, as you seem to be an honest man. I do not wish to fight you. I was born to hunt the wild beast –not my fellow man.”
Norrova nodded, “I feel the same way. But do we dare to disobey our clans, Jorra?”
Jorra thought for a moment, “Let us not fight yet, Norrova. We seem to be looking for the same compromise –perhaps we can find a solution to our problem without shedding each other’s blood?”
Norrova nodded, “Yes, that seems honorable. I will agree to that, Jorra.”
The two worked in silence for a few minutes, setting up a crude campsite for the night.
“That feather in your hair... You are the heir to your family?”
Jorra nodded, “And my clan. My father is chief.”
“They took a big risk sending you here then.” Norrova shook his head.
“The only other option was my half-brother. I would not let him come here. You would best him in a heartbeat.”
Norrova laughed, “My reputation exceeds me, I see!”
“The Golden Sun clan is not blind, Norrova. You’ve bested us a few times to often when your hunting parties venture into our territory. That is why we are here today.”
“I only go where my chief tells me the game seems to be located. My clan does not want to starve anymore then yours does.”
“And that is fine until you take the animals from right in front of us.” Jorra sounded slightly bitter. “Which I am afraid you have done on a few to many occasions, Norrova.”
“I am sorry. The hunt often gets away from me. What can I say or do to apologize?”
“Simply help me stop his feud, so we can get on with our lives.”
“I will try my best.”
“Your chief –does he have a daughter?” Jorra asked, a bit later as they began to stoke a fire, after each taking a long while to think.
“Hmm.” Norrova nodded. “But she is young yet –only twelve. Not even a woman yet.”
“Any other children?”
“Hmm.” He nodded again. “But just me.” He gave a slight smile at Jorra’s surprise, “Yes, my father took quite the risk to send me here as well.”
“Then I see we are scarily similar you and I.”
“Apparently.” Norrova nodded. “–And that isn’t really helping our problem.”
“Maybe...maybe not.”
“You have an idea?”
“...No.” Jorra shook his head. “At least, not one that I want to share with you just yet.”
“Something to sleep on, yes?”
“Hmm.” Jorra nodded.
In all truth, Jorra knew more about Norrova then we was letting on. Their hunting parties had often crossed paths since he had joined in the hunt, and he had known from the moment he met him –so long ago now on the frozen tundra of his fifteenth winter, that Norrova was a person he wanted to know more about. After nearly being mauled a year later, Jorra hadn’t seen Norrova, even as their parties moved stealthily along each others fighting to be the first to their prey, in a long time.
And here was his change –a week to get to know this elusive enigma. He knew their places as heirs to their clans was more important then anything else. He was expected to choose a wife, and create an heir so that the Golden Suns could live on through further generations...but he hadn’t the heart to tell his father, the Chief, that he wasn’t sure if these were tasks he was capable of. –Oh, of course there were dozens of pretty Golden Sun girls who could steal a away a warrior’s breath with a single sigh, but...he didn’t want any of them.
Jorra found that he was much more interested in his fellow hunters. He wasn’t sure what exactly it was about them that was so alluring, but he knew he couldn’t join in on their bathing games, or really even play the same way that they did with each other. The others thought Jorra to be shy, or polite. None of them would think that he avoided them because he was trying not to lust after them.
Across the camp, Norrova was having quite a similar chide with himself. However, unlike Jorra, he was more outgoing because of his difference. Rather then shy away from his particular taste in the flesh, he ventured after it, sometimes with interesting effects. Most of the time, the other warriors would laugh him off, or go along with him because he was the Chief’s son. Rarely though, Norrova’s advances would be accepted, leading to an interesting night in his little shelter, a bit away from the camp, enclosed by animal skins on four sides, but usually opened to the sky to allow the Father Moon to over see his activities with approval.
Back on his own turf, it was not unusual for him to seek that kind of company when he wanted. He always had a vast array of Dark Moon warriors to choose from. Now he wanted only the silver haired hunter from the Golden Sun clan, but had no idea how to initiate his scarred beauty into a seductive dance under the loving gaze of Mother Sun and hopefully Father Moon.
Norrova looked across their makeshift camp where Jorra was spreading out his bear skin pelt near enough to the fire for safety, but far enough away to put some distance between the two of them. In fact, it seemed to be just far enough away that there would be no accidental night-time encounters. Now was the time to change that!
“You know, it might be safer if we slept closer together.”
“I doubt that.” Jorra tried to hide his smile as he smoothed out the soft pelt.
“What do you mean?” Norrova asked. “You think I would molest you in your sleep?”
“Jorra’s head snapped up, “No! I never said that!”
Norrova nodded, “Ah, you are afraid of your own actions! Should I keep my weapons nearby, just in case?”
“N-no...” Jorra shook his head. “Of course not.”
“I sense, however, that there is something you aren’t saying.”
“Such as?” Jorra asked.
“...Jorra, I think we are more alike then you think.” Norrova closed the space between them, taking the younger man by the shoulders, his thumb tracing over the beginning of the scar on Jorra’s shoulder. “Say it –what it is that makes us different...from others.”
“I-I don’t think I understand.” Jorra was taken aback, his stomach churning in the beginnings of excitement.
“What makes us special, Jorra?” Norrova’s lips pressed against his collarbone. “Tell me.”
“Uh...why are you...Norrova?” Jorra’s palms pressed against Norrova’s stomach, his fingers flattening against the smooth skin.
“Tell me what you want me.”
Jorra looked up, his eyes gleaming with innocence and surprise, “What?”
“Tell me...you want me.” Norrova repeated.
“I...” Jorra’s breath quickened, his fingers flexing against Norrova’s stomach, “I-I...”
“Say it.” Norrova coaxed, letting his hands move down to Jorra’s elbows, his lips kissing the underside of Jorra’s jaw.
“I...I can’t!” Jorra tried to pull away, but Norrova caught him by the wrist. “Please, let me go!”
“Why can’t you? I know it’s true. You know it’s true, but you will not let yourself say it out loud. I will not reprimand you for it. I want it as well.” Norrova pulled him closer, “I can say it. Why can’t you?”
“Perhaps because I am more chaste. Or because you simply think you understand me. That could be culprit in this dilemma as well.”
“I think my assumption was right on it’s mark. I also believe you are afraid. Is that true?” Norrova linked his fingers with Jorra’s. “You can’t tell me that as handsome as you are, no one has at least ventured a guess at these feelings you have.”
“I...stay away from...them. The others. It keeps us all better. It keeps us all safe.”
“Safe from what? Who benefits from you lying yourself? The others, the ones you are attracted to? They think you are shy or timid. You don’t think that they know the truth behind your reclusiveness. However, I am sure some of them have ventured a guess. You can’t tell me that of all the men you deal with, not one has captured enough of your fancy to warrant a trial of flirtation.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Let me make you mine, and let me be yours. Even it is just for one night, or two nights, or even if you would allow me a lifetime with you. Give me chance to show you what I am capable of. Let me be your lover.”
“No. I can’t. I don’t...I don’t even understand these...emotions I have for you. I don’t know if it is you that I want, or your if it is just your body I am craving. I don’t deserve to share in carnal pleasure with you, Norrova, if that is all that I want.”
“Start with my body, Jorra. Then begin to crave the rest.” Norrova coaxed, placing Jorra’s hands against his chest.
“I don’t even...I don’t even know how.”
“Tell me what you want.” Norrova’s mouth was near Jorra’s ear, “When you say it, I can make it happen.”
“Can you really?”
“Hmm.” Norrova nodded, his tongue lapping against Jorra’s neck for a moment, “ I have enough experience for us both.”
“Even if I agreed, I still wouldn’t...know what to do. How to help.”
“I would teach you.” Norrova promised, pressing his forehead against Jorra’s, “And I would make it one of the most glorious experiences. Please, tell me?”
“No, I can’t. ...What if someone came to check on us? What would they think?”
“Who cares what they would think, Jorra? This isn’t about them. It’s about us.”
“How can you not worry about what others think of you?”
“Because most impressions are wrong.” Norrova shook his head, dropping Jorra’s wrists, “Never mind, I can see that you will not play this game with me.”
“It...it isn’t that I don’t want to, Norrova! I just, I worry, and...I’m nervous.”
“Its alright. It’s not important.” Norrova turned away, “Should we go find something for dinner? Would you like fish? There are plenty of them to be had this time of year, in the river.”
“I...you go from trying to talk me into copulation to thinking about food?”
“Hmm. The two things man cannot live without –Sex, and food!”
“You maybe. I’ve gone nineteen summers without the first.”
“...I find that very hard sad.” Norrova shook his head. “You should let me break you.”
“...Excuse me?”
“Not like that! I mean, stop being so uptight all of the time, and such a nervous wreck. Try something new and exciting. Or you could just come with me to fish.”
“Lets just start with the fishing –and you best hope I don’t decided to change my mind about you when I have that spear in my hand.”
Norrova laughed, “I understand. I will be on my best behavior!”
Monday, September 18, 2006
Sundry IV: 2160
Title: Sundry IV: 2160
Fandom: X-Men: Evolution and other various X-Men Universe/Marvel Universe comics
Summery: 100+ years after the original fic. Joanna is the last one of her friends, but she’s still got a lot of years a head of her. How is she going to cope with her newest loss while maintaining control of a growing school system?
A/N: -The summery pretty much sums up my thoughts of where this is going. I just want to add how completely invulnerable Joanna is...because it is awesome. I am like...genius :) -Gloating in my own glory. Sorry. I love her. Even though I hate her name...whatever. -I hope you like it. This makes three Sundry Stories in the works -oh wait, no...four! I forgot about my smutty one-shots ;)
Chapter One: Stages
(Joanna POV)
My husband died yesterday. That shouldn’t surprise me, considering his age. Considering his occupation. Considering our former occupation, that is. What hurts the most isn’t that he’s gone –it’s that I have no one left to comfort me. My, no, our, friend’s all died long ago of various causes, and Logan and I were unique with our powers. We’ve far outlived our closest and dearest friends, and alas...I have outlived him.
Looking at his corpse in the steel coffin, that is today’s burial standard, Logan looks peaceful. Old and peaceful. Me? I’m still young, and beautiful. Many questioned us along our travels –why a woman of 30 would be with a man of 50 or more! Simply put, because I was only 74 or so years younger then him. While he lived to be nearly 280, I’m only a little under 180 myself, and I’ve still got a lot in me. More then Logan did, probably. When we were together though, our ages didn’t matter. Not until today, anyway.
"C’mon Mrs. Logan. I’ll drive you back to the house."
"It’s alright." I shook my head. "I’d like to stay here for awhile. I’ll pop back up in a bit."
"Okay." Charles was a student at Xaviers, which I was now headmistress of. After the Professor had died, followed by Storm, and Scott and Jean, the institute and fallen onto the shoulders of Logan and I. All of our old friends were buried on the grounds, just a few feet in either direction from Logan’s own grave.
Logan died peacefully, in his sleep. I’m sure that’s not how he would have liked to go –he had always wanted to go down fighting and I wish that he had too. He had been ill for awhile, but I guess eventually your heart just has to stop, especially after such a long time, and so much strain.
Either way, I hope he’s someplace nice. Someplace he’s happy. Maybe back in Canada.
"Mrs. Logan–"
"Charles, if you call me that again, I will personally rip out your lungs. What do you want?"
"New arrivals."
"You deal with them, Charles. I’m not in the mood."
"I think you’d like to take at least one of them on personally."
"Oh?" I raised my eyebrow at him. "And why is that?"
"Well, uh...she’s Rogue’s Great-Granddaughter."
Ragsta was the spitting image of her Great Grandmother, my best friend. Unfortunatly, the similarities weren’t just in the body, but also in power.
"It took Rogue years to control her power, Ragsta. I hope you don’t think that I can magically ‘cure’ you just because I helped her."
"Of course not." Ragsta shook her head. "But, if anyone at all can help me, it’s you."
"Hmm." I nodded. "Well, I’ll have Margo show you to your room -you’ll be sharing with Stefina."
Margo, a pretty girl, regardless of her furry mutation, stepped forward out of the shadows of my office.
"Thank you, Joanna. I know you’ve been trying to fan out your students between the other schools," she turned from where she was heading out of the door with Margo, "I was sorry to hear about Logan, I know Rogue would have been very sad to see him go."
"Thank you." I closed the door behind them with a wave of my hand.
Xavier’s had grown a lot since my introduction there. We now had four schools, one in each corner of the US, one in Canada, two in Europe, and three in Asia –all overseen by me, but tutored by the firm hand of my selected teachers. New York was still my Baby-School so to speak, but I visited each school monthly, tested the faculty and the training of the students, and the students themselves.
"Mrs. Lo– sorry, Joanna?" Charles leaned in the door. "Do you have a minute?"
"I may have more then one. What is it?"
"I just...wanted to tell you how great you are. I mean, you’ve been through so much...and you just keep going."
I smiled, "Thank you Charles, now what’s the bad news?" Charles always buttered me up before delivering bad news.
"It’s California. They got hit pretty bad by that last Earthquake. Shadow wants to know what you plan on doing about all of the students."
I sighed, "Divide them up between the three remaining schools by skill levels. Low level and struggling students here, iffy students to Washington, and higher level students to Florida -they need all of the help they can get -then I want volunteers from all of the schools to go clean up and help with the rebuild. I knew that setting up in California would be disaster, but does anyone listen to me? No, of course not. Heaven forbid we put up a school someplace sensible, like Wyoming." I turned to him after my rant, "Well? Get going, Charles!"
"Oh my god, Shadow. What happened?" I covered my face. "This is not an Earthquake!"
"I’m afraid it is." Shadow’s black cloak waved in the wind, "Got hit bad, but no one was hurt. How many students are coming to help rebuild?"
"We’ve got over two-hundred and fifty volunteers. We may need more." I turned to face the house, "We’ve seen worse."
Shadow nodded, "I know. ...Joanna?" He looked at me with his dark black eyes, "Are you alright?"
"I’m fine." I forced a smile. "Just a little tired, but I guess my work is just starting."
"I know it’s hard, Jo." Shadow put a hand on my shoulder as we moved toward the car. "And to lose Logan like that –we all thought he had a lot more in him..."
I smiled again, "It’s alright, Shadow. I had more then a lifetime with Logan –and who knows, maybe this lifetime will bring someone new."
"You always tried to find the silver lining." Shadow opened the car door, letting me slid in first, "Mayhap you can find it in our disaster."
___
"Okay, Sparks, I want you to turn left at the next section–."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Sparks, you have to go left!"
"No way, Remedy!"
"I can see everything, it’s safe!"
"Sparks, this exercise is about teamwork and trust, if Remedy is telling you to go left, you need to listen to him and trust him." I rubbed the space between my eyes. "Put your differences aside for one simulation, please?"
"But Sundry, going left leads me back around! He’s making me go in circles!"
I narrowed my eyes, looking into the simulation maze. "Go left, Sparks. I see where Remedy is going with this."
"Fine, but if I die, we’re going to have to make the grave yard a lot bigger ‘cause I am so not going alone!"
Remedy pulled his communicator out of his ear, "She doesn’t trust me, Sundry."
"I wouldn’t trust you either." I raised my eyebrow, letting hin know that I knew about his tryst with another young girl at the institute while he had been dating Sparks.
"Hey! That was one time! You can’t use that against me!"
"Nicolas, come to my office after your session is over. I think we should talk."
"What’s the matter, Nic?" I asked. "You’ve been hot headed and irrational for days now."
Nicolas, Remedy, slid into one of the chairs in front of my desk, "When you were young, did you ever... did you have a lot of boyfriends?"
I laughed. "I wouldn’t say that I did...I’ve only had two real boyfriends my whole life."
"I find that very hard to believe."
I shook my head, "I found Logan very early in life –and Warren barely lasted a month..." I rolled my eyes. "...And Peitro wasn’t really a boyfriend, just a husband."
"Well, anyway, my problem is...I really like Naomie, but part of me keeps pulling me to all of these other girls."
"Nic, if you cared for Naomie, you wouldn’t see other girls."
Nic shook his head, "I don’t understand how Mr. Logan stayed faithful to you for so long -and vice versa. It just blows my mind, everytime I think about it."
"That’s because we loved each other, Nic, but we had to work at it. Maybe Naomie isn’t your soul mate, but you’ll find her, some day. Probably when you least expect it."
"Maybe." Nic looked away for a moment before looking back at her, "Mrs. Logan?"
"Hmm?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Does it hurt? To lose him, I mean."
"Of course." I nodded. "But it will get better -it always does after you lose someone you love -trust me, I know. I’ve lost a lot of people."
He nodded, "Do you think there is someone else out there to replace him?"
I shook my head, "No one could ever replace Logan, Nicolas. I may find someone else to love again, but he would never replace Logan."
Our room seems so dark and empty. I keep trying to pretend that he’s just away on another one of his trips, trying to fool myself into sleeping, but I can’t do it. I still know, I know that he’s goine. Not coming back. I felt the same way after Rogue died, and all of the rest of my friends.
I cry myself to sleep most nights, not wanting to let the students see how much it hurts just to breath some days. I hold it all back for as long as possible, until I can be alone, or at least have a private, free moment with my thoughts.
The tears aren’t even coming tonight though. It’s been a month since Logan died, and the snow is just starting to fall. Logan loved the snow; when we would go to the manor, he used to drive me crazy, waking up at four in the morning to go romp in the snow like a puppy, usually dragging me along with him.
I miss that.
I leaned in the doorway of the balcony, watching a few of the students have a snowball fight in the fresh powder below my window. I looked up at the clouds, just waiting to be burst open and put another layer on the ground. I resisted the urge to open them up, letting the kids continue to play.
"Are you spying?" A semi-familar voice was suddenly beside me, and I turned to see Ragsta at my shoulder.
I smiled, "No, of course not. Just watching them with a bit of nostogia. It amazes me sometimes how these kids do things that I used to do when I was there age..." I moved to sit on the edge of the balcony. "What brings you to this side of the castle?" I raised my eyebrow.
She shrugged, "Just wanted to say good morning. -So...good morning."
"Good morning." I looked back down on the ground where Nic was tackling Naomie in the snow. "Shame on him..."
"Who? Nic?" Ragsta joined me near the edge of the balcony, keeping her distance. "...Oh. I see."
I took a glance at her, "You like him?"
"Oh, no...I mean," She scoffed, tossing her red hair over her shoulder, "of course not. Are you kidding me with that? What a joke."
I laughed, "Do you want to play?" I asked, scooping together a snowball from the powder on the ledge of the balcony.
"N-no thanks. I don’t want to ruin it for them."
I smiled, "Watch." I lined up six snowballs, one for each of the students in the fight below, and raised them in the air before pelting them down at their targets below. The students looked surprised, looking up.
"Hey! No powers!" Nic called, a smile on his face.
"Well then I guess it’s a good thing I’ve got a height advantage up here, huh?" I smiled.
"Not for long, Sundry." Gabriel unfurled his impressive wingspan, leaping into the air with a snowball in his hand that hit me in the shoulder.
I dusted the snow from my sleeve, "Hmm...not playing completely fair, huh Gabe?" Snowballs began packing together on the railing of the balcony. His eyes grew, and stepped into the balcony.
"You wouldn’t really...I mean..."
I raised an eyebrow, the large number of snowballs raising up into the air.
"Oh, you would..." He jumped from the balcony, zooming over the roof, the snowballs following him.
"You could hit him if you really wanted to, couldn’t you?" Ragsta asked, still standing as far away from the edge of the balcony.
I nodded, "I could...but I let them think that they are better then me sometimes. It builds their moral."
After the snowballs finally pelted Gabriel, and he sat dizzy on the ground, I called down, "Don’t forget that you still have sessions today! Mutant Academy closes for no weather!"
"Yes, Sundry." They called back, before hustling inside for the sessions.
I turned back to Ragsta, "Speaking of sessions...we should set you up with a schedule."
"Pixie here will show you around." The tiny girl landed on my palm. "You’ll have classes together most of the day. "Pixie, be nice?"
"Of course, Sundry." Pixie hovered off of my palm, growing back to her full size, losing the wings. "C’mon, Ragsta, before we’re late."
Charles was at my shoulder only a moment later. "Shadow called to say that the repairs are coming along nicely and they should be prepared to take on their advanced students next week. Ram is going to be staying behind to help out with all of the tech stuff that might pop up, along with Cypher."
"Okay." I nodded. "And?"
"Hong Kong says that their numbers keep growing. They’d like to build another addition."
"They’ve already built on five!"
Charles shrugged, "We could always build another school..."
"It’s not in the budget for this year -not without more funds."
"We could always raise the tuition."
"No. We’re not raising tuition, Charles. We’ve discussed this."
"Then we need to find another Contributor."
"I just said that, Charles."
"I’ll get on the phone with some people that ’ve helped us in the past..."
"Maybe. I’ll call our current contributors and ask if they’ve got any leads on do-gooders..." I sighed. "Oh, what’s my schedule for visits this month?"
"All are in secession, next week."
"Good." I nodded. "You’ve got the programs I’ve been working on for their tests?"
He nodded, "You’re sure these aren’t a bit much for them?"
"Not for the older students." I shook my head. "They should just be happy I’m not unleashing myself onto them."
"...Good point."
Day one, Canada. Logan’s pride and joy school, built just a few miles away from the Howlette Mansion, that had been restored time and time again. It was our smallest school, and the training grounds for our most promising X-Men. Students who showed interest in joining the team, or a teacher at our schools, were sent to the Ontario Academy to learn the ropes of X-Men-hood.
There was a distinctive air when I stepped foot onto the campus, slightly weakened from the teleportation –but only slightly. I was able to stop the canon-ball like creature that plummeted my way with a step out of the way, sending Karlton Agures neck deep into the snow.
"Nice try, Karlton. Next time, I may not be so lucky." I smiled, helping him out of the snow pile.
"I will get you one of these days, Professor." Karlton brushed off the snow, and looked up at her. "And then I’ll be able to join the X-Men, right?"
I smiled. X-Men-In-Training liked to believe that they had to defeat me in order to join the X-Men. It was a legend that I let live, just out of amusement. I didn’t want to be a killjoy. "Maybe some day, Karlton. You have to do a lot more then push me into a snowbank to become an X-Man."
Karlton sighed. He was almost nineteen, and with a combined power of speed and flight, he was known as Bullet, with metallic colored skin that was nearly impervious, which looked a little funny with his shock-orange hair.
"C’mon...I’ll show you the new program I’ve got devised for you upperclassman." I put an arm over his shoulder and lead him towards the school.
It wasn’t long before my first test set, ten of the upperclass students, including Karlton in the front ranks, had assembled in the CA-Danger Room. Hound, the head of CA, stood next to me, reviewing the program while I breifed the students on it.
"I’ve been working on this program for three months. It is undeniably one of the hardest programs I will ever unleash on you, here in the Danger Room. If you can pass this test...I shall have to come up with a great reward for you." I smiled over them.
"Are you in it?" Karlton asked.
I laughed, "No Karlton. Maybe next month –if you pass."
"Right." Karlton pulled his blue goggles over his eyes, stancing himself, "What do we need to know?"
"Don’t kill the wrong person –oh, and if you get hit, remember you’re out for good." I pushed the button, shaping the Danger room into...ironically enough, a very dangerous room...
"You’re sure they can handle this?" Hound asked.
"Joshua...there are no real bullets involved, just paint. And I have faith in them." I sat beside him to watch. "They are safe. The paint pellets really will just bruise them...I hope." I bit my lip as I watched Starlight blast the wrong droid. She was about to realize just what happened when you killed a "queen".
"Oh my god, they’re multiplying!" She shrieked, "What did I do?!"
"You killed the wrong one, stupid!" Decay yelled.
"How was I supposed to know? What made that one so special?" Starlight yelled back.
"Don’t you ever listen? Psyche specifically said that the ones we couldn’t kill were recognizable by their eye color! All of the ones we’re not supposed to kill are blue eyed!"
I laughed. Psyche had picked up on the false information I had let her pick up on. They would find that out a moment later.
"But...it was green eyed!"
"Never believe anything you hear from me." I hinted. "Do you really think I would let it out that easy, guys? C’mon..."
Suddenly, Karlton was down, his back coated in a thick green paint.
"Aw, man!" He pounded his fist into the floor, "This sucks!"
It wasn’t long before the others of the team were overwhelmed as well, and I shut the simulation off, not even half way into it.
"It was an honorable try." I entered the observation deck, looking out over them, "You all did very well."
"We lost." Decay unzipped his uniform part way down his chest, "Not to mention the fact that we are all covered in paint..."
"Keep working and we’ll try this again next month." I smiled, "And remember –you cannot tell any of the other units about this simulation until after tomorrow. Understand?" They all nodded, "Alright, go get cleaned up." I dismissed them back to the dormitories.
Through the rest of the day, the other groups didn’t do much better. The younger groups did better then expected on their separate simulations, but it still wasn’t as well as I would have liked.
"You expect to much out of these kids." Hound sat in one of the empty chairs across from his desk, as I sat behind it, looking over student files. "It isn’t the glory days anymore."
"Hound...if anything, these kids are even more powerful then when I was a kid. Don’t give me any crap about me expecting to much out of them. If anything, I should expect more."
He tilted his canine like face, his eyes narrowing, "You are not taking your angry at Logan out on these kids in these simulations, are you?"
"I was never angry with Logan. What are you talking about?"
"Logan was your last connection to your younger days. Of course you are angry at him, and with good reason. He left you, Sundry."
"He died." I looked back to the student files, my eyes scanning over the screen, "He did not leave me out of choice."
"But it was sudden. You had plans...things you wanted."
"Every one has things that they want. It was Logan’s time, Joshua. That’s all."
"Just admit that you are angry with him, Sundry." Hound rounded the desk, standing at my side, "You feel guilty about still wanting him..."
"Of course I do. What is this about?"
"This is about you trying to kill my students."
"I am...look, the last unit of students is tomorrow morning, alright? And then I will not be ‘trying to kill your students’ for a whole month. Alright? Can we please just get through the night?"
"When do you plan on ending these maddening tests?"
"When they are ready."
"Ready for what? Time has changed."
"Time never changes, Hound. There is always a threat, lurking out there...you just have to wait for it to show."
Fandom: X-Men: Evolution and other various X-Men Universe/Marvel Universe comics
Summery: 100+ years after the original fic. Joanna is the last one of her friends, but she’s still got a lot of years a head of her. How is she going to cope with her newest loss while maintaining control of a growing school system?
A/N: -The summery pretty much sums up my thoughts of where this is going. I just want to add how completely invulnerable Joanna is...because it is awesome. I am like...genius :) -Gloating in my own glory. Sorry. I love her. Even though I hate her name...whatever. -I hope you like it. This makes three Sundry Stories in the works -oh wait, no...four! I forgot about my smutty one-shots ;)
Chapter One: Stages
(Joanna POV)
My husband died yesterday. That shouldn’t surprise me, considering his age. Considering his occupation. Considering our former occupation, that is. What hurts the most isn’t that he’s gone –it’s that I have no one left to comfort me. My, no, our, friend’s all died long ago of various causes, and Logan and I were unique with our powers. We’ve far outlived our closest and dearest friends, and alas...I have outlived him.
Looking at his corpse in the steel coffin, that is today’s burial standard, Logan looks peaceful. Old and peaceful. Me? I’m still young, and beautiful. Many questioned us along our travels –why a woman of 30 would be with a man of 50 or more! Simply put, because I was only 74 or so years younger then him. While he lived to be nearly 280, I’m only a little under 180 myself, and I’ve still got a lot in me. More then Logan did, probably. When we were together though, our ages didn’t matter. Not until today, anyway.
"C’mon Mrs. Logan. I’ll drive you back to the house."
"It’s alright." I shook my head. "I’d like to stay here for awhile. I’ll pop back up in a bit."
"Okay." Charles was a student at Xaviers, which I was now headmistress of. After the Professor had died, followed by Storm, and Scott and Jean, the institute and fallen onto the shoulders of Logan and I. All of our old friends were buried on the grounds, just a few feet in either direction from Logan’s own grave.
Logan died peacefully, in his sleep. I’m sure that’s not how he would have liked to go –he had always wanted to go down fighting and I wish that he had too. He had been ill for awhile, but I guess eventually your heart just has to stop, especially after such a long time, and so much strain.
Either way, I hope he’s someplace nice. Someplace he’s happy. Maybe back in Canada.
"Mrs. Logan–"
"Charles, if you call me that again, I will personally rip out your lungs. What do you want?"
"New arrivals."
"You deal with them, Charles. I’m not in the mood."
"I think you’d like to take at least one of them on personally."
"Oh?" I raised my eyebrow at him. "And why is that?"
"Well, uh...she’s Rogue’s Great-Granddaughter."
Ragsta was the spitting image of her Great Grandmother, my best friend. Unfortunatly, the similarities weren’t just in the body, but also in power.
"It took Rogue years to control her power, Ragsta. I hope you don’t think that I can magically ‘cure’ you just because I helped her."
"Of course not." Ragsta shook her head. "But, if anyone at all can help me, it’s you."
"Hmm." I nodded. "Well, I’ll have Margo show you to your room -you’ll be sharing with Stefina."
Margo, a pretty girl, regardless of her furry mutation, stepped forward out of the shadows of my office.
"Thank you, Joanna. I know you’ve been trying to fan out your students between the other schools," she turned from where she was heading out of the door with Margo, "I was sorry to hear about Logan, I know Rogue would have been very sad to see him go."
"Thank you." I closed the door behind them with a wave of my hand.
Xavier’s had grown a lot since my introduction there. We now had four schools, one in each corner of the US, one in Canada, two in Europe, and three in Asia –all overseen by me, but tutored by the firm hand of my selected teachers. New York was still my Baby-School so to speak, but I visited each school monthly, tested the faculty and the training of the students, and the students themselves.
"Mrs. Lo– sorry, Joanna?" Charles leaned in the door. "Do you have a minute?"
"I may have more then one. What is it?"
"I just...wanted to tell you how great you are. I mean, you’ve been through so much...and you just keep going."
I smiled, "Thank you Charles, now what’s the bad news?" Charles always buttered me up before delivering bad news.
"It’s California. They got hit pretty bad by that last Earthquake. Shadow wants to know what you plan on doing about all of the students."
I sighed, "Divide them up between the three remaining schools by skill levels. Low level and struggling students here, iffy students to Washington, and higher level students to Florida -they need all of the help they can get -then I want volunteers from all of the schools to go clean up and help with the rebuild. I knew that setting up in California would be disaster, but does anyone listen to me? No, of course not. Heaven forbid we put up a school someplace sensible, like Wyoming." I turned to him after my rant, "Well? Get going, Charles!"
"Oh my god, Shadow. What happened?" I covered my face. "This is not an Earthquake!"
"I’m afraid it is." Shadow’s black cloak waved in the wind, "Got hit bad, but no one was hurt. How many students are coming to help rebuild?"
"We’ve got over two-hundred and fifty volunteers. We may need more." I turned to face the house, "We’ve seen worse."
Shadow nodded, "I know. ...Joanna?" He looked at me with his dark black eyes, "Are you alright?"
"I’m fine." I forced a smile. "Just a little tired, but I guess my work is just starting."
"I know it’s hard, Jo." Shadow put a hand on my shoulder as we moved toward the car. "And to lose Logan like that –we all thought he had a lot more in him..."
I smiled again, "It’s alright, Shadow. I had more then a lifetime with Logan –and who knows, maybe this lifetime will bring someone new."
"You always tried to find the silver lining." Shadow opened the car door, letting me slid in first, "Mayhap you can find it in our disaster."
___
"Okay, Sparks, I want you to turn left at the next section–."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Sparks, you have to go left!"
"No way, Remedy!"
"I can see everything, it’s safe!"
"Sparks, this exercise is about teamwork and trust, if Remedy is telling you to go left, you need to listen to him and trust him." I rubbed the space between my eyes. "Put your differences aside for one simulation, please?"
"But Sundry, going left leads me back around! He’s making me go in circles!"
I narrowed my eyes, looking into the simulation maze. "Go left, Sparks. I see where Remedy is going with this."
"Fine, but if I die, we’re going to have to make the grave yard a lot bigger ‘cause I am so not going alone!"
Remedy pulled his communicator out of his ear, "She doesn’t trust me, Sundry."
"I wouldn’t trust you either." I raised my eyebrow, letting hin know that I knew about his tryst with another young girl at the institute while he had been dating Sparks.
"Hey! That was one time! You can’t use that against me!"
"Nicolas, come to my office after your session is over. I think we should talk."
"What’s the matter, Nic?" I asked. "You’ve been hot headed and irrational for days now."
Nicolas, Remedy, slid into one of the chairs in front of my desk, "When you were young, did you ever... did you have a lot of boyfriends?"
I laughed. "I wouldn’t say that I did...I’ve only had two real boyfriends my whole life."
"I find that very hard to believe."
I shook my head, "I found Logan very early in life –and Warren barely lasted a month..." I rolled my eyes. "...And Peitro wasn’t really a boyfriend, just a husband."
"Well, anyway, my problem is...I really like Naomie, but part of me keeps pulling me to all of these other girls."
"Nic, if you cared for Naomie, you wouldn’t see other girls."
Nic shook his head, "I don’t understand how Mr. Logan stayed faithful to you for so long -and vice versa. It just blows my mind, everytime I think about it."
"That’s because we loved each other, Nic, but we had to work at it. Maybe Naomie isn’t your soul mate, but you’ll find her, some day. Probably when you least expect it."
"Maybe." Nic looked away for a moment before looking back at her, "Mrs. Logan?"
"Hmm?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Does it hurt? To lose him, I mean."
"Of course." I nodded. "But it will get better -it always does after you lose someone you love -trust me, I know. I’ve lost a lot of people."
He nodded, "Do you think there is someone else out there to replace him?"
I shook my head, "No one could ever replace Logan, Nicolas. I may find someone else to love again, but he would never replace Logan."
Our room seems so dark and empty. I keep trying to pretend that he’s just away on another one of his trips, trying to fool myself into sleeping, but I can’t do it. I still know, I know that he’s goine. Not coming back. I felt the same way after Rogue died, and all of the rest of my friends.
I cry myself to sleep most nights, not wanting to let the students see how much it hurts just to breath some days. I hold it all back for as long as possible, until I can be alone, or at least have a private, free moment with my thoughts.
The tears aren’t even coming tonight though. It’s been a month since Logan died, and the snow is just starting to fall. Logan loved the snow; when we would go to the manor, he used to drive me crazy, waking up at four in the morning to go romp in the snow like a puppy, usually dragging me along with him.
I miss that.
I leaned in the doorway of the balcony, watching a few of the students have a snowball fight in the fresh powder below my window. I looked up at the clouds, just waiting to be burst open and put another layer on the ground. I resisted the urge to open them up, letting the kids continue to play.
"Are you spying?" A semi-familar voice was suddenly beside me, and I turned to see Ragsta at my shoulder.
I smiled, "No, of course not. Just watching them with a bit of nostogia. It amazes me sometimes how these kids do things that I used to do when I was there age..." I moved to sit on the edge of the balcony. "What brings you to this side of the castle?" I raised my eyebrow.
She shrugged, "Just wanted to say good morning. -So...good morning."
"Good morning." I looked back down on the ground where Nic was tackling Naomie in the snow. "Shame on him..."
"Who? Nic?" Ragsta joined me near the edge of the balcony, keeping her distance. "...Oh. I see."
I took a glance at her, "You like him?"
"Oh, no...I mean," She scoffed, tossing her red hair over her shoulder, "of course not. Are you kidding me with that? What a joke."
I laughed, "Do you want to play?" I asked, scooping together a snowball from the powder on the ledge of the balcony.
"N-no thanks. I don’t want to ruin it for them."
I smiled, "Watch." I lined up six snowballs, one for each of the students in the fight below, and raised them in the air before pelting them down at their targets below. The students looked surprised, looking up.
"Hey! No powers!" Nic called, a smile on his face.
"Well then I guess it’s a good thing I’ve got a height advantage up here, huh?" I smiled.
"Not for long, Sundry." Gabriel unfurled his impressive wingspan, leaping into the air with a snowball in his hand that hit me in the shoulder.
I dusted the snow from my sleeve, "Hmm...not playing completely fair, huh Gabe?" Snowballs began packing together on the railing of the balcony. His eyes grew, and stepped into the balcony.
"You wouldn’t really...I mean..."
I raised an eyebrow, the large number of snowballs raising up into the air.
"Oh, you would..." He jumped from the balcony, zooming over the roof, the snowballs following him.
"You could hit him if you really wanted to, couldn’t you?" Ragsta asked, still standing as far away from the edge of the balcony.
I nodded, "I could...but I let them think that they are better then me sometimes. It builds their moral."
After the snowballs finally pelted Gabriel, and he sat dizzy on the ground, I called down, "Don’t forget that you still have sessions today! Mutant Academy closes for no weather!"
"Yes, Sundry." They called back, before hustling inside for the sessions.
I turned back to Ragsta, "Speaking of sessions...we should set you up with a schedule."
"Pixie here will show you around." The tiny girl landed on my palm. "You’ll have classes together most of the day. "Pixie, be nice?"
"Of course, Sundry." Pixie hovered off of my palm, growing back to her full size, losing the wings. "C’mon, Ragsta, before we’re late."
Charles was at my shoulder only a moment later. "Shadow called to say that the repairs are coming along nicely and they should be prepared to take on their advanced students next week. Ram is going to be staying behind to help out with all of the tech stuff that might pop up, along with Cypher."
"Okay." I nodded. "And?"
"Hong Kong says that their numbers keep growing. They’d like to build another addition."
"They’ve already built on five!"
Charles shrugged, "We could always build another school..."
"It’s not in the budget for this year -not without more funds."
"We could always raise the tuition."
"No. We’re not raising tuition, Charles. We’ve discussed this."
"Then we need to find another Contributor."
"I just said that, Charles."
"I’ll get on the phone with some people that ’ve helped us in the past..."
"Maybe. I’ll call our current contributors and ask if they’ve got any leads on do-gooders..." I sighed. "Oh, what’s my schedule for visits this month?"
"All are in secession, next week."
"Good." I nodded. "You’ve got the programs I’ve been working on for their tests?"
He nodded, "You’re sure these aren’t a bit much for them?"
"Not for the older students." I shook my head. "They should just be happy I’m not unleashing myself onto them."
"...Good point."
Day one, Canada. Logan’s pride and joy school, built just a few miles away from the Howlette Mansion, that had been restored time and time again. It was our smallest school, and the training grounds for our most promising X-Men. Students who showed interest in joining the team, or a teacher at our schools, were sent to the Ontario Academy to learn the ropes of X-Men-hood.
There was a distinctive air when I stepped foot onto the campus, slightly weakened from the teleportation –but only slightly. I was able to stop the canon-ball like creature that plummeted my way with a step out of the way, sending Karlton Agures neck deep into the snow.
"Nice try, Karlton. Next time, I may not be so lucky." I smiled, helping him out of the snow pile.
"I will get you one of these days, Professor." Karlton brushed off the snow, and looked up at her. "And then I’ll be able to join the X-Men, right?"
I smiled. X-Men-In-Training liked to believe that they had to defeat me in order to join the X-Men. It was a legend that I let live, just out of amusement. I didn’t want to be a killjoy. "Maybe some day, Karlton. You have to do a lot more then push me into a snowbank to become an X-Man."
Karlton sighed. He was almost nineteen, and with a combined power of speed and flight, he was known as Bullet, with metallic colored skin that was nearly impervious, which looked a little funny with his shock-orange hair.
"C’mon...I’ll show you the new program I’ve got devised for you upperclassman." I put an arm over his shoulder and lead him towards the school.
It wasn’t long before my first test set, ten of the upperclass students, including Karlton in the front ranks, had assembled in the CA-Danger Room. Hound, the head of CA, stood next to me, reviewing the program while I breifed the students on it.
"I’ve been working on this program for three months. It is undeniably one of the hardest programs I will ever unleash on you, here in the Danger Room. If you can pass this test...I shall have to come up with a great reward for you." I smiled over them.
"Are you in it?" Karlton asked.
I laughed, "No Karlton. Maybe next month –if you pass."
"Right." Karlton pulled his blue goggles over his eyes, stancing himself, "What do we need to know?"
"Don’t kill the wrong person –oh, and if you get hit, remember you’re out for good." I pushed the button, shaping the Danger room into...ironically enough, a very dangerous room...
"You’re sure they can handle this?" Hound asked.
"Joshua...there are no real bullets involved, just paint. And I have faith in them." I sat beside him to watch. "They are safe. The paint pellets really will just bruise them...I hope." I bit my lip as I watched Starlight blast the wrong droid. She was about to realize just what happened when you killed a "queen".
"Oh my god, they’re multiplying!" She shrieked, "What did I do?!"
"You killed the wrong one, stupid!" Decay yelled.
"How was I supposed to know? What made that one so special?" Starlight yelled back.
"Don’t you ever listen? Psyche specifically said that the ones we couldn’t kill were recognizable by their eye color! All of the ones we’re not supposed to kill are blue eyed!"
I laughed. Psyche had picked up on the false information I had let her pick up on. They would find that out a moment later.
"But...it was green eyed!"
"Never believe anything you hear from me." I hinted. "Do you really think I would let it out that easy, guys? C’mon..."
Suddenly, Karlton was down, his back coated in a thick green paint.
"Aw, man!" He pounded his fist into the floor, "This sucks!"
It wasn’t long before the others of the team were overwhelmed as well, and I shut the simulation off, not even half way into it.
"It was an honorable try." I entered the observation deck, looking out over them, "You all did very well."
"We lost." Decay unzipped his uniform part way down his chest, "Not to mention the fact that we are all covered in paint..."
"Keep working and we’ll try this again next month." I smiled, "And remember –you cannot tell any of the other units about this simulation until after tomorrow. Understand?" They all nodded, "Alright, go get cleaned up." I dismissed them back to the dormitories.
Through the rest of the day, the other groups didn’t do much better. The younger groups did better then expected on their separate simulations, but it still wasn’t as well as I would have liked.
"You expect to much out of these kids." Hound sat in one of the empty chairs across from his desk, as I sat behind it, looking over student files. "It isn’t the glory days anymore."
"Hound...if anything, these kids are even more powerful then when I was a kid. Don’t give me any crap about me expecting to much out of them. If anything, I should expect more."
He tilted his canine like face, his eyes narrowing, "You are not taking your angry at Logan out on these kids in these simulations, are you?"
"I was never angry with Logan. What are you talking about?"
"Logan was your last connection to your younger days. Of course you are angry at him, and with good reason. He left you, Sundry."
"He died." I looked back to the student files, my eyes scanning over the screen, "He did not leave me out of choice."
"But it was sudden. You had plans...things you wanted."
"Every one has things that they want. It was Logan’s time, Joshua. That’s all."
"Just admit that you are angry with him, Sundry." Hound rounded the desk, standing at my side, "You feel guilty about still wanting him..."
"Of course I do. What is this about?"
"This is about you trying to kill my students."
"I am...look, the last unit of students is tomorrow morning, alright? And then I will not be ‘trying to kill your students’ for a whole month. Alright? Can we please just get through the night?"
"When do you plan on ending these maddening tests?"
"When they are ready."
"Ready for what? Time has changed."
"Time never changes, Hound. There is always a threat, lurking out there...you just have to wait for it to show."
Sundry III: Reality
Sundry III: Reality
Chapter One
In the story of Joanna Darius and Logan (a.k.a. James Howlette, depending on who you’re talking to), there is forbidden romance, forgiveness, finding a way home, and a fairy tale wedding. Then again, there is also battles, fighting, constant conflict. Like all fairy tales, they must come to an end. Fast forward, if you will, one year after Joanna and Logan have their dream wedding, and come to expect their first (and subsequently their only) child. Two years after that, a painful divorce after which Logan remains at the Xavier’s Institute, while Joanna and their son, Stephen (named after Joanna’s father), moved to New York City where she got her teaching degree, and began work as a high school history teacher, supporting Stephen and herself. Until five years after the initial marriage of Joanna and Logan -where Joanna accepted the second marriage proposal of her life, to a man she never expected to fall in love with. Pietro Lehnsherr, the son of Magneto.
Together, they led a fairly simple life, Pietro acting as a doting stepfather to Joanna and Logan’s son, and Joanna pretending not to miss her ex-husband. Though they had parted ways, there were still times when she missed him beside her, fighting with her, not against her. She was twenty six years old, in her second year of teaching at a small, private high school near the house she and Pietro owned. Their life seemed easy, and they were glad to be together, but time didn’t seem to be healing either of their wounds.
Fast forward another ten years. Stephen had just turned fourteen years old, and an uneasy peace had settled over most of the world between Homo Sapiens, and Homo Superior. Both realized that the other didn’t seem to be going anywhere, and it was easy to just embrace the difference then try to beat it out of one another. Well, most people felt that way, anyway. There were still groups, trying to get one group to over take the other -and that’s what the X-Men had settled into doing. Stopping the terrorist groups from causing harm to either group, human or mutant. But Joanna, formerly Sundry of the X-Men, had nothing to do with that life anymore -neither did Pietro, who seemed content just to be Joanna’s husband.
That is until Stephen, who had previous shown no mutant ability -though coming from two powerful mutant parents, began to show signs of a new power.
"Mom!" Stephen’s scream seemed to flood the house, as he stomped around upstairs, which was odd for only eight o’clock on a Saturday morning in early September. "MOM! DAD!"
"What is it, Steph?" Pietro stuck his head out of the door to the den where he had been talking to Joanna while she graded papers. "Holy shit..."
"What the fuck is happening?" Stephen’s skin was coated in a thin waxy blue coloring. "What is this?"
"Jo... You might want to take a look at this..."
"What is it -oh my god, Steffi!" Joanna only had to see a glimpse of him to know what the big deal was all about. "What happened?"
"I don’t know, Mom! I woke up, and suddenly...I was just coated in this stuff."
Joanna ran her fingers along Stephen’s waxy coated arm, "I don’t know what to think of this, Pietro. I’ve never seen this before." She rolled her own sleeve, and watched the waxy substance coat her own arm. "It’s not a physical mutation."
"So this will go away, right?" Stephen asked, looking between his parents. "I’m not going to stay like this?"
"Gosh...no, I don’t think so." Joanna concentrated on returning her arm to it’s normal state, and the wax melted back into her skin. "Just concentrate, Steffi, and it should go away. Think about it going away."
"I...I can try."
"It’ll be okay... Why don’t you go practice it? A mirror helps sometimes. I think you’re Dad and I need to have a chat...in the Den." Jo tugged on Pietro’s sleeve, tugging him into the small office.
"Do you think we should contact Professor Xavier?" Pietro already knew what this little ‘chat’ was about, and he crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against his desk across the room.
"I don’t know, Pietro. I mean...I’m really happy that Stephen is coming into his powers, but what if this isn’t the only one? What if there’s something more? What if it’s something we can’t handle?"
"Jo, what can’t you handle?"
Joanna tilted her head at him, "I know every one thought that I was so damn great when I was a kid Pete, but...I’m older now. I’m almost thirty-five years old. I’ve got responsiblities. I can’t kick-ass with the best of them anymore."
"Thirty-five?" Pietro chuckled, "Funny...you don’t look a day over twenty-five." He leaned up from his desk, snaking an arm around her waist, tugging her a little closer to place a kiss against her lips, before releasing her again. "Jo, we should call the Professor. All mutants deserve a good education, and the options we had -the option you had."
Joanna bit her lip, and nodded, "What about...what about Logan?"
"What about Logan?" Pietro shrugged. "He’ll get to see Stephen, work with him...maybe he’ll stop griping about how you try and seclude him up here."
"He’s the one who wanted Stephen to stay with him in Canada! I’m not letting our child stay in that creepy-ass house of his! -Remodeled or not, it’s still an appalling house!"
"Okay...okay. Relax now." Pietro put his hands on Joanna’s shoulders. "I’ll call the Professor, and let him know that we’re coming for a visit. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you."
Joanna sighed, "You’re right, Pietro -and besides, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen any of my old friends."
"Sundry!" The familar voice, older now then when Joanna had first heard it over fifteen years ago, came from behind them as Joanna, Pietro, and Stephen got out of the car.
"Tori." Joanna smiled, hugging her first student. "How are you? Still hanging around here, I see."
"Yea... It seemed so empty after you left, though...I really considered leaving and joining up with another group -but...I’m glad I stayed." Tori was a lot older now, and more mature. Her hair was pulled back from her face, and her clothes was practical -jeans, and a tank paired with a pair of sandals, "Come on inside! The Professor is in his office, waiting to talk to you."
"Good." Joanna nodded, following Tori into the expansive mansion, an arm around Stephen’s shoulders. "Lead the way, Tori."
The Professor’s office hadn’t changed since the last time that Joanna had been inside of it -three days after the divorce had been finalized, and she said her parting goodbyes to the Professor, and the rest of the X-Men. He didn’t seem to have moved in her absence, still sitting behind the formidable desk, his hands clasped together on top of it.
"Joanna...Pietro. I’m so glad you called me -ah, and young Stephen -I haven’t seen you in such a long time."
"Hi, Professor." Stephen gave him a half wave.
"So, I take it that this is not a social call?" The Professor asked, beckoning them into seats in front of the desk.
"Stephen...came into his powers." Joanna announced. "We were wondering...if there was room for him here?"
"There is always room for a mutant in need of education, Joanna, you know that as well as anyone." Professor Xavier moved his hands from the desk, and leaned back in his chair. "But...there is one thing."
"Yes?" Joanna raised her eyebrow.
"Don’t you think that you should talk to Logan about this first?" He raised an eyebrow, "See what he has to say about this?"
"Professor..." Joanna sighed. "I’ve managed to avoid my ex-husband for ten years now. Do you really want to break that cycle?"
"Sundry." The Professor’s tone was serious now. "What happened in the past, is in the past. I think you need to make amends for your problems. The two of you loved each other once, very much if I remember correctly, and...well, frankly, when it ended, there was more then just one broken heart, Joanna. Maybe it’s time you spoke with him?"
"Now, Professor Xavier-." Pietro spoke up.
"Pietro, I think now would be a good time for you to make use of your talent, and run along. I fear if Logan catches sight of you, I might have a few bloodstains in my carpeting."
Pietro sighed, "Is he still bitter about that?"
"Do I really need to remind you of what you did to him, Quicksilver?"
"I’m confused...what are you people talking about?" Stephen asked, leaning on the arm of his chair.
Joanna smiled, shaking her head, "Nothing, Steffi. Why don’t you go find some of your friends, huh? I’m sure that they’ll be glad to see you."
"Sure." Stephen shrugged, standing. "Everyone outside, Professor?"
"Most of them, yes." Professor nodded, waving him away. "They’ll find you, I’m sure." After Stephen had pulled the door closed, he turned back to Joanna and Pietro. "Logan is in the Danger Room, Joanna. I suggest you have a chat with him -Pietro, how about I give you a tour of our newest facilities? I’m sure you’ll be quite intrigued with them."
Logan looked up from the computer screen, into the face of a woman he thought he would never see again. His heart seemed to pause, letting his head capture the moment that Joanna Darius -correction, Lehnshurr, would walk back into his life so unexpectedly.
"Hi, Logan." Joanna shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, and scuffed the toe of her sneakers against the carpeting. "How are you?"
"Joanna." Her name was barely a whisper against his lips. He began to look her over, and shook his head, "You look...great."
"Thanks." Joanna shrugged. "You look good too." And he did -age was starting to show a little more now, his hair showing the signs of greying, but he was still hard muscled, and handsome.
"What are you doing here?" Logan asked.
Joanna shrugged, "Stephen sort of...discovered himself this morning, I guess. He can coat his body with some sort of organic wax compound. It’s actually kind of interesting."
"And you’re sending him here?"
"If that’s okay with you -I mean, Pietro and I-."
Logan growled involuntarily, and turned back to his computer screen.
Joanna sighed, brushing her black hair back behind her ear, and sat down in the chair next to him, "Logan, I didn’t come here to fight with you. I want Stephen to be able to see his Dad, to spend time with you...If you don’t want him to come here, then...I’ll find someplace else. We’re not sure if this is the only power that he has, right now. I mean, what with my powers and your powers...he could have anything."
"You make it sound like disease, Joanna."
"I didn’t mean it to sound like that." Joanna shrugged. "Logan...is it alright with you if I send Stephen here? To get this kind of an education?"
"You know that I don’t care, Joanna. I’ll agree with anything you say."
"Logan...I know you care. I know you want to say something."
"I don’t want to say anything to you regarding our son right now. As far as Stephen is concerned, yes, send him here. I want to be close to him, that’s it. But for us.." He looked away from her, "for us, it’s far from over, Joanna."
Joanna shrugged, and shook her head, "Look, I know that you didn’t like when I married Pietro, but...I’m happy with him, can’t you see that Logan? Can’t you be happy for me?"
"How can I be happy for you when-." He sighed and shook his head. "Why am I wasting my time? Just go, Joanna."
Joanna bit her lip, hesitant to leave, wanting to reach out to Logan -to touch him, comfort him again. But she sighed, and shook her head, "Fine. Goodbye Logan."
"Goodbye."
Pietro and Joanna drove back to the city alone, the promise of visiting Stephen the following weekend to bring him some more of his belongings, and to visit the only comforting thought to either of them about leaving their son behind.
"So...your chat with Logan?" Pietro raised an eyebrow.
Joanna shrugged, "As good as could be expected, I suppose." The two were quiet, and Joanna asked the question that had been looming in her mind, "Pietro...do you think I made a bad decision, when I left Logan?"
Pietro shrugged, "I don’t know, Jo. I mean, I don’t know the whole story. I just...I know it left you both heart broken."
"I wish he could find someone...like I found you." She put a hand on his knee for a moment. "He’s just...he’s so lonely, I feel so sorry for him."
"I doubt he wants your pity, Joanna."
"I hate seeing him like that. I remember him being happy, or at least content...he seems so broken now."
Pietro put his hand on hers, and stroked her fingers, "Jo...You don’t have to lie to me. I know you still have feelings for him."
"Of course I do, Pete. He was my first everything." She shrugged. "If it wasn’t for Rogue and you...I probably would have died after the divorce."
"Nonsense...even if we hadn’t stepped in, you have plenty of other friends who would do a lot more then what we did for you." Pietro lifted her hand to kiss her fingertips. "You just need to have a few people in your court."
"But everyone else seemed to be siding with Logan."
"There were no sides, Jo. You and Logan separated. Neither of you really wanted it...but...it was for the best. If you hadn’t...then, we wouldn’t have had our start...I wouldn’t have a great step-son, or a wonderful wife...life would have been very different."
Joanna sighed, "Yea..."
13 Years Earlier.
"Logan!" Joanna smiled, pressing her lips to his. "Come on, you’re scaring the baby, I’m trying to get him to sleep." She pulled him away from Stephen’s crib, and put her arms around his neck. "I think we should ask Rogue to baby sit, and then go out for dinner." She raised her eyebrows.
Logan grumbled, "I’d love to, darlin’, but this is just a pit stop on my way downstairs. I’ve got to get the Blackbird back into workin’ order. She got hit pretty hard last night, and it’s gonna be a while before I get her runnin’ again."
Joanna sighed, "Alright, fine." She nodded, pressing another kiss to his lips. "You’ll come to bed at a decent hour though, right?"
"I’ll try my damndest." He nodded. The two walked together out of the nursery, the small room that was attached to theirs, and into the hallway, going their separate ways.
Joanna joined up with her best friend, Rogue, downstairs in the rec room where she and some of their other friends were watching a news update.
"Hey." Joanna leaned over the back of the couch.
"Hey." Rogue turned from the newscast for a moment. "You talk to him yet?"
Joanna bit her tongue, and shrugged, "Not about...that."
"Jo, how much longer are you going to avoid this?" Rogue asked, standing up, and leaving the remote in Pietro’s lap, grabbing her arm, and pulling her from the room so they could talk privately. "I know that you don’t want to do this, but your lives are endanger if you don’t."
"It’s blackmail, Rogue." Joanna crossed her arms. "Why would I leave a husband that I love?"
"Because if you don’t, Magneto will kill you, and you know that he will. You may have regained everything you lost during your accident, and then some, but unless you kill him first, he is the only mutant powerful enough to do you in."
Joanna sighed, "Rogue...everything is so good right now. Logan loves me, we have Stephen...we’re finally moving out of the Insitute -granted, it’s to the Logan’s manor, but..."
"Joanna, you have to do this so you can end this whole thing with Magneto. He’s been terrorizing you for months. This might just stop it."
"Would anything really stop that man?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest, and turning away from Rogue. "I don’t want this. You know his terms. Divorcing Logan, moving someplace else. No contact. He can’t know that this is why..."
"Look, what you do is your business, but it’s not just going to end with you, Jo. After he obliterates you, he’ll go after Stephen, and Logan."
Joanna sighed, covering her face with her hands, "I know you’re right, and yet..."
"Jo, you know I want to do anything to help you, but you have to do this." Rogue took her friends hands in hers, and held them. "It’s going to hurt a lot of people, and...it’s going to be a sudden shock, I’m sure but...Logan is strong."
"But he’s not strong enough." Joanna shrugged. "Magneto could contort his entire body -he’s powerless to fight him...so am I."
"I know that this seems like it’s the worse thing in the world right now, and that after this nothing is going to be okay, but...life will go on if you just give into this simple demand."
"Simple? Separating from Logan is simple?" Joanna slid down the wall to the floor, where she sat with her arms tightly wrapped around her knees. "I would rather die."
Present
The week passed quickly for Pietro and Joanna, and they soon found themselves again entering the gate of the Xavier Institute. All around them, they saw familiar faces, but more often then not, they were clueless as so whom some of the students were.
"Back again so soon, sugar?" Rogue leaned in the doorway on the porch, wearing her green and yellow uniform, with her short brown jacket with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and her red hair cascaded across her shoulders. "I woulda thought you’d never give this place a second glance, honey."
"It’s good to see you too, Rogue." Joanna smiled, hugging her best friend. "I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you last weekend."
"I heard you talked with Logan." Rogue stood up, hugging her back before leading them into the mansion. "How’d that go for ya?"
"It could have gone better...or worse. It was okay." Joanna shrugged.
"You should seen him afterwards...holed himself away downstairs, putz’d around for awhile, wouldn’t talk to no one, or eat..." Rogue shrugged, "Stephen isn’t used to seein’ his Daddy like that, Jo."
Joanna bit her lip, "Pietro, do you mind if Rogue and I go talk? Why don’t you go see if you can find Stephen?"
"Sure, Jo." Pietro nodded, "You find us when you’re done."
Jo turned back to Rogue once Pietro was gone, "Where can we go that’s private?"
"There’s a private place in this mansion? When the hell did that happen, sugar?"
Joanna smiled, and linked arms with her friend, ascending the stairs.
"You never told him about Magneto blackmailing you into divorcing him? Jo! No wonder the guy is so messed up! You just told him you wanted the divorce, and left?" Rogue had changed into some civilian clothes, and now sat on her bed, while Joanna occupied a chair across the room.
"What was I supposed to tell him, Rogue? That Magneto found a way to finish me off for good, and if I didn’t comply he wasn’t going to just kill me -but everyone I knew?"
"You should-a told him something!" Rogue crossed her arms. "He’s tried to move on after you, you know. I mean, he cares about us all, but... he can’t never find a woman he loves as much as he loves you. -And why do you keep bringing Pietro around here? You know that’s just like a slap in the face to him."
Joanna sighed, "You don’t understand, Rogue." She turned the chair to look out of the window over the grounds of the school, her black hair falling in front of her face, masking her expression from Rogue’s eyes. "I love him. Logan, I mean. I never wanted to leave him, but they were Magneto’s demands... I probably shouldn’t even be here now, but..."
"And what about Pietro? You know that’s why Logan thinks you left, right? Because you didn’t care for him anymore, and you had fallen for Pete."
"I know." Joanna nodded. "And I do love Pete, but it’s different. It’s more of a...comforting sort of love."
"Comforting? What are you talkin’ about?"
"Logan has everything a woman could want -a danger level, skills in all areas, he’s handsome, smart, rugged... Pietro is -how do I put this? Pietro is just Pietro. He has a past, his father blackmailed me...but he’s sweet. Caring, kind, cute."
"You regret marrying him?"
"Once in awhile." Joanna shrugged. "I guess when I married him, I just wanted Stephen to have a father, you know? Someone that I knew would be there for him all of the time when Logan couldn’t be. I knew he’d take care of us, you know?"
"And now?"
"And now...I know enough to take care of myself, Stephen is growing up, and doesn’t need as much protection."
"Are you going to separate?"
"I don’t know." Joanna shrugged. "What would I do?"
"Well...you know the Professor would always be more then welcome to giving you your old job back..."
"Rogue, I have a job!" Joanna smiled.
"Ah, right...the History Teacher gig."
"I happen to enjoy my job." Joanna raised her eyebrow at her friend. "Not very many people can say that, Anna."
"I like my job...most of the time." Rogue shrugged.
"So...changing the subject, how’s Remy?"
Rogue shrugged, "He’s fine, I guess. It’s hard to have a boyfriend that I can’ ever touch, ya know?"
"I know it’s hard, Rogue, but...you’re getting better control of your powers all of the time...some day, maybe you’ll get enough to get a little contact."
Rogue shrugged, "It seems like the only time I get to be a normal person is when I’m around you, Jo, and since you left, I hardly see you anymore. I gotta be like this locked up animal, and I hate it."
"I know you do, Rogue." Joanna stood up, to sit beside her friend, putting her arms around the other girls waist. "But you know that we’re all looking for a way to help you. Me, Remy, Professor Xavier. We’ll find some way to help you, some day."
"I sure hope so, sugar, ‘cause I’m sure sick of having to hold back in life."
After spending the rest of the afternoon with her son, and husband, Pietro and Joanna sat in front of the Professor Xavier.
"Your son is very bright, but you already knew that." He smiled kindly at them. "Logan seems to enjoy having him around, even if he doesn’t show Stephen that."
Joanna bit the nail of her thumb, but didn’t say anything.
"If it’s alright with you, I’d like to be able to give them a little more time together, Joanna. Logan could be the one tutoring Stephen, one-on-one."
"If you think that’s best, Professor." Joanna nodded.
The Professor stared at her for awhile, and Joanna automatically put up her mental blocks, barricading the Professor from her thoughts. He may have been powerful, but she was more-so, and she didn’t need the Professor telling her what she already knew.
"We’d like it if you visited again, Joanna...Pietro. We’re always happy to have guests. Perhaps you’d like to spend Thanksgiving vacation with us?"
"We’ll think about it, Professor. My mother is throwing one of her annual shin-digs, but maybe we’ll get down." Joanna awkwardly hugged the Professor, before she grabbing her purse. "We should be getting back -I have some papers to grade before Monday, but it was nice seeing everything again. I’m sure we’ll be back soon. Tell Stephen to call if he needs anything."
"Of course, Sundry." Joanna tried not to flinch at the use of her codename, and smiled at the Professor before pulling Pietro along with her out of the room.
"Is something bothering you?" Pietro asked, as they got back into the car.
Joanna shrugged. "No, I guess not. I just...I want to get home."
"Do you want to teleport? I’ll drive, it’s fine."
"No." Joanna shook her head. "I’ve used my powers enough for one day." Her mental barricades tumbled, and she breathed a sigh, for a moment, she heard a thunder of voices, before they quickly stoppered up again in her ears.
"You sure?"
"Positive." She nodded. Besides, she needed the car ride to think, and decided what she wanted to do, now that Logan would obviously be back in her life.
"What?" Pietro looked disbelievingly at Joanna, from where he sat in the kitchen, eating his usual morning breakfast. "When did you decide this?"
"I don’t know. It’s been awhile coming, I guess." Joanna shrugged from where she sat on the counter in her black dress slacks, red sweater, and black boots, eating a cereal bar. "And just because I want to break off our marriage doesn’t mean that I don’t still love you, Pietro...I do. It’s just...I love you more the way I did when I met you, then the way I did when I married you."
"I’m not surprised, Jo." Pietro shook his head. "I didn’t expect you to stay married to me forever... I just..." He sighed. "What changed now? What made this the time?"
"I guess it was seeing Logan again. I hate your father for what he made me do."
"And I’m sorry for that -if I had known, I never would have let it stand...but my father isn’t really a threat anymore."
"He’s always a threat." Joanna smiled, shaking her head. "But...it’s time that I faced up to it. He can’t scare any more. He tried to break apart my life, and...he succeeded for a little while. I want it back, Pete."
Pietro stood, moving to put his arms around her waist, her knees squeezing around his hips, "I want you to have it back. You get the papers, and I’ll sign. No messes. We take what we had when we started, and the rest of it can be split, right down the middle."
"Thank you, Pietro." Joanna hugged him around the shoulders, burying her face in his neck. "Thank you."
Chapter One
In the story of Joanna Darius and Logan (a.k.a. James Howlette, depending on who you’re talking to), there is forbidden romance, forgiveness, finding a way home, and a fairy tale wedding. Then again, there is also battles, fighting, constant conflict. Like all fairy tales, they must come to an end. Fast forward, if you will, one year after Joanna and Logan have their dream wedding, and come to expect their first (and subsequently their only) child. Two years after that, a painful divorce after which Logan remains at the Xavier’s Institute, while Joanna and their son, Stephen (named after Joanna’s father), moved to New York City where she got her teaching degree, and began work as a high school history teacher, supporting Stephen and herself. Until five years after the initial marriage of Joanna and Logan -where Joanna accepted the second marriage proposal of her life, to a man she never expected to fall in love with. Pietro Lehnsherr, the son of Magneto.
Together, they led a fairly simple life, Pietro acting as a doting stepfather to Joanna and Logan’s son, and Joanna pretending not to miss her ex-husband. Though they had parted ways, there were still times when she missed him beside her, fighting with her, not against her. She was twenty six years old, in her second year of teaching at a small, private high school near the house she and Pietro owned. Their life seemed easy, and they were glad to be together, but time didn’t seem to be healing either of their wounds.
Fast forward another ten years. Stephen had just turned fourteen years old, and an uneasy peace had settled over most of the world between Homo Sapiens, and Homo Superior. Both realized that the other didn’t seem to be going anywhere, and it was easy to just embrace the difference then try to beat it out of one another. Well, most people felt that way, anyway. There were still groups, trying to get one group to over take the other -and that’s what the X-Men had settled into doing. Stopping the terrorist groups from causing harm to either group, human or mutant. But Joanna, formerly Sundry of the X-Men, had nothing to do with that life anymore -neither did Pietro, who seemed content just to be Joanna’s husband.
That is until Stephen, who had previous shown no mutant ability -though coming from two powerful mutant parents, began to show signs of a new power.
"Mom!" Stephen’s scream seemed to flood the house, as he stomped around upstairs, which was odd for only eight o’clock on a Saturday morning in early September. "MOM! DAD!"
"What is it, Steph?" Pietro stuck his head out of the door to the den where he had been talking to Joanna while she graded papers. "Holy shit..."
"What the fuck is happening?" Stephen’s skin was coated in a thin waxy blue coloring. "What is this?"
"Jo... You might want to take a look at this..."
"What is it -oh my god, Steffi!" Joanna only had to see a glimpse of him to know what the big deal was all about. "What happened?"
"I don’t know, Mom! I woke up, and suddenly...I was just coated in this stuff."
Joanna ran her fingers along Stephen’s waxy coated arm, "I don’t know what to think of this, Pietro. I’ve never seen this before." She rolled her own sleeve, and watched the waxy substance coat her own arm. "It’s not a physical mutation."
"So this will go away, right?" Stephen asked, looking between his parents. "I’m not going to stay like this?"
"Gosh...no, I don’t think so." Joanna concentrated on returning her arm to it’s normal state, and the wax melted back into her skin. "Just concentrate, Steffi, and it should go away. Think about it going away."
"I...I can try."
"It’ll be okay... Why don’t you go practice it? A mirror helps sometimes. I think you’re Dad and I need to have a chat...in the Den." Jo tugged on Pietro’s sleeve, tugging him into the small office.
"Do you think we should contact Professor Xavier?" Pietro already knew what this little ‘chat’ was about, and he crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against his desk across the room.
"I don’t know, Pietro. I mean...I’m really happy that Stephen is coming into his powers, but what if this isn’t the only one? What if there’s something more? What if it’s something we can’t handle?"
"Jo, what can’t you handle?"
Joanna tilted her head at him, "I know every one thought that I was so damn great when I was a kid Pete, but...I’m older now. I’m almost thirty-five years old. I’ve got responsiblities. I can’t kick-ass with the best of them anymore."
"Thirty-five?" Pietro chuckled, "Funny...you don’t look a day over twenty-five." He leaned up from his desk, snaking an arm around her waist, tugging her a little closer to place a kiss against her lips, before releasing her again. "Jo, we should call the Professor. All mutants deserve a good education, and the options we had -the option you had."
Joanna bit her lip, and nodded, "What about...what about Logan?"
"What about Logan?" Pietro shrugged. "He’ll get to see Stephen, work with him...maybe he’ll stop griping about how you try and seclude him up here."
"He’s the one who wanted Stephen to stay with him in Canada! I’m not letting our child stay in that creepy-ass house of his! -Remodeled or not, it’s still an appalling house!"
"Okay...okay. Relax now." Pietro put his hands on Joanna’s shoulders. "I’ll call the Professor, and let him know that we’re coming for a visit. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you."
Joanna sighed, "You’re right, Pietro -and besides, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen any of my old friends."
"Sundry!" The familar voice, older now then when Joanna had first heard it over fifteen years ago, came from behind them as Joanna, Pietro, and Stephen got out of the car.
"Tori." Joanna smiled, hugging her first student. "How are you? Still hanging around here, I see."
"Yea... It seemed so empty after you left, though...I really considered leaving and joining up with another group -but...I’m glad I stayed." Tori was a lot older now, and more mature. Her hair was pulled back from her face, and her clothes was practical -jeans, and a tank paired with a pair of sandals, "Come on inside! The Professor is in his office, waiting to talk to you."
"Good." Joanna nodded, following Tori into the expansive mansion, an arm around Stephen’s shoulders. "Lead the way, Tori."
The Professor’s office hadn’t changed since the last time that Joanna had been inside of it -three days after the divorce had been finalized, and she said her parting goodbyes to the Professor, and the rest of the X-Men. He didn’t seem to have moved in her absence, still sitting behind the formidable desk, his hands clasped together on top of it.
"Joanna...Pietro. I’m so glad you called me -ah, and young Stephen -I haven’t seen you in such a long time."
"Hi, Professor." Stephen gave him a half wave.
"So, I take it that this is not a social call?" The Professor asked, beckoning them into seats in front of the desk.
"Stephen...came into his powers." Joanna announced. "We were wondering...if there was room for him here?"
"There is always room for a mutant in need of education, Joanna, you know that as well as anyone." Professor Xavier moved his hands from the desk, and leaned back in his chair. "But...there is one thing."
"Yes?" Joanna raised her eyebrow.
"Don’t you think that you should talk to Logan about this first?" He raised an eyebrow, "See what he has to say about this?"
"Professor..." Joanna sighed. "I’ve managed to avoid my ex-husband for ten years now. Do you really want to break that cycle?"
"Sundry." The Professor’s tone was serious now. "What happened in the past, is in the past. I think you need to make amends for your problems. The two of you loved each other once, very much if I remember correctly, and...well, frankly, when it ended, there was more then just one broken heart, Joanna. Maybe it’s time you spoke with him?"
"Now, Professor Xavier-." Pietro spoke up.
"Pietro, I think now would be a good time for you to make use of your talent, and run along. I fear if Logan catches sight of you, I might have a few bloodstains in my carpeting."
Pietro sighed, "Is he still bitter about that?"
"Do I really need to remind you of what you did to him, Quicksilver?"
"I’m confused...what are you people talking about?" Stephen asked, leaning on the arm of his chair.
Joanna smiled, shaking her head, "Nothing, Steffi. Why don’t you go find some of your friends, huh? I’m sure that they’ll be glad to see you."
"Sure." Stephen shrugged, standing. "Everyone outside, Professor?"
"Most of them, yes." Professor nodded, waving him away. "They’ll find you, I’m sure." After Stephen had pulled the door closed, he turned back to Joanna and Pietro. "Logan is in the Danger Room, Joanna. I suggest you have a chat with him -Pietro, how about I give you a tour of our newest facilities? I’m sure you’ll be quite intrigued with them."
Logan looked up from the computer screen, into the face of a woman he thought he would never see again. His heart seemed to pause, letting his head capture the moment that Joanna Darius -correction, Lehnshurr, would walk back into his life so unexpectedly.
"Hi, Logan." Joanna shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, and scuffed the toe of her sneakers against the carpeting. "How are you?"
"Joanna." Her name was barely a whisper against his lips. He began to look her over, and shook his head, "You look...great."
"Thanks." Joanna shrugged. "You look good too." And he did -age was starting to show a little more now, his hair showing the signs of greying, but he was still hard muscled, and handsome.
"What are you doing here?" Logan asked.
Joanna shrugged, "Stephen sort of...discovered himself this morning, I guess. He can coat his body with some sort of organic wax compound. It’s actually kind of interesting."
"And you’re sending him here?"
"If that’s okay with you -I mean, Pietro and I-."
Logan growled involuntarily, and turned back to his computer screen.
Joanna sighed, brushing her black hair back behind her ear, and sat down in the chair next to him, "Logan, I didn’t come here to fight with you. I want Stephen to be able to see his Dad, to spend time with you...If you don’t want him to come here, then...I’ll find someplace else. We’re not sure if this is the only power that he has, right now. I mean, what with my powers and your powers...he could have anything."
"You make it sound like disease, Joanna."
"I didn’t mean it to sound like that." Joanna shrugged. "Logan...is it alright with you if I send Stephen here? To get this kind of an education?"
"You know that I don’t care, Joanna. I’ll agree with anything you say."
"Logan...I know you care. I know you want to say something."
"I don’t want to say anything to you regarding our son right now. As far as Stephen is concerned, yes, send him here. I want to be close to him, that’s it. But for us.." He looked away from her, "for us, it’s far from over, Joanna."
Joanna shrugged, and shook her head, "Look, I know that you didn’t like when I married Pietro, but...I’m happy with him, can’t you see that Logan? Can’t you be happy for me?"
"How can I be happy for you when-." He sighed and shook his head. "Why am I wasting my time? Just go, Joanna."
Joanna bit her lip, hesitant to leave, wanting to reach out to Logan -to touch him, comfort him again. But she sighed, and shook her head, "Fine. Goodbye Logan."
"Goodbye."
Pietro and Joanna drove back to the city alone, the promise of visiting Stephen the following weekend to bring him some more of his belongings, and to visit the only comforting thought to either of them about leaving their son behind.
"So...your chat with Logan?" Pietro raised an eyebrow.
Joanna shrugged, "As good as could be expected, I suppose." The two were quiet, and Joanna asked the question that had been looming in her mind, "Pietro...do you think I made a bad decision, when I left Logan?"
Pietro shrugged, "I don’t know, Jo. I mean, I don’t know the whole story. I just...I know it left you both heart broken."
"I wish he could find someone...like I found you." She put a hand on his knee for a moment. "He’s just...he’s so lonely, I feel so sorry for him."
"I doubt he wants your pity, Joanna."
"I hate seeing him like that. I remember him being happy, or at least content...he seems so broken now."
Pietro put his hand on hers, and stroked her fingers, "Jo...You don’t have to lie to me. I know you still have feelings for him."
"Of course I do, Pete. He was my first everything." She shrugged. "If it wasn’t for Rogue and you...I probably would have died after the divorce."
"Nonsense...even if we hadn’t stepped in, you have plenty of other friends who would do a lot more then what we did for you." Pietro lifted her hand to kiss her fingertips. "You just need to have a few people in your court."
"But everyone else seemed to be siding with Logan."
"There were no sides, Jo. You and Logan separated. Neither of you really wanted it...but...it was for the best. If you hadn’t...then, we wouldn’t have had our start...I wouldn’t have a great step-son, or a wonderful wife...life would have been very different."
Joanna sighed, "Yea..."
13 Years Earlier.
"Logan!" Joanna smiled, pressing her lips to his. "Come on, you’re scaring the baby, I’m trying to get him to sleep." She pulled him away from Stephen’s crib, and put her arms around his neck. "I think we should ask Rogue to baby sit, and then go out for dinner." She raised her eyebrows.
Logan grumbled, "I’d love to, darlin’, but this is just a pit stop on my way downstairs. I’ve got to get the Blackbird back into workin’ order. She got hit pretty hard last night, and it’s gonna be a while before I get her runnin’ again."
Joanna sighed, "Alright, fine." She nodded, pressing another kiss to his lips. "You’ll come to bed at a decent hour though, right?"
"I’ll try my damndest." He nodded. The two walked together out of the nursery, the small room that was attached to theirs, and into the hallway, going their separate ways.
Joanna joined up with her best friend, Rogue, downstairs in the rec room where she and some of their other friends were watching a news update.
"Hey." Joanna leaned over the back of the couch.
"Hey." Rogue turned from the newscast for a moment. "You talk to him yet?"
Joanna bit her tongue, and shrugged, "Not about...that."
"Jo, how much longer are you going to avoid this?" Rogue asked, standing up, and leaving the remote in Pietro’s lap, grabbing her arm, and pulling her from the room so they could talk privately. "I know that you don’t want to do this, but your lives are endanger if you don’t."
"It’s blackmail, Rogue." Joanna crossed her arms. "Why would I leave a husband that I love?"
"Because if you don’t, Magneto will kill you, and you know that he will. You may have regained everything you lost during your accident, and then some, but unless you kill him first, he is the only mutant powerful enough to do you in."
Joanna sighed, "Rogue...everything is so good right now. Logan loves me, we have Stephen...we’re finally moving out of the Insitute -granted, it’s to the Logan’s manor, but..."
"Joanna, you have to do this so you can end this whole thing with Magneto. He’s been terrorizing you for months. This might just stop it."
"Would anything really stop that man?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest, and turning away from Rogue. "I don’t want this. You know his terms. Divorcing Logan, moving someplace else. No contact. He can’t know that this is why..."
"Look, what you do is your business, but it’s not just going to end with you, Jo. After he obliterates you, he’ll go after Stephen, and Logan."
Joanna sighed, covering her face with her hands, "I know you’re right, and yet..."
"Jo, you know I want to do anything to help you, but you have to do this." Rogue took her friends hands in hers, and held them. "It’s going to hurt a lot of people, and...it’s going to be a sudden shock, I’m sure but...Logan is strong."
"But he’s not strong enough." Joanna shrugged. "Magneto could contort his entire body -he’s powerless to fight him...so am I."
"I know that this seems like it’s the worse thing in the world right now, and that after this nothing is going to be okay, but...life will go on if you just give into this simple demand."
"Simple? Separating from Logan is simple?" Joanna slid down the wall to the floor, where she sat with her arms tightly wrapped around her knees. "I would rather die."
Present
The week passed quickly for Pietro and Joanna, and they soon found themselves again entering the gate of the Xavier Institute. All around them, they saw familiar faces, but more often then not, they were clueless as so whom some of the students were.
"Back again so soon, sugar?" Rogue leaned in the doorway on the porch, wearing her green and yellow uniform, with her short brown jacket with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and her red hair cascaded across her shoulders. "I woulda thought you’d never give this place a second glance, honey."
"It’s good to see you too, Rogue." Joanna smiled, hugging her best friend. "I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you last weekend."
"I heard you talked with Logan." Rogue stood up, hugging her back before leading them into the mansion. "How’d that go for ya?"
"It could have gone better...or worse. It was okay." Joanna shrugged.
"You should seen him afterwards...holed himself away downstairs, putz’d around for awhile, wouldn’t talk to no one, or eat..." Rogue shrugged, "Stephen isn’t used to seein’ his Daddy like that, Jo."
Joanna bit her lip, "Pietro, do you mind if Rogue and I go talk? Why don’t you go see if you can find Stephen?"
"Sure, Jo." Pietro nodded, "You find us when you’re done."
Jo turned back to Rogue once Pietro was gone, "Where can we go that’s private?"
"There’s a private place in this mansion? When the hell did that happen, sugar?"
Joanna smiled, and linked arms with her friend, ascending the stairs.
"You never told him about Magneto blackmailing you into divorcing him? Jo! No wonder the guy is so messed up! You just told him you wanted the divorce, and left?" Rogue had changed into some civilian clothes, and now sat on her bed, while Joanna occupied a chair across the room.
"What was I supposed to tell him, Rogue? That Magneto found a way to finish me off for good, and if I didn’t comply he wasn’t going to just kill me -but everyone I knew?"
"You should-a told him something!" Rogue crossed her arms. "He’s tried to move on after you, you know. I mean, he cares about us all, but... he can’t never find a woman he loves as much as he loves you. -And why do you keep bringing Pietro around here? You know that’s just like a slap in the face to him."
Joanna sighed, "You don’t understand, Rogue." She turned the chair to look out of the window over the grounds of the school, her black hair falling in front of her face, masking her expression from Rogue’s eyes. "I love him. Logan, I mean. I never wanted to leave him, but they were Magneto’s demands... I probably shouldn’t even be here now, but..."
"And what about Pietro? You know that’s why Logan thinks you left, right? Because you didn’t care for him anymore, and you had fallen for Pete."
"I know." Joanna nodded. "And I do love Pete, but it’s different. It’s more of a...comforting sort of love."
"Comforting? What are you talkin’ about?"
"Logan has everything a woman could want -a danger level, skills in all areas, he’s handsome, smart, rugged... Pietro is -how do I put this? Pietro is just Pietro. He has a past, his father blackmailed me...but he’s sweet. Caring, kind, cute."
"You regret marrying him?"
"Once in awhile." Joanna shrugged. "I guess when I married him, I just wanted Stephen to have a father, you know? Someone that I knew would be there for him all of the time when Logan couldn’t be. I knew he’d take care of us, you know?"
"And now?"
"And now...I know enough to take care of myself, Stephen is growing up, and doesn’t need as much protection."
"Are you going to separate?"
"I don’t know." Joanna shrugged. "What would I do?"
"Well...you know the Professor would always be more then welcome to giving you your old job back..."
"Rogue, I have a job!" Joanna smiled.
"Ah, right...the History Teacher gig."
"I happen to enjoy my job." Joanna raised her eyebrow at her friend. "Not very many people can say that, Anna."
"I like my job...most of the time." Rogue shrugged.
"So...changing the subject, how’s Remy?"
Rogue shrugged, "He’s fine, I guess. It’s hard to have a boyfriend that I can’ ever touch, ya know?"
"I know it’s hard, Rogue, but...you’re getting better control of your powers all of the time...some day, maybe you’ll get enough to get a little contact."
Rogue shrugged, "It seems like the only time I get to be a normal person is when I’m around you, Jo, and since you left, I hardly see you anymore. I gotta be like this locked up animal, and I hate it."
"I know you do, Rogue." Joanna stood up, to sit beside her friend, putting her arms around the other girls waist. "But you know that we’re all looking for a way to help you. Me, Remy, Professor Xavier. We’ll find some way to help you, some day."
"I sure hope so, sugar, ‘cause I’m sure sick of having to hold back in life."
After spending the rest of the afternoon with her son, and husband, Pietro and Joanna sat in front of the Professor Xavier.
"Your son is very bright, but you already knew that." He smiled kindly at them. "Logan seems to enjoy having him around, even if he doesn’t show Stephen that."
Joanna bit the nail of her thumb, but didn’t say anything.
"If it’s alright with you, I’d like to be able to give them a little more time together, Joanna. Logan could be the one tutoring Stephen, one-on-one."
"If you think that’s best, Professor." Joanna nodded.
The Professor stared at her for awhile, and Joanna automatically put up her mental blocks, barricading the Professor from her thoughts. He may have been powerful, but she was more-so, and she didn’t need the Professor telling her what she already knew.
"We’d like it if you visited again, Joanna...Pietro. We’re always happy to have guests. Perhaps you’d like to spend Thanksgiving vacation with us?"
"We’ll think about it, Professor. My mother is throwing one of her annual shin-digs, but maybe we’ll get down." Joanna awkwardly hugged the Professor, before she grabbing her purse. "We should be getting back -I have some papers to grade before Monday, but it was nice seeing everything again. I’m sure we’ll be back soon. Tell Stephen to call if he needs anything."
"Of course, Sundry." Joanna tried not to flinch at the use of her codename, and smiled at the Professor before pulling Pietro along with her out of the room.
"Is something bothering you?" Pietro asked, as they got back into the car.
Joanna shrugged. "No, I guess not. I just...I want to get home."
"Do you want to teleport? I’ll drive, it’s fine."
"No." Joanna shook her head. "I’ve used my powers enough for one day." Her mental barricades tumbled, and she breathed a sigh, for a moment, she heard a thunder of voices, before they quickly stoppered up again in her ears.
"You sure?"
"Positive." She nodded. Besides, she needed the car ride to think, and decided what she wanted to do, now that Logan would obviously be back in her life.
"What?" Pietro looked disbelievingly at Joanna, from where he sat in the kitchen, eating his usual morning breakfast. "When did you decide this?"
"I don’t know. It’s been awhile coming, I guess." Joanna shrugged from where she sat on the counter in her black dress slacks, red sweater, and black boots, eating a cereal bar. "And just because I want to break off our marriage doesn’t mean that I don’t still love you, Pietro...I do. It’s just...I love you more the way I did when I met you, then the way I did when I married you."
"I’m not surprised, Jo." Pietro shook his head. "I didn’t expect you to stay married to me forever... I just..." He sighed. "What changed now? What made this the time?"
"I guess it was seeing Logan again. I hate your father for what he made me do."
"And I’m sorry for that -if I had known, I never would have let it stand...but my father isn’t really a threat anymore."
"He’s always a threat." Joanna smiled, shaking her head. "But...it’s time that I faced up to it. He can’t scare any more. He tried to break apart my life, and...he succeeded for a little while. I want it back, Pete."
Pietro stood, moving to put his arms around her waist, her knees squeezing around his hips, "I want you to have it back. You get the papers, and I’ll sign. No messes. We take what we had when we started, and the rest of it can be split, right down the middle."
"Thank you, Pietro." Joanna hugged him around the shoulders, burying her face in his neck. "Thank you."
The Twelve Dancing Princes
A/N: So, here is the second story of my Homoerotic Fairy Tales... I started writing this during a VERY dull presentation on meth use...so here it is.... A slashified favorite – thanks to the great Brother’s Grimm... -Also, I know in some versions of this story, he chooses the eldest...but he’s kind of hack, so I liked the youngest ;) Oh well. -And one last note, this isn’t as long as Sleeping Beauty, nor as...sexy. Enjoy anyway fair reader!
The Twelve Dancing Princes
In far away kingdom, twelve brothers spent their days learning to fence, fight, and rule their future kingdoms. At night however, all twelve princes would disappear behind an enchanted headboard and dance their nights away with beautiful royals from other enchanted lands.
Their father, the king, was baffled by the prince’s nightly disapperances. At first he paid knights to watch their room –but they never left. Then he put them inside the room, but the boys simply drugged them, or waited for them to fall asleep. Reaching the end of his hypothetical rope, the king put out a public notice, daring anyone who could figure out where the twelve princes went at night and why their best clothes were worn, and their best dress boots tattered every morning... In reward, the person would get to choose any of the princes for their own.
People, men and woman, young and old, came from all around. Many tried their hardest, not wanting to give up, but after three days time, the king would give them a few shillings for their efforts and sent them away.
This went on for several months, and then years, people coming and going from the castle, the princes laughing with pleasure at the frustrations they were causing. All until one day, when a drifter migrant worker saw the notice tacked to the castle wall...and decided to try his hand at the quest.
The moment that Drew, the drifter, stepped in the recieving throne room, the King sensed something different about him. After a few minutes of pleasantries, he introduced Drew to the twelve princes, who were diligently working on their studies.
"Drew, I’d like you to meet my sons." The king clapped him on the shoulder. "Joshua, my oldest, Stephen, Shane, Shep, Tristan, Trent, Paul, Philip, Patrick, Brent, Brandon, and of course...my youngest, Jack."
Drew’s head spun, the names seeming to go in one year and out the other, "You...are very lucky, your highness."
The king laughed, "Ah yes, well...you boys get to know one another." He nodded to his sons, "Show Drew some hospitality, hmm?"
Once the king was out of the door, the twelve sons went back to their studies, igorning their guest...except for the youngest.
"You’ll have to excuse my brothers." He waved Drew into a chair, "Our father has bored us for quite some time with this game of his. You won’t be any different from the rest, I’m afraid."
"Oh? And why is that?" Drew asked.
Jack smiled, "Two years this trial has gone one... No one has found out a think. What should make you any different?"
Drew smiled, "You’d be surprised what I am capable of."
"Would you like a drink?" Jack asked, standing, "Perhaps something to eat?"
"No thank you." Drew shook his head. "I make it a point not to take food from strangers... you never know what may be drugged."
Jack smiled softly,. "Hmm...you are very clever aren’t you? Well, come along. I’ll show you were you’ll be staying. Then I’m sure you’ll wish to inspect our room?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Well...that’s what all the others did." Jack shrugged.
"Well, if it didn’t work for them, why would it work for me?"
"My, my! We are clever! Tell me...how do you plan on figuring this out, old boy?"
Drew grinned, "I plan to sway you with my charms, of course."
Jack laughed, "Good luck with that. My brother’s and I are not push-overs, Drew. You’ll find your quiet much harder then you anticipate."
That night, right after dinner, Drew retired to his room, and ruffled through his meager belongings for the one thing that may help him figure out this mystery. –Months ago, an old crone had stopped him in the road and bestowed upon him a gift. The gift had been a cloak that rendered him completely invisable, from the top of his head, to the bottoms of his feet.
Before now, he had not known what he would do with such an impractical item...but now, he saw the luck of it. After tossing the cloak around his shoulders, he stepped carefully into the hall.
He hurried past many doors, to the one that Jack had pointed out earlier –it was just his luck that a servant was knocking on the door to stir the fire just as he approached.
Silently, he slipped into the room, pressing himself against the bare wall to wait. As soon as the servant was gone, the boys began to talk.
"So...you spoke to the new one, Jack. Shall we bother to worry about him?" Joshua, the oldest, asked, putting his book down on the side table by his bed.
Jack shrugged, "I’m not sure. We can’t drug him, because he doesn’t eat or drink anything. We can’t beat him up because that would cause suspicion. I rather like him. He is a challenge."
"Yes, well, I don’t care much for challenges. I just want to have my youthful fun before I am forced into adulthood. Take care of him. That’s all I ask." Joshua sighed.
"I’ll try my best." Jack promised.
Joshua turned away, towards the window where the sun was sinking below the horizon, "That’s all I’m asking, jack."
The boys grew quiet, each returning to their reading or writing, letting silence fall over them. The silence hung until the night had officially begun, and Joshua cleared his throat.
"Shall we?" We nodded towards the headboard.
There was unified movement for the twelve wardrobes that lined one wall. Each of the twelve changed into their finery. Drew watched in awe as Joshua quietly slid over the lock on the door before noving to the headboard on one of the beds.
"Are we ready?"
There were nodds and agreement and Joshua pressed his hand in one of the curli-cues that decorated the bed. The large frame groaned before sinking into the floor, revealing a stone archway. Moonlight poured into the room, along with a blast of icy air.
Drew watched the brothers file out until only Jack was left in the room. He cast a parting glance over the room before pressing the curli-cue again to let the door shudder closed.
Drew moved quickly, not sure what lay behind the door. He opened it just enough to crawl through, and sneak inside, trailing along after the line of princes.
From the branches of the trees hung gold and silver leaves that sparkled in the moonlight. Drew snatched one of each and shoved the clues into the pocket of his cloak for safe keeping. Only minutes seemed to pass and the group was in sight of a looming, enchanted castle. From all around, royalty and nobility were arriving on foot, or by carriage to the large oak doors.
Drew followed closely, unsure of what to expect behind the doors. He was surprised when Joshua stopped, not far from the entrance, and ushered the others to go ahead. He paused to listen when he stopped Jack.
"Tomorrow night...I want you to keep our visitor busy. If you understand my meaning..."
"But Joshua–!"
"No, Jack. Keep him busy tomorrow! If nessessary, the next night as well. He can’t find out our secret."
"Joshua, why should I be the one to–..."
"Because you are the youngest."
"Just because I’m only 16–."
"Exactly. You are only sixteen. Now be quiet and do as I ask. That is final. Understand?"
"Yes Joshua." Jack nodded.
Joshua nodded, and moved towards the looming doors.
Jack paused and extra moment before moving on, Drew following at a safe distance behind. For a moment, he was worried that he had lost his unknowning hosts, but found them again quickly within the mass of people.
The room was unlike any he had ever seen before –a grand ball room with five glorious chandeliers glowing brightly over the room. Three tables of food, filled with various finger sandwiches, and the like were pushed against one wall, one completely dedicated to punch, served in golden chalises. The center of the room was cleared for dancing and more long tables were against other walls for wallflowers, and those who had come only for the food.
Drew let himself be pushed against one of the bare walls, going along with the crowd, keeping a cautious eye out for the Princes. It took a moment to notice what was so different about this party then any other he had seen or heard about. As his eyes scanned the room, he saw Joshua moving up the stairs with a tall woman in a flowing pink gown, behind him was Shep, his arm around Philip’s waist, leading his brother up the same stairs. Across the room, two women kissed beside one of the wide open windows...the more he looked, the more he saw such as these... Oh of course, there were pairs of men and women on the floor, but they seemed to be outnumbered –few and far between. Eight of the princes danced with gaudily dressed woman, but even Jack had his hands on the shoulders of a broad looking man with disheveled hair and a sexy grin.
Drew’s stomach tightened. He wasn’t sure who this man was, but he was sure that he didn’t like him. Not at all.
"Find something you like, darlin’?" A sweet voice whispered in his ear.
Drew whipped around, and the woman laughed, "Aye, I can see you. Fancy cloak you’re wearin’. Who’re you hidin’ from?" She sunk back into the wall near him as not to draw attention to themselves.
"The twelve princes...from Dumpree."
"Ah." She nodded." Alas, one of their father’s lackey’s has discovered them!"
"I guess so."
"I told them it was only a matter of time before you came. I have a sixth sense, you see."
"You are a seer?"
"Aye." She nodded. "I also created this place. Where nobility, like myself, can be free... We do things here that are not acceptable in our homelands. You may have noticed?"
"You are a witch as well?"
She laughed, "Aye, I suppose you could say that. So, what is your name?"
"Drew."
"How lovely to meet you Drew. My name is Sangreli. But you can call me Li." She smiled. "Are you hungry?"
"No, thank you."
"It’s not poisoned or anything. I promise you. On witches honor."
Drew smiled, "Perhaps just a drink?"
"Coming right up." Li smiled, and sashayed away through the crowed of people to the drinks table.
Drew scanned the crowd for Jack or the others and spotted them all scattered around the room with their escorts. Jack was headed towards the stairs with his sexy blonde.
"What can you tell me about him?" Drew asked Li when she returned, giving him the goblet of finely aged wine.
"Who?" Li asked, "Oh...the man with Jack?"
"Yes. That’s the one."
"His name is Sir Bryan of Coltrebanet. Do you know where that is?"
"Vaguely." Drew nodded.
"Well, he and Jack met here last summer...but in the fall, the two met at a summit and had to pretend not to know one another. One of the downfalls of our secret society here." Li shrugged. "They now to through the rounds of correspondence even though they speak to each other nearly every night."
"Are there many problems like that?"
Li shrugged, "Not really... Many us come from different...time periods, planes of existence... For example...I am not from your...universe."
"...Are you going to tell them I was here?"
Li smiled, "Not unless you want me to."
"They will find out soon enough." Drew took a drink of his wine. "Do you mind if I keep this goblet? For proof."
Li laughed, "Help yourself. It’s not like I will miss one goblet."
"Thank you."
"Good luck, Drew." She patted his back. "May you be successful in your quest." She gave him a parting smile before she once again disappeared into the crowd.
The next morning, Drew hid his proof around his room, just in case someone were to come looking. He knew that he wouldn’t be going back to the enchanted castle again –at least not that night. Joshua had seemed adamant when he told Jack to keep him busy.
"Did you sleep well?" Jack took the seat beside him at breakfast.
"Fabulously. But you look a bit tired." Drew noted. "I suppose you had fun last night?"
"Oh, simply the best time of my life." Jack grinned. "So..are you any closer to the figuring out our ventures?"
Drew smiled back. "You’ll just have to wait and see."
That night, Drew was not surprised to hear Jack’s knock on the door, although it was still early in the evening, just after dinner. Their was a fair chance that the other eleven princes were working dilegently at their studies, or other such projects at this time of the evening.
"I thought you might come here." Drew ushered him inside, "Why aren’t you out having a time with your brothers?"
"Why do you just sit here instead of investigating? You are a mystery. I don’t...I don’t understand it."
Drew smiled, "I’ve already done what I need to do. Except one thing."
"Oh?" Jack asked, sitting in the chair at the desk in the room, "And what might that be?"
"Something simple actually." Drew moved in front of him, putting his hands on either side of the arms of the chair, "Just a little decision."
"Oh?" Jack repeated.
"Which one of you should I take for my own?"
"You’re very cocky."
"What do you think?"
"I don’t care." Jack shook his head.
"I was thinking about you..."
Jack raised an eyebrow, "Were you now?"
"Yes...but then I thought to myself...what kind of man would I be, choosing the youngest of a family?"
"Hmm...interesting point." Jack tried not to let a hint of disappointment show.
"So, my mind went to Joshua of course, but he’s so...pompous. He wouldn’t even let you go along tonight, would he?"
"Maybe I just enjoy your company?"
"...Maybe. –Anyway, so I thought to myself some more, because, Joshua doesn’t seem the type to enjoy, what I have in mind."
"And what is that?"
Drew licked his lips, "Something I’m sure you are familiar with." Jack’s eyebrows raised again, and Drew continued to lean forward, his breath warm against Jack’s lips. At the last moment, he broke off, moving away stand by the window, "But I wouldn’t want to be forward, you understand."
Jack was surprised, and quite speechless, "Uh–I–wha?"
Drew smiled, brushing his hair out of his eyes, "What’s the matter Jack?"
"You were–and then you–but, how do–..."
"Ah. I believe I understand." Drew nodded, making the path back to the chair very quick, pulling Jack up by the arms, "I know exactly what it is that you want." Jack was rendered further speechless when Drew’s lips caught his, the other man’s hands moving from his shoulders to his neck, his thumbs pushing his chin up. It took him a moment before he realized he was kissing back. He wrenched Drew’s hands from his face, before pulling away, turning towards the door. He paused for a just moment before opening the door, turning back to look at Drew, who was looking back, seeming to be quite proud of himself, rocking back on his heels, a slight smile on his face. Jack shook his head, before pulling the door shut behind him.
"You don’t understand, Joshua. I can’t...I don’t want to be responsible for him anymore." Jack shook his head. "And besides, I think he already knows. I think he knows everything."
"Impossible." Joshua wasn’t really paying that much attention, instead recalculating some of his father’s ledgers, "Even if he was there last night, we would have seen him."
"Look, I am not...entertaining him tonight, alright. I don’t care if you don’t allow me to come with you, but I am not going to be responsible for him anymore."
"Sure you are, Jack." Joshua looked away from the ledgers for a moment, "He did something to you didn’t he? Something you liked...maybe he does know. Maybe he saw you with your blue-eyed Prince Charming, and got jealous. That’s what you really want, isn’t it?"
"Shut up...just, shut up." Jack sighed, turning away, "There is no way he could know about that –after all...we would have seen him right?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." Joshua shrugged, "Just go back, I know you want to. Try something new...someone new. Maybe he’ll teach you some new tricks."
"Don’t be disgusting." Jack scoffed.
Joshua laughed, going back to his ledgers, "Just telling the truth, brother."
"Obviously I will get no sympathy from you." Jack turned, leaving the room, closing the door loudly behind him.
"Is there a problem your Highness?" One of the servant girls was just coming to stoke the fire for the night.
"No, of course not." Jack shook his head. "Just...go about your business." Jack continued on his way to find a bit of privacy.
Drew waited until he was sure that the others had left before going to knock on the door of the Prince’s room. Jack opened the door almost instantly, "What do you want?"
Drew smiled softly again, "Did I really make you that angry?"
Jack shook his head, "No...you just...you surprised me is all."
"Oh...good." Drew nodded, "May I come in?"
"...No." Jack shook his head.
Drew tilted his head. "Why not?"
"The other’s...are asleep."
"No they aren’t. They’re not here...but that’s alright. It’s probably better that they aren’t."
"Wh...why?"
"I was hoping you’d be willing to go through a test...to see if you’re really the one I want. I’m fairly sure that you are." Drew tilted Jack’s head up with a touch of his thumb, "But, just to be sure... You understand, yes?"
"No." Jack shook his head, "We can’t."
"Why not? Surely you aren’t a good Christian boy? Nay, I know you aren’t."
"It’s not –it’s not that. It’s...I am who I am, and you are...who you are."
Drew grinned again, "Ah, this is because I am not nobility, is it?" He nodded, "I understand...but soon enough, that won’t matter. Your father has made a promise...and soon, you’ll be at my beck and call."
"The deal is not for a princely slave, Drew. It is for..."
"I know what it is for." Drew nodded, and leaned forward to whisper into Jack’s ear, "It’s for a lover. And that is exactly what I plan to do with you."
"It never...says that."
"Not outright. I suppose your father was hoping a woman would solve your mystery... but...they aren’t really as cunning, are they? To figure out where you all go at night..."
"Tell me...do you really know, or are you just playing with me?"
Drew’s smile grew malicious, "Lets put it this way, my dear Jack...I know all about your trysts with a certain blonde haired, blue eyed Prince from Coltrebanet."
Jack’s eyes widened slightly, "Then you do know."
"I told you I did. ...But, I’ll leave that part out. When I tell your father. I’ll also leave out anything to do with your brothers. I’ll simply tell him where it is that you go. Not what you do there."
"Do you have proof?"
"Of course I have proof." Drew nodded.
Jack nodded, "So...who told you? Was it Bryan? One of my brother’s lovers? Someone who wanted to be able to come forward as theirs? Tell me..."
"Now, now...if I tell you more...it won’t be nearly as fun when I tell your father. –Now then, I trust you won’t tell your brothers...how much I really know."
Jack shook his head, "No. There’s no point. You know...there’s nothing that will change that."
"Not unless you kill me..and my, my, wouldn’t that look suspicious?"
"What do you want from me?" Jack asked.
"Ah, I like that tune..." Drew nodded, "Invite me in, and allow me to give you a preview of what I have planned for you. –That’s all I want. Tonight."
Jack bit his lip, before nodding, "Alright. You can come in." He stepped out of the way, ushering Drew through the door, "But...you can’t stay. And, you can’t–."
"Relax." Drew pushed the door closed, pulling Jack up against him as he had done before, "You enjoyed it last time. I know you did. We’ll just kiss. For now." Jack’s stomach seemed to plummet and churn in an off-brand of excitement as Drew kissed him again, coaxing his mouth open letting his tongue probe gently against Jack’s. Drew laughed, "You are so stoic! Surely Sir Bryan has taught you to kiss? Or are you purely sexual, not intimate?"
"I don’t believe that is any of your concern." Jack turned his face away as not to have to look at his seemingly-captor. "That is private. Between Bryan and myself."
Drew nodded, "Then I’ll take it that it was purely sexual... No one else could such a stone wall."
Jack looked back, "I am not unemotional. I simply am not...attracted to you."
Drew smiled slight, "I doubt that very much, Jack."
"Well, it’s the truth. Regardless of what you think you may know about me." Jack’s hands went to Drew’s arms, trying to push him away, but unsuccessful in the attempt, "Let me go. Please."
Drew nodded, "...Sure." He moved away, and made himself comfortable on the bed that, somehow, was obviously Jack’s, "Anything you want."
"What I really want, is for you to leave. Please." Jack opened the door again, standing there, waiting for Drew to move.
"Mmm..oddly enough, that didn’t really didn’t work into my plans for the evening, I’m afraid." Drew shook his head. "Come now...stop being so trivial. Close the door."
Jack suddenly couldn’t help but to obey him, and nodded, closing the door again, "Fine."
"See, that wasn’t hard was it?" Drew patted a piece of the bed beside himself, "Here...sit next to me."
Again, Jack complied, sitting on the edge of the bed, "What is it that you want from me, exactly?"
"You know what I want."
Jack was adamant not to be taken into Drew’s ploys of sexual favors.
"I’m not sure who you think you are, sir, but I am not about to be taken–!" He was silenced by Drew’s mouth covering his own, his annoyed grievances becoming more like strangled grunts of disapproval. His hands pressed against Drew’s chest, pushing him away to no avail.
"Why can’t you just shut up and go along?" Drew asked. "Maybe I fyou spent more time cooperating and less time bemoaning that I’ve won and your secret is going to be discovered in a day’s time..."
"Why should I give in to you? You’ll be able to have your way with me after that days time just as well, wether I like it or not. Isn’t that right?"
"Hm...I suppose you’re right...but, that doesn’t mean I can’t help myself to the prize a little early." Drew pulled Jack’s tunic loose from his trousers, his fingers slipping under the fabric to stroke his firm stomach, molded from days of fencing and battling with his brothers.
"I don’t think that would be appreciated by my father." Jack pulled away, moving towards the door again, "I really think you should be going...my brothers will be back soon."
"Hmm.." Drew nodded, "Of course." He got up from the bed, and bowed slightly, "Have pleasant dreams, your highness."
The twelve princes made their procession into the throne room early the fourth morning of Drew’s stay. Drew had already laid his evidence before the King and Queen, who were astonished at the story, but had almost unwillingly agreed to allow Drew his choice of the twelve Princes.
"Before I choose...may I have a private word with them?" Drew asked.
"Of course..." The King nodded, "Call when you are ready with your choice." He led his queen away, and Drew turned to face the twelve vexed princes.
"Before you say anything," Drew held up his hand to silence their anger, "I told your parents nothing of your rendevous. Only of where you were going, and how you got there... not what you were doing, and who it was with." He stared pointedly at the brotherly pairs at this, "There is of course...my reward to discuss."
"You already chose." Jack shook head. "Don’t pretend with us."
"Hm. You’re right." Drew nodded. "But...I don’t have to...if that’s what you want."
Jack bit his tongue, looking at the floor, avoiding the looks of his brothers. Was it what he wanted? To be taken as a lover for this poor peasant? ...And just as suddenly as the thought occurred, he knew his answer.
"It is what I want." Jack nodded.
Drew smiled softly, "Good." And he kissed Jack as he never had any other before.
The Twelve Dancing Princes
In far away kingdom, twelve brothers spent their days learning to fence, fight, and rule their future kingdoms. At night however, all twelve princes would disappear behind an enchanted headboard and dance their nights away with beautiful royals from other enchanted lands.
Their father, the king, was baffled by the prince’s nightly disapperances. At first he paid knights to watch their room –but they never left. Then he put them inside the room, but the boys simply drugged them, or waited for them to fall asleep. Reaching the end of his hypothetical rope, the king put out a public notice, daring anyone who could figure out where the twelve princes went at night and why their best clothes were worn, and their best dress boots tattered every morning... In reward, the person would get to choose any of the princes for their own.
People, men and woman, young and old, came from all around. Many tried their hardest, not wanting to give up, but after three days time, the king would give them a few shillings for their efforts and sent them away.
This went on for several months, and then years, people coming and going from the castle, the princes laughing with pleasure at the frustrations they were causing. All until one day, when a drifter migrant worker saw the notice tacked to the castle wall...and decided to try his hand at the quest.
The moment that Drew, the drifter, stepped in the recieving throne room, the King sensed something different about him. After a few minutes of pleasantries, he introduced Drew to the twelve princes, who were diligently working on their studies.
"Drew, I’d like you to meet my sons." The king clapped him on the shoulder. "Joshua, my oldest, Stephen, Shane, Shep, Tristan, Trent, Paul, Philip, Patrick, Brent, Brandon, and of course...my youngest, Jack."
Drew’s head spun, the names seeming to go in one year and out the other, "You...are very lucky, your highness."
The king laughed, "Ah yes, well...you boys get to know one another." He nodded to his sons, "Show Drew some hospitality, hmm?"
Once the king was out of the door, the twelve sons went back to their studies, igorning their guest...except for the youngest.
"You’ll have to excuse my brothers." He waved Drew into a chair, "Our father has bored us for quite some time with this game of his. You won’t be any different from the rest, I’m afraid."
"Oh? And why is that?" Drew asked.
Jack smiled, "Two years this trial has gone one... No one has found out a think. What should make you any different?"
Drew smiled, "You’d be surprised what I am capable of."
"Would you like a drink?" Jack asked, standing, "Perhaps something to eat?"
"No thank you." Drew shook his head. "I make it a point not to take food from strangers... you never know what may be drugged."
Jack smiled softly,. "Hmm...you are very clever aren’t you? Well, come along. I’ll show you were you’ll be staying. Then I’m sure you’ll wish to inspect our room?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Well...that’s what all the others did." Jack shrugged.
"Well, if it didn’t work for them, why would it work for me?"
"My, my! We are clever! Tell me...how do you plan on figuring this out, old boy?"
Drew grinned, "I plan to sway you with my charms, of course."
Jack laughed, "Good luck with that. My brother’s and I are not push-overs, Drew. You’ll find your quiet much harder then you anticipate."
That night, right after dinner, Drew retired to his room, and ruffled through his meager belongings for the one thing that may help him figure out this mystery. –Months ago, an old crone had stopped him in the road and bestowed upon him a gift. The gift had been a cloak that rendered him completely invisable, from the top of his head, to the bottoms of his feet.
Before now, he had not known what he would do with such an impractical item...but now, he saw the luck of it. After tossing the cloak around his shoulders, he stepped carefully into the hall.
He hurried past many doors, to the one that Jack had pointed out earlier –it was just his luck that a servant was knocking on the door to stir the fire just as he approached.
Silently, he slipped into the room, pressing himself against the bare wall to wait. As soon as the servant was gone, the boys began to talk.
"So...you spoke to the new one, Jack. Shall we bother to worry about him?" Joshua, the oldest, asked, putting his book down on the side table by his bed.
Jack shrugged, "I’m not sure. We can’t drug him, because he doesn’t eat or drink anything. We can’t beat him up because that would cause suspicion. I rather like him. He is a challenge."
"Yes, well, I don’t care much for challenges. I just want to have my youthful fun before I am forced into adulthood. Take care of him. That’s all I ask." Joshua sighed.
"I’ll try my best." Jack promised.
Joshua turned away, towards the window where the sun was sinking below the horizon, "That’s all I’m asking, jack."
The boys grew quiet, each returning to their reading or writing, letting silence fall over them. The silence hung until the night had officially begun, and Joshua cleared his throat.
"Shall we?" We nodded towards the headboard.
There was unified movement for the twelve wardrobes that lined one wall. Each of the twelve changed into their finery. Drew watched in awe as Joshua quietly slid over the lock on the door before noving to the headboard on one of the beds.
"Are we ready?"
There were nodds and agreement and Joshua pressed his hand in one of the curli-cues that decorated the bed. The large frame groaned before sinking into the floor, revealing a stone archway. Moonlight poured into the room, along with a blast of icy air.
Drew watched the brothers file out until only Jack was left in the room. He cast a parting glance over the room before pressing the curli-cue again to let the door shudder closed.
Drew moved quickly, not sure what lay behind the door. He opened it just enough to crawl through, and sneak inside, trailing along after the line of princes.
From the branches of the trees hung gold and silver leaves that sparkled in the moonlight. Drew snatched one of each and shoved the clues into the pocket of his cloak for safe keeping. Only minutes seemed to pass and the group was in sight of a looming, enchanted castle. From all around, royalty and nobility were arriving on foot, or by carriage to the large oak doors.
Drew followed closely, unsure of what to expect behind the doors. He was surprised when Joshua stopped, not far from the entrance, and ushered the others to go ahead. He paused to listen when he stopped Jack.
"Tomorrow night...I want you to keep our visitor busy. If you understand my meaning..."
"But Joshua–!"
"No, Jack. Keep him busy tomorrow! If nessessary, the next night as well. He can’t find out our secret."
"Joshua, why should I be the one to–..."
"Because you are the youngest."
"Just because I’m only 16–."
"Exactly. You are only sixteen. Now be quiet and do as I ask. That is final. Understand?"
"Yes Joshua." Jack nodded.
Joshua nodded, and moved towards the looming doors.
Jack paused and extra moment before moving on, Drew following at a safe distance behind. For a moment, he was worried that he had lost his unknowning hosts, but found them again quickly within the mass of people.
The room was unlike any he had ever seen before –a grand ball room with five glorious chandeliers glowing brightly over the room. Three tables of food, filled with various finger sandwiches, and the like were pushed against one wall, one completely dedicated to punch, served in golden chalises. The center of the room was cleared for dancing and more long tables were against other walls for wallflowers, and those who had come only for the food.
Drew let himself be pushed against one of the bare walls, going along with the crowd, keeping a cautious eye out for the Princes. It took a moment to notice what was so different about this party then any other he had seen or heard about. As his eyes scanned the room, he saw Joshua moving up the stairs with a tall woman in a flowing pink gown, behind him was Shep, his arm around Philip’s waist, leading his brother up the same stairs. Across the room, two women kissed beside one of the wide open windows...the more he looked, the more he saw such as these... Oh of course, there were pairs of men and women on the floor, but they seemed to be outnumbered –few and far between. Eight of the princes danced with gaudily dressed woman, but even Jack had his hands on the shoulders of a broad looking man with disheveled hair and a sexy grin.
Drew’s stomach tightened. He wasn’t sure who this man was, but he was sure that he didn’t like him. Not at all.
"Find something you like, darlin’?" A sweet voice whispered in his ear.
Drew whipped around, and the woman laughed, "Aye, I can see you. Fancy cloak you’re wearin’. Who’re you hidin’ from?" She sunk back into the wall near him as not to draw attention to themselves.
"The twelve princes...from Dumpree."
"Ah." She nodded." Alas, one of their father’s lackey’s has discovered them!"
"I guess so."
"I told them it was only a matter of time before you came. I have a sixth sense, you see."
"You are a seer?"
"Aye." She nodded. "I also created this place. Where nobility, like myself, can be free... We do things here that are not acceptable in our homelands. You may have noticed?"
"You are a witch as well?"
She laughed, "Aye, I suppose you could say that. So, what is your name?"
"Drew."
"How lovely to meet you Drew. My name is Sangreli. But you can call me Li." She smiled. "Are you hungry?"
"No, thank you."
"It’s not poisoned or anything. I promise you. On witches honor."
Drew smiled, "Perhaps just a drink?"
"Coming right up." Li smiled, and sashayed away through the crowed of people to the drinks table.
Drew scanned the crowd for Jack or the others and spotted them all scattered around the room with their escorts. Jack was headed towards the stairs with his sexy blonde.
"What can you tell me about him?" Drew asked Li when she returned, giving him the goblet of finely aged wine.
"Who?" Li asked, "Oh...the man with Jack?"
"Yes. That’s the one."
"His name is Sir Bryan of Coltrebanet. Do you know where that is?"
"Vaguely." Drew nodded.
"Well, he and Jack met here last summer...but in the fall, the two met at a summit and had to pretend not to know one another. One of the downfalls of our secret society here." Li shrugged. "They now to through the rounds of correspondence even though they speak to each other nearly every night."
"Are there many problems like that?"
Li shrugged, "Not really... Many us come from different...time periods, planes of existence... For example...I am not from your...universe."
"...Are you going to tell them I was here?"
Li smiled, "Not unless you want me to."
"They will find out soon enough." Drew took a drink of his wine. "Do you mind if I keep this goblet? For proof."
Li laughed, "Help yourself. It’s not like I will miss one goblet."
"Thank you."
"Good luck, Drew." She patted his back. "May you be successful in your quest." She gave him a parting smile before she once again disappeared into the crowd.
The next morning, Drew hid his proof around his room, just in case someone were to come looking. He knew that he wouldn’t be going back to the enchanted castle again –at least not that night. Joshua had seemed adamant when he told Jack to keep him busy.
"Did you sleep well?" Jack took the seat beside him at breakfast.
"Fabulously. But you look a bit tired." Drew noted. "I suppose you had fun last night?"
"Oh, simply the best time of my life." Jack grinned. "So..are you any closer to the figuring out our ventures?"
Drew smiled back. "You’ll just have to wait and see."
That night, Drew was not surprised to hear Jack’s knock on the door, although it was still early in the evening, just after dinner. Their was a fair chance that the other eleven princes were working dilegently at their studies, or other such projects at this time of the evening.
"I thought you might come here." Drew ushered him inside, "Why aren’t you out having a time with your brothers?"
"Why do you just sit here instead of investigating? You are a mystery. I don’t...I don’t understand it."
Drew smiled, "I’ve already done what I need to do. Except one thing."
"Oh?" Jack asked, sitting in the chair at the desk in the room, "And what might that be?"
"Something simple actually." Drew moved in front of him, putting his hands on either side of the arms of the chair, "Just a little decision."
"Oh?" Jack repeated.
"Which one of you should I take for my own?"
"You’re very cocky."
"What do you think?"
"I don’t care." Jack shook his head.
"I was thinking about you..."
Jack raised an eyebrow, "Were you now?"
"Yes...but then I thought to myself...what kind of man would I be, choosing the youngest of a family?"
"Hmm...interesting point." Jack tried not to let a hint of disappointment show.
"So, my mind went to Joshua of course, but he’s so...pompous. He wouldn’t even let you go along tonight, would he?"
"Maybe I just enjoy your company?"
"...Maybe. –Anyway, so I thought to myself some more, because, Joshua doesn’t seem the type to enjoy, what I have in mind."
"And what is that?"
Drew licked his lips, "Something I’m sure you are familiar with." Jack’s eyebrows raised again, and Drew continued to lean forward, his breath warm against Jack’s lips. At the last moment, he broke off, moving away stand by the window, "But I wouldn’t want to be forward, you understand."
Jack was surprised, and quite speechless, "Uh–I–wha?"
Drew smiled, brushing his hair out of his eyes, "What’s the matter Jack?"
"You were–and then you–but, how do–..."
"Ah. I believe I understand." Drew nodded, making the path back to the chair very quick, pulling Jack up by the arms, "I know exactly what it is that you want." Jack was rendered further speechless when Drew’s lips caught his, the other man’s hands moving from his shoulders to his neck, his thumbs pushing his chin up. It took him a moment before he realized he was kissing back. He wrenched Drew’s hands from his face, before pulling away, turning towards the door. He paused for a just moment before opening the door, turning back to look at Drew, who was looking back, seeming to be quite proud of himself, rocking back on his heels, a slight smile on his face. Jack shook his head, before pulling the door shut behind him.
"You don’t understand, Joshua. I can’t...I don’t want to be responsible for him anymore." Jack shook his head. "And besides, I think he already knows. I think he knows everything."
"Impossible." Joshua wasn’t really paying that much attention, instead recalculating some of his father’s ledgers, "Even if he was there last night, we would have seen him."
"Look, I am not...entertaining him tonight, alright. I don’t care if you don’t allow me to come with you, but I am not going to be responsible for him anymore."
"Sure you are, Jack." Joshua looked away from the ledgers for a moment, "He did something to you didn’t he? Something you liked...maybe he does know. Maybe he saw you with your blue-eyed Prince Charming, and got jealous. That’s what you really want, isn’t it?"
"Shut up...just, shut up." Jack sighed, turning away, "There is no way he could know about that –after all...we would have seen him right?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." Joshua shrugged, "Just go back, I know you want to. Try something new...someone new. Maybe he’ll teach you some new tricks."
"Don’t be disgusting." Jack scoffed.
Joshua laughed, going back to his ledgers, "Just telling the truth, brother."
"Obviously I will get no sympathy from you." Jack turned, leaving the room, closing the door loudly behind him.
"Is there a problem your Highness?" One of the servant girls was just coming to stoke the fire for the night.
"No, of course not." Jack shook his head. "Just...go about your business." Jack continued on his way to find a bit of privacy.
Drew waited until he was sure that the others had left before going to knock on the door of the Prince’s room. Jack opened the door almost instantly, "What do you want?"
Drew smiled softly again, "Did I really make you that angry?"
Jack shook his head, "No...you just...you surprised me is all."
"Oh...good." Drew nodded, "May I come in?"
"...No." Jack shook his head.
Drew tilted his head. "Why not?"
"The other’s...are asleep."
"No they aren’t. They’re not here...but that’s alright. It’s probably better that they aren’t."
"Wh...why?"
"I was hoping you’d be willing to go through a test...to see if you’re really the one I want. I’m fairly sure that you are." Drew tilted Jack’s head up with a touch of his thumb, "But, just to be sure... You understand, yes?"
"No." Jack shook his head, "We can’t."
"Why not? Surely you aren’t a good Christian boy? Nay, I know you aren’t."
"It’s not –it’s not that. It’s...I am who I am, and you are...who you are."
Drew grinned again, "Ah, this is because I am not nobility, is it?" He nodded, "I understand...but soon enough, that won’t matter. Your father has made a promise...and soon, you’ll be at my beck and call."
"The deal is not for a princely slave, Drew. It is for..."
"I know what it is for." Drew nodded, and leaned forward to whisper into Jack’s ear, "It’s for a lover. And that is exactly what I plan to do with you."
"It never...says that."
"Not outright. I suppose your father was hoping a woman would solve your mystery... but...they aren’t really as cunning, are they? To figure out where you all go at night..."
"Tell me...do you really know, or are you just playing with me?"
Drew’s smile grew malicious, "Lets put it this way, my dear Jack...I know all about your trysts with a certain blonde haired, blue eyed Prince from Coltrebanet."
Jack’s eyes widened slightly, "Then you do know."
"I told you I did. ...But, I’ll leave that part out. When I tell your father. I’ll also leave out anything to do with your brothers. I’ll simply tell him where it is that you go. Not what you do there."
"Do you have proof?"
"Of course I have proof." Drew nodded.
Jack nodded, "So...who told you? Was it Bryan? One of my brother’s lovers? Someone who wanted to be able to come forward as theirs? Tell me..."
"Now, now...if I tell you more...it won’t be nearly as fun when I tell your father. –Now then, I trust you won’t tell your brothers...how much I really know."
Jack shook his head, "No. There’s no point. You know...there’s nothing that will change that."
"Not unless you kill me..and my, my, wouldn’t that look suspicious?"
"What do you want from me?" Jack asked.
"Ah, I like that tune..." Drew nodded, "Invite me in, and allow me to give you a preview of what I have planned for you. –That’s all I want. Tonight."
Jack bit his lip, before nodding, "Alright. You can come in." He stepped out of the way, ushering Drew through the door, "But...you can’t stay. And, you can’t–."
"Relax." Drew pushed the door closed, pulling Jack up against him as he had done before, "You enjoyed it last time. I know you did. We’ll just kiss. For now." Jack’s stomach seemed to plummet and churn in an off-brand of excitement as Drew kissed him again, coaxing his mouth open letting his tongue probe gently against Jack’s. Drew laughed, "You are so stoic! Surely Sir Bryan has taught you to kiss? Or are you purely sexual, not intimate?"
"I don’t believe that is any of your concern." Jack turned his face away as not to have to look at his seemingly-captor. "That is private. Between Bryan and myself."
Drew nodded, "Then I’ll take it that it was purely sexual... No one else could such a stone wall."
Jack looked back, "I am not unemotional. I simply am not...attracted to you."
Drew smiled slight, "I doubt that very much, Jack."
"Well, it’s the truth. Regardless of what you think you may know about me." Jack’s hands went to Drew’s arms, trying to push him away, but unsuccessful in the attempt, "Let me go. Please."
Drew nodded, "...Sure." He moved away, and made himself comfortable on the bed that, somehow, was obviously Jack’s, "Anything you want."
"What I really want, is for you to leave. Please." Jack opened the door again, standing there, waiting for Drew to move.
"Mmm..oddly enough, that didn’t really didn’t work into my plans for the evening, I’m afraid." Drew shook his head. "Come now...stop being so trivial. Close the door."
Jack suddenly couldn’t help but to obey him, and nodded, closing the door again, "Fine."
"See, that wasn’t hard was it?" Drew patted a piece of the bed beside himself, "Here...sit next to me."
Again, Jack complied, sitting on the edge of the bed, "What is it that you want from me, exactly?"
"You know what I want."
Jack was adamant not to be taken into Drew’s ploys of sexual favors.
"I’m not sure who you think you are, sir, but I am not about to be taken–!" He was silenced by Drew’s mouth covering his own, his annoyed grievances becoming more like strangled grunts of disapproval. His hands pressed against Drew’s chest, pushing him away to no avail.
"Why can’t you just shut up and go along?" Drew asked. "Maybe I fyou spent more time cooperating and less time bemoaning that I’ve won and your secret is going to be discovered in a day’s time..."
"Why should I give in to you? You’ll be able to have your way with me after that days time just as well, wether I like it or not. Isn’t that right?"
"Hm...I suppose you’re right...but, that doesn’t mean I can’t help myself to the prize a little early." Drew pulled Jack’s tunic loose from his trousers, his fingers slipping under the fabric to stroke his firm stomach, molded from days of fencing and battling with his brothers.
"I don’t think that would be appreciated by my father." Jack pulled away, moving towards the door again, "I really think you should be going...my brothers will be back soon."
"Hmm.." Drew nodded, "Of course." He got up from the bed, and bowed slightly, "Have pleasant dreams, your highness."
The twelve princes made their procession into the throne room early the fourth morning of Drew’s stay. Drew had already laid his evidence before the King and Queen, who were astonished at the story, but had almost unwillingly agreed to allow Drew his choice of the twelve Princes.
"Before I choose...may I have a private word with them?" Drew asked.
"Of course..." The King nodded, "Call when you are ready with your choice." He led his queen away, and Drew turned to face the twelve vexed princes.
"Before you say anything," Drew held up his hand to silence their anger, "I told your parents nothing of your rendevous. Only of where you were going, and how you got there... not what you were doing, and who it was with." He stared pointedly at the brotherly pairs at this, "There is of course...my reward to discuss."
"You already chose." Jack shook head. "Don’t pretend with us."
"Hm. You’re right." Drew nodded. "But...I don’t have to...if that’s what you want."
Jack bit his tongue, looking at the floor, avoiding the looks of his brothers. Was it what he wanted? To be taken as a lover for this poor peasant? ...And just as suddenly as the thought occurred, he knew his answer.
"It is what I want." Jack nodded.
Drew smiled softly, "Good." And he kissed Jack as he never had any other before.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty
By Samma "The PQ 4" Jaye
Once upon a time in beautiful land a King and Queen wished for a child. The king, a son to carry on the family and unite his kingdom with that of a neighboring kingdom, the Queen for a girl with whom to share the stories of feminine wiles, and stories of her childhood, while of course instilling her with the knowledge of running a large household.
Their wish of a child was granted when the Queen birthed a beautiful baby boy they named Aden. Their joy was to be celebrated at the royal christening, which the entire kingdom was invited to share in the rapture of the royal birth everyone had waited so long for.
However, the joy short lived. Soon after the three good fairies arrived (Dusk, Dawn, and Twilight) and two bestowing their gifts upon the child, one of beauty (raven hair, soft lips, darkened skin, and a smile to knock ‘em dead!) and the other of brains (to wow the crowed with genius words), the Evil Witch arrived from the outskirts of the kingdom. She was angry with the King and Queen for not including her in the ceremony.
"I surely hope this is a mere…oversight?" The witch stroked her tawny raven’s feathers, where it perched on her staff.
"We are most generally sorry madam. You are most welcome to join us now –but I am afraid we have no more silver plates for the banquet. Only pewter plates –you are welcome however, to take mine." The Queen’s voice was frightened.
The evil witch laughed. "No more silver plates? Bah! I shall only stay long enough to bestow MY gift upon the child." She stepped forward to the cradle, and pushed the fairies away.
Her voice ran from every corner of the raised castle ceiling.
I DECREE! Before the sun sets on the day of the child’s sixteenth birthday –the boy will prick his finger upon a spindle of a spinning wheel, and DIE!
"No!" The King yelled. "Guards! Seize her!"
The witch cackled, and with a swirl of her black cloak, she was gone.
The third fairy thought quickly of her wish for the child. She had been going to give him a beautiful voice to charm the birds from the trees –but he would acquire that naturally of course, a little magic would just help it along… She knew what she must do however.
Twilight readied herself.
To right this wrong, that has been done, my gift I bestow upon the child –The prince shall prick his finger upon the spindle, but not shall he die, only will he sleep –until our sleeping beauty is awoken by loves kiss.
The frightened King ordered all of the spinning wheels be destroyed. All were, save for one. The old women who lived on the outskirts of the city bartered. She made her living working as a seamstress, and needed the wheel to make cloth. The king agreed she could keep the spinning wheel if it remained under lock and key outside of the boundaries of the city. She agreed, and continued with her work, becoming rich as the only seamstress.
And for 16 years, the prince lived happily, not in the castle, but in a woodcutters cottage with the three good fairies, disguised as peasant women taking care of their nephew.
However, the evil witch continued to search for the boy to be sure that her prophecy was carried out. Her henchmen traveled every inch of the Kingdom but never found the Prince.
Several weeks before his 16th birthday, the boy (now called Briar) was sent out to find a hare for stew, and told to take his time. He didn’t know it, but the Aunts were starting preparations for a birthday celebration, before they moved him back to the castle…
Happy to take on the task of hunting a rabbit, Briar agreed, hoping as always to meet a wanderer for information on the city. He had only been to the city once in his life, when the aunts had gone to pick up bolts of fabric a year ago. The King and Queen had smiled down at him from their thrones, and the visiting Prince from a neighboring kingdom had caught his eye.
Prince Charming, his name was, or so said Aunt Dusk. He was the son of King Edward of Hijad. The kings wished to unite their two kingdoms peacefully with a marriage of their children, but neither had had daughters, both sons.
"Our king has a son? I did not see him." Briar had pondered.
"He doesn’t get out much dear." The Aunts had ushered him quickly back to the cottage, bolts of fabric in deep reds and blues under their arms.
Back in the forest however, Briar was hidden in a clump of bushes, tracking a plump little rabbit of good size. It stood perfectly still, its ears twitching. Briar pulled back his arrow silently, just as a large white leg of a horse appeared where the rabbit had stood, frightening the creature away. Briar released the arrow, missing the horse and rider, and hitting a tree some distance away.
"Whose there?" The rider called, his horse turning around, trying to find the offending creature that would dare to fire at the pair.
"I’m sorry –I was aiming at the rabbit you frightened away." Briar stood angrily. "-And now because of you, my Aunts and I will probably have very little to eat this next week or so."
"I’m quite sorry." Briar was not aware that he spoke to Prince Charming until the rider removed his hat. "Mayhap my family would be willing to donate some of our livestock to your cause?"
Briar silently cursed himself as Charming shook out his hair. He knelt on one knee, bowing his head. "My apologies Prince Charm-."
"Stand please!" Charming had dropped from his horse. "We are in the middle of the woods –I care very little for procedure at the moment." He began to brush dust from Briar’s clothes. "Have you a name?"
"Briar." He slung his arrows and bow over his shoulder.
"And obviously, you know mine, but really, call me Char, please." Char gave him a dashing grin and Briar stifled the groan that started in his throat.
"Where do you live?" Char asked, as he straightened Briar’s cloak.
"In the cottage at the edge of the forest." Briar replied.
"Oh! What a quaint little place!" Char almost squealed his delight. "Come! Brandy and I shall give you a ride back to your cottage."
"Your horses name is Brandy?" Briar asked, the creature nipping at his robes, hopefully looking for something good to eat.
"Aye, after my favorite drink!" Char laughed as Brandy pulled the apple he had smelled out of Briar’s pocket.
"Hey!" Briar was not amused.
Char pulled him onto the horse, holding him in front of him. "Stop stuffing your face, Brandy! Cha!"
Brandy dropped the half eaten apply, and ran towards the cottage.
Briar clung to Char’s sleeve, fearful of flying from the horse to his death. Char however laughed, deep from his throat, and rode on.
By the time they reached the cottage, Briar’s face was hidden against Char’s chest, listening to his heart beating against his ribcage, Brandy’s step quick and steady, thumping madly against the hard ground.
"BRIAR ROSE MONTGOMERY THE THIRD!" The Aunts exited the cottage. "Just WHAT do you think you are going?!"
Char let Briar fall from the horses back, where he lay upon the ground gasping for breath on stable ground. Char followed, stepping swiftly to the ground, and around Briar’s body.
"Hello Madams. My name is Char-."
"We know who you are." Dawn scoffed. "Prince Charming. Bah! What are you doing here, and what are you doing with our nephew?"
"My dear ladies, I felt so sorry for scaring away a rabbit Briar was trying to shoot, that I gave him a ride back to your lovely home"
Dusk giggled, always the more flirtatious of the aunts. "That was very nice of you, your highness."
Twilight elbowed her. "It isn’t safe for you to be here your majesty. I think you should be on your way."
"But I only just got here. Surely you would not deny your neighboring price a visit?" He gave them a dashing smile. He knew perfectly well who they were, and most of all, who Briar was. "Isn’t that right Dusk? Dawn? Twilight? –Beautifully named for the loss of innocence at the start of a new day?"
The aunts nodded, accepting the code. They stepped aside and allowed the prince into their home.
"Welcome." Dusk ushered him inside. "Forgive us for not having much in food and drink –we are only poor simple women."
"Bah! Food and drink means nothing –but I wouldn’t say no to some water and an apple or some carrots for my horse."
Twilight found a bright, ruby red apple and a few carrots for Brandy. She took them outside with a bucket of fresh water, which Brandy gladly devoured hungrily.
The two princes, and the three good fairies sat in the cottage’s kitchen. By mid afternoon, the kitchen was filled with superb laughter, caused by amusing stories of the boys childhoods, and stories of the Aunt’s mess-ups (caused unbeknowingly to Briar by their lack of magic).
"Come Briar, I need some air, and Brandy is becoming restless. A walk is called for, I believe." Char give the Aunts another smile.
"I’ll allow it, but he is back before dark, or I will have your head –prince or not." Dusk crossed her chubby arms across her chest. "Understand?"
"I would expect nothing less." Char’s smile never faltered.
The two men left, Char leading Brandy down the forest path.
At a near by stream, Char dropped the reins to Brandy’s bridal and sat on a fallen log, while Brandy refreshed himself.
"So, why are you not in your own kingdom? You are King Edward’s son, are you not?"
"I made the mistake of telling my father something that I should have kept a secret." Char leaned backwards, staring at the tops of the trees.
"What?" Briar asked, his eyes wide. What kind of secret could be so bad that your father would banish you from his kingdom?
"You may not like me if I tell you." Char’s eyes were a cloud, misty grey sort of color. "Most people hang others like me."
"Well I’m not most people." Briar’s voice was soft, and he watched intently as Char took a deep breath.
"I like boys."
Briar looked confused.
"Boys, men, males in general." Char tried to explain without blurting it all out.
"And what is wrong with that?" Briar’s voice faltered for a moment. Was there something wrong with liking boys?
"Most people, like the Christians, prosecute people like me. The bible says it is a sin."
"The bible says a lot of things are a sin." Briar’s words popped out of his mouth before he could stop them. "There isn’t anything wrong with liking men –unless I misunderstand?"
"Briar, I have sexual feelings toward males."
"Why do people care?"
"Sodomy is a sin."
"So are a lot of things, and other people are still alive for greater sins."
"It is why my father sent me here. There are laws in my kingdom." Char looked away. "King John does not believe in those laws. He is more…liberal."
"How do you know? I mean, you aren’t that much older then I am. It could be a phase that you’re going through."
Char smiled. "I’ve been having very good times with kitchen boys since I was fourteen, Briar. I think I know. Women aren’t…as…mystifying. They require so much work. I mean, a man is so much easier to deal with. We all want the same thing."
"…oh."
"I’m sorry, have I upset you? I can stop."
"No, go on. I’m very secluded here. I’ve only been to the city once in my life."
"Only once?" Char raised his eyebrow.
"Yes, I saw you. A year ago, my aunts and I went to the castle to purchase cloth."
"I remember you." Char smiled. That had been the night he’d been told of Aden-now-Briar, and of the good fairies. –It had also been the night he had first sampled the "wares" of a perfectly delectable squire named Vyne (who worked with Sir William Crauw). "You smiled at me." -and that smile had been the fuel for finding Vyne.
Briar smiled at him, like he had those many months ago. "I didn’t think you had noticed me."
"I notice a lot of things –especially pretty boys I don’t think I will never see again."
"Is that what I am? A pretty boy?"
"I’m sorry, am I making you uncomfortable again?"
"No, of course not. –I rather enjoy it actually. What about me is so pretty?"
"Everything, Briar. Your hair, your nose, your lips…" Char took it upon himself to touch each feature as he said it, and then covered Briar’s mouth with his own as he word ‘lips’ escaped. Their eyes fluttered closed.
"You aren’t just teasing me are you?" Char asked. He pressed his forehead against Briar’s, looking deep into his stonewash blue eyes, with his own stormy grey. "Because if this-."
"Why would I tease you Char? I hardly know you –and even if I did, I’m sure that I’d love you to much to tease you like you presume."
"Alright –as long as you give me that assurance." Char smiled, letting his lips touch Briar’s again.
It was like two magnets for a moment. It was as though the two would never come apart, but eventually, the surfaced for air, their breath coming heavily for a lack of oxygen.
"I have to get back to the castle." Char rose quickly. "The King will be worried –and the preparations for the Prince’s banquet! I almost forgot!" Char sighed. "Hurry, and I will give you a ride back."
"The Prince’s banquet?"
"Aye." Char nodded his head. "Prince Aden’s sixteenth birthday is in two months, and the King is holding a banquet in his honor for the people."
Briar felt Char swing into the saddle behind him. The ride back to the cottage was slower this time, and much more comfortable. One of Char’s hands held Brandy’s reins, the other was held across Briar’s waist, holding him tightly against his chest.
Briar slid from the saddle moodily. "Will I see you again?"
"Tomorrow –I’ll sneak away and see you tomorrow." Char gave him another quick kiss on the lips and pulled Brandy away at a break-neck speed gallop.
Briar sighed, and let himself back into the cottage only to find himself amid arguing people.
"You cannot have that here!"
"No one said he had to touch it! I simply wish to know if you can fix it!"
"You know full well that we can’t! At least not for two more days!
"I need it fixed now! What do you want me to do?!"
"Is there a problem ladies?" Briar asked, the old woman, holding the sharp looking object looking ragged, and harassed.
"Of course not." The Aunts shoved him away. "Mistress has broken her spindle, and sadly we cannot fix it…"
"What is a spindle? Mayhap I could-."
"No!" The Aunt’s all shoved him towards the door. "The Lady will simply have to travel to the neighboring village and find someone who can fix it there."
"I have not time to travel to the next village madams. I have 20 bolts of cloth to make in three weeks time for the prince’s banquet. Do your magic, and help someone in need."
"Methinks Lady, that you have gotten a little greedy in your time." Twilight stood over her. "We will do no such thing to help you. Now be gone!"
Briar watched his Aunt’s push the old woman from the door, keeping care that he did not come in contact with the woman, or the spindle.
"What is wrong? Why can’t you help her?"
"Because…we don’t do that sort of thing anymore." Dawn blinked her eyes. "Now, go get washed up for dinner."
Three weeks passed by steadily, Char making his way to the cottage daily for an hour or so at a time. However, a day before Briar’s birthday, Char arrived with an entire entourage.
"What is this, Char?" Briar asked, feeding Brandy a carrot.
"We’ve come to take you home, your highness." Char bowed.
Briar looked at him confused, "Have you gone mad, Char?"
"Of course not, but come. I’ll explain in the carriage." Char dismounted from Brandy’s back and tugged Briar to the carriage. The Aunt’s stood in the doorway, tissues pressed to their lips and noses.
"What’s going on, Char?" Briar whispered once they were in the carriage.
"Do you want the long version or the shot version?"
"Short."
"You’re the prince of the Kindom...An evil witch put a spell on you, so the King sent you away to live with the good fairies to live until you were 16, which you will be...tomorrow. So I was sent here to bring you back to the palace for your corrination."
"I don’t understand Char."
"You are the Prince. What don’t you understand?"
"Why didn’t you tell me before? Why didn’t anyone tell me before?"
"I...we all were forbidden from telling you."
"What about the Aunt’s?"
"You’ll see them again. They are right behind us." Char lifted the flap over the window where Briar could see the three flitting images of the fairies flying behind them.
Briar sank in his seat.
"What is wrong, your highness?" Char asked.
"I don’t want this, Char... You, they, the kingdom can’t expect me to just accept this."
"I know, Briar...but it’s your birth right. You must."
"I don’t want it, Char."
"You must accept it."
Briar was quiet, and Char took his hand, resting his other on Briar’s, knee.
"It’s going to be fine, Briar." Char coaxed him. "I’ll be there, and the Aunt’s. You’re not alone. I promise you."
"You have no idea how alone I really am, Char." Briar shook his head.
"Briar, I’ve been alone all of my life, for a different reason. The only difference between us is our circumstances."
"I don’t want to be a prince, Char. I want to be the lowly peasant boy who goes about his business and doesn’t have to answer to other’s whims. I don’t want to ever be King."
"Don’t say that, Briar."
"Why not? It’s true."
"Because, you can change everything, Briar Rose." Char looked at him with grey eyes. "We can change our kingdoms."
"You want me to change laws for you, don’t you Charming?"
"Our father’s can’t. Such changes in my kingdom would cause uproar."
"Then why must they be changed with us?"
"Because we are the future, Briar. Trust me."
"Long day?" Char asked, leaning against the bed post in the expansive bed chamber that now belonged to Briar -well, Aden.
"You could say that." Briar’s chest rose and fell rhythmically. "I think I’m even more confused now then before."
"Why?"
"I don’t know any of these people, and yet I’m related to all of them, or I’m not suppsoed to greet some of them a certain way."
"Well, besides the King and Queen, no one is your equal, nor higher then you are."
"Not even you?"
"Not even me, Prince Aden." Char sat in a chair beside the bed. "I’m a guest, of a neighboring kingdom. The King and Queen have treated me as Prince for the last two years in your absence. However, upon your return, I am lower then you are on the totem pole, so to speak."
"Totem pole?"
"...Nevermind."
"But I don’t want you to be lower then me, I want you to be my equal."
"I cannot be your equal." Char sighed, rubbing his temples. "I am your...companion."
Briar was quiet again, and grasped onto Char’s hand, "Will you stay with me?"
"I’m not sure if that would be for the best, your highness. The servants -they talk."
"Who cares?" Briar asked. "And don’t call me that."
"Call you what?"
"Your highness. Just call me Briar."
"But you aren’t Briar anymore."
"I am in here." Briar placed Char’s hand against his chest. "Don’t torment me, Char."
"I should go, Briar." Char took his hands away quickly and stood. "I’ll see you tomorrow."
"Charming, stay." Briar rose on his knees and looked at the retreating boy. "Stay or rish offending a member of the royal family!"
Char stopped, turning around and smirked, his hand still on the door handle, "What is it, Prince Aden?"
"I want you to stay here for a reason."
"Oh?" Char’s interest was captured and he moved away from the door. "What reason might that be?"
"Because...because I love you, Char."
Char’s face fell. This wasn’t teasing anymore. "No, you don’t."
"How are you to know how I feel?"
"Because, I am older and wiser, Briar Rose. Do not chose the life I did."
"You didn’t choose to love me, just as I didn’t choose to love you. It just happened."
"I can live with my damnation. YOU cannot. It will tear you apart from within-."
"I’m stronger then I look, Charming."
"Don’t persecute yourself just because you think you have feelings for me."
By now, Briar had made his way across the room and the two stood less then a step away from each other. "How can I make you believe me? That I tell you the truth, Char?"
"You can’t, because I can never take from you what has been taken from me."
"Char, my corrination is tomorrow." Briar closed the step between them. "Tomorrow I stop being Briar Rose. Can’t you give me this last thing before my change?"
Char stared into the helpless eyes that loomed before him. "What do you want from me."
"Just one last kiss."
Char shook his head, "I can’t."
"Why not?" Briar asked. "I’d never ask for anything else, ever again!"
"Because. That’s all, Aden. Goodnight."
Briar watched as Char pulled the door closed behind him.
The next day was hectic. Briar was shoved into fine clothing and sat in a straight back chair to receive guests, who filed into the banquet hall all morning until the mid-afternoon approached. In a whirlwind, Briar was stripped of his peasant childhood and thrown into adulthood as Prince Aden. After the large banquet meal, he was ushered into his room by servants who, after tending the fire and setting out his clothes, left in a bustled hurry.
While he was strugging with the tie on his tunic, he jumped at the sound of a knock on the door, "Come in."
"Need some help?" Char asked.
"Yes, please." Aden stopped struggling and Char sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the floor while he removed his tunic, followed by his thick-soled boots. He pulled at the clasp on his trousers to no avail.
"Can you undo this?" Aden asked, standing in front of Char.
Char bit his tongue to keep from touching the milky skin above the waistline of the trousers, and quickly undid the fastening.
"The knot too, please." Aden requested.
Char’s fingers fumbled with the knot, the smell of the young Prince intoxicating. He couldn’t help himself as the knot came undone and he pressed a kiss to the young man’s belly before pushing away, ashamed of himself.
"Why do you tease me, Aden?" He scoffed.
"I don’t mean to." Aden looked down as he pulled his nightdress over his head before pulling off his trousers and folding them across the back of the chair.
He sat next to Char, "Will you stay with me tonight?"
"I can’t do that."
"Please?" Aden begged. "Just until I fall asleep?"
Char was quiet, "Fine. Just until you fall asleep though, your highness." He moved to the sturdy chair beside the fire.
Aden was quiet as he crawled under the thick covers. The fire crackled, and he could make out Char’s shape molded against the chair, the shower of the flames licking his face.
"Do you need something, your highness?" Char asked, feeling Aden’s eyes on him.
"This room is very large."
"Aye."
"It’s frightening, Char."
Char sighed, and decided to play Aden’s game. It was easer then denying him. He stood swiftly from the chair, checked the bolt at the door and then strode to the bed where Aden now sat up in bed looking innocent in his white dressing gown.
"What do you want from me, Aden?"
"What I’ve always wanted."
"Say it." Char advanced across the large bed. "I want to hear it from your lips."
"Can I show you?"
"Tell me first."
Aden grabbed the shoulders of Char’s tunic and dragged him across the bed to hiss in his ear, "I want your lips to touch every inch of my bed, your hands to know every curve..."
"And?" Char prompted.
"And for me to do the same."
"And?"
Aden’s voice fell lower, "I want to feel you tearing me apart."
"That’s better." Char held Aden’s face in his hands. "Was that so hard?" He pulled the string around Aden’s neck, loosening it, before opening the troat of the night dress, pushing it aside to rest his lips against the silky skin.
Aden groaned, blindly untying Char’s tunic, and unclapsing his trousers.
"Wait-." Char tore himself away for a moment. "Are you positive this is what you want?"
"I’ve wanted it since that first day by the stream, when you confessed your sins to me."
Char didn’t smile, but seemed pleased somehow, and slid his hands up Aden’s legs, between his knees and rested on the back of his thighs. His lips sought his friend’s, and his kissed him, probing at his mouth with his tongue while Aden’s fingers tugged his tonic out of his trousers.
Aden sat higher on his knees, pulling Char’s silken shirt over his head. Char’s hands left his thighs only long enough to toss the shirt aside before he pushed Aden back into the pillows, using one hand to lower himself down gradually, cradling the younger boy beneath him. His other hand slipped up the dressing gown and rested against the small of the Prince’s back.
Blindly kissing Char with a sense of urgancy, Aden untied the foreign Princes’s trousers, pushing them down slightly to rest on the bare skin of his hips. He tore himself away from Char’s mouth only long enough to move to the end of the bed and remove Char’s boots, which were quickly dumped on the floor.
Char sat back in the pillows of the large bed, watching Aden kiss his way across his stomach and torso, smirking somewhat as he rested on his lips. Char didn’t bother to hold back his audible groan, nipping at Aden’s lips with his teeth. He also didn’t bother holding back his hands and pushing under Aden’s dressing gown, over his buttocks, and across his stomach.
"Now whose teasing?" Aden whispered hotly into Char’s ear. "Talk about cruel and unusual punishment."
"You’re not so kind yourself.." Char sighed, pressing a kiss to Aden’s lips. "Come now...sleep. No more playing." He rolled away from the young Prince, retying his trousers and replacing the clasp. "We can’t do these things you want."
Aden looked confused, "But why?"
"Because, we have no right to. Maybe sometime...but now now. We’ve taken this to far." Char sighed, picking him his shirt, pulling it back over his head, and shoving his feet back into his boots, moving across the room.
"...was it...was it something I said?"
"No. Not you."
"Should I not have spoken?"
"Yes. It is good you we did, or I may not have ceased."
"Then maybe I shall never speak again?"
"Don’t say such things, Briar Rose." Char looked at him, tucking his shirt back into his trousers. "If I cannot hear your voice at least..." he let his statement drown off, and turned back to lacing his boots.
"Then stay, please?"
"No. I’m sorry. I’d like to, obviously. You know that. But I can’t."
"Please, Char?"
"I must go now, Prince Aden." Char moved back across to the bed. "Rest my darling, Briar." He pressed a kiss to his lips. "You have had a long day. Happy birthday."
It was in the waning hours of day, not quite night the Briar decided sleep was not quiet yet in his grasp. He threw off the covers and dressed plainly to explore the castle with the lingering thought of finding Char.
Not yet had he explored the expansive castle, not wanting to get lost. However, on this night, that of his 16th summer, he thought it seemed a good idea. After all, he was going to be king some day, and what kind king didn’t know the way around his own castle?
In the halls, the knights and squires on watching nodded at him gallantly and he returned the gesture kindly.
"Trouble sleeping, m’ lord?" Duncan, his father’s trusty manservant beckoned to him.
"No, I just decided it was to early to turn in. I’m only having a look around." Aden felt as though he had broken some sort of code he had not known about, but Duncan smiled.
"Well, be careful, m’ lord. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ring." Duncan smiled and nodded before going on his way again.
Aden looked after him before then continuing on his way.
It was not long before he came to the winding staircase, guarded by a sleeping knight who seemed to have drunk to much ale.
"Mayhap this is where Char is sleeping?" Aden asked himself, stepping past the sleeping knight, lightly going up the stairs with a sort of sick glee he was anticipating with a the prospect of surprising his dear Prince Charming.
He peeked around before knocking softly on the door. When no answer came, he opened the door quietly, and stepped into the quiet room.
In the center was a contraption he had never seen before, surrounded by heaps of cloth and string. On top of the odd looking wheel was a sharp needle that Briar was oddly attracted to.
Without thinking, he reached out, and pricked his finger upon the spindle of the spinning wheel.
Even earlier in the night, after Char had left Aden’s room, he set out, unsure of his destination. He was close to the Prince. To close. All he could thinking about was him, and his kisses, and his touches. It was these thoughts that followed him around all day long. And he had to escape it.
As he saddled Brandy, he couldn’t help but feel the eyes of the stable hands on him. He knew that part of them wanted to offer to help him with Brand, and the other part of them were afraid of him. But he couldn’t think of them now. All he could think about was getting as far away from Briar Rose as possible.
By morning, Char was in the middle of dense forest, having spent the night in the now-abandoned woodcutter’s cottage.
"We could have a good life here, Brandy, couldn’t we?" Char asked his horse the next morning. Brandy whinnied apprehensively at him.
"I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, to go back there, Brandy."
An apprehensive look this time.
"It’s not my fault I feel in love with him, Brandy."
Brandy gave a soft whinny, nuzzling Char’s shoulder.
"I know you like him, too." Char smiled. "Maybe we’ll go hunting, and bring him back a present, okay?"
Another whinny, this time cheerful.
"Come on then, we shall hunt."
While Char and Brandy hunted, they had no idea of the catastrophy that had occured back at the castle. Young Prince Aden had fulfulled the evil witch’s spell, pricking his finger upon the spindle that the knight had been gaurding.
The king and Queen wept for their son, unsure of what to do, other then to make him comfortable. The knight who had so badly tended his job was dishonorably discharged back into peasentry and forbidding from ever entering the castle again.
"It is alright, my husband." The Queen reassured the king. "I think this is not so bad as we fear...mayhap we need to only find Prince Charming to awaken our son. They try and hide their feelings from us, but the good fairies told of us of their time together. Shall we send for him? To try-."
"I’m afraid, dear wife, that Prince Charming has disappeared into the night. The stableboys told me saddled up Brandy and rode off into the night."
The Queen’s face fell, hopelessness upon her face.
"Where ever has our only hope gone?"
Search parties were sent out across the forest as Prince Aden continued his slumber. High and low about the kingdom did they search for Prince Charming, to attempt at awakening their future king.
Three days it took them to stumble upon Brandy and his rider at the woodcutter’s cottage where they were just about the embark on another hunt.
"Prince Charming! News from the Castle!" The messenger called from his own stead, speeding towards them.
"What is it?" Char asked.
"Prince Aden -he is...he is..."
"Dead?" Char gasped.
"No."
"Dying?"
"No!"
"Then what?" Char asked.
"He has pricked his finger upon the spinning needle, and fallen into deep sleep."
"What do you expect me to do about it?" Char asked. "I’m afraid you should be looking for a woman, good sir." He laughed jovally.
"No, your highness. The Royal Family has asked for you to come and break the spell."
It broke his heart to say it, but he did.
"Tell the Royal Family I am sorry. I mut leave.""And with that, he raced Brandy away as fast he could.
When the King and Queen heard of Prince Charming abandoning their pleas, and instead of facing his fears, he had run away, they were shocked to say the least.
"Maybe we need not worry." The Queen dabbed at her tears, always the optimist. "We shall send for all of the Princesses in the land."
"Do as you will. I will continue the search for Charming. He is my only hope."
The Queen watched after her husband before making her way to her private chambers to begin writing letters to the neighboring kingdoms.
As the days passed, many things were going on. While Aden dreamt of his Prince Charming, the Queen’s pleas for prospective princesses had been answered. Each time a new arrival landed on the door stop, the Queen herself would lead the girl to her son’s rooms, watching hopefully as they would place kisses on her son’s lips. While the futility of the Princesses went on at the castle, the king was searching for Char, who hadn’t actually gone very far.
In fact, he was still at the Woodcutter’s cottage, hiding away in the only place he thought safe enough to stay close to his dreaming love, and yet far enough away to keep both of them safe from torment.
The Prince’s heart was torn. He knew that he could probably break the spell, but if he did...what would happen to him? Would he and Aden be allowed a long and happy life together, or would they be lynched for their supposed sin?
Weeks passed and Char fended for himself, fending for himself, hunting with Brandy, and living off of what had been left behind the cottage.
Soon enough, months had passed, and winter was soon to be upon the kingdom. For the King, the search for Prince Charming was becoming even more dire. He feared for Char’s ability to survive alone. Char, as much as he hated to admit it, had been coddled in the absence of their rightful son -the Royal family loved him as their own.
Mercifuly, the King found Charming in the Woodcutter’s cottage, just as the first snow was falling.
"What are you doing here, your highness?" Char was surprised, to say the least.
"We’ve been looking for you for many months." The king let himself in. "And here you have been...under our very noses." The King looked around the well kept cottage. "You seem to be doing well, Charming."
Char shrugged, "As well as I’m able, I suppose."
"I do wish you would come back to the castle, Charming." The King sat down at the worn wooden table, brushing his hand across the smooth wood. "You are our final hope, Char. Every Princess, Prince, Lady, Knight...even the commoners have passed through the castle and yet...my son still remains sleeping." He looked up sadly. "Please, Char...try to awaken him. If you fail, you can do as you will...but you must try."
Char turned away, watching the snow fall out side. "Surely I am not your last resort, m’ lord? What happens if I succeed? You don’t know, nor do you understand the things I want. The things Bri- Aden wished, no offered to me. I don’t want a life of fear and loathing, and hiding m’ lord. Your son. He is special."
" I know that, Char. And so are you."
"No. He deserves better then someone like me." Char shook his head. "But I’ll try."
"May we be alone?" Char requested after the Queen had shown him to Briar’s room.
"Of course. I’ll just be outside." The queen stepped outside, closing the door softly behind herself.
Char knelt beside the bed, gazing upon the colorless, dead looking face that had been haunting him these many months. Char reached and took Aden’s warm hand between his, and pressed his lips to Aden’s palm.
"I tried to hide..." Char whispered. "I didn’t want to see you. I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself. You’re so beautiful, Briar Rose." he stroked his thumb across the young princes’s cheek, and then moved around the bed, lying down beside his would-be lover. He stroked his fingers through Aden’s hair and finally took a deep breath before the plunge.
His lips pressed against Aden’s, his tongue licking at the young man’s mouth. It took a moment for Char to notice that Aden was kissing back.
"I feel as though I’ve been asleep for months." Aden yawned when they finally broke apart.
Char smiled, "You have been."
Briar looked confused, and Char sighed, having no choice but to tell him what had happened.
"I’m glad it was you that woke me, Char." Aden wrapped his arms around Char’s neck, kissing him again.
"I shouldn’t have had to...what were you doing?" Char asked.
"Looking for you."Aden shrugged, shly.
"But Aden, after I left you...I left the castle. I was in the woods."
"Well, I didn’t know that!"
"It’s alright." Char smiled, kissing him again. "Come. I know your parents will be happy you are awake now. You must be hungry."
"Starved." Aden grinned, pulling Char back for one last kiss before allowing him to pull him from bed.
By Samma "The PQ 4" Jaye
Once upon a time in beautiful land a King and Queen wished for a child. The king, a son to carry on the family and unite his kingdom with that of a neighboring kingdom, the Queen for a girl with whom to share the stories of feminine wiles, and stories of her childhood, while of course instilling her with the knowledge of running a large household.
Their wish of a child was granted when the Queen birthed a beautiful baby boy they named Aden. Their joy was to be celebrated at the royal christening, which the entire kingdom was invited to share in the rapture of the royal birth everyone had waited so long for.
However, the joy short lived. Soon after the three good fairies arrived (Dusk, Dawn, and Twilight) and two bestowing their gifts upon the child, one of beauty (raven hair, soft lips, darkened skin, and a smile to knock ‘em dead!) and the other of brains (to wow the crowed with genius words), the Evil Witch arrived from the outskirts of the kingdom. She was angry with the King and Queen for not including her in the ceremony.
"I surely hope this is a mere…oversight?" The witch stroked her tawny raven’s feathers, where it perched on her staff.
"We are most generally sorry madam. You are most welcome to join us now –but I am afraid we have no more silver plates for the banquet. Only pewter plates –you are welcome however, to take mine." The Queen’s voice was frightened.
The evil witch laughed. "No more silver plates? Bah! I shall only stay long enough to bestow MY gift upon the child." She stepped forward to the cradle, and pushed the fairies away.
Her voice ran from every corner of the raised castle ceiling.
I DECREE! Before the sun sets on the day of the child’s sixteenth birthday –the boy will prick his finger upon a spindle of a spinning wheel, and DIE!
"No!" The King yelled. "Guards! Seize her!"
The witch cackled, and with a swirl of her black cloak, she was gone.
The third fairy thought quickly of her wish for the child. She had been going to give him a beautiful voice to charm the birds from the trees –but he would acquire that naturally of course, a little magic would just help it along… She knew what she must do however.
Twilight readied herself.
To right this wrong, that has been done, my gift I bestow upon the child –The prince shall prick his finger upon the spindle, but not shall he die, only will he sleep –until our sleeping beauty is awoken by loves kiss.
The frightened King ordered all of the spinning wheels be destroyed. All were, save for one. The old women who lived on the outskirts of the city bartered. She made her living working as a seamstress, and needed the wheel to make cloth. The king agreed she could keep the spinning wheel if it remained under lock and key outside of the boundaries of the city. She agreed, and continued with her work, becoming rich as the only seamstress.
And for 16 years, the prince lived happily, not in the castle, but in a woodcutters cottage with the three good fairies, disguised as peasant women taking care of their nephew.
However, the evil witch continued to search for the boy to be sure that her prophecy was carried out. Her henchmen traveled every inch of the Kingdom but never found the Prince.
Several weeks before his 16th birthday, the boy (now called Briar) was sent out to find a hare for stew, and told to take his time. He didn’t know it, but the Aunts were starting preparations for a birthday celebration, before they moved him back to the castle…
Happy to take on the task of hunting a rabbit, Briar agreed, hoping as always to meet a wanderer for information on the city. He had only been to the city once in his life, when the aunts had gone to pick up bolts of fabric a year ago. The King and Queen had smiled down at him from their thrones, and the visiting Prince from a neighboring kingdom had caught his eye.
Prince Charming, his name was, or so said Aunt Dusk. He was the son of King Edward of Hijad. The kings wished to unite their two kingdoms peacefully with a marriage of their children, but neither had had daughters, both sons.
"Our king has a son? I did not see him." Briar had pondered.
"He doesn’t get out much dear." The Aunts had ushered him quickly back to the cottage, bolts of fabric in deep reds and blues under their arms.
Back in the forest however, Briar was hidden in a clump of bushes, tracking a plump little rabbit of good size. It stood perfectly still, its ears twitching. Briar pulled back his arrow silently, just as a large white leg of a horse appeared where the rabbit had stood, frightening the creature away. Briar released the arrow, missing the horse and rider, and hitting a tree some distance away.
"Whose there?" The rider called, his horse turning around, trying to find the offending creature that would dare to fire at the pair.
"I’m sorry –I was aiming at the rabbit you frightened away." Briar stood angrily. "-And now because of you, my Aunts and I will probably have very little to eat this next week or so."
"I’m quite sorry." Briar was not aware that he spoke to Prince Charming until the rider removed his hat. "Mayhap my family would be willing to donate some of our livestock to your cause?"
Briar silently cursed himself as Charming shook out his hair. He knelt on one knee, bowing his head. "My apologies Prince Charm-."
"Stand please!" Charming had dropped from his horse. "We are in the middle of the woods –I care very little for procedure at the moment." He began to brush dust from Briar’s clothes. "Have you a name?"
"Briar." He slung his arrows and bow over his shoulder.
"And obviously, you know mine, but really, call me Char, please." Char gave him a dashing grin and Briar stifled the groan that started in his throat.
"Where do you live?" Char asked, as he straightened Briar’s cloak.
"In the cottage at the edge of the forest." Briar replied.
"Oh! What a quaint little place!" Char almost squealed his delight. "Come! Brandy and I shall give you a ride back to your cottage."
"Your horses name is Brandy?" Briar asked, the creature nipping at his robes, hopefully looking for something good to eat.
"Aye, after my favorite drink!" Char laughed as Brandy pulled the apple he had smelled out of Briar’s pocket.
"Hey!" Briar was not amused.
Char pulled him onto the horse, holding him in front of him. "Stop stuffing your face, Brandy! Cha!"
Brandy dropped the half eaten apply, and ran towards the cottage.
Briar clung to Char’s sleeve, fearful of flying from the horse to his death. Char however laughed, deep from his throat, and rode on.
By the time they reached the cottage, Briar’s face was hidden against Char’s chest, listening to his heart beating against his ribcage, Brandy’s step quick and steady, thumping madly against the hard ground.
"BRIAR ROSE MONTGOMERY THE THIRD!" The Aunts exited the cottage. "Just WHAT do you think you are going?!"
Char let Briar fall from the horses back, where he lay upon the ground gasping for breath on stable ground. Char followed, stepping swiftly to the ground, and around Briar’s body.
"Hello Madams. My name is Char-."
"We know who you are." Dawn scoffed. "Prince Charming. Bah! What are you doing here, and what are you doing with our nephew?"
"My dear ladies, I felt so sorry for scaring away a rabbit Briar was trying to shoot, that I gave him a ride back to your lovely home"
Dusk giggled, always the more flirtatious of the aunts. "That was very nice of you, your highness."
Twilight elbowed her. "It isn’t safe for you to be here your majesty. I think you should be on your way."
"But I only just got here. Surely you would not deny your neighboring price a visit?" He gave them a dashing smile. He knew perfectly well who they were, and most of all, who Briar was. "Isn’t that right Dusk? Dawn? Twilight? –Beautifully named for the loss of innocence at the start of a new day?"
The aunts nodded, accepting the code. They stepped aside and allowed the prince into their home.
"Welcome." Dusk ushered him inside. "Forgive us for not having much in food and drink –we are only poor simple women."
"Bah! Food and drink means nothing –but I wouldn’t say no to some water and an apple or some carrots for my horse."
Twilight found a bright, ruby red apple and a few carrots for Brandy. She took them outside with a bucket of fresh water, which Brandy gladly devoured hungrily.
The two princes, and the three good fairies sat in the cottage’s kitchen. By mid afternoon, the kitchen was filled with superb laughter, caused by amusing stories of the boys childhoods, and stories of the Aunt’s mess-ups (caused unbeknowingly to Briar by their lack of magic).
"Come Briar, I need some air, and Brandy is becoming restless. A walk is called for, I believe." Char give the Aunts another smile.
"I’ll allow it, but he is back before dark, or I will have your head –prince or not." Dusk crossed her chubby arms across her chest. "Understand?"
"I would expect nothing less." Char’s smile never faltered.
The two men left, Char leading Brandy down the forest path.
At a near by stream, Char dropped the reins to Brandy’s bridal and sat on a fallen log, while Brandy refreshed himself.
"So, why are you not in your own kingdom? You are King Edward’s son, are you not?"
"I made the mistake of telling my father something that I should have kept a secret." Char leaned backwards, staring at the tops of the trees.
"What?" Briar asked, his eyes wide. What kind of secret could be so bad that your father would banish you from his kingdom?
"You may not like me if I tell you." Char’s eyes were a cloud, misty grey sort of color. "Most people hang others like me."
"Well I’m not most people." Briar’s voice was soft, and he watched intently as Char took a deep breath.
"I like boys."
Briar looked confused.
"Boys, men, males in general." Char tried to explain without blurting it all out.
"And what is wrong with that?" Briar’s voice faltered for a moment. Was there something wrong with liking boys?
"Most people, like the Christians, prosecute people like me. The bible says it is a sin."
"The bible says a lot of things are a sin." Briar’s words popped out of his mouth before he could stop them. "There isn’t anything wrong with liking men –unless I misunderstand?"
"Briar, I have sexual feelings toward males."
"Why do people care?"
"Sodomy is a sin."
"So are a lot of things, and other people are still alive for greater sins."
"It is why my father sent me here. There are laws in my kingdom." Char looked away. "King John does not believe in those laws. He is more…liberal."
"How do you know? I mean, you aren’t that much older then I am. It could be a phase that you’re going through."
Char smiled. "I’ve been having very good times with kitchen boys since I was fourteen, Briar. I think I know. Women aren’t…as…mystifying. They require so much work. I mean, a man is so much easier to deal with. We all want the same thing."
"…oh."
"I’m sorry, have I upset you? I can stop."
"No, go on. I’m very secluded here. I’ve only been to the city once in my life."
"Only once?" Char raised his eyebrow.
"Yes, I saw you. A year ago, my aunts and I went to the castle to purchase cloth."
"I remember you." Char smiled. That had been the night he’d been told of Aden-now-Briar, and of the good fairies. –It had also been the night he had first sampled the "wares" of a perfectly delectable squire named Vyne (who worked with Sir William Crauw). "You smiled at me." -and that smile had been the fuel for finding Vyne.
Briar smiled at him, like he had those many months ago. "I didn’t think you had noticed me."
"I notice a lot of things –especially pretty boys I don’t think I will never see again."
"Is that what I am? A pretty boy?"
"I’m sorry, am I making you uncomfortable again?"
"No, of course not. –I rather enjoy it actually. What about me is so pretty?"
"Everything, Briar. Your hair, your nose, your lips…" Char took it upon himself to touch each feature as he said it, and then covered Briar’s mouth with his own as he word ‘lips’ escaped. Their eyes fluttered closed.
"You aren’t just teasing me are you?" Char asked. He pressed his forehead against Briar’s, looking deep into his stonewash blue eyes, with his own stormy grey. "Because if this-."
"Why would I tease you Char? I hardly know you –and even if I did, I’m sure that I’d love you to much to tease you like you presume."
"Alright –as long as you give me that assurance." Char smiled, letting his lips touch Briar’s again.
It was like two magnets for a moment. It was as though the two would never come apart, but eventually, the surfaced for air, their breath coming heavily for a lack of oxygen.
"I have to get back to the castle." Char rose quickly. "The King will be worried –and the preparations for the Prince’s banquet! I almost forgot!" Char sighed. "Hurry, and I will give you a ride back."
"The Prince’s banquet?"
"Aye." Char nodded his head. "Prince Aden’s sixteenth birthday is in two months, and the King is holding a banquet in his honor for the people."
Briar felt Char swing into the saddle behind him. The ride back to the cottage was slower this time, and much more comfortable. One of Char’s hands held Brandy’s reins, the other was held across Briar’s waist, holding him tightly against his chest.
Briar slid from the saddle moodily. "Will I see you again?"
"Tomorrow –I’ll sneak away and see you tomorrow." Char gave him another quick kiss on the lips and pulled Brandy away at a break-neck speed gallop.
Briar sighed, and let himself back into the cottage only to find himself amid arguing people.
"You cannot have that here!"
"No one said he had to touch it! I simply wish to know if you can fix it!"
"You know full well that we can’t! At least not for two more days!
"I need it fixed now! What do you want me to do?!"
"Is there a problem ladies?" Briar asked, the old woman, holding the sharp looking object looking ragged, and harassed.
"Of course not." The Aunts shoved him away. "Mistress has broken her spindle, and sadly we cannot fix it…"
"What is a spindle? Mayhap I could-."
"No!" The Aunt’s all shoved him towards the door. "The Lady will simply have to travel to the neighboring village and find someone who can fix it there."
"I have not time to travel to the next village madams. I have 20 bolts of cloth to make in three weeks time for the prince’s banquet. Do your magic, and help someone in need."
"Methinks Lady, that you have gotten a little greedy in your time." Twilight stood over her. "We will do no such thing to help you. Now be gone!"
Briar watched his Aunt’s push the old woman from the door, keeping care that he did not come in contact with the woman, or the spindle.
"What is wrong? Why can’t you help her?"
"Because…we don’t do that sort of thing anymore." Dawn blinked her eyes. "Now, go get washed up for dinner."
Three weeks passed by steadily, Char making his way to the cottage daily for an hour or so at a time. However, a day before Briar’s birthday, Char arrived with an entire entourage.
"What is this, Char?" Briar asked, feeding Brandy a carrot.
"We’ve come to take you home, your highness." Char bowed.
Briar looked at him confused, "Have you gone mad, Char?"
"Of course not, but come. I’ll explain in the carriage." Char dismounted from Brandy’s back and tugged Briar to the carriage. The Aunt’s stood in the doorway, tissues pressed to their lips and noses.
"What’s going on, Char?" Briar whispered once they were in the carriage.
"Do you want the long version or the shot version?"
"Short."
"You’re the prince of the Kindom...An evil witch put a spell on you, so the King sent you away to live with the good fairies to live until you were 16, which you will be...tomorrow. So I was sent here to bring you back to the palace for your corrination."
"I don’t understand Char."
"You are the Prince. What don’t you understand?"
"Why didn’t you tell me before? Why didn’t anyone tell me before?"
"I...we all were forbidden from telling you."
"What about the Aunt’s?"
"You’ll see them again. They are right behind us." Char lifted the flap over the window where Briar could see the three flitting images of the fairies flying behind them.
Briar sank in his seat.
"What is wrong, your highness?" Char asked.
"I don’t want this, Char... You, they, the kingdom can’t expect me to just accept this."
"I know, Briar...but it’s your birth right. You must."
"I don’t want it, Char."
"You must accept it."
Briar was quiet, and Char took his hand, resting his other on Briar’s, knee.
"It’s going to be fine, Briar." Char coaxed him. "I’ll be there, and the Aunt’s. You’re not alone. I promise you."
"You have no idea how alone I really am, Char." Briar shook his head.
"Briar, I’ve been alone all of my life, for a different reason. The only difference between us is our circumstances."
"I don’t want to be a prince, Char. I want to be the lowly peasant boy who goes about his business and doesn’t have to answer to other’s whims. I don’t want to ever be King."
"Don’t say that, Briar."
"Why not? It’s true."
"Because, you can change everything, Briar Rose." Char looked at him with grey eyes. "We can change our kingdoms."
"You want me to change laws for you, don’t you Charming?"
"Our father’s can’t. Such changes in my kingdom would cause uproar."
"Then why must they be changed with us?"
"Because we are the future, Briar. Trust me."
"Long day?" Char asked, leaning against the bed post in the expansive bed chamber that now belonged to Briar -well, Aden.
"You could say that." Briar’s chest rose and fell rhythmically. "I think I’m even more confused now then before."
"Why?"
"I don’t know any of these people, and yet I’m related to all of them, or I’m not suppsoed to greet some of them a certain way."
"Well, besides the King and Queen, no one is your equal, nor higher then you are."
"Not even you?"
"Not even me, Prince Aden." Char sat in a chair beside the bed. "I’m a guest, of a neighboring kingdom. The King and Queen have treated me as Prince for the last two years in your absence. However, upon your return, I am lower then you are on the totem pole, so to speak."
"Totem pole?"
"...Nevermind."
"But I don’t want you to be lower then me, I want you to be my equal."
"I cannot be your equal." Char sighed, rubbing his temples. "I am your...companion."
Briar was quiet again, and grasped onto Char’s hand, "Will you stay with me?"
"I’m not sure if that would be for the best, your highness. The servants -they talk."
"Who cares?" Briar asked. "And don’t call me that."
"Call you what?"
"Your highness. Just call me Briar."
"But you aren’t Briar anymore."
"I am in here." Briar placed Char’s hand against his chest. "Don’t torment me, Char."
"I should go, Briar." Char took his hands away quickly and stood. "I’ll see you tomorrow."
"Charming, stay." Briar rose on his knees and looked at the retreating boy. "Stay or rish offending a member of the royal family!"
Char stopped, turning around and smirked, his hand still on the door handle, "What is it, Prince Aden?"
"I want you to stay here for a reason."
"Oh?" Char’s interest was captured and he moved away from the door. "What reason might that be?"
"Because...because I love you, Char."
Char’s face fell. This wasn’t teasing anymore. "No, you don’t."
"How are you to know how I feel?"
"Because, I am older and wiser, Briar Rose. Do not chose the life I did."
"You didn’t choose to love me, just as I didn’t choose to love you. It just happened."
"I can live with my damnation. YOU cannot. It will tear you apart from within-."
"I’m stronger then I look, Charming."
"Don’t persecute yourself just because you think you have feelings for me."
By now, Briar had made his way across the room and the two stood less then a step away from each other. "How can I make you believe me? That I tell you the truth, Char?"
"You can’t, because I can never take from you what has been taken from me."
"Char, my corrination is tomorrow." Briar closed the step between them. "Tomorrow I stop being Briar Rose. Can’t you give me this last thing before my change?"
Char stared into the helpless eyes that loomed before him. "What do you want from me."
"Just one last kiss."
Char shook his head, "I can’t."
"Why not?" Briar asked. "I’d never ask for anything else, ever again!"
"Because. That’s all, Aden. Goodnight."
Briar watched as Char pulled the door closed behind him.
The next day was hectic. Briar was shoved into fine clothing and sat in a straight back chair to receive guests, who filed into the banquet hall all morning until the mid-afternoon approached. In a whirlwind, Briar was stripped of his peasant childhood and thrown into adulthood as Prince Aden. After the large banquet meal, he was ushered into his room by servants who, after tending the fire and setting out his clothes, left in a bustled hurry.
While he was strugging with the tie on his tunic, he jumped at the sound of a knock on the door, "Come in."
"Need some help?" Char asked.
"Yes, please." Aden stopped struggling and Char sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the floor while he removed his tunic, followed by his thick-soled boots. He pulled at the clasp on his trousers to no avail.
"Can you undo this?" Aden asked, standing in front of Char.
Char bit his tongue to keep from touching the milky skin above the waistline of the trousers, and quickly undid the fastening.
"The knot too, please." Aden requested.
Char’s fingers fumbled with the knot, the smell of the young Prince intoxicating. He couldn’t help himself as the knot came undone and he pressed a kiss to the young man’s belly before pushing away, ashamed of himself.
"Why do you tease me, Aden?" He scoffed.
"I don’t mean to." Aden looked down as he pulled his nightdress over his head before pulling off his trousers and folding them across the back of the chair.
He sat next to Char, "Will you stay with me tonight?"
"I can’t do that."
"Please?" Aden begged. "Just until I fall asleep?"
Char was quiet, "Fine. Just until you fall asleep though, your highness." He moved to the sturdy chair beside the fire.
Aden was quiet as he crawled under the thick covers. The fire crackled, and he could make out Char’s shape molded against the chair, the shower of the flames licking his face.
"Do you need something, your highness?" Char asked, feeling Aden’s eyes on him.
"This room is very large."
"Aye."
"It’s frightening, Char."
Char sighed, and decided to play Aden’s game. It was easer then denying him. He stood swiftly from the chair, checked the bolt at the door and then strode to the bed where Aden now sat up in bed looking innocent in his white dressing gown.
"What do you want from me, Aden?"
"What I’ve always wanted."
"Say it." Char advanced across the large bed. "I want to hear it from your lips."
"Can I show you?"
"Tell me first."
Aden grabbed the shoulders of Char’s tunic and dragged him across the bed to hiss in his ear, "I want your lips to touch every inch of my bed, your hands to know every curve..."
"And?" Char prompted.
"And for me to do the same."
"And?"
Aden’s voice fell lower, "I want to feel you tearing me apart."
"That’s better." Char held Aden’s face in his hands. "Was that so hard?" He pulled the string around Aden’s neck, loosening it, before opening the troat of the night dress, pushing it aside to rest his lips against the silky skin.
Aden groaned, blindly untying Char’s tunic, and unclapsing his trousers.
"Wait-." Char tore himself away for a moment. "Are you positive this is what you want?"
"I’ve wanted it since that first day by the stream, when you confessed your sins to me."
Char didn’t smile, but seemed pleased somehow, and slid his hands up Aden’s legs, between his knees and rested on the back of his thighs. His lips sought his friend’s, and his kissed him, probing at his mouth with his tongue while Aden’s fingers tugged his tonic out of his trousers.
Aden sat higher on his knees, pulling Char’s silken shirt over his head. Char’s hands left his thighs only long enough to toss the shirt aside before he pushed Aden back into the pillows, using one hand to lower himself down gradually, cradling the younger boy beneath him. His other hand slipped up the dressing gown and rested against the small of the Prince’s back.
Blindly kissing Char with a sense of urgancy, Aden untied the foreign Princes’s trousers, pushing them down slightly to rest on the bare skin of his hips. He tore himself away from Char’s mouth only long enough to move to the end of the bed and remove Char’s boots, which were quickly dumped on the floor.
Char sat back in the pillows of the large bed, watching Aden kiss his way across his stomach and torso, smirking somewhat as he rested on his lips. Char didn’t bother to hold back his audible groan, nipping at Aden’s lips with his teeth. He also didn’t bother holding back his hands and pushing under Aden’s dressing gown, over his buttocks, and across his stomach.
"Now whose teasing?" Aden whispered hotly into Char’s ear. "Talk about cruel and unusual punishment."
"You’re not so kind yourself.." Char sighed, pressing a kiss to Aden’s lips. "Come now...sleep. No more playing." He rolled away from the young Prince, retying his trousers and replacing the clasp. "We can’t do these things you want."
Aden looked confused, "But why?"
"Because, we have no right to. Maybe sometime...but now now. We’ve taken this to far." Char sighed, picking him his shirt, pulling it back over his head, and shoving his feet back into his boots, moving across the room.
"...was it...was it something I said?"
"No. Not you."
"Should I not have spoken?"
"Yes. It is good you we did, or I may not have ceased."
"Then maybe I shall never speak again?"
"Don’t say such things, Briar Rose." Char looked at him, tucking his shirt back into his trousers. "If I cannot hear your voice at least..." he let his statement drown off, and turned back to lacing his boots.
"Then stay, please?"
"No. I’m sorry. I’d like to, obviously. You know that. But I can’t."
"Please, Char?"
"I must go now, Prince Aden." Char moved back across to the bed. "Rest my darling, Briar." He pressed a kiss to his lips. "You have had a long day. Happy birthday."
It was in the waning hours of day, not quite night the Briar decided sleep was not quiet yet in his grasp. He threw off the covers and dressed plainly to explore the castle with the lingering thought of finding Char.
Not yet had he explored the expansive castle, not wanting to get lost. However, on this night, that of his 16th summer, he thought it seemed a good idea. After all, he was going to be king some day, and what kind king didn’t know the way around his own castle?
In the halls, the knights and squires on watching nodded at him gallantly and he returned the gesture kindly.
"Trouble sleeping, m’ lord?" Duncan, his father’s trusty manservant beckoned to him.
"No, I just decided it was to early to turn in. I’m only having a look around." Aden felt as though he had broken some sort of code he had not known about, but Duncan smiled.
"Well, be careful, m’ lord. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ring." Duncan smiled and nodded before going on his way again.
Aden looked after him before then continuing on his way.
It was not long before he came to the winding staircase, guarded by a sleeping knight who seemed to have drunk to much ale.
"Mayhap this is where Char is sleeping?" Aden asked himself, stepping past the sleeping knight, lightly going up the stairs with a sort of sick glee he was anticipating with a the prospect of surprising his dear Prince Charming.
He peeked around before knocking softly on the door. When no answer came, he opened the door quietly, and stepped into the quiet room.
In the center was a contraption he had never seen before, surrounded by heaps of cloth and string. On top of the odd looking wheel was a sharp needle that Briar was oddly attracted to.
Without thinking, he reached out, and pricked his finger upon the spindle of the spinning wheel.
Even earlier in the night, after Char had left Aden’s room, he set out, unsure of his destination. He was close to the Prince. To close. All he could thinking about was him, and his kisses, and his touches. It was these thoughts that followed him around all day long. And he had to escape it.
As he saddled Brandy, he couldn’t help but feel the eyes of the stable hands on him. He knew that part of them wanted to offer to help him with Brand, and the other part of them were afraid of him. But he couldn’t think of them now. All he could think about was getting as far away from Briar Rose as possible.
By morning, Char was in the middle of dense forest, having spent the night in the now-abandoned woodcutter’s cottage.
"We could have a good life here, Brandy, couldn’t we?" Char asked his horse the next morning. Brandy whinnied apprehensively at him.
"I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, to go back there, Brandy."
An apprehensive look this time.
"It’s not my fault I feel in love with him, Brandy."
Brandy gave a soft whinny, nuzzling Char’s shoulder.
"I know you like him, too." Char smiled. "Maybe we’ll go hunting, and bring him back a present, okay?"
Another whinny, this time cheerful.
"Come on then, we shall hunt."
While Char and Brandy hunted, they had no idea of the catastrophy that had occured back at the castle. Young Prince Aden had fulfulled the evil witch’s spell, pricking his finger upon the spindle that the knight had been gaurding.
The king and Queen wept for their son, unsure of what to do, other then to make him comfortable. The knight who had so badly tended his job was dishonorably discharged back into peasentry and forbidding from ever entering the castle again.
"It is alright, my husband." The Queen reassured the king. "I think this is not so bad as we fear...mayhap we need to only find Prince Charming to awaken our son. They try and hide their feelings from us, but the good fairies told of us of their time together. Shall we send for him? To try-."
"I’m afraid, dear wife, that Prince Charming has disappeared into the night. The stableboys told me saddled up Brandy and rode off into the night."
The Queen’s face fell, hopelessness upon her face.
"Where ever has our only hope gone?"
Search parties were sent out across the forest as Prince Aden continued his slumber. High and low about the kingdom did they search for Prince Charming, to attempt at awakening their future king.
Three days it took them to stumble upon Brandy and his rider at the woodcutter’s cottage where they were just about the embark on another hunt.
"Prince Charming! News from the Castle!" The messenger called from his own stead, speeding towards them.
"What is it?" Char asked.
"Prince Aden -he is...he is..."
"Dead?" Char gasped.
"No."
"Dying?"
"No!"
"Then what?" Char asked.
"He has pricked his finger upon the spinning needle, and fallen into deep sleep."
"What do you expect me to do about it?" Char asked. "I’m afraid you should be looking for a woman, good sir." He laughed jovally.
"No, your highness. The Royal Family has asked for you to come and break the spell."
It broke his heart to say it, but he did.
"Tell the Royal Family I am sorry. I mut leave.""And with that, he raced Brandy away as fast he could.
When the King and Queen heard of Prince Charming abandoning their pleas, and instead of facing his fears, he had run away, they were shocked to say the least.
"Maybe we need not worry." The Queen dabbed at her tears, always the optimist. "We shall send for all of the Princesses in the land."
"Do as you will. I will continue the search for Charming. He is my only hope."
The Queen watched after her husband before making her way to her private chambers to begin writing letters to the neighboring kingdoms.
As the days passed, many things were going on. While Aden dreamt of his Prince Charming, the Queen’s pleas for prospective princesses had been answered. Each time a new arrival landed on the door stop, the Queen herself would lead the girl to her son’s rooms, watching hopefully as they would place kisses on her son’s lips. While the futility of the Princesses went on at the castle, the king was searching for Char, who hadn’t actually gone very far.
In fact, he was still at the Woodcutter’s cottage, hiding away in the only place he thought safe enough to stay close to his dreaming love, and yet far enough away to keep both of them safe from torment.
The Prince’s heart was torn. He knew that he could probably break the spell, but if he did...what would happen to him? Would he and Aden be allowed a long and happy life together, or would they be lynched for their supposed sin?
Weeks passed and Char fended for himself, fending for himself, hunting with Brandy, and living off of what had been left behind the cottage.
Soon enough, months had passed, and winter was soon to be upon the kingdom. For the King, the search for Prince Charming was becoming even more dire. He feared for Char’s ability to survive alone. Char, as much as he hated to admit it, had been coddled in the absence of their rightful son -the Royal family loved him as their own.
Mercifuly, the King found Charming in the Woodcutter’s cottage, just as the first snow was falling.
"What are you doing here, your highness?" Char was surprised, to say the least.
"We’ve been looking for you for many months." The king let himself in. "And here you have been...under our very noses." The King looked around the well kept cottage. "You seem to be doing well, Charming."
Char shrugged, "As well as I’m able, I suppose."
"I do wish you would come back to the castle, Charming." The King sat down at the worn wooden table, brushing his hand across the smooth wood. "You are our final hope, Char. Every Princess, Prince, Lady, Knight...even the commoners have passed through the castle and yet...my son still remains sleeping." He looked up sadly. "Please, Char...try to awaken him. If you fail, you can do as you will...but you must try."
Char turned away, watching the snow fall out side. "Surely I am not your last resort, m’ lord? What happens if I succeed? You don’t know, nor do you understand the things I want. The things Bri- Aden wished, no offered to me. I don’t want a life of fear and loathing, and hiding m’ lord. Your son. He is special."
" I know that, Char. And so are you."
"No. He deserves better then someone like me." Char shook his head. "But I’ll try."
"May we be alone?" Char requested after the Queen had shown him to Briar’s room.
"Of course. I’ll just be outside." The queen stepped outside, closing the door softly behind herself.
Char knelt beside the bed, gazing upon the colorless, dead looking face that had been haunting him these many months. Char reached and took Aden’s warm hand between his, and pressed his lips to Aden’s palm.
"I tried to hide..." Char whispered. "I didn’t want to see you. I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself. You’re so beautiful, Briar Rose." he stroked his thumb across the young princes’s cheek, and then moved around the bed, lying down beside his would-be lover. He stroked his fingers through Aden’s hair and finally took a deep breath before the plunge.
His lips pressed against Aden’s, his tongue licking at the young man’s mouth. It took a moment for Char to notice that Aden was kissing back.
"I feel as though I’ve been asleep for months." Aden yawned when they finally broke apart.
Char smiled, "You have been."
Briar looked confused, and Char sighed, having no choice but to tell him what had happened.
"I’m glad it was you that woke me, Char." Aden wrapped his arms around Char’s neck, kissing him again.
"I shouldn’t have had to...what were you doing?" Char asked.
"Looking for you."Aden shrugged, shly.
"But Aden, after I left you...I left the castle. I was in the woods."
"Well, I didn’t know that!"
"It’s alright." Char smiled, kissing him again. "Come. I know your parents will be happy you are awake now. You must be hungry."
"Starved." Aden grinned, pulling Char back for one last kiss before allowing him to pull him from bed.
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