“A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this World: he that has these two, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, will be little the better for anything else.”
-John Locke of England
A Date In The Dark
Waves of light shifted over my eyelids as I bobbed up and down. The gentle and ever moving current around me. Drifting with the peace often found at the end of a hard day’s work. I inhaled the mild tang I had grown used to, but I still preferred the natural scent of ocean salt. Still, I was in a place of peace and even belonging. I was at the very edge of slumber when it attacked.
It grasped my arm and pulled hard sending my body into a full panic. My arm whipped away and my leg lifted a knee into a brown blob. I reached for my trident and swung it through the water where the blob grabbed and pulled on it bringing me closer. I willed the water to push us away and saw blood as the trident’s tip cut the blob. I saw now that the blob was human-shaped, and then realized it was because it was a human. A boy wearing the khaki uniform of the school.
Realizing my mistake I willed the pool water of West High’s swim hall to pull us both out and onto the edge.
“What the fuck you bitch!” Was the boy’s first words through gasps of air.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were attacking me.”
“I was trying to save you!” He stood up dripping water around, “I thought you were drowning!”
“And I’m so thankful, and I super duper deluxe appreciate it, really I do, but I don’t drown,” I said in a breath with as much embarrassing gratitude as possible. This was not the first time this had happened. “I’m hydro respirative. I can breathe underwater.”
“Well how was I suppose to know that?”
“Well, my swimsuit does imply as much.” I gestured to my one piece diving suit. It was purple with pink markings made of cute little triangles touching tips with a line drawn through the point. “It’s suppose to be based off the alchemy sign for water being turned into the sign for air and also making a shape pointed eight, the atomic number for oxygen. Though I guess it’s a very precise symbol, and kind of unknown outside of the Navy, but still, I appreciate you trying to help. Also, the colors help with hiding underwater.”
“Whatever.” He said trying to shake off the water and pulling off a shoe. He really had jumped in without thinking. I looked him over. Mostly lean and a bit shorter than me and his face had a strange angle to it. He was far from gorgeous, but he had a charm to him.
“I’m serious.” I started to will some of the water off of him and his clothes. He went from soaked to just damp, “In fact, to show my appreciation, let’s go on a date.”
“What?” He gave a confused look. “A date?”
“Yeah. A date. Unless you’re in a committed romance.”
“No, let’s just… I haven’t seen you around, so I guess you’re a freshman, but I’m a senior.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Kinda, I mean I’m going to graduate this year and be off to cadet school.”
“I’m not asking you to marry me silly. Just take me on a date. It doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, I’ll cover it. I am thanking you after all.”
“Umm, okay. Sure. I’m William. William Decker.”
“Samantha VonBec.”
We shook hands and exchanged phone numbers with plans to decide things tonight. I went into the locker room and decided to skip changing, except for my shoes. I had a bounce in my step as I grabbed my backpack and skipped out of the pool hall and straight into another boy.
“I’m sorry,” I said stepping back.
“I bet you are.” The boy said. He was clearly a wizard as he wore a lite blue robe and carried a long wooden staff.
“Excuse me?” I asked confused.
“You’re quite the fast one.” He said with clear contempt, “Getting a date before you knew his name.”
“Excuse you?” I snapped turning to anger, “I’m allowed to propose to whomever I want. There’s no rule that I have to know anything about them.”
“Indeed. There’s no rule against you flaunting yourself around.”
I was starting to get upset, “Who the hell are you and why do you care?”
“I am known as Alphonse The Striker, and I am,” Alphonse introduced and titled himself with boastful pride but then paused for just a beat and looked away with disdain, “Confidants with William.”
That’s when I noticed it. I’m not a flaunter per se, but when you talk to as many boys as I do, you notice patterns. I was in a modest, but still shapely swim suit, and Alphonse hadn’t swept eyes over me once. Now of course he could have been trying to make a power front, but with his pausing about William, I was able to guess the real deal.
“You like William. Like like him, don’t you?” I asked with sympathy.
“How dare you! Yes, I am openly gay, but I respect William. I would never act in such a way.” He defended himself, giving more information than needed.
“I believe you, but you still like him, and I just swooped in on him.”
“I see William as he is, but again I would never-”
“But you want him.”
“No!” He snapped, “I… he… I have nothing to say to you.”
He turned to leave, but I reached for his arm to stop him.
“Wait, please, tell me.” I begged, “I don’t want to come between you two, and you clearly love him.”
“As a confidant.” He said.
“Just as a confidant?”
“Yes, because he’s not gay. So I would never, like I said.”
“But there’s something else to it?”
“It’s just sometimes he’s…”
“You don’t know for sure if he’s straight.”
“He says he is.”
“But sometimes he doesn’t act like it?” I guessed.
“I’m done here.” He shook me off and walked off.
I continued to head home thinking about William and Alphonse. I hadn’t thought about watching William at the time, but I couldn’t remember him looking me over. Most people were straight, but like the saying goes: Everyone has two uncles. Being gay was just something that happened and nobody was faulted for it, but still, sometimes people just assumed they were straight well into adulthood.
“Sup Sammy.” Someone called out. Assuming they meant me I looked around to see Frank and his confidant Harrick. They were carrying a large box between them that they set down. “You got detention too?”
“No, is that what you’re doing here?”
“Yeah, we got ourselves a detention,” Frank informed me.
“That is a lie.” Harrick barked, “We did not get us a detention. You got us a detention.”
“Fair fair.” Frank nodded his head to that, “So what are you doing Sammy?”
“Heading home right now to think about a problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
“The boy kind of problem.”
“Hey, we’re boys. Maybe we can help.”
Harrick pinched his brow mumbling, “Don’t just volunteer us for whatever.”
“Who’s the boy?” Frank asked as if he didn’t hear.
At that time William and Alphonse walked around the other corner of the school laughing away.
I pointed over to them, “Them.”
“Aww, young love is adorable.” Frank cooed, “But that’s just how the cards get dealt.”
“How do you mean?” I asked noting his word choice.
“Some guys are gay, same with gals, but it still sucks when they’re pretty. You have my sympathy.”
“What makes you think they’re gay?”
Frank opened his mouth and his face went blank. “Umm… well they’re dating. Right? Boyfriends?”
“Best friends,” I corrected, “They’re confidants.”
“Oh, I see.”
“And only one of them is gay.”
“Oh, I- what?”
“Only the wizard in blue is gay.” I explained, “Do you think the other boy is gay?”
Frank narrowed his eyes scanning the two, “I think so.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I…” He narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin, “don’t know.”
Harrick chimed in, “Frank seems to know the will of other’s hearts. If he says two people are wanting the other, then I don’t doubt him.”
That decided it. I had to settle this. I bounced over and jumped in front of the boys. They flinched and readied themselves before they recognized me, saying together, “You!”
William looked to Alphonse, “You know her?”
“Passingly.” Alphonse answered, “What do you want?”
“We need to set up our date, William.” I rocked back and forth swaying my hips. “You got any ideas?”
“Oh, umm… dinner and a show is the standard, right Al?” William asked.
“Yes, as I’m told,” Alphonse said with a tone flatter than a puddle.
“Neat.” I leaned forward, “So I know they do Two For One on Tuesday at The Picture House. So how about tomorrow?”
“Um… Sure.” William said and then looked over to Alphonse. I’m sure he would have said he was asking for his best friend’s opinion, but I could see it now. William was in love with Alphonse, and I was going to spark the realization in him.
“Alright! We meet after school, grab a bite, and head on over.” I confirmed.
“Yeah, sure.” William agreed halfheartedly, “Hey, I thought we were supposed to do this over the phone.”
I didn’t respond as I was already skipping away.
The next day, after class I found William and we headed to The Arcade. The food court wasn’t much, but it was a place for hungry kids to buy food. Even going as far as to allow purchases with game credit and tickets.
“So tell me about yourself.” William said taking a bite into a slice of pizza, “I know you can breathe underwater.”
“I can do more than that. I can also control water. Make it move how I want with willpower.”
“That’s impossible.” William said with amazement rather than disbelief. “Alphonse once told me how infusing magic into water was something that no one could do.”
“Because the mana flows around and breaks apart, yeah, but I channel power through the universe itself.” I explained my own understand of my powers, “What about you?”
“Me? Oh, it’s nothing.” He waved a hand dismissively, “Just some ancient bloodline weapon.”
“Oh, I have a friend who uses a family heirloom too.”
“Yeah, it’s kinda common because binding magic to blood is a effective method of preserving magic. Though why the water thing doesn’t apply to blood, I don’t know.”
“Because it’s not the actual blood, it’s like in the bones or something.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” He took another bite, “Still bull. I never wanted it. The power or the legacy. Apparently my dad didn’t even want me.”
“Oh, that’s so sad. I’m incredibly lucky myself.” I said and then told my own story, “I never asked for my powers either, but when I was born DDH agents came to my parents and told them the score. They were very accepting of it and even move to America when they were asked to.”
“Why were they asked to move to America?” William raised an eyebrow.
“To be closer to a DDH office. It was either here, France, or Russia, and they already spoke English. So here we are.”
We small talked a bit more and head out to The Picture House
The Picture House was an old stage theater turned movie theater. It showed movies, but it also showed shorter series shows that were often converted to or from television broadcasting. Personal televisions were luxuries during the many years of war the world went through, but The Picture House was a bunker in its own right. So people would gather and let their guard down knowing that if attacked they would have time to respond.
Now it was a place for families to gather and see the latest entry of the Smoking In The Rain series. We ordered tickets for the main hall, there were smaller side halls showing reruns that were free, and got popcorn and soda. I paid for everything like I said I would and we sat down for the show.
“Watch the stick, jerk!” We heard someone yell and turn to see Alphonse as well as Frank and Harrick who both had a girl by them. The same girls I saw with them at the concert a few weeks ago.
“Frank?” I called as William called out.
“Al? What are you doing here?”
“Watching a show.” Alphonse said.
“And you Frank?” I asked.
“Here on a date. A triple date.” Frank gestured to the girls.
“So… who’s your date, Al?” William asked with a tone of nervous curiosity.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Me,” Said a deep gruff voice from a boy who I recognized as the boy I saw making out with Harrick’s date. He wore a biker jacket and about a platoon’s worth of hair grease in a slick back style. “Girlies said she liked my bike.”
Harrick’s date elbowed him.
“I meant Boyo said he liked my bike.” He corrected himself and wrapped an uneasy arm around Alphonse’s uneasy shoulder.
“Okay.” William said, “Didn’t know you liked… that.”
“Yo, double double date? Hell yeah!” Frank yelled and jumped over to sit next to me landing with a wink of the eye.
“Oh sure.” I turned to William as Alphonse and Grease-Do passed by to the other side. “Are you okay with this?”
“Oh, sure.” William nodded shooting a look to Alphonse. I exchanged names with the girls, Tessa Green, a fairy kin who went to our school, and Isabella Ishtar, who was Harrick’s cousin.
“Ladies and gentlemen of all ranks, the show will start soon.” An intercom announced, and within the minute the lights dimmed and the projector flicked to life beginning another installment of Smoking In The Rain.
Originally a book, Smoking In The Rain was the story of an aristocrat turned soldier going through The International Conflict. It covered all thirty years of war and the many lives and trials of the soldiers. I’ve read the book a dozen times, and watched the movie adaption, which cut out a lot of the personal and romantic moments. Like the one currently playing where the once wealthy nobleman reunites with his childhood friend. Well technically early adult friend, and step sister because his elderly father married her middle aged mother, but that only lasts three years until the war starts and the dad dies in a bomb strike, and the son joins the army and never sees the girl until women join the front lines fifteen years into the conflict. Point is, it’s one of the most romantic moments in the book, and the movie skipped it, and now it was being presented in wide screen, and I was tearing up.
I wrapped my arm around William and leaned my head on him. He tensed up and I remembered why I was here, but I was so engrossed by the show I couldn’t concentrate. Luckily William moved me forward.
“Big moment, huh?” He asked in whisper, “I never read the book.”
“It’s really good.” I said and pulled a handkerchief for my face, “Can you imagine. Being separated from the one who completes you?”
“I guess,” He shrugged in his seat, “But that’s not super special, right? I mean, it’s just one unique person.”
“Well, sure, but it’s a special person who fills your life with the light of love. A warm, peaceful light that shines into the future.” I snuggled closer as I spoke. William seemed to be deep in thought.
“But that’s not love, or romance. That’s just… caring a lot. Like me and Al.”
“Well yeah, confidants are important, but that’s more about the now times. More, you can’t think of a world without them, rather than thinking of a future with them.”
“I guess so.”
“Is there anyone you like?”
“Oh, not really, but I’m still in high school.”
“Every kissed anyone?” I asked gender neutrally
He squirmed and down casted his eyes muttering under his breath, “Still in high school.”
I was going to follow up when the projector cut out and the sound stopped. The theater was in complete silence for a full second, and then the projector room exploded.
Fire shot out of the opening and several people started barking out call signs as they organized an exit plan, but they weren’t able to open the doors. An old man claiming to be an army captain yelled over everyone to be quiet and stay calm.
The people managed to keep their sense about them which allowed the intercom system to be heard without any trouble.
“Attention all,” The voice on the intercom was smooth and strong, “We are sorry to interrupt such a lovely day for everyone, but we are here to bring a message from The Brotherhood of Mutants.”
Instantly the crowd’s attitude shifted from scared and confused, to angry, scared, and confused.
“This show series of the classic novel Smoking In The Rain covers in great detail the events of the horrible decades of The Great Wars.”
“There was nothing great about the wars!” Harrick shouted and others joined in agreement, but the voice didn’t hear. Or maybe didn’t care.
“And yet, it ignores the several instants of proud mutants who fought for their nation. And so, to right this wrong, no one will be leaving until we get an official apology and an official release showing the effects of our proud mutant forefather.”
“Man, you think one theater of people will move the world?” Frank called out and the voice laughed.
“Of course not,” It said in response, “That’s why we’re locking down every showing in the country. We will be heard.”
The intercom went out and the people started to mumble among themselves. They seemed to be planning on what to do. Weather they should try to rush them and force their way out. They talked until Frank stepped up on to a chair and called for silence.
“Everyone relax. Me and my friends will handle this.”
“What? You’re just a kid.” The army captain pointed out.
“Yes, but we’re demihumans.”
“Great. More mutants. Just what we need.” A random person in the crowd groaned.
“We’re not- it doesn’t matter. Just everyone stay here and stay calm. Come on guys.”
So it was Me, William, Alphonse, Grease-Do, Harrick, Tessa, and lastly Frank lined up to go face these hooligans with Isabella being told to stay behind. We moved to one of the staff only doors and found it was unlocked. Slipping through we tried to sneak through only to turn a corner into two masked thugs who turned to see us.
“Should have stayed seated you little punks.” One of them said as he raised an arm to ready an attack, but didn’t have a chance to fire it off as Grease-Do leaped forward in a blink and whacked him with a long copper pipe. Where he got it was unknown, but his hit downed the slim thug and Grease-Do turned to the other swinging again. The other thug was shorter than average, but had large muscles. The thick one was also faster as he caught the pipe in his hand and squeezed it. He was clearly strong as the pipe bent under his hand and he used that strength to punch Grease-Do in the gut sending him into the wall.
After that Thick Thug turned back to us and got blasted away himself by a triple attack from Harrick, Tessa, and Alphonse.
“Right, good news, we got two down.” Frank said looking around to the sounds of movement surrounding us, “Bad news, we lost the element of surprise.”
“Fine by me.” Grease-Do said standing himself up and grabbed his pipe, “Let them lined themselves up.”
“As much I would like to brawl all night, we need to find their leader and end this as fast as possible.” Said Frank, “Now I’m guessing their leader is going to be in the projector room or the manager’s office.”
“I’m detecting a high power level from both locations.” Harrick explained and was backed by both Alphonse and Tessa.
“So let’s split up and double time it.” Grease-Do said, and started down the hall, “My gut says projector room, so I’m going there.”
William and Alphonse were the strongest among us and a full tag team. So they decided to head to the office by themselves and leave the rest of us to go to the projector room.
“Where did you get a pipe?” I asked Grease-Do as we headed through the halls.
“Tessa brought it in for me.” He answered, “I used to carry an iron one, but I switch to copper after meaning my sweetheart.”
He stopped and looked back with concern, “Oh wait, do I still gotta act homo?”
“No Sweety,” Tessa answer, “Not right now.”
“So you two are together.” I said realizing I was right about the concert memory. “Why are you doing this whole act.”
“Cause I owed a favor to Harrick.” Tessa said.
“And I’ll do anything for my fairy princess.” Grease-Do said with a grin, “Plus I’m also a romantic.”
We had made it to the projector room without further trouble. Apparently William and Alphonse were causing a lot of trouble themselves and so we had nothing to deal with as Grease-Do kicked the door open and we jumped in ready to fight.
In there we found just one man standing alone and looking down at the people in the theater. A cigar lit in his mouth under a paintbrush of a moustache . He was dressed in a suit and had his hair combed back showing his recently balding head. He was calm and in charge.
“Told ya. My gut is never wrong.” Grease-Do grinned and lifted his pipe to point at the man, “You’re the head bastard here, aren’t you?”
“I am.” The man answered without batting eye. He just ashed his cigar out the window and continued on, “They call me Pops. You lot must be the young idiots who think you can just push my family around.”
“Ya damn right, ya bastard.” Grease-Do lifted the pipe and prepared to charge forward, but was stopped by Frank.
“Hold one second,” Frank said and step in front of us all and addressed the man with full respect, “Mister Pops, sir. I understand you’re angry about the show, and it’s a valid complaint, but please, let these people go.”
Pops looked to Frank and scanned him up and down before looking over us all. He grinned setting his cigar down, “You’re some good kids. I can tell. Good hearts. I fully intend to release everyone unharmed after, and only after, our demands are met. But until then.”
Pops stepped out to the middle of the room and took a fighting stance, “Let’s brawl.”
“Hell yeah!” Grease-Do leaped forward bringing his pipe down on Pops who stretched out a hand and focused energy into an explosion that threw Grease-Do back again. Frank had already moved forward to bring up a sword into a stab that Pops sidestepped away from and into an fire blast from Harrick that was amplified by Tessa. All the while I couldn’t do anything. I had my trident, but I couldn’t win in melee. I scanned the area trying to find what I needed.
“What are you looking for?” Grease-Do asked as he readied to charge again.
“Water,” I said, “I need some to fight.”
“You didn’t bring any with you?”
“It’s not a exactly a lightweight weapon. I can usually count on plumbing, but I can sense any around here.”
“It’s an old building, try looking up.” Grease-Do charged forward.
I did just that and saw above me lines of brass piping with nozzles through out them. A sprinkler system! I started looking around again. If the system was automatic it would have set off already, which met it didn’t work or it needed a manual trigger. Which I found on the far wall.
Readying myself I swung my trident and bent my legs to leap forward. Grease-Do and Frank were taking swings and Harrick and Tessa were trying to support them, but Pops was too strong and too skilled. His power seemed to be making explosions. He would wave an arm or flex a muscle and a blast wave would launch out. He used it offensive and defensively. I waited for just a moment for Frank and Grease-Do to attack at the same time. Pops flexed and blew them away, and that’s when I made my move. I ran forward and stabbed my trident completely forward. It was a weak and foolish attack with no hope of actually hitting Pops head on, but he took the bait.
I’ve fought strong opponents before, Adrian, Semy, and even my friend Brick. When they fight multiple enemies they all have the tendency to throw enemies around when possible. To reduce the number imminent threats by moving them away and giving themselves space. Pops was definitely strong as he reflexively grabbed my trident and turned his body to throw me to the other side of the room. I repositioned myself and landed on my feet. Right next to the fire alarm.
I pulled the alarm and the system roared to life showering water and noise down. I pulled the water to me and when I had enough I launched a wave at Pops.
Pops had been knocked off his guard by the alarm going off, but had recovered enough to unleash an explosion blasting the bulk of the mass apart. Which just flowed past him where I reformed it even bigger and slammed it back again knocking him to the floor on his knees.
Grease-Do jumped on the chance literally and slammed his pipe now on Pops. Pops gasped out a breath and slipped further down, but managed to lift a hand and send a full blast point blank. Grease-Do flew off almost into a wall before I caught him in a wave and set him down. I readied the still growing mass of water to slam against Pops again, but was caught off guard by another full blast attack at range which slammed me against the wall.
Frank, Harrick, and Tessa continued to fight, but without me pulling water away Harrick was much weaker and couldn’t keep up. He went down and didn’t get back up. Frank kept up the pace thanks to Tessa’s help, but during a wider opening Pops managed to grab Tessa by the neck. He pulled out a knife and plunged it into Tessa’s collar and dropped her. He took a deep breath and sighed.
“Sorry for the iron, girlie, but I can’t have you-” He was cut off by Grease-Do bashing his head with the copper pipe.
“You Rat Bastard! I’ll kill you.” Grease-Do yelled and started fighting in a rage.
Pops kept up his attack, but instead of dodging and blocking Grease-Do took them directly and just shrugged them off swinging harder than ever. Grease-Do’s increased viciousness was paying off too as he managed to land several direct hits. Even managing to break a bone in Pops’s forearm. Frank took that opening to slice down on Pops, cutting him and his suit down the chest. I managed to get back to my feet and started drawing water back to me joining them as I stepped forward. It was three against one and we had the advantage.
“Alright children, that’s enough.” Another voice came from the door. We all looked to see a tall slim woman holding a revolver to Alphonse’s head. “Play time is over.”
The woman gestured everyone forward into the room. Alphonse was dragged in by another thug and William was behind them being held with a knife to his throat. They were both thrown to the wet ground and each had a thug put a foot in their back.
“Thought you two were the strongest?” Grease-Do panted.
“We were holding our own and even winning at first.” William said.
“But then they tripped the fire alarm, and the water ruined my magic.” Alphonse finished, “A low brow tactic from a bunch of low brow mutant scumbags.”
A thug came up and kicked him in the ribs sending him into coughs.
“Real easy to act tough behind a magic shield, you two bit magician.” The thug said and laughed.
“Enough,” The woman said, likely the second in command as they all obeyed, “This is over. The mundanes below are bystanders, but you lots made a full challenge, so either surrender, or I kill them.”
We all settled into a stand off. The woman looked to Pops’s bloody body. “Sir, there’s a call on hold in the main office.”
Pops nodded and rolled his shoulder, “Thank you. Be sure to keep them firm under your thumb. They managed to actually challenge me.”
With that Pops left leaving the rest of us in a stand off.
“Cowards.” Grease-Do pointed his pipe at her, “Face me head on. One on one. I’ll break your skull open.”
In response the woman aimed her revolver and fired once into Grease-Do’s guts. I cried and rushed to him. He was alive, but down for the count. I did what first aid I could to keep the bleeding down.
“Like I said, this is over.” The woman repeated
“He’s right. You’re all cowards!” Alphonse said still coughing, “Pathetic, good for nothing cowards with more power than you deserve.”
“Shut up, if you know what’s best for you.” The thug on top of him said putting more weigh down on him. “Hey, I’ve heard these guys need their hands to do their hoodoo. I say we lop one of his arms off.”
“What!?” William shouted, he was beaten badly and was even bleeding, “Don’t you dare touch him!”
Of course his cries were in vain at the thug on him slam his foot down on his back. The other thugs continued laughing at Alphonse who didn’t yield on his scowl or his insults.
“Come on Boss,” one of the thugs said as he pulled out a fire axe. “Might as well teach him a lesson.”
“There is nothing to learn from you worthless lot.” Alphonse said through gritted teeth which earn a kick in his teeth.
“Al!” William shouted before turning his gaze to the woman, “Why are you letting them do that? You already have him down. Inflicting more injury is a violation!”
The woman looked at William with vile hatred, “He deserves it.”
“Deserves it! For back talk! You have a gun to his head and you can’t stand being bad mouthed!” William shouted at the top of his lungs until the thug dropped his knee into William’s back.
“She’s right.” Alphonse said spitting teeth and blood, “Because my words are the most painful thing they can hear. The truth of how worthless they are.”
An another kick in his head. The thugs were enraged. One them grabbed an arm and pulled it out yelling, “Off with the arm!”
William screamed for Alphonse as he struggled under the thug holding him.
“You better think twice!” Frank shouted, “Because I wouldn’t hold back after!”
“Ha!” The thug with the axe laughed, “You think we’re scared of you?”
“Of course you are.” Alphonse spoke again, “Look at you all. You’re scared of a damn theater show. You’re more pathetic than children.”
“That’s it!” The axe thug lifted the axe and slammed it down.
The room was filled with blood and fire. Fire from Harrick who had waited til the last second to unleash a fire blast at the axe thug pushing him off enough to miss his swing. Blood from the now dismembered arm of the axe thug as William Decker sliced through him with a blade of black bone. A dark mist surrounded him as he turned the blade to the thugs holding Alphonse cutting gashes into them.
The woman in charge turned her gun on William only for him to knock it away in a bloody slice and got pinned to the wall as William rammed into her and stabbed her in the gut. When William pulled his sword out she went limped and fell against the wall.
The moment had only a single beat of peace as gunshots came from the hallway. More thugs were shooting at William. The bullets did nothing as William prepared to charge but stopped at the call of Alphonse.
“No! Enough!” Alphonse reached a hand to the door and unleashed a force of will which Harrick added to creating another one of those super charged fire attacks.
When the fire faded Harrick rushed to the door and slammed it shut giving us a moment to breathe.
“Who is hurt and how?” Frank called out. Only Grease-Do and Tessa were critically injured. Everyone else was bruised up or the enemy. Harrick and Frank tended to them as William and Alphonse talked.
“I’m sorry, William.” Alphonse started, “If I could keep my pride down then-”
“No. You were downed and captured. There’s no excuse for them.”
“It’s just, I know you hate becoming that, and because of me…”
William grabbed Alphonse’s face and force their eyes together, “I’m happy to be this for you.”
They looked into each other’s eyes and then came together in a kiss. Not a big passionate kiss. A simple caring one. They came apart, both of them with blood around their mouths. William wiped at his mouth and said as much. “Blood.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taunted them so much.” Alphonse said but was cut off by William kissing him again. In that moment, between everything terrible happening, I was happy for them.
The moment was ended by the thumping sound of heavy footfall. We all braced ourselves as the door was kicked open by a man in trench coat. He aimed a huge gun in the room shouting, “Freeze! Agent Danforth of the DDH! Hands up!”
We all raised hands. Frank stepped up with relief, “Thank the gods. We need a medic, asap.”
The man scanned the room and leaned out to call out, “Cass, seven more, two down bad.”
“Seven bodies, two bleeders, got it!” A voice called back joined by the sound of gunfire.
He returned to us and asked, “We’re still getting the area under control. Hold tight.”
And like that he headed out and closed the door. Frank guarded while the rest of tending to Tessa and Grease-Do.
Eventually the sounds of battle died down and again banging came from the door. This time it was police officers with medic personnel. We were all either escorted or carried outside and asked to stay for statements. They removed the knife from Tessa and patch her and Grease-Do up. Soon they were both up and awake.
“What a dickhead.” Tessa said rolling her arm, “Hot tip, next time, just pull the knife out. My body can heal itself with fairy magic. Could have helped more too.”
“Sorry about that.” Frank said, “Not super familiar with fairy magic, or biology, or anything about fairies really.”
Tessa waved him off with a smile, “It’s fine. Just know iron hurts us more than anything.”
“Hey, that reminds me,” I said getting my own nerve back and pointed to Grease-Do , “What kind of demihuman are you?”
“Me? A demihuman?” Grease-Do laughed at that until he fell into a cough. He recovered and looked back, “I’m not any kind of demihuman. I’m as mundane as they come.”
“What? But you fought so hard?” I was taken aback at this. I couldn’t believe he really was just a basic mundane human with all the confidence and fury he had fought with.
“Well,” He reached out and took Tessa’s hand in his, “That’s the power of love I guess. Even a nothing street punk like me can go toe to toe with demigods if needed.”
“Here here brother!” Frank cheered and was about to lead a choir when William shouted out.
“Wait a minute!” He stepped up from where he had been talking with Alphonse, “I thought you were gay.”
“And you thought you were straight. Shows what you know.” Grease-Do slapped back and left William stunned.
“Come on William.” Alphonse said smiling and taking William’s hand in his own, “Let’s find a place for some peace and I’ll guide you into meditation.”
“Yeah, okay, sure.” William awkwardly let Alphonse pull him along, but after looking to his new love he found sureness and fell into pace.
“Well ain’t that nice.” Grease-Do said smiling and then addressed Harrick, “By the way, you owe us another favor.”
“What? How so?” Harrick scowled.
“We got hurt bad. You got to repay that.”
“He’s right you know.” Tessa confirmed.
Harrick groaned, “But this was all Frank’s idea! So why me?”
“Cause you called the favor in.” Tessa said with a grin which sent Harrick into another groan and the rest of us into laughs.
After our statements Tessa and Grease-Do were taken to the hospital. Harrick confirmed that Isabella had been sent home with the rest of the mundanes. William and Alphonse disappeared on us, but we didn’t look very hard for risk of interrupting anything. Leaving Frank, Harrick, and myself waiting for a bus together.
“Well I’m glad all that worked out.” I said. “William realized Alphonse was his true love just as I hoped.”
“Wait, you planned all of this?” Frank asked.
“Oh no. My original plan was to keep hitting on William until he realized he wasn’t interested, but I got distracted by the show, which we didn’t even finish. Sucks.”
“Well, things can either go right, or go wrong, so just take what’s left.” Frank said with a tone of wisdom, and he was right. The day had gone so far astray, but in the end everything worked out in our favor, and I couldn’t ask for much more.