Joe history. Blame this story on me finding one of the few episodes I actually have on tape. All
constructive criticism and corrections welcomed. Enjoy!
Love Thy Enemy
by Laura Boeff
He stared out at the evening sky, eyes wandering aimlessly over the cityscape
far below.
Street lights glittered
and car lights flickered as people went about their lives in blissful ignorance
of the forces battling for
domination over their very existence. But his mind was not in the here,
the now, it was turned back
to the 'then'. To her with her fiery dark gaze and her equally fiery
tongue. To her beauty which
he understood was only the window dressing for a spirit as strong as
granite and sharp as flint.
His gaze drew from the past, from night and city beyond and turned to the
glass itself
and the hazy reflection
it held. Glanced across his chiseled features and brushed over the thick,
ruddy scar upon his cheek.
How must he look to others? he wondered. Handsome? Arrogant?
Dangerous? All of these?
Or none of these? And how did he look to her? That was the question
he chewed over in his musings.
"You really are smitten by her, aren't you?" a voice slightly higher than
his own asked
with amusement and he felt
a hint of.. surprise.. flit through him that he shared to some degree.
"You should have seen her, brother. She was something to behold. Her ferocity,
her
determination..."
He turned to where his brother lounged against the door frame, watching
him. The
reflection in the glass
and the face now studying him were one and the same, identical in every
way, save that singular,
dark scar. It was the only revealing feature to set him and his twin
brother apart. Identical
twins, and yet, they were different: in slight ways: subtle ways and yet
always a part of a whole.
"Yes. Smitten. Horribly so," Tomax chuckled.
Xamot raised an eyebrow at him. "Jealous?"
Tomax laughed, the sound echoing through the cavernous room of their private
library.
One such room and not the
largest in their home, their sanctuary high atop the Extensive
Enterprises tower.
"You have given me no reason to be jealous, brother," Tomax rumbled softly.
Xamot chuckled with him. No, he suppose he had not. They were twins and
just as they
shared each others pain,
they were also aware of each others every need, desire... The pleasure
of one was the pleasure
of both and they did nothing if not.. share.
"I suppose I owe her some gratitude for her assistance in rescuing me,"
Tomax mused
thoughtfully.
Xamot smirked slightly. "I very well doubt your well being was anywhere
on her mind,
Tomax."
"I suppose not. Though I'm sure we make for much more interesting company
then any
of those inane JOES she
hangs out with."
"True. True." Xamot turned back to the window thoughtfully, aware of the
eyes watching
him but not at all uncomfortable
with his brother's gaze. There was no reason to be
uncomfortable.
"So. What shall you do about this.. pinning of yours?" Tomax asked curiously.
Xamot drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "A good question. One
I have not
entirely answered to my
satisfaction," he admitted.
"You well know the rumors about her and Flint," Tomax pointed out, not
unkindly.
He closed his eyes and sighed silently.
"Yes. I know."
"And still you brood. It is not like you, brother of mine, this introspection."
Xamot turned, raising an eyebrow, not at all unaware that Tomax was goading
him.
"So you would prod me into action?"
"I would have you stop your moping. It is not you alone who suffer," Tomax
retorted, his
displeasure not going unfelt.
Xamot bowed his head toward his brother. "Forgive me, brother. It was not
my intention,"
he returned sincerely.
Tomax sighed and shook his head. "I know, but I am worried. She is not,
in any way, one
who we could call our ally."
"Ally, enemy, they are one and the same to us.." Xamot started
"..neither to be trusted," Tomax finished.
Xamot smiled darkly, his grin mirrored in his brother. Trust -true trust-
was reserved for
them and them alone. All
others were outsiders to the twins. All others were people with motives
hidden and thoughts unseen.
This was not true between them. But even so, it did not stop his
mind from wandering to her
and her thoughts and her motives...
A hand touched his arm and strong fingers squeezed firmly.
"Whatever your actions, brother, you will always know my feelings about
them," Tomax
said softly, a reminder
that he was never alone. Would never be alone.
"And you mine," Xamot returned, finishing the almost sacred oath between
them. Then
he nodded to himself. "Perhaps
your are right. Perhaps I think too much and act too little."
"Perhaps. But then, I am, as you delight in reminding me, the less cautious
of the two of
us." Tomax smirked.
Xamot gave him a side-long glance. "And I am right," he replied and Tomax
just gave
him a smile that showed
him to be totally unrepentant.
"Come, Xamot," his brother decided, "the hour is late enough, time for
bed." Then the
smile turned.. sultry. "I'm
sure I can offer you a temporary.. distraction, from your mental
wanderings."
Xamot chuckled softly, following. Of that, he had no doubt.
***
Lady Jaye smoothed her hand over the dress and held it up before her and
studied it
almost wistfully. Her mother
had always so loved dressing her up, decorating her in frills and
ribbons and bows and all
the while she wanted no more then to put on a pair of jeans and
sneakers and be off with
the boys playing with whatever treasure that had been dug out of the
storm drain that week.
Not much had changed, she mussed with a silent chuckle, deciding that she
liked the
dress. It was nice and light
and airy. Good for a summer day at the beach. Not that the chance of
her lounging at the beach
was all that likely. Time-off in itself was a luxury often cut short by
one
disaster or another. But
still, a girl could hope.
She took her purchase to the counter, smiling at the girl behind the register
and handing
off her booty. Things were
certainly in full panic mood at the base now. Part of the reason she'd
snucked off in the late
afternoon for some downtime. Sure, all the men were recovered from
their stint of servitude
to the Baroness and they were gratefully, but, being men, determined to
downplay just how helpless
they had been, and just how much they owed the woman JOES for
saving their masculine keisters.
And those men who had not been ensnared by the Baroness
conch, weren't helping,
happily reminding their cohorts just what had happened and who had
saved them.
Flint had given her an apologetic smile and mouthed 'Men. Sorry.' when
one such
teasing match grew hostile.
Men... Lady Jaye laughed. Men were just boys with bigger toys. But
even so, she decided to
take a little breather from the 'It was only a matter of time till I freed
myself,' and the 'It wasn't
that bad,' lines being pandered about.
Shopping, while being a somewhat cliché practice for women, did
offer a pleasant
distraction from the bruised
egos and dented prides. Paying for her dress, Lady Jaye gathered up
the bag and wondered at
what she would do now. Go back to the Pit and try to find Flint and a
quiet corner to spend the
evening? Or perhaps sneak off to the mall and a nice facial?
What she didn't expect was the limo that pulled up in front of the small
boutique and cut
off her path to her car,
which was parked across the street.
The hairs along the back of her neck prickled and she took a step back
as the door open,
her instincts on high alert.
"Xamot!" she gasped as the Crimson Guard commander stepped up, inclining
his head
politely. The auburn hair
man was dressed in a sharp, silver gray suite and looking painfully
dashing and cosmopolitan--
which was a sharp contrast to his somewhat gaudy commanders
uniform he wore when clashing
directly with the JOES.
"Hello, Lady Jaye. I'm sorry for startling you," he said with another polite
bow, voice, as
always, smooth and gifted
with an accent just slight enough to hint at something exotic.
"To what do I owe this honor, Xamot?" she asked wearily, eyes darting discreetly
left and
right, searching for Tomax.
Where there was one brother, there was always the other.
"Tomax is back the office, taking caring of some last minute business,"
Xamot told her
with amusement, hands clasping
in front of him. "While I'm sure you will not believe me, this is
not an ambush."
Taken aback, lady Jaye looked up at the Corsican brother and he met her
direct gaze
unflinchingly.
"So, what is this about?"
The Crimson Guard commander broke out into a stunning smile.
"Dinner. I was hoping you would kindly allow me to express my gratitude
for your
assistance in recovering
my brother by taking you out to dinner."
Dinner?! Lady Jaye was caught momentarily flat-footed, looking up at her
sworn enemy
who looked down, bemusement
written on his features. She quickly jerked her surprise under
control. It had always been
an annoyance, the brothers uncanny way of seeing through people,
predicting their actions
and responses, and keeping them off balance because of it.
"You're kidding?" she stated, drawing herself up, just as a reminder she
was not a
woman to be trifled with.
"Not at all," Xamot returned and Lady Jaye could not be certain, but she
thought she saw
a hint of hurt in his dark
brown eyes. Or, was it just a clever act? Bluff and deception where
amongst the twins most deadly
tools. "I have made reservations for us at Le'Shar, but if you wish
to visit some other locale,
I am quite flexible."
"Xamot, you can't really think I'll believe you that your aren't planning
some kind of
ambush or kidnapping," Lady
Jaye sighed, hands on hips.
An amused smile creased her would be suitors lips. "I would be disappointed
if you
didn't. But, I am a man
of my word, though you won't believe that, and I swear my intentions
here are purely my own and
purely on the level. Please? Dinner only and I will trouble you no
more."
A thousand reasons popped up in her head, screaming at her that this was
*not* a good
idea and reminding her again
and again just how dangerous this man was, and the fact they were
enemies pitted against each
other over the welfare of the world.
But, drowned out as it was, one other little reason popped up, urging her.
She was intrigued.
So little was known about the Crimson twins and a chance for some insight,
even of a
superficial variety, could
be of great use to the JOES.
That, and Lady Jaye found Xamot's straightforward manner refreshing. One
thing you
could say about the twin,
he was never self-effacing or duplicitive about himself. The twin
seemed to almost revel in
the certainty of his identity.
"My car, and you so much as tip-toe out of line and I'll break both arms,"
she said with a
finger jab for emphasis.
Xamot laughed and out of his sleeve produced a white flower, which he held
gallantly to
her. A carnation, perfect
in every way.
"My behavior shall be that befitting of a gentleman, I assure you, Lady
Jaye," he
promised as she hesitantly
took the gift. Then he stepped aside and she led the way to her car.
"I must be nuts," she said under her breath. It was a statement she kept
saying again and
again as she drove to the
address Xamot gave her, very aware of the large form of the Crimson
Commander sitting comfortably
beside her.
"La'Shar? I don't think I'm familiar with that restaurant," she said off-handedly
searching
a little more for Xamot's
true intentions.
"It is a fairly new establishment, perhaps six months old, but has achieved
a five star
rating. And I can assure,
from personal experience, that their cuisine is worthy of the ranking."
Then he smiled, pleased,
and gestured. "Here we are in fact. I suggest using the valet. Parking
can be quite trying."
"Yeah, okay," she said, not happy with turning her car over to a stranger
in an even
stranger situation. But
still, if this was a trap, it was one of a kind. The attendant opened the
door
for her and even as she
stepped out, Xamot was at her side. She studied the restaurant front,
then finally remembered
this place from a local magazine. Five star. The best of the best, no
expense spared and it showed
in both the smoky, gold gilt edge windows and the early evening
diners equally well gilt
going inside.
"I'm not exactly dressed for this kind of place, Xamot," she pointed out,
gesturing to her
own jeans and blouse. But
he just smiled.
"You are beautiful in whatever you wear. Do not worry," he assured and
she felt a hint of
a blush tickle her cheeks
and wanted to kick herself in the keister for it. Yeah, he was handsome,
yeah he had a tongue like
honey, and yeah, he could snap her neck with a well placed kick she
knew the gymnast more than
capable of.
Unaware or just unheeding of her thoughts, Xamot offered his arm and she
took it,
resigning herself to whatever
fate she'd forged for herself. But still... the people, the set up.. If
this was a COBRA trap it
was a damn expensive undertaking for the taking of one JOE, and not
even a high ranking one
at that.
The maitre d' greeted them and Lady Jaye met his somewhat scathing glance
of her
attire with defiant glare
of her own. Though she had to admit, she really did stand out.
Xamot's look was even darker than hers, and when the maitre d' caught it,
withered. This
man was not the head of
Crimson Guard without reason, and she felt the corded muscles in the
arm gallantly wrapped around
her own flex in her defense.
"Reservations for Smith," Xamot rumbled, dark eyes boring into the maitre
d'.
"Ah, yes, Mr. Smith, always a pleasure to have you here," the man covered,
but still
couldn't let the matter
drop. "Forgive me, sir, but our dress code.."
"Is flexible," Xamot interrupted sharply. Then his hand reached out and
Lady Jaye just
caught the hint of green
folded amongst his fingers. "Your service, as always, is excellent, and
I
look forward to it this
evening in every way." It was a warning and not one to be ignored.
The maitre d' took his hand, shook it politely. "Of course, Mr. Smith.
Of course. We
would never deliver any
less then the best. Please, this way. I have your favorite table ready."
Xamot's favorite table was, not to Lady Jaye's surprise, the very best.
It was secluded
alongside a gurgling water
fountain that was the center piece of the restaurant, and hemmed in
with carved mahogany walls
decorated in clinging and fragrant vines. It was private and
secluded despite being in
the middle of the room.
The maitre d' seated her and Xamot did not sit till she was comfortable
and then, in a
flurry, a waiter appeared
and Xamot order up wine of a vintage and grade she did not know, but
was no doubt expensive.
"I think you put the fear of god into the maitre d'," she chuckled as they
were attended to
swiftly and without so much
as a sidelong glance to her attire.
"And well he should be afraid," Xamot rumbled smugly. "I am not in the
habit of suffering
fools who judge a situation
on appearances alone."
"Then maybe you can tell me why you work for COBRA? Sorry, but fool is
number one
on the Commanders résumé."
Xamot was not put off at all, but smiled and chuckled. "Raving lunatic
is first on his
résumé. Fool
I think is third, following ambitious." Then a slight gesture to the menu
in her hand.
"Might
I suggest the lobster Florentine? Quite a treat."
"Thank you. I will," Lady Jaye returned, setting her menu aside. "But you
still didn't
answer my question."
Xamot paused only long enough to deliver their orders to the waiter, who
beat a hasty
retreat as another servant
delivered a chilled decanter and two rose stemmed wine glasses.
"I'll take care of it," Xamot dismissed the man and proceeded to pour the
drinks. "So, you
wish to make this evening
an interrogation?" he asked, delivering a glass to her.
She took it with a smile, and a shrug. "It seems to be the best way
to know the company
in which I share."
"Ah, said like a true diplomat," Xamot complimented her. "So your files
on me and my
brother are somewhat lacking?"
"As I'm sure you're well aware of. You two have truly excelled at covering
your tracks."
"Yes, we are rather proud of our anonymity. Very well. We are involved
with Cobra
Commander and his schemes
for a very simple reason: money."
"That's all? How come I'm not believing it? I've seen you two in a fight.
We know you
both served in the Foreign
Legion, and you do not strike me as someone that one dimensional."
Xamot paused, eyebrow raised and for a moment Lady Jaye wondered if she'd
gone too
far. Then the eyebrow dropped
and a deep chuckled erupted from her 'hosts' chest.
"Well, yes, there is a certain dare-devil thrill in pitting ourselves against
you JOES."
"Thrill seeker. I knew it!"
"Guilty as charged," Xamot conceded. Then: "My turn. How did a lady of
such obvious
intelligence end up in such
an profitless institution as the JOES?"
"My father, if you must know. He was a World War two vet and my absolute
hero. I lived
and breathed his stories
of daring jumps and heroic battles."
"The real thing must have been a disappointed versus the fairy-tail?" Xamot
pondered
curiously.
"Yes, in some ways, and no in others," Lady Jaye replied. "But I never
doubted I was
were I wanted to be, serving
my country. I know you might consider it a superfluous waste of my
skills in such an idealistic
pursuit, but I know it would make my father proud, and that's enough
for me."
"We all seek are own rewards in many forms. I will not judge you by yours,
if you do not
judge me by mine," Xamot
said, raising his drink in toast. Lady Jaye joined him in salute and
sipped the wine, being hard
pressed to remember when she'd had such a fine vintage.
"Your turn now?" Xamot offered.
Lady Jaye shook her head, chuckling. "You make it sound like we're little
kids taking
turns on the playground
swing!"
"You decided to make this a friendly interrogation, I'm just abiding by
the rules of
engagement."
"Are you always so strategically analytical?" she laughed.
And he smiled disarmingly. "Is that your question?"
Lady Jaye laughed again. "No. No, I think it's pretty obvious that you're
always that
strategically analytical.
You wouldn't be a commander in COBRA otherwise."
"Okay, so what *is* you next question?"
Lady Jaye took another sip of her drink, resting it on the delicate silk
tablecloth, studying
her companion/opponent thoughtfully.
"Your scar. How did you get it?"
She didn't think it possible, but it seemed she'd actually managed to catch
the twin off
his guard.
"Oh, that," he declared, taking a sip and smiling privately to himself.
"It is self-inflicted, if
you must know."
"Self-inflicted?"
A nod. "Yes. I did it for Tomax actually, when we were children. Eleven
I think. Yes, we
were eleven. It was the
confusion. Even our own parents had trouble discerning us and it was
becoming somewhat of an
annoyance to Tomax. I did not so much care but I felt his frustration
to the point I decided to
do something about it." Another sip. "A hot knife, warmed in a candle
fire. The pain was.. extreme,
but the effect desired. The wound healed quickly but the scare
tissue was destined to always
be permanent."
"Wasn't Tomax angry with you? That had to hurt."
"Furious! The only time he ever struck me. But, in the end, he understood
my motives,
just as I knew his frustration."
Lady Jaye was silent a moment, pondering the scar in a new light. She'd
always thought
it a scar of battle. A badge
earned in a brutal or bloody campaign, or maybe even just a fight in a
dark alley, but no.. it
was earned out of the desire to make his brother happy. A totally
self-sacrificing gesture.
"You seem surprised?"
She was jolted out of her introspection by his question. "I'll admit I
am. That honestly was
the last reason I would
have attributed it too."
"As I'm sure you well know, my brother means everything to me. There is
no length I
would not go for his welfare.
And he for mine."
Lady Jaye knew that. Had seen first-hand just what lengths one brother
would go for the
other, amongst other things.
"Is Tomax okay with this," a gesture to the restaurant, "our date?"
"Yes. He's finding you quite intriguing," Xamot replied with a private
smile, that Lady
Jaye suddenly realized,
was not for her. The JOES knew the Crimson twins were empathic but
could they also be telepathic?
This was the kind of information they needed!
"You mean, he knows exactly what you're doing, right now? He can hear our
conversation?" she asked
and it was exactly the wrong thing to press her luck on. A steely look
came to Xamot's eyes and
Lady Jaye knew she'd just tread into dangerous territory. She'd tread
onto the connection between
Tomax and Xamot and that was a domain neither twin allowed
trespassers to enter.
"That's a question out of turn," he deflected her swiftly, and efficiently,
then smiled again.
"And besides, our appetizers
have arrived."
And a waiter politely delivered their food, serving them genteelly as Xamot
sipped his
wine and watched her over
the rim of his glass. She nodded her acceptance of his appreciative
stare, and the meal being
set before them. After that there were no more questions and the
discussion was kept, mostly
by Xamot, on safer subjects of business, politics, and even some
personal hobbies.
Time went far faster then she expected, and Lady Jaye was startled when
the desert
dishes were swept away and
she glanced at her watch. It was pass nine-o'clock and she knew
Flint was going to be getting
worried. Tonight was movie night and he'd promised to get dibs on
her favorite bean-bag chair.
Not that she was going to tell Xamot this. She didn't feel like being
teased.
"I've got to say, you've surprised me, Xamot," she admitted as he escorted
her civilly
from the restaurant.
"Indeed?" Xamot smiled genially. "Then I shall account the evening a success."
Lady Jaye laughed and shook her head.
"Well. Much as never thought I'd say this, thank you for a very nice dinner,
Xamot."
Xamot inclined his head. "It was the least I could do. Thank you for kindly
letting me
return the favor owed."
"Then we're even," she decided.
"So it seems," Xamot agreed. "Have a good evening, Lady Jaye. I look forward
to
matching wits, and fists,
against you in the future."
"At least you're polite about wanting to kick my ass," Lady Jaye chuckled
as the valet
delivered her car, Xamot
taking over and holding the door for her. She looked up at him. "I take
it
you won't be needing a lift?"
A negative shake. Tomax was probably on the way to get his brother, if
she'd learned
that much about the two
tonight.
"That's what I guessed." Then she eyed up the dark haired man and gave
him a
respectful nod. "Goodnight,
Xamot."
"Goodnight, Lady Jaye." And without another word he shut the door and stepped
away
with a last, courteous nod
of his head. Lady Jaye returned it and pulled away already planning
her report. She had to get
back to the pit before she could forget anything!
Xamot watched Lady Jaye's car dwindle into the distance with what could
only be called
a self-satisfied smile on
his face. He turned smartly as a stretch limo pulled alongside him, the
door opening. Tomax looked
up at him for a moment, then chuckled.
"You look as smug as you feel, brother."
"And I don't have reason?"
"I never said that," Tomax countered and Xamot bowed his head slightly
in capitulation.
"So? Are you satisfied with the evening?" Tomax prodded with a knowing
smirk.
"As if you didn't know," he groused, which only widened Tomax's grin, Xamot
absolutely
feeling Tomax's amusement,
but not put off by it in the least. The evening had gone better then
he had hoped, and it left
him verily pleased.
"Oh, I know," Tomax admitted readily enough.
"I shall be hearing about this for sometime, shant I?" Xamot bemoaned,
folding himself
into the limo beside his
brother.
"Allow me my small pleasures," Tomax retorted cheerfully.
"I always do," Xamot returned and smiled, relaxing into the plush seat
as a
companionable silence feel
between them. He looked out the window and into the hazy reflection
of himself, but not seeing
so much his image but the one that played in his memory. Yes, it had
been a good evening all
around he decided. And one he pondered thoughtfully as they traveled
home.
fini