That Darker Side of Things
Author's Note: My Response to Balthy 100 challenge, it's rare that I do this so enjoy. Part of a multi chapter story; will tell you order as soon as I write some more. So now I'm into the whole Sorcerer's Apprentice fanfics, so what? It's a Disney thing, and then there's Iron Man that doesn't seem to fit the patron… but let's not worry about that, alright? As a matter of fact let's not worry at all and just enjoy this fan fic I came up with during my studies… Warning; starts a little dark ends light.
Enjoy!
Promp: #5 Death
Balthazar had known there would be Morganians out there for his blood. Yet more specifically out for David's blood, but they wouldn't pass the opportunity to get his as well, right? So he'd grown overconfident of been left alone after his apprentice destroyed Morgana, so he made a mistake, all master make mistakes, right?
"Balthazar…" Pleaded David through the tight hold the complete stranger had on him, while the one owning the name was punched to the nearest wall. The sound of his broken voice, the way he seemed to struggled for breath, and onto dear life, just broke Balthazar's heart and unleashed several other deep strong emotions he hadn't felt in years. Call it a sort of calling for his sleeping senses.
He was David's master; and as such he owned his destiny. And the world wanted, and needed, the next great protector of the particular arts they practiced because even when they were hidden, unknown, they were needed to keep balance between the forces of good and evil. So as owner of his destiny, the one yet to unfold, Balthazar needed to do something to make sure such plans came to fulfillment; so with a growl (yes, a growl; he wasn't too fond of them but even Balthazar was surprised he growled) Balthazar broke free from the Morganian brute trying to messily dispatch him, and with a rather strong plasma bolt send him flying to the nearest alley wall. His skull cracked loudly, if any sane person were dare they would have cringed, but Balthazar didn't care. Another brute was about to kick David, for the third time, when the stone beneath them lifted and swallowed him whole, along with his scream of terror.
"Bal… Baltha…" Tried Dave again, as Balthazar just took several steps, placed his hands around the man's torso and before the unknown Morganian could act… Two loud cracks emerged from Balthazar's hands, separated by mere seconds. The hold on Dave loosed and a third shot ran loudly before blood covered them both and the body fell down to the ground. The one bleeding against the wall stared in pure horror as Dave coughed some more and then Balthazar took hold of the neck of his shirt, lifting. Like Drake had held David up in the bathroom, Balthazar stared at the man up. His eyes flared red for a second, and then relaxed; only becuse Dave took hold of his ankle. Balthazar wasn't sure if because he needed help or because he wanted the older sorcerer to stop… He didn't care.
"Tell whoever sent you that Balthazar Blake sends his regards." And with that he threw the man out the alley.
Balthazar moved quickly to Dave, lifting him up, and checking his neck. The boy had a long cut around his neck, and was bleeding not to badly, but needed to get it clean soon. Dave was breathing deep; eyes wide and perfectly, normally frightened. "We need to get out of here, your place is closer, right?"
"I…"
"You need to change clothes."
Balthazar dragged David out of the alley, snapping his finger and making sure the body in the alley burst into games and vanished.
David was shaking when he came out of the bathroom, his injury no longer bleeding; but he was still frightened. Balthazar had had a drink (or three) from Benet's-not-to-secret stash and was sitting on the small table when David appeared wearing the new green shirt and jeans, and the pointy shoes (that Balthazar cleaned so he wouldn't freak out again). Balthazar stood, and smiled at him.
"Come over; let's take a look at that cut." And he did, nodding.
"I shouldn't put on cologne, right? It's only hurt." He mused, frowning as Balthazar checked the now clean injury.
"You can put it on, after this." And Balthazar wrapped his hand around the boys neck and closed his eyes… When he pulled back the injury was gone. David stared at him, a bit panicked, and Balthazar waited for a reaction. "Are you having a David Stutler on me?"
"No." The apprentice squeaked out.
"Take a look." Said the master, pouring himself another shot, as David took a look at his nearest mirror.
"Wow! It's not there. You healed me!"
"Someday you'll learn that." Said Balthazar, nodding. "It'll hurt inside for a while, until the muscle heals, but you'll be fine." He pours another shot and took it. David turned, having seen the action on the mirror.
"How many have you had?"
"Only one." And put in on the cap of the bottle. "So now; can we return to the original plan?"
"Right, right. Grocery shopping, you're right. The girls must be waiting for us." Balthazar nodded, picking up the bottle and walking to the door. "Hey, that's not yours."
"He won't miss it. Did you know he carries three types of gin in that mallet?"
They went to the supermarket, having been that the original plan and having been sidetracked by the attackers, and picked up the necessary items. Bread, cheese, some soda, tomatoes, potatoes…
"I'm forgetting something. I always forget something." Confessed Balthazar, looking down at the small list he carried, probably because of the alcohol running in his system. David pushed the cart, looking around the magazine aisle, but not stopping. They reached the wine section, and Balthazar shook his finger, moved deep into the aisle and then back out, placing a bottle of expensive wine in the cart. "I remembered we need tortilla chips, cheese, and meat."
"Why are you buying wine?" Balthazar didn't answer Dave's question, but kept moving to gather said items. Then they moved to the check out aisle… Dave's cringe was more than evident and he was surprised when the sorcerer just pays the items and just shook his head. "Balthazar? Why wine?"
"When we get home," He barked, once they reached the car, and pointed his finger at the apprentice. "Don't say anything let me do the talking alright? You'll ruin my plan for been a lousy liar."
"Alright." So they got their shopping loaded in the old car, and then drove home. Both Balthazar and Dave looked out the window and saw Veronica and Becky exit the house. On the way Balthazar had explained the plan, and not wishing to scare neither Becky nor Veronica he agreed in keeping things quiet.
"Ready?"
"Yep."
"Here we go." And they got out of the car, gathering their groceries.
"Hey." Called Becky standing in the middle of the small pathway in front of the Blakes, as Veronica stood in the porch, arms crossed in front of her chest. "Where were you guys?"
"Well," Started Balthazar, as planned. "The darnest thing happened." And they closed the trunk of the car, (large green and fully recyclable) bags in hands. "We were doing our shopping, as you lovely ladies instructed, and I send David to pick up the wine I wanted you girls to try." They entered the house, boys followed by girls, and Becky asking Dave why wasn't he wearing the shirt she'd selected for him, towards the kitchen. "When this clerk ran into David, making them both fall to the ground and the bottle of wine broke all over him. We had to go to his place, he took a bath, actually insisted on making you guys wait, and then return home for dinner."
"Oh." Said Becky, turning to David. "Babe, I'm so sorry that happened! Are you alright?"
"A little sore but I'll be fine." And they moved to snuggled in the living room. Balthazar took a deep breath and shuddered out, believing he was alone in the kitchen and turned to stand face to face with Veronica, whose eyes were narrowed and serious.
"A bottle of wine, huh?"
"Yes. Of course a bottle of wine; here they even gave us a free bottle for the mess." Veronica eyed the bottle, arms still crossed and now her eyebrow arching. "Oh, come on, you believe me do you?"
"Of course I do, beloved." And her face broke into a smile, her whole body relaxing, and nearing him to kiss him. Balthazar received the kiss, believing himself fortunate for having such a (slightly) gullible wife… "But you only drink after killing someone, don't you?" She said, squeezing the place where the stranger had hit him twice, getting a hiss of pain.
So Balthazar discovered he was the (slightly) gullible one in the relationship, so what?
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