Notes: After watching the Once A Thief finale for the umpteenth time (you
don't need to have seen it to read this fic), my Jess-muse wanted for the
team to do the last scene. Then Adam decided that there was a story
attached, and it was his story to tell. Apologies to OaT and a nod to the
late, great Douglas Adams.
A big thank you to those who took the time to write such nice things about Wild Boys, I'm still grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Huge thank you must go to JillyW for beta, comma-patrol, putting up with my ranting and sharing.
Warnings: None required. Honest. Stick with it 'til the end of Chapter 2 if you don't believe me.
*****
Endgame
by Chya
Bent double over the car, his bleeding shoulder aggravated by one of Absalom's thugs twisting his arm back, Adam had a clear view through the double doors and straight into the gloom of Absalom's warehouse. He prayed he would see them coming out before the bomb went off. He prayed he wouldn't see them at all, that they'd found another, faster way out.
With their powers disrupted, they had no extra advantages, no more than any other group of humans. And no matter what he'd promised himself in the past, he'd grown attached to these four. Cared for them.
But to his horror, as time ran out, he saw them in the shadows, running for the door. Emma and Shalimar supporting the stumbling Brennan, Jesse limping to one side, all trying desperately to reach the exit. He called to them, urged them to run faster, into the daylight, but he knew, just knew that they couldn't run fast enough.
In slow motion the walls bent outwards, bricks falling and obscuring the four young mutants with geysers of dust, fire erupting through windows, doors, and gaps in the disintegrating rubble. Cold chills clawing down his spine, Adam felt his heart leap into his throat, tears springing to his eyes as he heard the pyrophobic Shalimar screaming, a terrified feral howl that was overtaken by the crashing walls and surging flame. For the longest time he could not stop himself from staring into the inferno, looking for some tiny grain of hope that they might still make it, might just pull off one of their last minute impossible escapes.
The longer time stretched out, however, the harder it became to deny that today a tumultuous, yet much loved era had come to a crashing end.
Deep down he knew that he'd never again feel the wrath of Shalimar's temper, the heat of her passion, would never again argue algorithms with Jesse or glow with paternal pride at his accomplishments, never again lay awake at nights worrying over Emma's latest boyfriend, or enjoy the pleasure of a dance with her, never again watch Brennan walk away or talk ice hockey over beers with him. Never again would he watch their fluid teamwork, either on the battlefield or off.
As the fire eventually died down hope died with it, and Adam finally admitted that he'd just lost the only four people he truly loved. That any future he had would be a wasteland of loneliness.
And his heart broke.
*****
To be continued.
A big thank you to those who took the time to write such nice things about Wild Boys, I'm still grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Huge thank you must go to JillyW for beta, comma-patrol, putting up with my ranting and sharing.
Warnings: None required. Honest. Stick with it 'til the end of Chapter 2 if you don't believe me.
*****
Endgame
by Chya
Bent double over the car, his bleeding shoulder aggravated by one of Absalom's thugs twisting his arm back, Adam had a clear view through the double doors and straight into the gloom of Absalom's warehouse. He prayed he would see them coming out before the bomb went off. He prayed he wouldn't see them at all, that they'd found another, faster way out.
With their powers disrupted, they had no extra advantages, no more than any other group of humans. And no matter what he'd promised himself in the past, he'd grown attached to these four. Cared for them.
But to his horror, as time ran out, he saw them in the shadows, running for the door. Emma and Shalimar supporting the stumbling Brennan, Jesse limping to one side, all trying desperately to reach the exit. He called to them, urged them to run faster, into the daylight, but he knew, just knew that they couldn't run fast enough.
In slow motion the walls bent outwards, bricks falling and obscuring the four young mutants with geysers of dust, fire erupting through windows, doors, and gaps in the disintegrating rubble. Cold chills clawing down his spine, Adam felt his heart leap into his throat, tears springing to his eyes as he heard the pyrophobic Shalimar screaming, a terrified feral howl that was overtaken by the crashing walls and surging flame. For the longest time he could not stop himself from staring into the inferno, looking for some tiny grain of hope that they might still make it, might just pull off one of their last minute impossible escapes.
The longer time stretched out, however, the harder it became to deny that today a tumultuous, yet much loved era had come to a crashing end.
Deep down he knew that he'd never again feel the wrath of Shalimar's temper, the heat of her passion, would never again argue algorithms with Jesse or glow with paternal pride at his accomplishments, never again lay awake at nights worrying over Emma's latest boyfriend, or enjoy the pleasure of a dance with her, never again watch Brennan walk away or talk ice hockey over beers with him. Never again would he watch their fluid teamwork, either on the battlefield or off.
As the fire eventually died down hope died with it, and Adam finally admitted that he'd just lost the only four people he truly loved. That any future he had would be a wasteland of loneliness.
And his heart broke.
*****
To be continued.