Okay, reviewers… not a word to me about book 7. 'Cause I don't want to know yet. Assuming I ever want to know, because, again, stabbing machine. Anyway, I think I've finally got myself re-invested in this tale, so let's get rolling again.
Chapter 3
Fang and I were flying together. Mostly together, as it's hard to stay level in mid-flight. There's a lot more to think about than when you're just walking.
"Man, I hope everybody's okay," Fang muttered. "A lot can happen in a week…"
I shrugged. "Not my idea to go beat up your dad."
Fang snickered. "Yeah, I know. Felt like it needed to be done, though. My mother told me all about him, and… well, he's a bad guy. We get rid of bad guys. It's what we do."
"I've never really seen us as superheroes," I admitted. "First of all, I think our own interests are pretty important. Not very heroic of me…"
"Oh, listen to yourself," Fang said, gliding in closer to me. "Come on. The world falling apart at the seams… you could hide. But you're fighting! That's… well, that's brave. I love you for it."
I closed my eyes. Well, my one eye, and the other is more of a robotic optical lens… anyway, I closed them both.
"I'm not strong enough, Fang," I said.
"Of course you're strong enough. You're mighty."
"No, it's not enough. Not enough for what's coming."
He came closer to me. "What's coming?"
I sighed, opening my eyes again. "A lot of things, Fang. And I have to fight them, no matter what, but… I don't know if I'll succeed."
Fang touched my back gently. "Sure you will," he said. "I mean, I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but you can beat back anything."
I shrugged. "I hope so, babe."
Fang spun in the air, flying upside-down directly below me. "Max," he said.
"Yeah?"
"In the dark of any night, the heat of any fire, the horror of any battle, you and I will never be parted, because I love you more than anything else in the world. I stand by you, offering my heart, my hand, my kiss, to the end of time. You are my everything."
I stared at him for many moments, before realizing my mouth was gaping. I cracked my jaw and made eye contact with him again. "Where the hell did that come from?"
"Iggy. When he wrote his own wedding vows and made me look like an idiot. I've been composing that for a while, and finally found the moment to present it. So, that's my vow."
I smiled. "It's nice. I'll have to make up some, too."
"No pressure."
"Of course there's pressure, you idiot. That was freakin' beautiful."
He took my hand as we spun around in the air. "You're freakin' beautiful."
God, that dude's too much sometimes. Overwhelmed, I averted my eyes and downed a Red Bull.
"That should do it," I said. "I've got enough juice for another burst of super-speed. Grab my ankle."
He did, and I rocketed off into the night. Up north, to our latest CSM hangout in the middle-of-nowhereness of Alaska.
