Chapter Two: Hotel California
As the week continued on, they began to hear of the other realms receiving similar invitations. The internet was buzzing with excitement, many people eager to meet the residents of the new realm, and speculating what they would be like. "See? I told you it would be fine," Sirius said as Bad Cop relaxed.
Unikitty, on the other hand, became more and more anxious, the closer to Halloween it got. "I'm serious about this, you guys," she told them on more than one occasion. "I don't think Halloween Night is going to be quiet this year." Between her and Keelan's persistence, Good Cop was starting to share their concern.
I don't think it's just superstitious nonsense, he said. Vitruvius did warn me that opening that Gate might release other things back into the world. We shouldn't be so quick to write off her intuition, you know she's more sensitive to such things than most.
"Fine, I'll bring the crowbar. Will that make you happy?"
No, but I do feel a little better. Thank you.
"Are you sure there's nothing I can do to convince you to stay?" Unikitty pouted the day before they were due to leave.
Good Cop rubbed her ears. "You know how Sir gets- once he's got something in his mind, he goes for it. And he's been too excited about this to back down. And honestly… I'm not sure I want to try to stop him. We haven't seen him this upbeat since Atlantis."
"I understand," she sighed, leaning into the scritches. "You guys will at least go prepared, right?"
"Certainly. We've got an old iron crowbar we've held onto, for just-in-case situations like these. I tried to convince Cary to let me pack some salt too, but he wouldn't have it." Good Cop grinned, trying to put her at ease.
"I just really worry about you guys, okay? Now that I know how nice Bad Cop really is, and how much fun you are, and how much of a sweetie Keelan is, I'd be really sad if anything happened to you! You're my friends!"
"It'll be okay, 'Kitty. We have twelve very good reasons to come back in one piece."
Unikitty managed a smile. "Am I one of them?"
"You most certainly are."
"Eee!" She nuzzled him, mindful of her horn. "Okay. I suppose I can trust you to look out for yourselves," she teased. "And for Busy and Keelan."
Bad Cop switched out, grunting at her. "We've managed just fine so far."
"I know, but that's what friends do. They worry about each other, right?"
"If you say so."
"I do say so." She licked his nose, grinning when he made a face and grumbled "ugh, cat spit" as he rubbed it off.
"Why don't you ever do that to Alastar?"
"Cause you're the one that makes such a big fuss about it," she giggled. "Thanks, guys. I feel better now. You'll really be okay?"
"We'll be fine, you really don't have to worry."
Benny sat on the bed, unusually silent as he watched Bad Cop pack for the trip. Bad Cop finally stopped to look at him. It was all the prompting Benny needed. "I'm gonna miss you so much," he pouted.
"Ben, we'll be gone three days," Bad Cop sighed. "That's not long."
"So?" Benny sulked even more. "It's the longest we've been apart since before the expedition."
"It's not like I won't call you every night."
"It's not the same thing. I can't cuddle a phone." Bad Cop chuckled softly and leaned in to kiss him. Benny wrapped his arms around him, refusing to let go.
"I think you can make it two nights without clinging to me like a barnacle, Ben. And we'll be home on Sunday, just in time for supper. Okay?"
Benny heaved a reluctant sigh, releasing his hold. "Fiiiiine… You better call me."
"And I want you to have fun at the party tonight. No sulking just because I'm not there."
The spaceman smirked. "Like you're ever the life of the party anyway," he teased. "Alright, fine, deal. Kiss for luck?"
"Absolutely."
Benny gave him a sly grin and wrapped his arms around the cop's neck, pressing the lengths of their bodies together as he kissed him deeply. Bad Cop made a strangled sound and dug his fingers into Benny's ribs, causing the spaceman to laugh and squirm away. "Little minx, that's not what I meant."
"Just giving you something to look forward to when you get back," Benny said with a wink, grinning when Bad Cop turned red.
"I already had something to look forward to. Coming back home to you." Benny's smile softened and he floated back toward Bad Cop, resting his head against his boyfriend's chest and snuggling into his hold.
"You big softy. I really am going to miss you, you know."
"I know, and I'll miss you too. But it's only for three days." He leaned down and rumbled into Benny's ear, "you'll live."
"Gah." Benny giggled, even as he shivered. "Turnabout is fair play, I suppose." Bad Cop smirked and kissed his head before gently nudging him away.
"I'll see you Sunday night. Try not to get into too much trouble between now and then."
"B, you know me. I'm an angel."
"I do know you, and that's why I'm only giving you one warning." He grabbed his suitcase, gave Benny one last peck on the lips, and left for Octan Tower.
Sirius was practically pacing when they arrived. Bad Cop glanced at his watch; they were actually a bit early.
"Anxious to go?" Good Cop teased as he switched out.
Sirius was nearly vibrating. "You have no idea." He glanced at their unmarked cruiser. "…We should arrive in style, don't you think? Why don't we take my convertible?"
"Ooh, that pretty red one?" Sirius grinned and nodded. "Certainly, Sir, just let me get our suitcase." He grabbed their luggage from the back seat and followed their boss to the garage where his limo was parked, along with a couple other cars. He wasn't really a collector, but he did have remarkably fine taste, and the Cops were the only living people on the entire planet he would ever trust to drive any of them. He tossed Good Cop the keys and climbed into the passenger's seat as they stowed their suitcase in the trunk. Good Cop got into the driver's seat, and they were off, heading for the city limits and the Master Builders' open tunnels.
Sirius stared with open wonder as they drove through the portal that would take them to The Old West- he'd heard plenty of stories about the tunnels, of course, but had never experienced them for himself. Before the walls had been erected, it would have taken several hours to drive to the bordering realm, but with the Master Builders' shortcuts, it took only a few minutes to reach the desert realm. "That was amazing," he said, turning in his seat to look back.
"You mind if I turn on some music? We've got a long drive ahead of us," Bad Cop asked, and Sirius turned to blink at him.
"Oh. You're driving now?" He rooted around for his sunglasses, putting them on once they were found, and turned on the AC. Bad Cop shrugged.
"He gets drowsy from the monotony."
"Ah. Well, as long as you're the one picking the music, and not your brother, I won't complain." Bad Cop chuckled and turned on the radio. Sirius grinned as he recognized the song and leaned back in his seat, singing along at the top of his lungs.
Bad Cop listened in silence. It had been a long time since he'd last heard Sirius sing- years, really. Enough that he'd forgotten that a singing Sirius was a happy Sirius. He smiled to himself. It was nice, hearing it again. Better yet to know that their friend was finally doing better, even if it took an invitation from a stranger. He resolved to work harder at getting everyone together on a regular basis again.
