Chapter 12 – Showtime!
Wes squeezed His younger brother in a tight hug. Soul made a strangled sound as Wes squeezed the life out of him. Wes pulled back grinning from ear too ear, showing straight, pearly white and normal teeth.
He smile faltered too a look of confusion as he took a good look at his brother. "You look different. Leaner and a tad more muscular..." He grinned clapping his hands on Souls shoulders. "You look good."
Soul managed to shake off his confusion and give a small smile back. "Thanks."
"We have some catching up to do. Go change into some street clothes and we'll be off." Souls eyes flickered too Stein standing behind Wes, who noticed and smiled. "I've already cleared it with your the General here.
Stein gave a nod. "Your not urgently needed on base right now Corporal. I'll send someone too let first lieutenant Thompson know you won't be able too help in the mess hall tonight."
"It's all settled then." Wes nodded. He shook Steins hand before turning to his brother. Soul gave a crisp salute. Stein returned it and Soul spun on his heels and walked out, Wes behind him.
"Well well." Wes looked at his brother with a smile. "What happened to the little rebel, that didn't believe in discipline or order?" Soul Snorted.
"He got shot by a crazy woman." He looked over at his brother was making a face. Soul grinned. "It's a long story." Wes nodded.
"So...are you going too tell me what the hell all this is about?" He grunted as they walked through the camp.
Wes smiled. "Not yet. There's lots of time, besides I want too hear about your new life in the army, all the details you haven't mentioned in your letters." Soul rolled his eyes.
"My life's pretty much a routine. I get up at 0400 hours too help Liz cook breakfast, go to training, help Liz cook dinner then bed. Not really that exciting."
"When is 0400 hours and who is Liz?" Soul sighed. It was going to be a long day he could already feel it.
"Liz is the camps cook. First Lieutenant Elizabeth Thompson, and 0400 hours is 4:00AM." Soul explained as they made there way into the empty mans barracks too change. Wes snorted.
"I find it hard to believe you get up at 4:00AM since your normal wake up time was 2:00PM when you lived at home.
Soul grunted as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. "Yeah, well...that was then. I'm...different now." He said slowly. He pulled on his sneakers and bounced on his heels. They felt different too him now. He looked up at Wes who was smiling.
"Yes, your absolutely right...you are different..." He observed him quietly for a moment before clapping his hands together with a grin. "Well, let's go." He grinned.
Soul followed him out toward the front of the camp where his car was parked.
"Are you going to tell me where were going at least?" Soul grumbled impatiently. Wes just grinned at him.
"You'll see when we get there." Soul frowned. He hated surprises.
"Isn't that Corporal Eater?" Kidd nodded his head toward the front gates as they walked toward Steins office. Maka looked up at the reports she was reading and followed his gaze. It was Soul. Dressed in civilian clothing, getting into a black Rolls Royce. He was with a slightly taller man, with the same shiny white hair and wearing a grey suit.
"It looks like it..." Maka murmured. Kidd mad a humming noise.
"Where do you think he's going I wonder?" He asked as they watched the car pull out of the Forts gates and disappear down the road.
"I wonder if that was his brother."She wondered to herself.
"Colonel?" She startled as Kidd addressed her. She nodded.
"I don't know, but I'm sure he has permission, where ever it is." She waved it off before going inside the office. Kidd nodded before dutifully following her inside.
Soul stared out the window of the passing desert for a few minutes before turning too his brother.
"So..." He started awkwardly. "How are things with you?"
Wes shrugged. "I played a concert a Carnegie Hall last week." Soul fidgeted a little. He knew where this conversation was quickly heading.
"You know you never did explain why you quit..." Soul cut him off.
"I don't want too talk about why I stopped playing concerts...ever." He pus his foot down. Wes sighed.
He didn't want too discuss how jealous he had been of Wes. He was good; he deserved the praise that had been heaped onto him since they were kids.
What Soul couldn't stand was everyone comparing him too his brother. 'If you could concentrate like Wes' this. 'I you tried as hard as your brother' that. Sick of it!
"Fine fine, never mind..." They were quiet for a few minutes before Wes spoke again. "How about what happened the night you left, when mother and father were telling you about the arrangement between you and that young woman?"
Soul glowered out the window at the passing scenery. "They had no right." Soul wheezed out. Anger swelling in his belly.
"Was it necessary too yell and break things though?" Wes tried too word his question tactfully, as not too further anger his sibling but at the same time getting straight too the point.
"They started yelling first and I only broke one chair." Soul looked at Wes from the corner of his eye. Wes was frowning, but never took his eyes of the expanse of desert in front of them when he spoke.
"From what I saw when I got back you broke it on the dining room wall, leaving a gaping hole and you broke a vase in hall on your way out." Soul's brow wrinkled. He'd forgotten about the vase he'd flung off the hall table when he stormed out that night.
Wes waited for Soul to say something but when five minutes had gone by and he remained quiet Wes gave a sigh of defeat. Another taboo subject it seemed.
"Have you been playing the guitar I sent you?" He asked hopeful, both that he liked and played it and that the change in subject would get him talking again. Soul perked up a little, looking at him and not out the window.
"Yea, thanks for that. I played it Christmas eve at the party that night." Wes smiled at him.
"I didn't know you bothered learning any holiday songs." Soul shrugged.
I learned a few during college." Wes looked at him with a raised brow.
"You spent four years at Julliard and they taught you holiday tunes?" He snorted. The cost of tuition for that place and they were teaching basic level things like'Jingle Bells?'
"Something I did in my spare time, it wasn't a class." Soul crossed his arms, annoyed. He looked back out the window. "Where the hell are we going?" Wes smirked. He could see the city coming into view on the horizon.
"There." He pointed. Soul looked up as they passed a bright green highway sign.'Las Vegas – 5 mi'
"Vegas? What the hell are we going too Vegas for, and what does any of this have too do with your letter?"
"You'll find out soon just be patient...please Soul." Soul caught the slight hint of something in his brother's voice. What was it? Desperation? With a sigh he leaned back in the seat and watched Sin city in the distance grow bigger by the moment, the sun starting too set behind it.
They finally stopped in front a black walled building with a bright blue, flickering neon sign. 'Majick!'The name of the club. The sign under it was what caught Souls attention.
'Live Girls!'Flashed neon pink. Lighting up Souls face with the flickering light. He jaw hung open.
"You brought me to Vegas just so we could go to a strip club!" Soul was almost screaming. Wes flinched.
"No...Not exactly, it's a little more complicated then that..." Soul watched Wes. His eyes wouldn't meet his and he was fidgeting. Fidgeting was something Wesley Evans didn't do.
Soul sighed, throwing his hands up/ "Fine, whatever." Wes gave him a small grateful smile.
The second Soul stepped through the door the first think he noticed was the smoke. Thick foul smelling cigar smoke permeated the air. Soul wrinkled his nose as he followed Wes to a table near a back wall. After situating himself Wes peered at his watch as a waitress took Souls drink order and left quickly.
"She's about too go on." He mumbled. Soul looked over at him as his drink was set on the table.
"She? She who?" The centre stage lit up and a spotlight shone on the centre of the red curtain. A booming voice crackled too life on the over head intercom.
"Open your wallets and hearts gentlemen! The Star of all the Majick girls! The queen of the pussycats, Blair!"
The curtain swung open revealing an already scantily clad woman wearing a red boa with dark lavender hair, gold eyes and a feral grin.
"Hi boys, nya!" She winked, waving a curled up hand at the room like she was clawing at them.
Soul looked back too his brother. His brow knit together. "Are you gonna tell me what this is about now!" Wes nodded toward the stage.
"That's Blair Sorales..." Soul just stared at his brother with a look that clearly read:'No shit, get too the point."
Wes sighed "...She's my fiancée." Souls jaw hit the table.
"She's your what?" Wes ran his hands through his hair. "You're marrying a stripper?" Wes groaned at his brother.
"Is it really that shock an awe?" Soul Stared blankly at him before taking his drink in hand and downing it in one gulp.
"No...It's only like finding out Lassie was an alcoholic!" Wes covered his eyes with his hand. "Is this what you were talking about when you said mom and dad were going to go crazy on you?"
"That's not exactly what I said..." Wes mumbled. Soul rolled his eyes, casting a quick glance up at the stage where his future sister-in-law who was throwing her bra into the crowed.
"I'm paraphrasing. Is it?" Wes nodded. So I guess they had nothing too do with it. Wes shook his head.
"I met her 6 months ago at a concert here in Vegas." Soul gave him a disbelieving look. "She was scheduled to perform the next night and was checking out the stage. She heard me play and after the concert came up too me and...We just started talking." Soul listened too his brothers story with a look of something akin shock.
"We just sort of hit it off and since I've been spending a lot of time here. I asked her too marry me last week and she said she would."
"I don't want too be the one too say this, but have you ever considered that the only reason she said she'd marry you is because you're rich...?" Wes shook his head.
"No, I'm fairly certain she doesn't know; besides she's not like that. She's a student at Las Vegas University. She works here too pay for school. She wants too be a vet." Soul scratched the back of his head with a sigh.
"I can't believe your marrying a stripper. There going too have a damn conniption. You know that." Wes nodded.
"She's not just a stripper!" Wes growled. Soul held his hands up in defence, and Wes sighed.
"I know, but I decided that if you can have faith in yourself, and make your own decisions then so can I." Soul shook his head with a toothy grin.
"What I wouldn't give too see there faces when you tell them you're marrying a stripper/college student." Wes sat back in his chair with an exasperated sigh.
"What I wouldn't give to not be there...?" The lights came on and the brothers looked up too notice the empty stage.
"Wesley!" They looked up as Blair came jogging up too them. Wes stood and caught her around the waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He grinned as she kissed his cheek.
She pulled back and Wes turned too him. "Blair, I'd like you too meet my little brother, Soul." She turned too him smiling.
"Well aren't you cute." She said wrapping her arms around the back of his head. Soul didn't even have time too scream as his face was plunged into her cleavage. He flailed wildly as she cooed. He finally managed free himself. He held the back of his arm too his bleeding nose. How many times in one day was he gonna get a bloody nose?
"Well, now that you've been...uh introduced, why don't we go too dinner?"
They sat around a table in a restaurant on the strip, having just finished eating.
"So are you a musician too Soul?" Blair asked curiously. Soul scratched the back of his head.
"I play the guitar and the Piano, but not professionally like Wes."
"Souls in the army." Wes turned too her, taking a drink from his water. "He's a Corporal." Blair looked impressed.
"What about you, hows college?" Blair clapped her hand. "It's great. It was really hard before, but things have gotten better since I met Wesley. He helps me study and understand the material better." She smiled at him. Wes returned it.
Soul sat off too the side watching the scene. He'd seen his brother's attempts at dating since they were teenagers. No one had ever really been able too make him happy, but it seemed whatever he had with Blair was real. Soul frowned. Why couldn't there parents see that they weren't kids anymore (Not that they were around much then anyway.) they couldn't control there lives. They were both adults and would make there own decisions, mistake or not.
"Is everything alright, Soul?" He looked up. Wes and Blair were both looking at him. He smiled. "Everything is fine. I just probably need too be getting back too the base soon, my day starts pretty early."
Wes nodded. "Sure, Soul." Wes paid the check and they left. They drove back too the base, Blair filled up every silence with funny stories and her giggles.
They pulled up too the open gates and Soul got out. He leaned in the front passenger window. "I guess I'll see the two of you around." Soul grinned. Blair smiled at him and nodded.
"I'll let you know when we pick a date and when it gets closer we'll get fitted for our tuxedos." Soul nodded.
"Let me know how IT goes." He sent Wes a meaningful look. He gave a nod. Soul leaned back out the window. "Oh, and Blair?" She up at him and Soul grinned. "Nice show." Blair smiled and Wes made a coughing sound as he choked on his spit. Soul sent him a wicked grin as he walked back in the Forts gates.
Soul went too the office too report that he was back on base. He peaked inside. The secretary looked up and saw him. "Brigadier General Stein has gone too bed for the evening but when he comes in tomorrow morning I'll let him now you got back." Soul smiled and thanked her.
He was halfway to the men's barracks when he was stopped.
"Hey, Soul." He looked up. Maka was walking up too him. He grinned at her.
"Liz was complaining all through dinner about lousy Corporals ditching there jobs." He snorted.
"She'll get over it; I had some family stuff too do this afternoon. She nodded.
"I saw you leave earlier. Was that your brother?" Soul nodded.
"Yea, Wes." She waited but it didn't seem he was going too say anything else. Soul looked over and noticed she seemed disappointed by his lack of sharing.
"He wanted meet too meet his fiancée." Maka looked up. "She's a student at Las Vegas University, learning too be a vet."
"How did he meet her? Your brother lives in Manhattan doesn't he?" Soul nodded.
"He's a musician, plays the violin. He met her at a concert he had here about 6 months ago. I wish I could be there too see our parents faces when he drops that bomb." He snorted.
"Why, you don't think they'll like her?" Soul gave a hard laugh.
"I don't think, I know, there going too make a great big thing about it and then they'll have no sons." He sneered. They stopped in front of her quarters and Maka put a hand on his shoulder.
"If your brothers anything like you Soul then he'll be alright." She smiled. "Goodnight." Soul stood dumbfounded in front of her door. Someone actually thought Wes should, or at least could be like him, instead of the other way around.
He smirked to himself and kept walking. "Night."
The barracks were just starting too get quiet when Soul got back
"Hey Soul! Where ya been?" He raised his hand in greeting too Black Star as he changed into his sleeping clothes.
"Wes came by." He mumbled.
"What! And I missed him?"
"We went too Las Vegas...to a stri..."Soul stopped. Black had a big mouth, and Blair was a nice women. He decided too leave out the stripper part in her and his brothers best interest.
"We went too Las Vegas. He's engaged too a girl that goes too Las Vegas University." He climbed into his bunk.
"Oh yea? Pfft, your brother has such a boring taste in women..." Black Star grumbled.
Soul snorted back laughter. "You have no idea..."
Sorry for the wait, been busy. Anyway. Its 1AM where I am, and I'm tired as hell so forgive any mistakes. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! - Malthazar LOS
