The next few days went by in a blur. After Talos left me I went and told my plan to Dezi and Zabber. Their reply was instantaneous.
"When do we leave?" I couldn't help but grin at their enthusiasm. I guess in a way it made me feel as though I was doing something right. I had contacted Shadow that same night and he was willing to pick us up any time we were ready.
"You should have told me what was going on," he admonished, though there was a hint of a smile in his voice.
"And what would you have done? Come barging in like a knight in shining armor? I think not."
"So little faith in me Sarin? I'm hurt." Once again a grin found its way to my face that night.
"Of course I have faith in you Shadow, but…"
"But what? Sarin, what's really been going on over there? You cannot expect me to believe that the only reason why I'm coming to get you guys is because you want to have a vacation." I heaved a sigh, rolling my eyes heavenward and told him everything. By the time I was finished the line was silent.
"Can you wait another three days?" he asked finally, his tone unreadable.
"Yes."
"I'll be there then, just hand on a little while longer Sarin," he said, and mumbling a quick goodbye he hung up. That wasn't smart. My mind piped, the voice in my head sounding smug. But in truth I no longer cared. I knew what that silence was. And I was relieved to say that his anger was not at me, but at something else. No I cannot say that it was the yajuta, but it was only when I had mentioned them did he grow uncharaistically silent. All I wanted was a clean getaway.
Until Shadow came to retrieve us, I remained isolated, only making contact when I had no other choice. The further away I stayed the easier it would be to escape. And very soon it was the day the Shadow was coming. Anticipation prickled at my skin with violent electric shocks of adrenaline. Dezi, Zabber and I sat in my room, boredom clinging to us like a second skin. Dezi had sprawled out at the foot of the bed, her eyes closed as she drifted in and out of sleep. I lay close to Zabber, curled to where my head rested against his hard chest, his heart thundering underneath my ear. In spite of his appearance, he was very comfortable, and I could hide the snort of amusement at the sight of his tail wrapped possessively around my leg. I didn't get why the yajuta hated him so. He seemed so harmless to me. You're not exactly a cuddly kitten either you realize. I rolled my eyes and pressed them shut, hoping that we could leave without too much of a problem.
"You're worried," Zabber said, his voice sure and to the point. I kept my eyes clothes but a smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth.
"Among other things. Do you think me a coward?" I asked finally opening my eyes and looking up into his eyeless face.
"No, a bit of a pain in the ass yess, but not a coward," he said, his version of lips peeling back to give me a grim smile.
"So do you think I'm doing the right thing?"
"Of course, though you do understand that we wont be leaving peacefully." I nodded, sighing deeply as I tucked my head under his chin. A low comforting hiss rumbling through his chest as his arms snaked their way around my waist. His embrace was loose, comforting, and protective, something that no one ever really considered Zabber capable of being. But I begged to differ. They would pay for what they did to him. I would make sure of that.
"I want to kill them…all of them," I admitted, twinge in my voice causing my own blood to chill.
"Killing them will ssolve nothing."
"Just the same, I want them dead."
"And then what Ssarin? You have more control than that."
"Do I?" I asked, my voice sounding doubtful.
"Because as of late, I really don't know what to think. I don't know what's happening to me Zabber. These…urges are clouding my mind. I cant think clearly. And all I want to hear is their flesh rendering beneath my claws. I need help Zabber, and I'm not afraid to admit it," I sighed, allowing my claws to trace patterns on his head.
"That'ss why Sshadow iss coming isn't it? To help you regain your control?" I sighed and nodded once again, continuing my tracing of nonexistent patterns on Zabber's skull. There was a comfortable silence between us, something I didn't deem worthy of disturbing. However I was beginning to grow restless.
"Hey Dezi?"
"Hmm?"
"Wanna go for a drive?" She sat up an looked at me concern etched in her face.
"Whats the matter?"
"Nothing…but I'm in a funky mood."
"Oh no…not one of your country funks." I stuck my tongue out at her and stood, stretching my arms above my head.
"And so what if it is?" I challenged trying hard not to laugh at the false horrified look on her face.
"Oh boy…what song?" I grabbed my MP3 and flipped through my music and found the perfect one.
"Come on, sorry Zabber, ladies only," I waved, pulling Dezi behind me to the garage. All the while I couldn't get rid of the grin on my face.
"Sarin, what the hell?" she asked when we were in the car. I said nothing as I set everything up, making sure the windows were down when I turned the volume up. I pressed play as I pressed to button for the garage door to open.
As soon as the first few cords of the music started to play, Dezi developed a wicked grin before she started laughing.
Baby why don't we just turn that TV off?
Three hundred fifteen channels of nothing but bad news on
Well it might be me but the way I see it the whole wide world has gone crazy
So baby why don't we just dance?
Neither of us could keep the grins off our face as we pulled out singing at the top of lungs.
Guess the little bitty living room aint gonna look like much
When the lights go down and we move the couch its gonna be more than enough
For my two left feet and our two hearts beatin' nobody's gonna see us go crazy
We knew everyone in the house had heard us, but this was normal. This was something that Dezi and I did often. And it was way long past due.
So baby why don't we just dance?
Down the hall maybe straight up the stairs
Bouncin' off the wall floatin' on air
Baby why don't we just dance?
The car bounced slightly as we rocked to the music, the two of us dancing in our seats. The speed limit was ignored. Because we were doing as the song said, floatin' on air, and you better believe we were dancing.
Baby why don't you go put your best dress on?
Those high heeled shoes you love to lose as soon as the tunes come on
On second thought just the way you are is already drivin' me crazy
So baby why don't we just dance
Down the hall maybe straight up the stairs
bouncin' off the wall floatin' on air
Baby why don't we just dance? Ah cut a rug Well it might be me but the way I see it the whole wide world has gone crazy
so baby why don't we just dance?
Oh baby why don't we just dance?
The last lines were sung at the top of lungs both of us laughing wildly as the song came to an end.
"So what bought this on?" Dezi asked as I took an exit to the interstate. Turning the music down considerably I sighed, annoyed at myself for doing so, and chose my words wisely.
"I missed this." The puzzled look she gave me caused me to sigh again, but I continued.
"I miss going out on drives with my best friend with the music blasting. I miss flirting with guys, I miss making our 'menu' over who we think is top shelf and who think we should clone for closer inspection. Fuck…who the hell am I kidding? I miss having fun." I caught her smile out of the corner of my eye, but I knew the look. It was a look of knowing. It wasn't just me that missed it all, she did as well.
"Let's make a deal Sarin…no matter what happens on this twisted vacation of ours, we have to have fun. No serious shit, no worries, no nothing, just us goofing off and doing whatever the hell we want." I smiled, the first genuine one in a long while and nodded.
"Agreed, we're gonna have fun," I beamed, laughing slightly at the face Dezi made.
A/N: I know I should be beaten for not updating sooner, but hey guess what…NO MORE WRITER'S BLOCK. You have that lovely little tune by Josh Tuner to thank for that. And so you know, I was listening to this song when writing this fic. XD. Hope you enjoy, I'm working on the next chapter as we speak. I mean it really!