Welcome to the mother of all ANs…

First of all… Black Magic has its own AMV! Seriously! It was made by Coolteenzz and is awesome… More about that down below in the "thankyou" ANs…

As a reward for both ploughing through all of the below and for your patience in waiting for this update (as is the usual practice, you would have gotten it sooner if not for the site refusing point-blank to let me upload) you get two chapters instead of just one. The below… is new. The second one is one of the original chapters. The reasons you get two are; a.) because I'm so thankful to you all – I got EIGHTEEN reviews for the last chapter! And there I was thinking my readership was dwindling…; and b.) this new chapter, Renegade, is JUST OCs. There are no official characters in here at all. There is a reason for that, but I wouldn't just shove an OC chapter down your throats and leave it at that. It would piss me off immensely; I'd be like… "Uh, yeah… I thought this was a Teen Titans story…?".

So, huge thankyou to; TheLon3Wolf8986 (Yeah, Batman Returns was the best… and you dropped writing your own story just to read mine? Aww, thankyou!); Daybreak25 (Seth is both scary and weird. Trust me when I say he's not what he appears. Furthermore, yes; Bat-nipples! Shudder… Joel Schumacher already pulled that one on us with Batman and Robin. Shame they didn't slip up and put them on Batgirl's costume too; then maybe it might have been banned from being released…); Quinn and His Quill (well, I kinda already spilled to you about Seth, but there are still yet more surprises in store concerning him… And at least he's not a crow.); FaerieRaven (it's okay about not reviewing; I suppose exams have to come first. I am glad that you like Seth too!); Rocky-White Wolf of Curses (yep, the Batmobile sucked and the old Alfred was great… As for Jonathon – Yuh-huh, he's a suspect just because I said so… Hey, I wrote it!); Me (whoever you are… just glad this fic brightens your day! Also, I told you the sad, sad truth about Lost in Ecstasy and Robin Goes to Hollywood… And no, the RobinxRaven part is FAR from over…); Phoenix Skyborne (Gasp!Batman and Batman Returns are not crap! If nothing else, at least acknowledge that the fantastic cartoon show we all love – known as Batman: The Animated Series – takes much of its inspiration from it… And the finale to Changes: Nine Months More was superb!); AzarathGirl (well, I wouldn't call this fic genius, but I am glad that you think so anyway… :) And are you gonna trust Seth?); Kougraness (let's just agree that all my incarnations of Robin have clothes issues… that is, yes, he doesn't stay in them for very long… BB and Cyborg are back in the next chapter, now up! Don't worry, I didn't forget about them!); YamiTai (still the steadfast original Jonathon fangirl, huh? Then I think you will like this chapter, at least…); Narroch06 (don't start with me… you can't touch this! Na na na na, na na, na na… Can't touch this:P BTW, you're the kind of person that begs to be pushed off cliffs (not real ones; I mean the cliff-hanger variety…). I think it's because your reviews are little short of psycho…); Apocalyptic Omens (wowww… that is an awesome pen-name… Those are some good speculations about Seth (which, yeah, is an awesome name, no?) and I am glad that there is another Jonathon fan. You will like this chapter too, I think… On the movies; okay, I will give Batman Forever points for having Jim Carrey in it (he was an excellent Riddler, expanding on Frank Gorshin's performance in the 60s TV series to the point where it was just plain scary), and death to Katie Holmes! Or her useless Rachel Dodson character, at least… Ooh, and Raven has a huge part next chapter!); Seductive Angel (yes, you are cruel to me. I am glad you are so enthusiastic about Seth, though… And yeah, you gotta love the "Heart of the Ocean" on Titanic…); and last but certainly not least, Coolteenzz (no, you aren't spamming)…

…Everyone, listen up! Black Magic has its own AMV, like I said up top! Created by Coolteenzz, it's an absolute must-see if you have read this much of the fic! It is incredible; it has quotes from the fic in there, and how she got around all the weird things like Robin having wings and developing Raven's four eyes and stuff was extremely clever… It kinda overlaps a little with Asylum, I think; I mean, it has Slade kicking the crud out of Robin in there, anyway… It is to something called the Ghost Love Score by Nightwish and it's a full ten minutes of awesomeness… Lots and lots of Robin, much RobinxRaven, some parts of Slade beating up Robin/being awesome and even Trigon got in there… I LOVE it; and I demand that you all love it too! Also, anyone who reads Small Print (co-written by Narroch06 and myself – it's been updated, BTW) will know that it has another AMV inspired by it. The first one was made by Citrus02honey to Evanescence's Going Under; Coolteenzz has now added to the arsenal by creating the wonderful Crawling (the Linkin Park Reanimation version), and it even has quotes from the fic in there too. It's spectacular! If you want to see either or both of the AMVs, copy and paste this into your browser bar and get rid of the spaces; www . youtube . com / user / coolteenzz

It shouldn't be too difficult to locate Crawling (Small Print) and Ghost Love Score (Black Magic) once you're on her page. I hope you all love them as much as I do. Coolteenzz, thankyouthankyouTHANKYOU so much for both of the AMVs and for taking the time and effort to make them. Believe me, they are not in any way unappreciated;I don't know what I did to deserve such wonderful fans, but I must be doing something right… :)

Lastly, to anyone who thinks it odd that, in this chapter, Jonathon and Marcus speak to each other in a very informal manner (for example, they use slang and abbreviations), just remember that although the chapter is of course written in English – and therefore so is their dialogue – they are not necessarily speaking to each other in English. It would more than likely be Azarathian – if that language exists, so think of the below as a "translation". Hence, the informal language between them. I should think their informal grasp of their own language would be much greater than that of English, which they use to address Robin, etc.

If anyone dislikes this chapter, take it up with Narroch06, because it's her fault. Oh yes it is, don't deny it… (coughFAKEcough)

Coolteenzz, you get another ardour. These next two chapters are dedicated to you. Congratulations! Also this chapter in particular is for Narroch06, because the developments are her fault.

Wow… that's gotta be my longest ever AN…

Renegade

"What did he want with you?"

"Hmm?"

Marcus Vandiver looked up at his addressor as he shut the heavy wooden door to his study behind him; Jonathon Vaughan was sitting on his desk, sipping an ice cream soda with an extremely bored look on his face.

"Jonathon…"

"Yeah?"

"Mind getting off my desk?" Marcus jibed irritably, running a hand through his hair.

"Tch, it's not like you use it anyway…" Jonathon remarked, sliding off. He ran a finger along it and held it up. "See all that dust? That's from disuse! I mean, really, Marcus… soooo busy tidying up Seth's stuff you don't bother to do your own. Or mine," he added as an afterthought. He looked down at his emerald green robes in disgust, brushing off some more dust.

"Why should I do yours?" Marcus asked, irked.

"Because I'm a lazy bum and won't do it myself?"

"Got that right…"

"Soooo…" Jonathon sucked loudly (deliberately) on his straw. "What did that bastard want from you?"

"You mean Seth?" Marcus frowned. "You shouldn't talk about him like that; you should have more respect." He folded his arms. "And you should have more respect for me, too, come to think of it. I'm the Vice-Head Senator."

"Uh-huh. So I heard." Jonathon stirred his soda absently with straw. "So what? I've been beating up on you for years; why should I quit now?"

"Because I'm a higher rank than you!" Marcus snapped. "You know, I can have you dismissed as a senator, or give you orders, or—"

"Yeah, yeah," Jonathon interrupted irritably. "I'm real proud of you. Whatever. Now quit changing the subject, sir; Seth. Talk."

"He's back."

"I know."

"He wanted to see me…" Marcus' demeanour sobered up considerably. "It was… about the Avenger…"

"The kid?" Jonathon clarified, wandering over to Marcus' bookshelves, his soda in one hand. "Robin? How's he doing?"

"Not… not too good…" Marcus' tone faded towards the end of the sentence; but Jonathon turned sharply to him even so.

"Define "not too good"," he said carefully.

"As in…" Marcus sighed heavily, putting his forehead in his hands. "…The demon took over him completely…"

Jonathon dropped his soda; neither senator flinched at the sharp sound of breaking glass on the marble floor of Marcus' study.

"What?" Jonathon whispered hoarsely.

"You heard me," Marcus replied miserably. "He wasn't strong enough… It must have… devoured his soul…"

Jonathon crossed the study and took Marcus firmly by the shoulders.

"And have you seen him?" He demanded. "Have you seen the state the boy is in?"

Marcus shook his head, sweeping his dark brown hair back with the movement. He reached up and prised his friend off, smoothing his purple and silver robes down.

"No, that is why Seth requested to see me. He told me of the boy's state and wishes me to accompany him down to the dungeons to see for myself momentarily. He said he would come for me in a few minutes time."

Jonathon blinked.

"Dungeons?"

Marcus waved it away irritably.

"The disused sacrificial chambers, whatever…"

"And the kid's down there because…?"

Marcus rolled his blue eyes.

"Oh, use your head, Jonathon!" He snapped. "The boy has been taken over by the demon within him. Seth said he had to restrain him down there."

Jonathon snorted with pained laughter.

"Tying the poor boy up in the dungeons?" He repeated incredulously. "Well, why doesn't that surprise me? That's completely Seth's style!"

Marcus scowled.

"You should have more faith in the Head Senator," he said reproachfully.

"And you should get your head examined!" Jonathon spat back. "What is this, reverting back to those days centuries ago when the monks of Azarath used to practice human sacrifices to appease the goddess Azar? You know those sacrificial chambers have been out of use for centuries, and for good damn reason!"

"I trust Seth incessantly," Marcus said snippily.

"Oh yeah? Well, newsflash, Mr Kiss-ass Vice-Head Senator; I don't!" Jonathon snapped. "Are you blind? Can't you see he's crazy?"

Marcus shrugged cautiously.

"I agree that some of his methods are… different," he replied quietly. "A little renegade, even, but—"

"Different?" Jonathon accentuated incredulously. "Marcus, he is insane! You can't just go around tying people up. I tell you, when Raven finds out what Seth did to her friend, she's gonna be supremely furious. And some of that other stuff he's involved in, all that black magic and dark arts—"

"You know that's his area of expertise!"

"Yeah, and that's what worries me!" Jonathon burst out. "He's the Head Senator, as you keep reminding me! Doesn't it give you the heebie jeebies that he fools around with all that stuff? And all the time when he isn't here… Marcus, what is he doing?"

"That's not for us to know," Marcus said piously. "If it were, Seth would tell us himself…"

"I don't trust him."

"I know," Marcus replied coolly, "and I'm pretty sure he does too."

"Good." Jonathon nodded. "That's a good thing…"

"Yeah, if you're looking to get kicked off the senate council! You know he can easily replace you…"

"The same applies to you, Marcus Vandiver," Jonathon told him icily. "And the rest of the senate. He doesn't really value our opinions, Marcus; not even yours."

Marcus' scowl deepened further.

"That's not true."

"Tch, yeah; I forgot!" Jonathon turned away, folding his arms. "You're his little pet, aren't you? His protégé?" He smiled wanly. "Dear me, Marcus… how could I forget how you gaze at him during meetings, how you jump whenever he says your name… You're just out to kiss his ass, aren't you? You want his attention, his praise… Azar, you know… you're even starting to act like him!"

Marcus was floored for a second or two. Then;

"Act like him?" He sniped angrily. "How?"

Jonathon looked over his shoulder at him, his hazel eyes narrowed.

"The sudden cold way you act, like you don't have any compassion or feelings… And isn't that what the teachings of Azar are, Marcus? To embrace compassion? To become empathic about our feelings so that we may understand ourselves and those around us…? Seth's the only one I've ever seen shirk that approach, but now… you're beginning to do it too. The way he deals with things is almost… calculating. Cruel. Cold. He's so… mercenary…"

Marcus snorted.

"And I'm "mercenary" too, huh?" He barbed.

"Not all the time. Just…" Jonathon sighed and turned back to the Vice-Head Senator. "Yesterday afternoon, Marcus. Holding that poor boy under the water like that – you almost drowned him." He shook his head, shivering suddenly. "That was a really… Seth way of going about it…"

Marcus did have the modus operandi to look abashed at the mention of that incident. He remembered Jonathon having to haul him off Robin…

"Maybe he is beginning to rub off on me a little," he relented, folding his arms.

"That's not a thing to be proud of."

"Oh?" Marcus' head jerked up again angrily. "And the way you act is, huh, Jonathon?"

"Keep going," Jonathon breathed lethally.

Marcus leaned into him furiously.

"Believe me, I will! You are constantly late for meetings, sometimes you don't come at all; and when you are there you pick fights with the others or sit and make snide comments about Seth when he's not there. Not to mention your complacent and completely laid-back attitude and your lack of respect for Seth and myself, both of whom are in higher positions than yourself! Are you proud of that behaviour, Jonathon?"

"Look, I don't have any respect for you because I've known you for, like… forever… and I can kick your ass. And I don't have any respect for Seth because he is a sick jerk who doesn't deserve any respect from anyone!"

"Senate ranking is of more value than personal opinions," Marcus countered coldly. "I think it's time you figured that out."

Jonathon blazed.

"And when did you come up with that?"

"Seth—"

"—Brainwashed you. Should've guessed."

"Seth has never brainwashed me!"

"Close enough. What exactly is it about him you find so fascinating, huh? My personality might have much to be desired, my friend, but Seth? He lost the orb, Marcus! The Orb of Azarath! Our orb!" He moaned, tugging at his auburn hair in despair. "I don't like to even speculate what the consequences of the fulfilment of that prophecy would be…"

He looked up at Marcus, who still looked remarkably angry.

"What happens now, Marcus? With the Avenger, I mean? Now that he's fully possessed…?"

"Only Seth knows the answer to that, Jonathon."

Jonathon chuckled dryly.

"Well, now I'm filled with confidence… Head Senator, and guardian of the Orb of Azarath, and he doesn't even know where it is… And the Avenger is trussed up in the dungeons of the Senate House, all demonic and frothing at the mouth. Nice."

"You think there's a better way of dealing with this situation?" Marcus laughed harshly. "I'd like to see it, Jonathon! Moreover, I'd like to see you deal with it!"

"You know this isn't right, Marcus!" Jonathon snapped back, his hazel eyes flashing. "You know this isn't how the Azarathian Senate should deal with things! Tying the boy up? We should be helping him, Azar damn it! Exorcism spells, purging charms… Azar, the entire senate should be down there, right now, dragging that thing out of the Avenger!"

"Stop blaspheming, Jonathon." Marcus' tone was brittle. "Your outbursts and angry words do not gratify Azar; that much I assure you…"

"I think we have a bit more to worry about here than blaspheming, Marcus!"

"Jonathon, Seth told me that he tried everything…" Marcus' voice had become weary now. "All the exorcism spells he knows… everything, Jonathon…"

He looked away as Jonathon took him by the elbows.

"What do you mean, everything? You mean, even he can't…?"

Marcus bit his lip, shaking his head slightly.

"Seth said… he can't get it out of him… The boy… the Avenger… is as good as dead…"

Jonathon's grip tightened on Marcus' elbows until he looked at him; the auburn-haired senator's face was contorted into an angry scowl.

"So he's gonna kill him, huh?"

Marcus blinked.

"I didn't say that." His expression became extremely worried. "He… he wouldn't… do you think?"

Jonathon snorted.

"You kidding me?"

"Okay, maybe not what you think…" Marcus bit his lip anxiously. "But… the prophecy… To kill the boy… would be to fulfil it…"

"And voilá!" Jonathon spat. "So Seth's not on our side after all…"

"I didn't say that either…" Marcus shook himself free and went to the bookshelves. "Jonathon, please… Don't pick a fight with Seth over this. We don't need it right now…"

"And what if he is going to kill him?"

Marcus looked over his shoulder at his friend.

"Why would he?"

"The boy has been taken over, Marcus; that means he's a demon. And let's suppose that Seth's not lying, and that he really can't get the thing out of him… What else can you do with a demon but slay it, Marcus?"

Marcus was floored for a second or two. Then;

"He wouldn't. He's the Head Senator, and he obeys the laws of Azarath. By decree of the goddess Azar you know as well as I do that it is forbidden for senators to slay the defenceless and weak – and that includes those possessed by demonic influences. If Seth wishes to obey the law… then he cannot kill the Avenger…"

Marcus exhaled heavily as Jonathon stalked over to him.

"You think that's gonna stop him?" He hissed. "You know Seth doesn't obey the law, Marcus, be it the law of the Senate or the law of Azarath itself! You said it yourself that he was, if nothing else, renegade! You know he screws around with black magic and all those forbidden books in the Senate House Library; you know he disappears for weeks, even months, on end and never tells anyone where he's going or when he's coming back! Azar, Marcus… you could tattoo "Thou Shalt Not Kill" across his forehead so he would see it every freakin' time he looked in the mirror and it wouldn't stop him!"

"Jonathon, stop it!" Marcus snapped. "For Azar's sake, you hate him so much, don't you?"

"You just figured that out?" Jonathon snorted. "Marcus, I can't help but be worried about that poor boy down there… You know Seth is reckless, you know he doesn't follow the rules…" Jonathon sighed heavily. "And Marcus… you know as well as I do that somehow, one way or another, that boy is going to die by Seth's hand…"

"I don't believe that," Marcus replied testily. "If he's so bad and merciless, why hasn't he bumped you off yet?"

"I'm sure I'm living on borrowed time, too."

Marcus snorted in disgust.

"Come on, he doesn't dislike you at all; you just hate him."

"Because I don't trust him!" Jonathon sounded exasperated.

Marcus drew himself up to his full height instead of cowering against the bookshelves, which Jonathon practically him pinned to.

"I figured that out too," he said coldly. "Unfortunately for you, Jonathon, whether you trust or like him doesn't come into it. You aren't Head Senator, so I'm afraid you have to obey Seth's wishes; and mine too, as a matter of fact. And so, whatever Seth decides to do… there's not a damn thing you can do about it."

Jonathon stared at him for a few seconds.

"What has happened to you?" He whispered finally.

Marcus returned his gaze balefully.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You damn well know!" Jonathon spat, suddenly furious. "These past few months… there are times when you just act so distant, so high-and-mighty… when you act like him! Azar, that position of Vice-Head Senator has seriously gone to your head…"

"I merely follow Seth's behavioural example."

"Seth is a bad example!" Jonathon burst out. "Why do you trust him so? What has he ever done to prove himself to you?"

Marcus regarded his friend icily for a few seconds; then tried to push past him. Jonathon successfully blocked his way and roughly shoved him back against the shelves again.

"Jonathon—!"

"That boy's life is at stake here, Marcus!" Jonathon interrupted, grasping the front of Marcus' dark violet and silver robes. "And Azar damn you if you think I'm just going to stand here and allow Seth to…"

"To what?"

Jonathon dropped his gaze.

"Marcus, he's no good," he said finally; quietly. "He's no good for anyone; not for Azarath, not for… anyone…" He grasped at his auburn hair in anguish. "I'm afraid I can't help but be worried about Robin and what is to become of him…" He looked up again. "And you know… I worry about you too…"

Marcus blinked in surprise.

"Me? Why?"

"Because you're so in awe of him. He treats you like his protégé, like he thinks he taught you everything you know, when it's not true. And Marcus… maybe you don't notice, but he manipulates you. He brainwashes you so slightly that you don't notice – but I do. You say that you don't act like him but you do, Marcus. Not intentionally – you probably don't even realise. But you do act like him… and I think that's just what he wants…"

"Why would he want me to act like him?" Marcus barbed reproachfully.

Jonathon shrugged.

"So you'll side with him?"

"When?" Marcus urged. "What in all of Azarath are you talking about? We're all on the same side, Jonathon; that of peace and good. You, me, the others, Raven and her superhero friends… even Seth."

Jonathon released the front of Marcus' robes.

"I don't know, okay?" He sighed finally. "But I'm telling you now, one day he's going to turn on us…"

"And you think I would be at his side rather than the side of the Azarathian Senate?" Marcus inquired waspishly.

Jonathon shrugged hopelessly again.

Marcus snorted.

"Thanks a lot!" He said stiffly. "You obviously think very highly of me…"

He tried to walk away again; and again Jonathon blocked him.

"I do," the auburn-haired senator pressed. "I do think highly of you… but I worry about you too. I can't help it. I just… just don't want him to hurt you…" His voice dropped to a desperate whisper.

Marcus backed against the bookshelves again, his indigo eyes wide. Jonathon frowned at him.

"What?"

The Vice-Head Senator opened his mouth to reply but couldn't get any words out.

Jonathon was very, very close to him.

Marcus wasn't sure if Jonathon even realised.

"I…" Marcus began in a strangled voice. He cleared his throat and tried again; "How… how would he hurt me?"

Jonathon shrugged offishly.

"As long as he doesn't start you screwing around with black magic…"

A rare smirk crossed Marcus' pale face; Jonathon blinked, seeing it in the close proximity.

Marcus wasn't the smirking type. He smirked – as did Seth.

"And what would you do if he did?" Marcus inquired, his voice low; demanding, but… mocking…

He noticed that Jonathon's' hazel eyes weren't focused on his indigo ones; rather, they were watching his mouth form the words.

Marcus' blue eyes narrowed.

"Are you-?"

Jonathon kissed him.

Just a small one on the mouth; pressing his lips against those of the other senator.

For a few moments Marcus simply stood there; and then, for a few moments more, considered blasting Jonathon across the study.

He didn't.

He opened his mouth and kissed back; because it suddenly felt like the right thing to do.

Like it was the only way to settle their differing opinions on Seth Elliott.

He pulled Jonathon against him and for what couldn't have been more than a minute – although it felt much longer – they just kissed and touched and learned.

And then, just as suddenly, Jonathon broke away and Marcus pushed him off again. Both caught their breath, not looking at each other.

"What in Azar's name…?" Marcus panted, running a hand through his hair.

Jonathon looked up at him finally, still breathing hard.

Still shaking.

"I don't… know…" He shook his head, straightening up and wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "I don't know…"

"Marcus!"

Marcus whipped around with a small startled gasp; Jonathon followed suit at a much slower pace.

Because he recognised the voice.

Seth Elliott was leaning in the doorway to Marcus' study, his arms folded.

"Seth," Marcus responded, still slightly breathless. He nodded at him, tugging his flowing sleeve sharply away when Jonathan pulled at the cuff of it to get his attention.

Seth merely raised his eyebrows, apparently oblivious of what was between the other two senators.

Seth took his weight from the door frame, straightening up; his green eyes glittered with (there was no doubt about it) excitement. Jonathon scowled at him but Seth wasn't looking in his direction.

"Ready to come down to the dungeons to take a look at the poor Avenger?" He inquired of Marcus.

The Vice-Head Senator nodded vigorously in reply, ignoring Jonathon as he tapped him repeatedly on the shoulder.

Seth gave another curt nod and swept from the study, both his long black robe and hair flowing out behind him.

"Drama queen," Jonathon muttered darkly, watching him go. He caught Marcus' wrist as he made to follow the Head Senator from the study.

"What?" Marcus snapped, whipping back around; his tone was stricken. "Jonathon, I don't have time to-"

"Keep an eye on him," Jonathon interrupted in a low voice. "He looks way too perky and psyched about this situation if you ask me."

"Uh-huh." Marcus narrowed his eyes and pulled his wrist back. "And the other thing?"

Their eyes locked; and Jonathon opened his mouth to stumbled over some justification—

"Marcus!" Seth was back, his tone far more urgent and irritable than it had been the first time. "Now!"

And then, as though he had just noticed Jonathon, his glittery emerald gaze fell on the auburn-haired senator and he snorted.

"Should've known…"

He snapped his long fingers and Jonathan physically watched in surprise as Marcus' clear blue eyes first widened, and then glazed over, as though he had suddenly gone into some kind of…

…trance…

"Marcus, dungeons, now," Seth ordered.

Marcus was still for a moment; then gave a jerky little nod and turned away, leaving the study without another word.

Jonathon watched him leave, stunned. Then his hazel eyes narrowed and he faced Seth.

"What did you do to-?"

"Nothing I haven't done to him before." Seth smirked as he watched Jonathon glower; he leaned into the other senator. "You watch your step, Jonathon Vaughan. I can have you dismissed – or better yet, destroyed – if you don't toe the line."

"You're threatening me now?" Jonathon hissed at him.

Seth leaned back, smiling deeply.

"I prefer to call it "forceful negotiation"… But you may call it whatever you wish, as long as you get the message…"

He turned his back on the speechless senator and swept from the room.

And then, just when Jonathon thought he was gone, he leaned back in again, his green eyes wide and innocent.

"By the way, word of advice," he said brightly, his tone no longer low and threatening. "Kissing another senator could get you into a lot of trouble…"

He grinned and winked; and then he truly was gone, disappearing into his Soul Self to join Marcus in the dungeons.

Jonathon stared after him, his blood running icy-cold.

Azar… Seth knew…

Had he seen them?

Jonathon sank back onto the desk, numb; and then he put his head in his hands and uttered that one word – an English word – that he had never said in his entire life…

"Shit…"

Wa ha ha ha haaaa…!

Think of the above as a sprinkling of icing sugar on an already-iced cake; just a little extra on top to make it even sweeter. However, due to individual differences in people, not everyone likes icing sugar – and those who don't can simply dust it off.

What I am saying is… the content of this chapter (MarcusxJonathon) is there for either those who wanted to see it or those who maybe even suspected it. If you liked it, yay! If you didn't like it, don't worry. It's not a massive major part of the storyline. You can simply dust it off and enjoy your cake without it…

Mmmm… cake…

This chapter had two purposes, one of which was primarily to introduce an element of MarcusxJonathon. Please; again I clarify that their relationship doesn't affect the story. In the original they were just friends; in this version perhaps a little more. Either way, it doesn't matter. Their functions are exactly the same in the story whether they have secret feelings for each other or not. So if you did like it, don't be disappointed when nothing more comes from it. If you didn't like it, breathe a sigh of relief. The idea of there being something deeper between them, however, does lend itself infinitely better to later developments that are already in there.

The second purpose of this chapter was to screw around with you all a little more concerning Seth Elliott. To put it bluntly, whatever your suspicions of him are, he's just not a very nice guy. He is very good at acting like a very nice guy, though… He is either the Bad-good guy, or the Good-bad guy…

Well, this development was inspired by FAKE. As soon as I read Dee and Ryo I was reminded of Jonathon and Marcus and hence…

Renegade.

Onto the next chapter, then! Tally-ho, chaps!

- RobinRocks xXx