Disclaimer: (See Chapter 1) I do not own Yours To Hold by Skillet in real life, but for the sake of the fic, I do own it in the fanfiction world (not really)
This fic is almost done! I have it all typed up. I just need to add the others, but they will come later (Alibi, where'd you go?) Take care,
RockyVRWolf
Someone was shaking my arm.
"H-Hey! Rocky! Wake up!" I opened my eyes and saw Phoenix staring down at me. Surprised confusion was etched on her face. "Is there something special about today?"
Sitting up, I looked at my clock. It was about ten AM. Opening my side table drawer, I pulled out the black communicator and opened it. I looked at the date.
July 31, 2009
Oh, right; I was 19 today. I dropped my communicator in surprise.
"I hate losing track of the days!" I shouted, pulling at my hair.
"Wh-What's wrong?!"
I looked at Phoenix.
"I forgot that today was my 19th Birthday."
Phoenix's eyes widened.
Grabbing my arm she said, "I have to show you something!" Phoenix practically dragged me out of my room. She brought me to the training room. At the far end sat a stage with mics and a giant surround system. "Do you know what this is about?"
I looked at her.
"Sorry, can't tell you," I said with a grin. "You'll have to wait until later to find out."
Phoenix glared at me.
"Slade won't tell me anything either. Tell me!"
Phoenix continued to plead even as I was leaving for breakfast. Entering the kitchen, I saw Xavier and Xaldin making breakfast; chocolate chip pancakes with bacon, eggs, orange juice, and fruits.
"Morning guys!"
Without looking at Phoenix or me, Xavier and Xaldin said, "Morning."
Phoenix and I sat down. A little while later, Slade entered the room and sat down. Xavier brought over our breakfast. He grinned at me.
"How's it feel being a year older?" he asked.
Picking up my fork I said, "Still the same as last year." I paused. "Well, sort of."
I guess Xavier looked confused because Slade said, "I kidnapped him on his 18th Birthday."
There was a loud smack after Xavier hit Slade with his towel.
"Bastard."
He moved away. I tried not to laugh. I felt Slade glaring at me.
"Be quiet."
"Yes dad," I said jokingly, snorting. Shaking his head, Slade started to eat. "First time eating pancakes old man?"
I laughed behind my fork and pancake in my mouth. Slade looked at me.
"What is with the pancake jokes?"
I swallowed my first bite.
"Oh, it was just something Phoenix and I were discussing the first few weeks I was here." I ate more pancake. "Nofin big."
Slade stared at me a little while longer before eating his breakfast.
"Rocky's friends are downstairs right?" Xavier asked.
"Downstairs and to the right."
"Okay." Xavier left. I finished my awesome pancakes, ate my eggs, and then started my bacon. Xavier returned, yawning. "I need to stop waking up at six every morning." He sat down in front of me. "I heard what happened back at your old home. I wish I hadn't left you there by yourself like that."
I shrugged, not looking up from my plate.
"They'll rebuild it. Even if I wasn't there it wouldn't have made a difference."
Everyone was quiet for the rest of breakfast.
"Can't you be quiet for one second?!"
I stared at the closed door in front of me. I heard Xavier and Slade arguing about something.
"He's moving too much! If you think you can handle him better, then you take him!" Xavier said outraged. "He was fine when I got him." Getting annoyed that they weren't coming in, I got up and walked over, the door sliding open. My eyes widened at the sight before me. Xavier grinned sheepishly and held out the little pudgy puppy in his hands. "Happy Birthday?"
I slowly took the black puppy pug in my hands and stared at its squashed face. It licked my nose solemnly. My eyes narrowed.
Holding the puppy out I said, "Wherever you got him, take him back."
Xavier carefully took the puppy, looking confused.
"B-But…Isn't a pug your favorite dog?" he asked.
"Yeah, but-" I stopped, looking at the floor. "He just doesn't deserve an owner like me."
There was silence. I saw Slade take the puppy in his arms.
"He doesn't deserve anyone else."
Slade dumped the pup in my arms. I looked up at him.
"Slade, I lost my last two dogs. I won't be around much longer and-"
Slade ruffled my hair with his giant hand. I growled in annoyance.
"I killed the last one and you deserve something to hold on to. And, whenever you do die, and he's still alive, I'll take him." He lowered his hand. I looked at him. "His name is Bob; your favorite name. You better take good care of him." And with that, Slade turned around and was leaving. "Come on Xavier; we have to finish setting up."
Xavier looked at me one last time before following Slade. I looked back at Bob. His eyes twinkled. He licked my nose again. I smiled.
"Hey, Bob."
The puppy barked happily and wagged his stubby, curly tail. I held him close, feeling better already.
"Slade got you a puppy for your Birthday?" Cora asked. They were out of their cage. I gave the pup to her. She looked at him closely. My friend laughed when he licked her nose. "He's cute." Cora sighed while giving me Bob. "I miss my Beta, Kisame."
I sat down and allowed Bob to walk around and sniff people. Alan pet behind his ears.
"He'll be a good boy when he's older," he said. "I can sense it."
Watching Bob, he went over to Lea, who was still angry at me. He barked at her (a very whiny bark at that). Ice looked down at him and glared.
"Leave me alone, dog."
Bob wasn't listening. He licked her leg and then pushed his head against it. Worried that Ice would kick him, I walked over and picked him up. I stood up straight and looked at her.
"I'm sorry about asking Kimblee to kill me from before." Lea stared at me. "It makes me sad that you still hate me for that." I looked down at Bob. "I'm really sorry, Ice."
Everyone was quiet. I looked up at Ice. She slapped me, really hard. I didn't care; I deserved it.
"You…a-are an ass!" She suddenly hugged me, almost squishing Bob in the process. I almost lost my balance. "I was s-stupid enough to stay m-mad at you over stupid sh-shit like that. I'm sorry."
Ice hugged me for a long time. Remembering what time it was, I tried pushing her off.
"Uh, I-I need to go." Ice finally let me go. Bob sneezed. "I have to tune up my guitar."
Robin stepped forward.
"Slade also gave you a guitar?"
I shook my head.
"It was my dad's. Slade never sold it like he said he was going to do."
The Boy Wonder folded his arms over his chest.
"What's Slade's deal? He can't have changed this much."
I just shrugged.
"Well, whatever is happening with him, I'm glad it is. I think he kinda lost himself when Wintergreen died. As far as I know, they were best friends since Slade was a teenager. It was hard enough for him after my mom died."
Robin turned his back on me.
"Never trust a villain," he said.
Leaning down, I set Bob on the floor.
"Believe what you want." I started to leave. "Take care of Bob for me, okay?"
I left the basement and headed for the training room.
"Robin doesn't trust me?"
I turned on my microphone.
"Apparently not."
"I don't blame him."
I looked at Slade. He had has back turned.
"What do you mean by that?"
Slade didn't look at me as he said, "I terrorized their city too many times. I kidnapped him twice. That boy knows how to hold a grudge."
"Do you think you've changed, Slade?"
My step-dad didn't reply right away.
"Apparently not enough."
"Why's that?"
Slade finally looked at me.
"I still haven't let you go."
Well that was a shocker! The man downright knew what he was doing was wrong. And yet, he still kept me here with the threat of my friends' lives. Or was that killing him inside too? I probably would never know.
"We all ready to go?" Xavier asked from his drums.
Slade and I looked at him.
"We will once everyone gets in here," I said. "Phoenix is bringing them."
"Got it."
I will admit, I felt like I was going to embarrass myself tonight. Never in my life had I needed to sing in front of all of my friends, Phoenix, and my sister. And it was just one song! Hopefully I would be looking at Phoenix the entire time (seeing as she was going to be in the very front). This song was especially written for her. I couldn't choke up!
Speaking of which…
"Dude, what the heck?" Beast Boy asked. "Are you going to sing, Rocky?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Will you not ask questions, please."
"I'm a little curious myself," Phoenix said.
I jumped off the stage. Grabbing Phoenix's arm, I pulled her to the front.
"You'll see." I set her right in front of my mic. "All I'll say is that this is for you."
"What's for me?"
Laughing I said in a singsong voice, "I won't tell!" I got back on stage. Slade sat on his stool and took dad's guitar into his hands. Everyone was quiet. Xavier sat down and picked up his drumsticks. Xaldin got the surround ready. I cleared my throat. "So, I wrote this song for Phoenix. I will admit, I'm nervous, but hopefully, everything will be a-okay."
I grasped the mic with both hands. Slade started his part with the guitar and I began to sing:
I see you standing here
But you're so far away
Starving for your attention
You don't even know my name
You're going through so much
But I know that I
Could be the one
To hold you
Slade joined in with the chorus.
Every single day
I find it hard to say
I could be yours alone
You will see someday
That all along the way I...
...Was yours to hold
I was yours to hold
Xavier joined in with the drums and Xaldin turned up the volume on the recorded music. I bobbed my head in waiting for the beat to pass.
I see you walking by
Your hair always hiding your face
I wonder why you've been hurtin'
I wish I had some way to say
You're going through so much
Don't you know that I
Could be the one
To hold you
There was a very brief pause.
Every single day
I find it hard to say
I could be yours alone
You will see someday
That all along the way I...
...Was yours to hold
I was yours to hold
I let go of the mic with my right hand.
I'm stretching but you're just out of reach
I stretched my arms out towards Phoenix.
You should know
I'm ready when you're ready for me
And I'm waiting for the right time
For the day I catch your eye
I point to my left eye...
To let you know
That I'm yours to hold
I looked away, still holding the mic, as Xavier belted it out with his brief drum solo.
Every single day
I find it hard to say I...
...Could be yours alone
Slade: Yours alone
You will see someday
That all along the way I...
...Was yours to hold
I was yours to hold
Every single day
I find it hard to say
Slade: find it hard to say
I could be yours alone
Slade: You're so far away
You will see someday
Phoenix started walking up onto the stage to get to me.
That all along the way I...
...Was yours to hold
I was yours to hold
I'm stretching but you're just out of reach
I'm ready when you're ready for me
While Slade did his solo at the very end, Phoenix and I walked up to each other. Smiling, I wrapped my arms around her in a warming hug. We didn't let go, even as Slade finished with the final note on dad's guitar. Then there was nothing but silence. Phoenix cried on my shoulder; happy tears.
Reaching my ear she whispered, "I am yours to hold any day of the week."
Tightening my grip on her, I rested my chin on her shoulder. Suddenly, there was cheering. Phoenix backed up, blushing. Smiling at her, I pushed a strand of hair off her face. Beast Boy suddenly appeared beside us.
"Dude, you sure know how to sing! I'm more surprised that Slade, of all people, could sing! I mean, holy crap dude!"
I grinned.
"We had practice."
Beast Boy ran off to talk to Xavier. Slade laid his hand on my shoulder.
"That went better than I expected."
"Definitely." I paused. "Can I talk to you privately for a second?"
Slade glanced at Phoenix.
"Oh, right; going now."
Phoenix walked off. Slade looked at me.
"What do you want?"
I scuffed my shoe across the floor while looking at it.
"Well, I think Phoenix will be even happier if she wasn't a demon, you know."
There was a pause.
"Go on."
I looked up at him.
"I know of a scroll that can get rid of it for her. But I need to go to Japan to get it."
"Japan?"
"I need to go back to Konohagakure in order to get the Demon Releasing Scroll."