"Where is he?" Ace Cooper muttered. Not for the first time. The dark haired
man paced the length of
his living room, then back
again. He resisted the urge to look at his watch and sighed. Cosmo knew
they were
expected at the Christmas
party. They were late as it was. And apparently going to be later if his
apprentice
didn't arrive soon.
Turning as he reached a wall, Ace started again, then forced himself to
stop, his floor length cape
rustling softly around him.
Enough was enough. Cosmo had his com shut off, while not an unusual
occurrence, coupled with
his tardiness the magician did worry.
"Angel, I need a trace on the Magic bike," Ace asked at last. It was not
something he would usually
resort to. Cosmo almost
despised the thought of anyone being able to locate him at a whim. Ace
rarely used
the tracer for that reason.
But now...
Of their own whim his legs started moving again, carrying him in
long strides across the room. While
the weather was calm at
the moment there was always the real possibility something had happened
to his
partner. Perhaps something
bad. Surely the young man would call if he'd only suffered a minor break
down or
such.
He turned again, hands clamped tight behind his back to keep them from
fidgeting. But if worse had
happened... He tried not
to think about it, but it was a real possibility.
"I have located the Magic bike, Ace," Angel announced calmly. Ace blinked,
jerked from his thoughts
and reflexively looked up.
"Where is he, Angel?"
"The Magic bike is currently located outside the East Shore cemetery, Ace,"
Angel answered
promptly.
Ace frowned. Cemetery? What in the world would Cosmo be doing at a cemetery?
Well, he certainly wasn't going to find out here.
He didn't bother to look at his watch as he all but ran to the vehicle
bay. They were already late a
little, it looked like they'd
be late a lot as well.
***
The Magic Racer settled in the barely disturbed snow of the cemetery's
front gate, the soft white
powder sifting under the
explosive backblast of the engine. As the white and blue null-grav settled
into
silence, peace returned
to the small piece of land.
Ace jumped out, the snow coming up to his ankles as he studied the secluded
cemetery. It was along
the far bank of Electro
City's lake. A fairly undeveloped area due to its lack of buildable land.
There was little
else out here but nature
preserves and a few golf courses.
The Racer had settled beside the Magic bike and it was the first thing
Ace investigated. A lone set of
footprints led away from
the bike. Already the light wind was filling in the tracks. So, apparently
Cosmo was
here alone.
Ace looked around, not recognizing the place. Okay, so why was Cosmo here?
At a cemetery of all
places on Christmas eve.
Well, there was only one way to find out. Ace started following the tracks
that weaved through the
snow graced trees. While
there were no lights, the moon was full, reflecting off the pristine ground,
lending a
peaceful glow to the land.
Ace mused how strange it was to think a cemetery beautiful. But, in this
light, in the
quiet peace of the winter
night, it was quite beautiful.
As he followed the tracks Ace heard a voice in the distance. Only a few
words at first, but as he kept
moving he definitely caught
the sound of his young friend. And apparently Cosmo was having an animated
conversation with someone.
Frowning, Ace came around a tree and hesitated. He held, far enough away
not to register to
Cosmo's mage sense. Slowly,
carefully, the magician let his magic trickle to him. Just enough to augment
his
hearing, but not enough
to trip Cosmo's awareness.
Cosmo was sitting in the snow beside a very particular grave stone. If
the young man was cold it
didn't show as he continued
in his conversation. Hands moving animatedly.
"You should've the seen the look on his face," Cosmo laughed, shaking his
head. "Vega nearly gave
birth to kittens when he
found out Ms. LaSage cleaned his apartment." There was another laugh. "He
likes
her, mom, I think he really
does, but he's to shy to tell her," Cosmo snorted. "Vega shy. Would you've
ever
imagined?"
Cosmo's mother! Or more correctly, her grave. Ace knew Cosmo's family history.
His true name
amongst other things, but
this he had not known. And it was something Cosmo never talked about.
Ace shifted into the shadow of the tree, uncertain whether to stay or leave.
In the end he stayed.
Perhaps out of curiosity,
or perhaps from worry. He did worry about Cosmo whenever his true family
was
concerned. If you could
call what the young man had growing up a family.
Cosmo reached out and brushed some snow gently from the gravestone.
"I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while, mom," he apologized softly, shrugging.
"Guess the truth is I
haven't visited in a long
time. Sorry about that."
He let his fingers run over the cold granite. Yet to him it was warm. Like
his mother had been and the
memories he kept of her.
"So much has changed in my life, mom. You wouldn't believe it. You'd be
proud, mom. I know you
would. I don't know if you
know Ace Cooper. He's a magician. Well, he took me in awhile back, mom.
I didn't
trust him at first." Cosmo
let out a wry snort. "Heck, I didn't trust anyone back then, but he didn't
give up on
me. He's kind of stubborn
that way. But he cared, mom. First person who did since you died. He didn't
give
up on me and look! Now I'm
working magic. Can you believe. Real honest to god magic."
Cosmo, rocked back on his heels and raised his hands. An ethereal white
gold glow danced over his
fingers and he let them
trace the air.
Ace let out a soft gasp as Cosmo formed the light into a butterfly. Its
wings folded delicately, then
opened again, floating on
nonexistent wind. When had Cosmo learned to do that? He certainly hadn't
known
the teen was learning magic
imaging.
Cosmo opened his hands to the sky and the butterfly dissolved into a sparkle
of ebbing energy. He
smiled sadly at the grave,
taking a deep breath.
"I've never shown that to anyone, mom. I wanted you to be the first to
see it." He settled back into the
snow. "Real magic, eh? That's
not all. I'm Ace's partner in the business. I've got a real job, real friends.
I've
got a future, mom. That's
what you always wanted. I just wanted to let you know you didn't have to
worry
anymore about that." Cosmo
paused and wiped at a rogue tear that escape across his cheek.
Ace forced himself to stay put. To not reach out and offer comfort to his
young friend. He knew in his
heart of hearts that his
presence was the last thing Cosmo wanted. But seeing his friend in distress
was
difficult all the same.
"I don't know about the magic yet. I can work it, but..." He shrugged.
"We'll see. I don't think I want to
perform. Maybe some day,
but Ace doesn't care. He's teaching me, mom, how to work the magic without
blowing away half the city."
Cosmo laughed. "You can do that with magic, but don't worry, Ace is the
best. He
keeps me out of trouble,"
he assured the cold stone.
"He takes good care of me. Him and Vega. Vega likes to be gruff about the
edges, but, man, is he
the biggest teddy bear put
on the planet." Cosmo shook his head chuckling. "Probably why he's such
a good
cop. He really does care
about people." Another laugh. "Me, friends with a cop. Still blows my mind
sometimes. I wish you could
meet them all, mom, especially Ace. I wish he was my father. Well, he pretty
much acts like my dad, well,
the way a dad's 'pose to act. You'd like him a lot. Despite me being a
general
pain he does care. I wish
he was my real father. Really do," Cosmo sighed wistfully, fingers tracing
over the
gravestone again.
"He takes care of me, mom, so don't worry. I'm in good hands. I've got
Ace, I've got friends and I've
got a future. I.. I just
wanted to let you know," he said softly as more tears slid across his face.
He looked
down eyes drawing across
his watch.
"Oh damn," he muttered. "Oh man, Ace is going to be so cheesed with me."
Cosmo stood up, still addressing the tombstone. "We're supposed to be going
to Christmas party at
Mona's tonight. Oh man,
I am so late," Cosmo explained. "I've got to go, mom." He bent down and
delivered
a gentle kiss to the tombstone.
"I promise to visit more. Not keep you waiting another seven years for
news,"
he professed, fingers resting
on the stone.
"I love you mom, and I miss you. Don't worry. I'm going to be okay, so
you just enjoy being in heaven,
okay?" He delivered a final
kiss. "Bye, mom."
Ace shifted into the shadow of the thick, gnarled tree as Cosmo hurried
past, snow sifting from his
clothes as he jogged toward
the entrance.
"Angel," Ace spoke into the com. "Take the Magic Racer on automatic and
remove it from the area,"
he order curtly.
"Yes, Ace," Angel promptly replied, and he let his hand fall, watching
as Cosmo disappeared
amongst the tomb stones.
He turned, feet scuffling softly through the snow as he approached the
recently departed grave. Ace
paused respectfully in front
of it, a tender smile playing on his face.
Carefully, his lifted his hands, putting them together then separating
them. A perfect rose formed in
his grasp. Shear perfection.
He laid it, very gently, at the base of the granite marker.
"Thank you," Ace said softly to the silent stone. "For bringing Cosmo into
the world. Thank you for
making it possible for him
to be part of my world."
He paused, looking at the cold stone, yet feeling warm. Very warm. Suddenly
the party really meant
nothing. But being with
his friends, being with his family, it was everything. The only thing
"I will take care of him. I promise." He let his fingers brush against
the smooth stone, sealing the vow.
Then, as silently as he had entered, Ace Cooper left.
