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Title: Batman
Author: Snoopy
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Angst, Slash
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just an old shoe. That's it, a smelly, possibly mouldy shoe. Sue if ya want it, but otherwise…don't? Please? Pirdy please, with a cherry on top?…
Plot Notes: Set Sumtime.
Archive: If u wanna, but could u let me know???
Feedback: Flames, cherry bombs, whatever. All is welcome. ;)
Authors Notes: This is a story about people. It has words
"…" = Speech
'…' = Thoughts
No! It's…
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The engine revved as Lance lingered at the stoplight. Pietro sat quietly next to him, shredding the already minute receipt with his long slender hands, his eyes fixed on a point only he could see. Steaming pizza's were laid in their boxes amongst the trash on the back seat, their aroma spreading through the damp air to waft up the boys' noses. Both were dressed in arguably the most ugly clothing on the face of the planet - one in a combination of theatre usher and 18th century 'gentleman', the other in the bright orange and mauve of Willie Wankersons' Pizza Parlour. Green. Tyres squealed as Lance took off, trying fruitlessly to fill the void left by the younger boys' unusual silence. "So uh, Pietro…yeah."
"Hmnph"
"How was work?"
"Fine." Pietro's eyes flicked toward the seizmatically-enclined mutant, then returned to their previous position.
"You've been quiet today."
"Yeah."
Lance frowned. "Is anything wrong, Pietro?" The frown deepened as the boy stiffened beside him.
"No, why?" The terse reply didn't faze Lance, who tried a new approach.
"Todd needs help with his homework tonight. Could you maybe-"
"Sure."
"You know that if you ever need anything-"
"I know, Lance."
"OK, then…"
Why was Lance being so pushy? Pietro was terrified that if the other boy asked any more questions he would blurt out what he had seen, and that would lead to him telling what he had felt when he had seen it. NOTHING was worth loosing Lance, even if it was the truth. The speedster had lain awake most of the night, sweating heavily, the events of the previous day had playing over again and again in his mind - the doll, the speedos, Lance turning up at work and offering him a ride home (even though he didn't finish for three hours). Why'd he think it was so late? Not that it had really mattered - Lance had simply bought another movie ticket to occupy his time. Sighing deeply, Pietro clambered from the now-stationary car. Why was it so hard to move these days? 'Stupid depression. If you told him, you could be happ… Bullshit. If I told him, I could be squished into a bloody pulp by his fleeing feet. Stupid Lance with his stupid straightness- Ow!' The door that had jumped out and attacked Pietro offered no apology. Grrrrrrrr.
Balancing heavy pizza boxes, Lance followed the mumbling boy inside.
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'Pizza on the table…guard it from Freddy with a piece of cucumber…DON'T break the plates…' "Guy's! Dinner's up!" Lance sat next to the pizza boxes, vegetable in hand, as Fred and Todd thundered into the room. Surprisingly enough, the Blob was completely and utterly repulsed by cucumber; no one could figure out why, or even tried to. Cucumber was the only thing that ensured they could ALL eat at night. Or in the morning. Or at lunch…
Pietro walked in just in time to grab a slice or two before Fred ate his share of the meal. The slight boy ate in silence, then retreated at a rather normal pace to his room. THAT worried Lance more than anything else; there was always something up when Pietro wasn't running. He sighed and stood, collecting barren plates on his way out. Adopting his usual 'parent' position, he called over his shoulder, "Todd. Fred. Homework. Now!"
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Unbeknownst to most, Todd Tolensky was pretty smart. Constant exile from the general population had made him into a rather observant guy; there's only so much silence one can take before you look to other things as a means of communication. Behaviour's just the most obvious tool. Only he noticed the looks Pietro shot Lance over the pizza boxes when he thought no-one was looking, and only he noticed Lance do the same thing back. Neither boy caught the others eye - it was almost like they didn't want each other to know they were looking. It was almost like they shared a secret, but were unaware that they both knew. He thought it over, taking a small amount of 'Todd Time' out of his fretting over the problem that was his Maths. What was going on? In any case Todd knew one thing for certain - It was up to the Toad to find out…
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To Be Continued…