Holding Out For A Hero - Chapter 01
Author: Shadow Kyle
Archive: Yes, ask first please. kyle.scott@mindspring.com
Warnings: Adult topics and language, M/M slash themes, gender identity.
Rating: R. The NC-17 version can be viewed at my website.
Universe notes: I have taken liberties with the H-Dial for this story, but the DCU history of it remains true for the most part. The story begins in 2012. Tyler Lane is the adult son of Lucy Lane, Lois Kent's sister. Lucy Lane is a single mother in this universe. His father is Ron Troupe.
Disclaimer: Tyler Lane and Persephone are mine. Jamie Lynn Spears is her own person. "Dance Of The Vampires" was a musical produced in 2002. All other characters belong to the DCU of DC Comics. I'm just taking them out for a test drive.
=========================
I'm running on empty these days. Between balancing a full time job and training at nights as a full time superhero, I get no sleep at all. Rivka has been very pushy about the dark rings under my eyes. I brush it off that I've just not been sleeping well these past few weeks. That the stress of getting this new show mounted is taking its toll.
I have no social life. Ok, not that I had much of one before. But still, I would like to have the chance to go out at least once and not worry about trying to "save the day", either at my job or when I'm whatever hero is dialed that night. I'm getting so punchy that I almost dialed myself up when the printer next to my workstation started to smoke. Oh, that would have gone over really well! DUM Da DUMMM! Here comes Hardware Servitron to fight injustice in the world of evil office equipment!
That wouldn't be the weirdest thing that I've been recently. Since first dialing myself into Vesper, among other things I've been a human incarnation of a lesser Norse god, a really fat man that can absorb electricity and release it again through my punches, a woman that can age things until they turn to dust, and a pixie. Perse is still ragging me with fairy jokes over that one!
I've rescued a family from a burning building. I single handedly halted a hostage situation at a bank (as "the Negotiator" no less). There was those kids that just about drowned during a midnight swim in Central Park. But mainly, I've been dealing with street crime, muggings and snatch-and-grab type things. In nearly every instance, I've dialed into someone that is just right for the situation.
Perse doesn't understand why I tend to retain my own personality for nearly every hero. It was a little disconcerting being a Norse demigod with a rather obvious New York flavored accent. She says that eventually, I won't need the dial. The magic will just become part of me and I will be able to change at will. Also, that once I store enough of the energy, I'll be able to repeat the appearance of the heroes. But for right now, I'd settle just to be Sleeping Man, master of the forty winks.
I've been avoiding the police at all costs. It just won't do to fill out reports or give them my name when I'll be gone soon after I dial myself back to normal. I can't give them my real name for fear of some retaliation against me that would endanger my home or office. I still don't know how other heroes can possibly have real lives outside of this. Then again, they probably don't have to deal with the nine-to-five drudge like I do.
The press is having a field day with me. It seems that every other day, there are reports of all these new costumed vigilantes in the upper west side. I've even managed to push the Titans off the front page a couple of times, now reduced to "Titans save UN from Giant Water Beast: See page 2A". The mayor and police chief have denounced me. Apparently, I don't play nice with the city officials like they want. They'll just have to wait. I'm no where near ready to make a public announcement that the Big Apple has a new hero in town. Plus, I've noticed that the minute you do, some supervillian shows up at the same time to take a piece of out of your ass. And you never win that first big fight. I'll stick to my playground for now and just deal with the everyday mundane crimes and emergencies. No Earth-shattering crisis for me right now, thank you.
"Tyler, here's the schedule for the new photographs to be taken of the "Vampire" cast. Hopefully, they can get that done in one session and you can enjoy this lovely Friday evening resting," Rivka shot her best mother hen eyeball at me and tossed the packet onto my desk without missing a step. We had already taken these pictures once, but after the leading lady was dismissed and then replaced by Jamie Lynn Spears we have to reshoot the majority of the them. She is in nearly every scene of the show. While Rivka got to work out negotiations with Actor's Equity and Spears' agent, I got the cushy task of dealing with miss diva and her managers. Plus a new photographer that I have never worked with before. Someone named...
=================================================
"...Donna Troy?" I held out my hand to greet our new photographer. "I'm Tyler Lane."
"Pleased to meet you," she replied and took my hand. I swear this woman had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. If I was into women, I'd have been reduced to a gibberish spouting moron. She held my hand for just a little longer than necessary, as if she were sizing me up. She cocked her head just a little to the right and raised one brow. What's that about? I held open the stage door for her and we greeted the security guard the desk. I picked up her equipment and was shocked at how heavy it was. She didn't have an assistant with her having arrived alone. How the heck did she get this downtown by herself?
I got Hal, the stage manager, setting the lights and scene sequence with the booth gal and stage hands while Donna went about her business checking light levels and prepping her equipment. In about thirty minutes, the cast would be on stage in costumes and makeup getting ready to walk their way through the show for Donna's camera. I checked the sign-in sheet by the stage door and noticed La Spears had not yet checked in. Where the hell was she? This entire thing was set up for her and now she's going to put us all behind schedule. *Fucking great. If she turns out to be like her sister...*
I pulled her manager's number from my Blackberry and dialed it from the phone at the stage manager's desk. No answer.
I pulled out my cell phone, plugged the headpiece into my ear and speed- dialed the office. "Rivka?"
She answered with unusual bitchiness. "What?!?" Whoa, where the hell did that come from? Equity must be putting a real twist in her panties. I decided to ignore it. She can't possibly be sweet and perky all the time.
"Spears hasn't arrived yet. Have you heard anything?"
"No."
"Ok, I'll try her hotel. Bye."
According to the hotel, the limo had picked them up over an hour ago. Spears, manager and bodyguards all left at the same time.
Bodyguards? As in plural? Jamie only had one bodyguard. Mark something or the other. And what limo? The hotel is a block and a half away. While the producers like to pamper their stars, there is no way they would send a limo to drive someone that distance. Plus I would have coordinated it! Something is not right here.
I raced to the front of the house looking for Hal, nearly knocking over Donna in the process. "HAL! Where are you!" I found him in the lobby listening to the radio.
"...just received confirmation that singer/actress Jamie Lynn Spears has been abducted..."
Donna appeared at my shoulder. "Tyler, what's going on?" Hal and I shushed her.
"...few details at the moment. However, police did receive a call from someone they believe to be the kidnapper saying that Miss Spears was for the moment unharmed. Spears' longtime manager, Deborah Wright, and her bodyguard, Mark Bradley, were both found shot in a limousine parked outside of Grand Central Station. Their condition at this time is unknown. We'll keep you posted on this situation as more information becomes available. In local weathe..." *click* Hal turned the radio off.
"Donna, I'm sorry. We'll reschedule. Hal, take care of things here. I'll give you a call." I ran out of the lobby into the street. *Gotta change gotta change gotta change* I couldn't find anyplace that I wouldn't be noticed! Forget it! I ran down the street willing the dial into my palm. H E R O and *please* be something that can fly!
DAMN! I've turned into the Indian from the Village People! Come on and focus, Tyler!
*Path. My name is Path. I'm a tracker and I can teleport.* Okay, that more than makes up for the lack of flying this time.
"Hey, Tonto! Nice loincloth! Where's the pow-wow?"
*Sigh* I hate this city sometimes.
I summon up my new native American courage and say, " "
" "?
*Oh, fucking hell! I'm mute!*
This is not my day.
=================================================
The portal opens before me and I step through into the hotel suite that I had reserved for Spears. With a wave of my hand I close the path behind me. I stand in the middle of the room and reach out with my senses, smelling and tasting the air. I detected three familiar scents: Jamie, Deborah and Mark. Soap... oatmeal?, cologne, gel, shampoo, conditioner... I know that, I think. I use the same brand. Four more I don't recognize, three men. One of them doesn't bathe too regularly. No, more than that. I concentrate harder on the scent. It smells of garbage and waste. I can taste stagnant water and... chemicals? A sewer maybe? And a woman. Ugh, and she's on her monthly cycle. I reach out even further, but that's all I can find here.
I turn to make my portal to Grand Central station and catch myself in the mirror. Whoa. The asshole on the street was right. I'm wearing a loincloth and soft leather boots. Nice pecs and arms. There are leather straps around my biceps and left thigh. And... I lift the loincloth. No underwear at all. One good breeze and all of Manhattan will be up in my business. Apparently the dial has a twisted sense of humor.
"Nice outfit. Where's the rest of it?" The voice came from by the window. I turned quickly, ready to teleport myself away and found myself looking at Donna wearing a black bodysuit that glittered like the stars themselves. What the...? Oh hell, Donna was Troia! Before I could move she had hold of my wrists.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?!?"
I couldn't answer. I REALLY wanted to, but I couldn't.
She firmed up her jaw and turned one blue eye to me, that eyebrow arched just so again...
*gasp* "...Tyler?"
How the hell did she figure that out?!?
I slowly nodded my head and she loosened her grasp of my wrists. My arms lowered to my side and she kept a fighting stance ready.
I held up my hands again and crossed to the desk by the window, her body countering mine all the while. I picked up the pad and pen and wrote.
//Yes. I cannot speak in this form.//
I held the pad out and she read.
"Why not?"
//Long story. Later. Have lead where they might have Spears.//
"Where?"
//Sewers. I don't know where yet.//
She reached out to touch me again. "Do you mind? Nothing personal." I shook my head.
She touched my wrist and thought for a minute. "All right, Tyler. Where do we go?"
//Grand Central. Pls call me Path.//
I set the pad and pen down and gestured open the portal into an alley near the station. I beckoned her to follow.
"Uh, Path?"
I turned to face her.
"Maybe we should get you something a little less revealing to wear. I mean, I like it, but it's a little conspicuous."
I went to the coat closet and found one of Mark's trench coats. I looked a little like a flasher, but it'd do for the meantime. Pocketing the pad and pen, I took her hand and we stepped through my path.
We stepped out onto the street and I reached out again. Too many smells here. The hot dog and souvlaki carts were playing havoc on my senses. I turned to Troia and shook my head. She pointed over to were police tape had cordoned off the crime scene. I nodded and we headed in that direction, me reaching out for a scent of anything that would set on the trail. I had just determined that New Yorkers have some of the worst B.O. in the world when I caught it. Oatmeal soap and conditioner. It was very faint, but I had found it. I opened my mouth and tasted the scent, finding it's direction. Troia followed me down Park Avenue and round a corner, picking up speed as it got stronger. Other trails were begging me to follow them, but I kept on. Down another side street. Troia kept right with me. I stopped once or twice, loosing the scent when the wind changed. I spun and reached out and led us right to a manhole.
Ugh. We do have to go into the sewers. I move to lift the cover, but Troia beats me to the punch. She picks it up and tosses it aside like it was a paper plate.
"Sorry, I was feeling a little useless," she grinned sheepishly. "Down here, I take it?"
I nodded.
"Look, you wouldn't happen to know sign language? It would make communicating down there much easier."
I thought to myself, does this form come with ASL skills? I concentrated and...
Nope. I shook my head. We're flying by the seat of our pants here.
Speaking of flying, once we got down the ladder into the muck, Troia reached around my waist and we floated above the water.
"No sense in broadcasting our position to them by splashing through the water. When we find them, you get Jamie out of there. As far away as possible. Leave the others to me. "
I gave the "thumbs up" sign. Reaching out I found the trail again. Despite being really nasty down here, it was so much easier to find the scent of something clean and focus on it. Dim work lights lined the walls, guiding my path. We slowly began floating through the sewers. We had to stop a couple of times when I lost the trail, but I picked it up again eventually. I urged Troia on faster as the scent became stronger. I had no idea where in the city we were anymore. We must have traveled about a mile out from where we started, then the path changed direction. I realized then that the bastards had doubled back. They were still under Grand Central!
Troia's speed increased as the path became stronger. I felt my stomach lurch as we rightly flew past the grime covered walls. Oh, now was not the time to be sick. I think I've make a good impression. She's trusted me so far. I don't want to ruin it by being air sick!
That's it! The oatmeal and conditioner scent was nearly overwhelming now. I motioned to slow down. They were right around the bend in the path. I realized then that I needed to see the layout before I could port to it. I hadn't considered that before. I had already been in or around the other places I ported into, so I knew where I was going. I pulled out the pad and pen.
//Need to see area to port.//
Troia nodded and set me down on the path next to the river of sludge. Thank the wind for the moccasin boots! I could move without tipping our hand. Slowly, I snuck around the bend and quickly took stock of the layout then moved back to Troia. I wrote out:
//2 guys. 1 gal. Guys have guns. Thought there a 3rd guy. Don't see him. Spears tied in corner. I got her.//
She nodded and set that jaw firmly into place. That is one brave lady. She is ready to take on all of them alone while I do a simple snatch and grab. Simple, hell. If I screw this up, she could die. All that matters right now is getting the girl out of harm's way before those bullets start flying. Surprise is the one advantage we have on our side right now. I gestured a small portal into the air next to Jamie and peeked through, verifying her location. I took a deep breath and...
It's funny how things that happen so quickly can seem to move in slow motion. I fully opened the portal, reached out and grabbed Jamie by her arm and pulled her to me through the path. Troia flew right out into the open around the corner and took out the first guy. Her fist contacted with his head and I heard the sickening crack echo off the walls. The first shot went off and I heard it deflect off her bracelet. I opened my next portal from the sewer to outside the police station in Times Square. Another shot and another deflection. The woman was thrown past us and up against the wall. Two down. I hoisted Jamie to her feet and pushed her through the path to the station house. She fell through to knees and rolled out on the sidewalk. I heard someone on the other side scream as the poor girl landed at their feet. I caught their eyes briefly and saw them pointing at me. No, something behind me. Oh, no. I wiped the portal closed and turned around. There was the guy number three. I heard Troia finish off the last one around the corner. The man before me pulled back the trigger. I felt searing heat as the bullet tore through my shoulder. What's that smell? Gunpowder? And.... blood? Oh, god it's my blood! All the way through. Oh, man that really really hurts. No, not so much anymore. I can't feel my arm at all. As I fell over into the slimy water, Troia flew above me and into the guy's face. Oh, god this water tastes awful. I can't feel my arm and the water is burning my shoulder. I open my mouth to scream and no sound comes out. I could hear it ringing in my head, but not a single sound escaped my mouth. I looked up and Troia was over me. She looked fuzzy now. So fuzzy. So fu...
=================================================
My name is Tyler Lane. No it's Path. And I'm in a world of numb. A lot of it. My eyes opened and the evil white light glared back at me. Unable to keep them open, I closed my eyes and succumbed to the blissful cloud that had kept me enshrouded for the past few hours. Or days. I didn't know.
I felt something on the bed shift and opened my eyes again. I saw an angel. All tousled brown hair and brown eyes. Precious nose and full lips. Slight stubble on tan skin. Oh, please let this be heaven!
I opened my mouth to speak. No sound. I'm still Path. I wonder if I'm still wearing the loincloth.
"Lian, he's awake!"
The angel moved away. *No. Come back.*
I tried to move and found that I couldn't. I felt so numb. And sick all of a sudden. Very, very sick. Oh, no not here not now...
I tried to lurch up. Strong hands helped me move over to the side and I emptied the contents of my stomach into a waste basket liner. I couldn't stop. I just kept heaving until tears were streaming down my cheeks. I choked back the sobs that only I could hear.
He sponged off my face. "Shhh," he soothed. "It's ok, now. It's ok. Sometime the anesthesia can have that affect. You'll be all right."
He supported me gently and lowered me back to the bed. I stared up into his beautiful eyes, blinking the tears away. I went to wipe them away, but I couldn't move my arm. I couldn't feel it all. I felt the panic rising. Oh, god let it still be there. I stole a look to my right arm. It was still there, but my shoulder was heavily bandaged. I couldn't feel it! I CAN"T FEEL MY ARM!
"Lian! I need you in here NOW!" He shouted.
I heard a door burst open and a young lady ran into the room. I looked up wildly and watched as she took a needle and inserted it into the bag hanging above my bed. I followed the tubes down from the bag and saw them inserted under a bandage at my wrist. Oh, it's an I.V. I'm not dead. Just very tired.
=================================================
I opened my eyes. Donna was there. No, Troia. No, she's in jeans and a t- shirt. Donna, I decided.
"Hi there. Welcome back, hero." She smiled down at me.
*Hero?*
She pressed an intercom button, "Lian? He's awake now." She looked back to me and smiled. "You're going to be just fine."
I think I managed a grimace. If I could just get the cobwebs out of my head. I looked around the room. A hospital. Definitely a hospital, I think.
I try to sit up, but Donna stops me with a hand to my chest. She presses a button on the rail on the bed and it begins to elevate me. Oh, an adjustable bed. Funny. These things always looked more comfortable on the TV commercials.
The door opened and a girl that couldn't have been more than nineteen walked. "Good morning," she said. "How's my patient today?"
*This kid was my doctor?*
"You were shot while in sewers. Do you remember?"
Shot? Everything came back all at once. Wide eyed, I looked at Donna. What about the girl?
"Jamie is fine, just very shaken up right now. She's been asking about you."
I felt some relief wash over me. I got the job done. I picked up my mobile hand and made a writing motion. Donna picked up the pad and held it for me while I shakily tried to write with my left hand.
//Dial O R E H 4 me//
I gave the pen back to her and concentrated on the dial willing it to appear in my left hand. This was hard since I was still groggy. Sweat formed on my brow as it shimmered into existence into my palm. I pulled in my fingers and the clock face disappeared revealing the dial.
Donna looked at me questioningly. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. She looked at Lian then dialed O R E H.
The light came and went as usual and I was back. And thank heaven I could feel my right arm again! And I could speak again!
"Thank you." The effects of the anesthesia were gone and my arm had feeling again. I tried to move it, but it was very stiff still. I looked over and saw that it was still bandaged. And that I was still kind of naked beneath my hospital gown. Well that's new. Maybe somewhere that loincloth has turned back into my clothes from Friday. Friday?
"What day is it?"
Donna and Lian gaped at me.
Donna looked at Lian, then back to me. "Sunday."
"Oh, no. Persephone!"
"Who?"
"My cat. I haven't talked to her sinc..." I looked back up into their dumbstruck faces.
Donna's eyebrow arched up. If she could bottle that, mothers across the world would have the tightest reigns on their kids.
"I suppose this is that 'later' I mentioned earlier, huh?"
=================================================
Donna and Lian were sitting in my living room, while I was making coffee in the kitchen. We discovered that the loincloth and boots had changed back to my normal clothes when Donna dialed me back. Good thing, too. After waking up in in the medbay of Titan's Tower, it concerned me a bit that I might be going home in a hospital gown. The clothes were clean, too. No sewer stench or stains. The trench coat, on the other hand, was a lost cause. Between the soaking it got from when I fell and the blood and gore that had splattered through the back of it, there was no saving it.
I never did see that guy again while there. I don't remember much, except those eyes of his. Like looking into the eyes of an angel. Then again, I was pretty out of it then. I didn't recognize him. I'm beginning to wonder if I imagined the whole thing. I didn't recognize him as being a Titan, but then again, I never really paid much attention to their membership. It always seemed to be rotating every few months.
Persephone was feigning sleep on the table, keeping a watchful ear out for anything she might need to be involved in. She had spent the weekend waiting for me on the balcony. It's funny, now that I think about it. Perse always seemed to be on the other side of a door that I just *knew* I had closed or locked earlier. Her telekinesis apparently made short work of anything barring her way. I guess now I can move her cat food tins to a lower shelf in the kitchen. She could get at them whenever she wanted in the past, no sense keeping them out of her reach now. Thank heaven for that. She was able to fend for herself when I wasn't around. I made a mental note to watch her to open one of the tins. I surmised that for her it would be akin to me peeling an orange. I glanced into the garbage and noticed the Salmon Supreme tins discarded unopened. I guess she will have to be a little more involved in the grocery shopping from now on.
I managed to stall the entire story all afternoon. Lian insisted on giving me another once over before we left. The whole time, I kept hoping that Donna would not use that truth-thing she does on me. She could have gotten the whole story right then and there. I just wanted to be with Perse when we discussed everything.
Donna caught me up to date on the event's of Friday afternoon. Jamie was fine, but was in a hospital for observation. Deborah and Mark were both in stable condition. Deborah might never walk again, though only time will tell. The kidnappers are behind bars now. As far as the police know, Troia was the only one involved in the rescue. Any of the other Titans only saw me as Path. My secret is still safe.
Coffee's ready. I loaded the coffee cups onto a tray with sugar and cream. Picking up the tray, I closed my eyes, took a deep breathe, and delivered it to the ladies. *Here goes nothing.*
=================================================
"The healing factor of that device is incredible. Even Wally's link to the speed force can't heal that quickly." Lian spoke between sips.
"Uh, just how messed up was I?"
Donna looked to Lian. "The bullet at such close range did not make a clean exit wound. It damaged the nerves in your shoulder and shattered the bone there. You lost a lot of blood." Lian spoke calmly. "When Donna brought you to me, you were in shock. Your breathing and heartbeat were very faint."
I swallowed hard. I felt all color drain from my face. Persephone moved from the table into my lap. I felt her presence stroke my mind, calming me. I set the coffee cup down and absentmindedly stroked the soft fur behind her ears.
"You were in surgery for over 7 hours. I was able to repair what I could of the shattered bones and nerves. You would have needed more extensive surgery than what I could have performed at the time to get you back a normal level of functionality. You would have spent months in physical therapy."
"But seeing you now, I guess that is moot. You're a very lucky man, Tyler Lane." Donna set her eyes on me and smiled.
I felt queasy.
"But I don't understand something," Lian said. "I remember that Hero Cruz was once severely injured once while in a form from the H-Dial. He did not have the same healing factor. In fact, he would have died *had* he changed back."
"Tyler...?" I knew the question before Donna asked it.
"How did I get the dial?" I offered.
"Yes."
"Actually, the dial found me. Some weeks ago it appeared." Perse mentally nodded. I wasn't lying. For all I knew, it had just appeared in my kitchen. I didn't remember pulling it out of my pocket with my wallet that night. "I think it is the dial that once belonged to Christopher King." Donna's eyes widened at his name. "But it is something of an enigma. Like... I don't think that this dial is from our time."
"So, you believe that it exists here for you and with someone else at the same time?" Lian asked.
"I think so. But my dial seems different from what I've learned of the others. It's more... protective of me." I cradled Persephone in my arms as she purred loudly. "Kind of like Hero Dial 2.0. This whole thing sounds a little crazy, huh?"
"Not really," Donna said. "Wally has more experience in the timestream than anyone I know. And we've all had our share of... encounters from different times." Donna seemed pensive talking about this. I wonder what she could have possibly been through.
We talked well into the early evening. But my lack of sleep was really starting to show again. Lian and Donna said their goodbyes and I closed the door behind them after I promised to call later. I have a feeling that if I don't, they will.
"I'm very proud of you." Persephone's voice range in my ears. "You did the magicks justice."
I turned to look at Perse, leaning back against the door.
"Thank you."
I felt so cold suddenly. And all I wanted to do was sleep.
I called Rivka prepared to beg for a week of vacation. I needn't have prepared. With our show on hold until the star is ready to appear in public again, my job is on hold, too. She would call when there was work for me. In the meantime, maybe I should play waiter for a while.
I wonder if my finances could last for a while.
There was that sick feeling again.
I dropped the phone and went into the bathroom and turned to the mirror.
Black hair with that one gray stripe at the left temple. Check. Green irises. Dark circles from lack of sleep. Check. Tears slowly sliding down my stubbled cheek. Check. Pouty lip quivering. Check.
*What the hell am I doing.* Not a question. I didn't know of any answers anyway.
=================================================
I cried and slept for two days. Persephone lay with me the entire time. I wonder how much of what I'm feeling affects her. She's been so quiet since I came back. Tuesday night I couldn't sleep or cry any more. I felt so empty. And hungry. I realized that I hadn't eaten anything solid since Friday morning.
I rearranged the cushions and sat up. Time to take stock of the situation. I never really considered it before, but I do that a lot. I guess I got it from mom. She was always doing that. Things would get crazy and she would just sit herself down and think. It helps me focus and put things in perspective.
You haven't eaten in four days. Check. You almost died last Friday. Check. You and a Titan rescued an international star. Check. Save for two people, your secret identity is still intact. You are out of work. Check. You have enough in your bank account to last out two months. Check.
"You still have those pouty lips. Check."
Persephone was sitting up by my feet. I grinned in spite of myself. I leaned forward and crawled to the end of the bed. I placed my forehead against Persephone's. "Ah, my master speaks!" I giggled.
"Yes, and master commands you to take a bath! You smell so badly it burns!" Her head shook a little at the offense of *me*.
"I don't know," I sniffed. "It's kind of rugged."
"You bottle that scent and try to sell it, then. I'll wait for you at the poorhouse."
We laughed. It felt like forever since we had just been this cozy together.
She caught my eyes with hers. "You know, it'll never work out between us."
That's a surprise hit to left field. She hadn't brought up her feelings for me since the day I got the dial. The silence hung in the air like a blanket spread across a clothes line.
"I know." I whispered. "I'm sorry, Perse."
She sniffed again. "Another place, another time. I've got more than nine lives you know." She leapt off the bed and strolled towards the door.
"You sure know a lot of clichés for a cat."
She looked back over her shoulder. I felt her smile. "I'm no ordinary cat. Now get your ass in gear, pixie boy. You're taking me out for dinner. That canned salmon is disgusting."
=================================================
End of Chapter 01
Author: Shadow Kyle
Archive: Yes, ask first please. kyle.scott@mindspring.com
Warnings: Adult topics and language, M/M slash themes, gender identity.
Rating: R. The NC-17 version can be viewed at my website.
Universe notes: I have taken liberties with the H-Dial for this story, but the DCU history of it remains true for the most part. The story begins in 2012. Tyler Lane is the adult son of Lucy Lane, Lois Kent's sister. Lucy Lane is a single mother in this universe. His father is Ron Troupe.
Disclaimer: Tyler Lane and Persephone are mine. Jamie Lynn Spears is her own person. "Dance Of The Vampires" was a musical produced in 2002. All other characters belong to the DCU of DC Comics. I'm just taking them out for a test drive.
=========================
I'm running on empty these days. Between balancing a full time job and training at nights as a full time superhero, I get no sleep at all. Rivka has been very pushy about the dark rings under my eyes. I brush it off that I've just not been sleeping well these past few weeks. That the stress of getting this new show mounted is taking its toll.
I have no social life. Ok, not that I had much of one before. But still, I would like to have the chance to go out at least once and not worry about trying to "save the day", either at my job or when I'm whatever hero is dialed that night. I'm getting so punchy that I almost dialed myself up when the printer next to my workstation started to smoke. Oh, that would have gone over really well! DUM Da DUMMM! Here comes Hardware Servitron to fight injustice in the world of evil office equipment!
That wouldn't be the weirdest thing that I've been recently. Since first dialing myself into Vesper, among other things I've been a human incarnation of a lesser Norse god, a really fat man that can absorb electricity and release it again through my punches, a woman that can age things until they turn to dust, and a pixie. Perse is still ragging me with fairy jokes over that one!
I've rescued a family from a burning building. I single handedly halted a hostage situation at a bank (as "the Negotiator" no less). There was those kids that just about drowned during a midnight swim in Central Park. But mainly, I've been dealing with street crime, muggings and snatch-and-grab type things. In nearly every instance, I've dialed into someone that is just right for the situation.
Perse doesn't understand why I tend to retain my own personality for nearly every hero. It was a little disconcerting being a Norse demigod with a rather obvious New York flavored accent. She says that eventually, I won't need the dial. The magic will just become part of me and I will be able to change at will. Also, that once I store enough of the energy, I'll be able to repeat the appearance of the heroes. But for right now, I'd settle just to be Sleeping Man, master of the forty winks.
I've been avoiding the police at all costs. It just won't do to fill out reports or give them my name when I'll be gone soon after I dial myself back to normal. I can't give them my real name for fear of some retaliation against me that would endanger my home or office. I still don't know how other heroes can possibly have real lives outside of this. Then again, they probably don't have to deal with the nine-to-five drudge like I do.
The press is having a field day with me. It seems that every other day, there are reports of all these new costumed vigilantes in the upper west side. I've even managed to push the Titans off the front page a couple of times, now reduced to "Titans save UN from Giant Water Beast: See page 2A". The mayor and police chief have denounced me. Apparently, I don't play nice with the city officials like they want. They'll just have to wait. I'm no where near ready to make a public announcement that the Big Apple has a new hero in town. Plus, I've noticed that the minute you do, some supervillian shows up at the same time to take a piece of out of your ass. And you never win that first big fight. I'll stick to my playground for now and just deal with the everyday mundane crimes and emergencies. No Earth-shattering crisis for me right now, thank you.
"Tyler, here's the schedule for the new photographs to be taken of the "Vampire" cast. Hopefully, they can get that done in one session and you can enjoy this lovely Friday evening resting," Rivka shot her best mother hen eyeball at me and tossed the packet onto my desk without missing a step. We had already taken these pictures once, but after the leading lady was dismissed and then replaced by Jamie Lynn Spears we have to reshoot the majority of the them. She is in nearly every scene of the show. While Rivka got to work out negotiations with Actor's Equity and Spears' agent, I got the cushy task of dealing with miss diva and her managers. Plus a new photographer that I have never worked with before. Someone named...
=================================================
"...Donna Troy?" I held out my hand to greet our new photographer. "I'm Tyler Lane."
"Pleased to meet you," she replied and took my hand. I swear this woman had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. If I was into women, I'd have been reduced to a gibberish spouting moron. She held my hand for just a little longer than necessary, as if she were sizing me up. She cocked her head just a little to the right and raised one brow. What's that about? I held open the stage door for her and we greeted the security guard the desk. I picked up her equipment and was shocked at how heavy it was. She didn't have an assistant with her having arrived alone. How the heck did she get this downtown by herself?
I got Hal, the stage manager, setting the lights and scene sequence with the booth gal and stage hands while Donna went about her business checking light levels and prepping her equipment. In about thirty minutes, the cast would be on stage in costumes and makeup getting ready to walk their way through the show for Donna's camera. I checked the sign-in sheet by the stage door and noticed La Spears had not yet checked in. Where the hell was she? This entire thing was set up for her and now she's going to put us all behind schedule. *Fucking great. If she turns out to be like her sister...*
I pulled her manager's number from my Blackberry and dialed it from the phone at the stage manager's desk. No answer.
I pulled out my cell phone, plugged the headpiece into my ear and speed- dialed the office. "Rivka?"
She answered with unusual bitchiness. "What?!?" Whoa, where the hell did that come from? Equity must be putting a real twist in her panties. I decided to ignore it. She can't possibly be sweet and perky all the time.
"Spears hasn't arrived yet. Have you heard anything?"
"No."
"Ok, I'll try her hotel. Bye."
According to the hotel, the limo had picked them up over an hour ago. Spears, manager and bodyguards all left at the same time.
Bodyguards? As in plural? Jamie only had one bodyguard. Mark something or the other. And what limo? The hotel is a block and a half away. While the producers like to pamper their stars, there is no way they would send a limo to drive someone that distance. Plus I would have coordinated it! Something is not right here.
I raced to the front of the house looking for Hal, nearly knocking over Donna in the process. "HAL! Where are you!" I found him in the lobby listening to the radio.
"...just received confirmation that singer/actress Jamie Lynn Spears has been abducted..."
Donna appeared at my shoulder. "Tyler, what's going on?" Hal and I shushed her.
"...few details at the moment. However, police did receive a call from someone they believe to be the kidnapper saying that Miss Spears was for the moment unharmed. Spears' longtime manager, Deborah Wright, and her bodyguard, Mark Bradley, were both found shot in a limousine parked outside of Grand Central Station. Their condition at this time is unknown. We'll keep you posted on this situation as more information becomes available. In local weathe..." *click* Hal turned the radio off.
"Donna, I'm sorry. We'll reschedule. Hal, take care of things here. I'll give you a call." I ran out of the lobby into the street. *Gotta change gotta change gotta change* I couldn't find anyplace that I wouldn't be noticed! Forget it! I ran down the street willing the dial into my palm. H E R O and *please* be something that can fly!
DAMN! I've turned into the Indian from the Village People! Come on and focus, Tyler!
*Path. My name is Path. I'm a tracker and I can teleport.* Okay, that more than makes up for the lack of flying this time.
"Hey, Tonto! Nice loincloth! Where's the pow-wow?"
*Sigh* I hate this city sometimes.
I summon up my new native American courage and say, " "
" "?
*Oh, fucking hell! I'm mute!*
This is not my day.
=================================================
The portal opens before me and I step through into the hotel suite that I had reserved for Spears. With a wave of my hand I close the path behind me. I stand in the middle of the room and reach out with my senses, smelling and tasting the air. I detected three familiar scents: Jamie, Deborah and Mark. Soap... oatmeal?, cologne, gel, shampoo, conditioner... I know that, I think. I use the same brand. Four more I don't recognize, three men. One of them doesn't bathe too regularly. No, more than that. I concentrate harder on the scent. It smells of garbage and waste. I can taste stagnant water and... chemicals? A sewer maybe? And a woman. Ugh, and she's on her monthly cycle. I reach out even further, but that's all I can find here.
I turn to make my portal to Grand Central station and catch myself in the mirror. Whoa. The asshole on the street was right. I'm wearing a loincloth and soft leather boots. Nice pecs and arms. There are leather straps around my biceps and left thigh. And... I lift the loincloth. No underwear at all. One good breeze and all of Manhattan will be up in my business. Apparently the dial has a twisted sense of humor.
"Nice outfit. Where's the rest of it?" The voice came from by the window. I turned quickly, ready to teleport myself away and found myself looking at Donna wearing a black bodysuit that glittered like the stars themselves. What the...? Oh hell, Donna was Troia! Before I could move she had hold of my wrists.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?!?"
I couldn't answer. I REALLY wanted to, but I couldn't.
She firmed up her jaw and turned one blue eye to me, that eyebrow arched just so again...
*gasp* "...Tyler?"
How the hell did she figure that out?!?
I slowly nodded my head and she loosened her grasp of my wrists. My arms lowered to my side and she kept a fighting stance ready.
I held up my hands again and crossed to the desk by the window, her body countering mine all the while. I picked up the pad and pen and wrote.
//Yes. I cannot speak in this form.//
I held the pad out and she read.
"Why not?"
//Long story. Later. Have lead where they might have Spears.//
"Where?"
//Sewers. I don't know where yet.//
She reached out to touch me again. "Do you mind? Nothing personal." I shook my head.
She touched my wrist and thought for a minute. "All right, Tyler. Where do we go?"
//Grand Central. Pls call me Path.//
I set the pad and pen down and gestured open the portal into an alley near the station. I beckoned her to follow.
"Uh, Path?"
I turned to face her.
"Maybe we should get you something a little less revealing to wear. I mean, I like it, but it's a little conspicuous."
I went to the coat closet and found one of Mark's trench coats. I looked a little like a flasher, but it'd do for the meantime. Pocketing the pad and pen, I took her hand and we stepped through my path.
We stepped out onto the street and I reached out again. Too many smells here. The hot dog and souvlaki carts were playing havoc on my senses. I turned to Troia and shook my head. She pointed over to were police tape had cordoned off the crime scene. I nodded and we headed in that direction, me reaching out for a scent of anything that would set on the trail. I had just determined that New Yorkers have some of the worst B.O. in the world when I caught it. Oatmeal soap and conditioner. It was very faint, but I had found it. I opened my mouth and tasted the scent, finding it's direction. Troia followed me down Park Avenue and round a corner, picking up speed as it got stronger. Other trails were begging me to follow them, but I kept on. Down another side street. Troia kept right with me. I stopped once or twice, loosing the scent when the wind changed. I spun and reached out and led us right to a manhole.
Ugh. We do have to go into the sewers. I move to lift the cover, but Troia beats me to the punch. She picks it up and tosses it aside like it was a paper plate.
"Sorry, I was feeling a little useless," she grinned sheepishly. "Down here, I take it?"
I nodded.
"Look, you wouldn't happen to know sign language? It would make communicating down there much easier."
I thought to myself, does this form come with ASL skills? I concentrated and...
Nope. I shook my head. We're flying by the seat of our pants here.
Speaking of flying, once we got down the ladder into the muck, Troia reached around my waist and we floated above the water.
"No sense in broadcasting our position to them by splashing through the water. When we find them, you get Jamie out of there. As far away as possible. Leave the others to me. "
I gave the "thumbs up" sign. Reaching out I found the trail again. Despite being really nasty down here, it was so much easier to find the scent of something clean and focus on it. Dim work lights lined the walls, guiding my path. We slowly began floating through the sewers. We had to stop a couple of times when I lost the trail, but I picked it up again eventually. I urged Troia on faster as the scent became stronger. I had no idea where in the city we were anymore. We must have traveled about a mile out from where we started, then the path changed direction. I realized then that the bastards had doubled back. They were still under Grand Central!
Troia's speed increased as the path became stronger. I felt my stomach lurch as we rightly flew past the grime covered walls. Oh, now was not the time to be sick. I think I've make a good impression. She's trusted me so far. I don't want to ruin it by being air sick!
That's it! The oatmeal and conditioner scent was nearly overwhelming now. I motioned to slow down. They were right around the bend in the path. I realized then that I needed to see the layout before I could port to it. I hadn't considered that before. I had already been in or around the other places I ported into, so I knew where I was going. I pulled out the pad and pen.
//Need to see area to port.//
Troia nodded and set me down on the path next to the river of sludge. Thank the wind for the moccasin boots! I could move without tipping our hand. Slowly, I snuck around the bend and quickly took stock of the layout then moved back to Troia. I wrote out:
//2 guys. 1 gal. Guys have guns. Thought there a 3rd guy. Don't see him. Spears tied in corner. I got her.//
She nodded and set that jaw firmly into place. That is one brave lady. She is ready to take on all of them alone while I do a simple snatch and grab. Simple, hell. If I screw this up, she could die. All that matters right now is getting the girl out of harm's way before those bullets start flying. Surprise is the one advantage we have on our side right now. I gestured a small portal into the air next to Jamie and peeked through, verifying her location. I took a deep breath and...
It's funny how things that happen so quickly can seem to move in slow motion. I fully opened the portal, reached out and grabbed Jamie by her arm and pulled her to me through the path. Troia flew right out into the open around the corner and took out the first guy. Her fist contacted with his head and I heard the sickening crack echo off the walls. The first shot went off and I heard it deflect off her bracelet. I opened my next portal from the sewer to outside the police station in Times Square. Another shot and another deflection. The woman was thrown past us and up against the wall. Two down. I hoisted Jamie to her feet and pushed her through the path to the station house. She fell through to knees and rolled out on the sidewalk. I heard someone on the other side scream as the poor girl landed at their feet. I caught their eyes briefly and saw them pointing at me. No, something behind me. Oh, no. I wiped the portal closed and turned around. There was the guy number three. I heard Troia finish off the last one around the corner. The man before me pulled back the trigger. I felt searing heat as the bullet tore through my shoulder. What's that smell? Gunpowder? And.... blood? Oh, god it's my blood! All the way through. Oh, man that really really hurts. No, not so much anymore. I can't feel my arm at all. As I fell over into the slimy water, Troia flew above me and into the guy's face. Oh, god this water tastes awful. I can't feel my arm and the water is burning my shoulder. I open my mouth to scream and no sound comes out. I could hear it ringing in my head, but not a single sound escaped my mouth. I looked up and Troia was over me. She looked fuzzy now. So fuzzy. So fu...
=================================================
My name is Tyler Lane. No it's Path. And I'm in a world of numb. A lot of it. My eyes opened and the evil white light glared back at me. Unable to keep them open, I closed my eyes and succumbed to the blissful cloud that had kept me enshrouded for the past few hours. Or days. I didn't know.
I felt something on the bed shift and opened my eyes again. I saw an angel. All tousled brown hair and brown eyes. Precious nose and full lips. Slight stubble on tan skin. Oh, please let this be heaven!
I opened my mouth to speak. No sound. I'm still Path. I wonder if I'm still wearing the loincloth.
"Lian, he's awake!"
The angel moved away. *No. Come back.*
I tried to move and found that I couldn't. I felt so numb. And sick all of a sudden. Very, very sick. Oh, no not here not now...
I tried to lurch up. Strong hands helped me move over to the side and I emptied the contents of my stomach into a waste basket liner. I couldn't stop. I just kept heaving until tears were streaming down my cheeks. I choked back the sobs that only I could hear.
He sponged off my face. "Shhh," he soothed. "It's ok, now. It's ok. Sometime the anesthesia can have that affect. You'll be all right."
He supported me gently and lowered me back to the bed. I stared up into his beautiful eyes, blinking the tears away. I went to wipe them away, but I couldn't move my arm. I couldn't feel it all. I felt the panic rising. Oh, god let it still be there. I stole a look to my right arm. It was still there, but my shoulder was heavily bandaged. I couldn't feel it! I CAN"T FEEL MY ARM!
"Lian! I need you in here NOW!" He shouted.
I heard a door burst open and a young lady ran into the room. I looked up wildly and watched as she took a needle and inserted it into the bag hanging above my bed. I followed the tubes down from the bag and saw them inserted under a bandage at my wrist. Oh, it's an I.V. I'm not dead. Just very tired.
=================================================
I opened my eyes. Donna was there. No, Troia. No, she's in jeans and a t- shirt. Donna, I decided.
"Hi there. Welcome back, hero." She smiled down at me.
*Hero?*
She pressed an intercom button, "Lian? He's awake now." She looked back to me and smiled. "You're going to be just fine."
I think I managed a grimace. If I could just get the cobwebs out of my head. I looked around the room. A hospital. Definitely a hospital, I think.
I try to sit up, but Donna stops me with a hand to my chest. She presses a button on the rail on the bed and it begins to elevate me. Oh, an adjustable bed. Funny. These things always looked more comfortable on the TV commercials.
The door opened and a girl that couldn't have been more than nineteen walked. "Good morning," she said. "How's my patient today?"
*This kid was my doctor?*
"You were shot while in sewers. Do you remember?"
Shot? Everything came back all at once. Wide eyed, I looked at Donna. What about the girl?
"Jamie is fine, just very shaken up right now. She's been asking about you."
I felt some relief wash over me. I got the job done. I picked up my mobile hand and made a writing motion. Donna picked up the pad and held it for me while I shakily tried to write with my left hand.
//Dial O R E H 4 me//
I gave the pen back to her and concentrated on the dial willing it to appear in my left hand. This was hard since I was still groggy. Sweat formed on my brow as it shimmered into existence into my palm. I pulled in my fingers and the clock face disappeared revealing the dial.
Donna looked at me questioningly. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. She looked at Lian then dialed O R E H.
The light came and went as usual and I was back. And thank heaven I could feel my right arm again! And I could speak again!
"Thank you." The effects of the anesthesia were gone and my arm had feeling again. I tried to move it, but it was very stiff still. I looked over and saw that it was still bandaged. And that I was still kind of naked beneath my hospital gown. Well that's new. Maybe somewhere that loincloth has turned back into my clothes from Friday. Friday?
"What day is it?"
Donna and Lian gaped at me.
Donna looked at Lian, then back to me. "Sunday."
"Oh, no. Persephone!"
"Who?"
"My cat. I haven't talked to her sinc..." I looked back up into their dumbstruck faces.
Donna's eyebrow arched up. If she could bottle that, mothers across the world would have the tightest reigns on their kids.
"I suppose this is that 'later' I mentioned earlier, huh?"
=================================================
Donna and Lian were sitting in my living room, while I was making coffee in the kitchen. We discovered that the loincloth and boots had changed back to my normal clothes when Donna dialed me back. Good thing, too. After waking up in in the medbay of Titan's Tower, it concerned me a bit that I might be going home in a hospital gown. The clothes were clean, too. No sewer stench or stains. The trench coat, on the other hand, was a lost cause. Between the soaking it got from when I fell and the blood and gore that had splattered through the back of it, there was no saving it.
I never did see that guy again while there. I don't remember much, except those eyes of his. Like looking into the eyes of an angel. Then again, I was pretty out of it then. I didn't recognize him. I'm beginning to wonder if I imagined the whole thing. I didn't recognize him as being a Titan, but then again, I never really paid much attention to their membership. It always seemed to be rotating every few months.
Persephone was feigning sleep on the table, keeping a watchful ear out for anything she might need to be involved in. She had spent the weekend waiting for me on the balcony. It's funny, now that I think about it. Perse always seemed to be on the other side of a door that I just *knew* I had closed or locked earlier. Her telekinesis apparently made short work of anything barring her way. I guess now I can move her cat food tins to a lower shelf in the kitchen. She could get at them whenever she wanted in the past, no sense keeping them out of her reach now. Thank heaven for that. She was able to fend for herself when I wasn't around. I made a mental note to watch her to open one of the tins. I surmised that for her it would be akin to me peeling an orange. I glanced into the garbage and noticed the Salmon Supreme tins discarded unopened. I guess she will have to be a little more involved in the grocery shopping from now on.
I managed to stall the entire story all afternoon. Lian insisted on giving me another once over before we left. The whole time, I kept hoping that Donna would not use that truth-thing she does on me. She could have gotten the whole story right then and there. I just wanted to be with Perse when we discussed everything.
Donna caught me up to date on the event's of Friday afternoon. Jamie was fine, but was in a hospital for observation. Deborah and Mark were both in stable condition. Deborah might never walk again, though only time will tell. The kidnappers are behind bars now. As far as the police know, Troia was the only one involved in the rescue. Any of the other Titans only saw me as Path. My secret is still safe.
Coffee's ready. I loaded the coffee cups onto a tray with sugar and cream. Picking up the tray, I closed my eyes, took a deep breathe, and delivered it to the ladies. *Here goes nothing.*
=================================================
"The healing factor of that device is incredible. Even Wally's link to the speed force can't heal that quickly." Lian spoke between sips.
"Uh, just how messed up was I?"
Donna looked to Lian. "The bullet at such close range did not make a clean exit wound. It damaged the nerves in your shoulder and shattered the bone there. You lost a lot of blood." Lian spoke calmly. "When Donna brought you to me, you were in shock. Your breathing and heartbeat were very faint."
I swallowed hard. I felt all color drain from my face. Persephone moved from the table into my lap. I felt her presence stroke my mind, calming me. I set the coffee cup down and absentmindedly stroked the soft fur behind her ears.
"You were in surgery for over 7 hours. I was able to repair what I could of the shattered bones and nerves. You would have needed more extensive surgery than what I could have performed at the time to get you back a normal level of functionality. You would have spent months in physical therapy."
"But seeing you now, I guess that is moot. You're a very lucky man, Tyler Lane." Donna set her eyes on me and smiled.
I felt queasy.
"But I don't understand something," Lian said. "I remember that Hero Cruz was once severely injured once while in a form from the H-Dial. He did not have the same healing factor. In fact, he would have died *had* he changed back."
"Tyler...?" I knew the question before Donna asked it.
"How did I get the dial?" I offered.
"Yes."
"Actually, the dial found me. Some weeks ago it appeared." Perse mentally nodded. I wasn't lying. For all I knew, it had just appeared in my kitchen. I didn't remember pulling it out of my pocket with my wallet that night. "I think it is the dial that once belonged to Christopher King." Donna's eyes widened at his name. "But it is something of an enigma. Like... I don't think that this dial is from our time."
"So, you believe that it exists here for you and with someone else at the same time?" Lian asked.
"I think so. But my dial seems different from what I've learned of the others. It's more... protective of me." I cradled Persephone in my arms as she purred loudly. "Kind of like Hero Dial 2.0. This whole thing sounds a little crazy, huh?"
"Not really," Donna said. "Wally has more experience in the timestream than anyone I know. And we've all had our share of... encounters from different times." Donna seemed pensive talking about this. I wonder what she could have possibly been through.
We talked well into the early evening. But my lack of sleep was really starting to show again. Lian and Donna said their goodbyes and I closed the door behind them after I promised to call later. I have a feeling that if I don't, they will.
"I'm very proud of you." Persephone's voice range in my ears. "You did the magicks justice."
I turned to look at Perse, leaning back against the door.
"Thank you."
I felt so cold suddenly. And all I wanted to do was sleep.
I called Rivka prepared to beg for a week of vacation. I needn't have prepared. With our show on hold until the star is ready to appear in public again, my job is on hold, too. She would call when there was work for me. In the meantime, maybe I should play waiter for a while.
I wonder if my finances could last for a while.
There was that sick feeling again.
I dropped the phone and went into the bathroom and turned to the mirror.
Black hair with that one gray stripe at the left temple. Check. Green irises. Dark circles from lack of sleep. Check. Tears slowly sliding down my stubbled cheek. Check. Pouty lip quivering. Check.
*What the hell am I doing.* Not a question. I didn't know of any answers anyway.
=================================================
I cried and slept for two days. Persephone lay with me the entire time. I wonder how much of what I'm feeling affects her. She's been so quiet since I came back. Tuesday night I couldn't sleep or cry any more. I felt so empty. And hungry. I realized that I hadn't eaten anything solid since Friday morning.
I rearranged the cushions and sat up. Time to take stock of the situation. I never really considered it before, but I do that a lot. I guess I got it from mom. She was always doing that. Things would get crazy and she would just sit herself down and think. It helps me focus and put things in perspective.
You haven't eaten in four days. Check. You almost died last Friday. Check. You and a Titan rescued an international star. Check. Save for two people, your secret identity is still intact. You are out of work. Check. You have enough in your bank account to last out two months. Check.
"You still have those pouty lips. Check."
Persephone was sitting up by my feet. I grinned in spite of myself. I leaned forward and crawled to the end of the bed. I placed my forehead against Persephone's. "Ah, my master speaks!" I giggled.
"Yes, and master commands you to take a bath! You smell so badly it burns!" Her head shook a little at the offense of *me*.
"I don't know," I sniffed. "It's kind of rugged."
"You bottle that scent and try to sell it, then. I'll wait for you at the poorhouse."
We laughed. It felt like forever since we had just been this cozy together.
She caught my eyes with hers. "You know, it'll never work out between us."
That's a surprise hit to left field. She hadn't brought up her feelings for me since the day I got the dial. The silence hung in the air like a blanket spread across a clothes line.
"I know." I whispered. "I'm sorry, Perse."
She sniffed again. "Another place, another time. I've got more than nine lives you know." She leapt off the bed and strolled towards the door.
"You sure know a lot of clichés for a cat."
She looked back over her shoulder. I felt her smile. "I'm no ordinary cat. Now get your ass in gear, pixie boy. You're taking me out for dinner. That canned salmon is disgusting."
=================================================
End of Chapter 01
