TITLE: "Adventures in Clubbing"

AUTHOR: Doctor Strangelove (strangelove317@hotmail.com)
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: Um, I don't know. No particular spoilers. Visser Three is still Visser Three.
FEEDBACK: I'd love it.
DISCLAIMER: K. A. Applegate owns the Animorphs.

"Adventures in Clubbing"

Written by: Doctor Strangelove

My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. I am now one hundred percent sure that I am, indeed, a moron. But I'm going to fix. Or, at least, I'm gong to try.

After the meeting about how we were going to handle the Tom situation, I had tried to talk to Marco. I tried to explain to Marco why I ran away the other night.

He, to put it politely, turned me down. Didn't give me a chance to explain myself. Told me he didn't care. Told me that I basically had no reason to act the way I did.

And you know what? Marco was right. I had based my entire reasoning on Andalite culture and my fears. Who were they to tell me where I should happiness? The nerve! I was light-years away from my dumbass bigoted culture. It doesn't matter what they think is right, or what they think I should want. All that matters is what I want.

Good, point. But it begs the question, My subconscious whispered to me, What do you want?

*****

"Well, speak of the devil." Marco leaned back against the wall and smirked.

I waved meekly at him, "Hey."

I had snuck into Marco's house to talk to him. And here was my chance. And I was going to chicken out. "Ax, I already told yo-"

"Shut up." It just popped out. It took both of us by surprise. Marco opened his mouth to respond but I beat him to it. "Sorry, but you should. And you should listen. I know you told me you didn't want to hear my reasons about why I turned you down. And I'm not here to tell you that. I'm here to apologize.

"I know I can't apologize for everything I did. Everything I put you through. I know it's nowhere near enough. But I am. Sorry, that is. And that's all I have to say. I'm not going to give you reasons, because no reason would be satisfactory. I just want you to know that I never meant to hurt you. I was being selfish and stupid. I was a fool to turn you down. You are, without comparison, the single person I have ever felt this close to. You're amazing and I just wanted you to know, that I'm sorry. And...

I paused before continuing. "I love you."

I said it. I really said it. Marco looked like he was taking everything I said in. After a moment he slowly nodded. "I know."

"Do you?" We just stared at each other. "Do you love me to?"

Marco hesitated. Then he moved forward and kissed me. Hard. After a few moments he pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. "I love you."

Then we were kissing again. And then we kissed some more. Soon we tumbled onto Marco's bed and we continued kissing. And then there was some fumbling of hands. Shortly I was laying on my back, shirtless, as Marco's kisses started moving lower.

My hands roamed along Marco's bare back as his mouth slowly reached my stomach. He kissed a few more times and then moved back slightly. His hands moved up to the waist of my morphing shorts, which were doing little to hide my, um... excitement. And then Marco stopped. He sat up, and then I sat up, and we were looking at each other.

After what seemed like an eternity, Marco spoke, "This isn't going to work is it?"

I slowly shook my head, "No, I don't believe it is."

"Yeah, because, well, you know I love you."

I nodded, "I love you too."

"But... it really is too much. We've got all this stuff going on with Tom and the Yeerks. And then this Balthazar guy." My hands gently felt the area where I had been attacked earlier. "We've got to focus on all that. And... you're an Andalite. And it really shouldn't matter, but it does. I mean, sooner or later we're gonna have to face that. This war will end, the Andalites will come, and then we'll have a whole new set of problems. And I don't think either one of us is prepared for that. Yet.

"I wish we could just forget them. But we can't do that, can we?"

I shook my head in agreement. "No, we can't."

Marco laughed a little, "Well, can't we? Just for tonight. Tonight, can't it just be us?"

I smiled. "I think that could work. Just for tonight."

Marco laid down next to me and snuggled up against my chest. I wrapped one arm around him and his hands played gingerly on my flesh.

And we stayed like that, for a long time. Nearly two hours. But then I had to get up, and demorph. And at that moment I really wanted to just stay there. With Marco, half-conscious, laying practically on top of me. Where I could feel his heart beating with mine. Right then, I didn't care if I was stuck as a nothlit. I just wanted to be with Marco. That's what I wanted.

But, I knew, deep down, that that wouldn't work. I had to get up. So I did. I demorphed. When I returned to my human body, Marco was sitting up on the bed with his shirt back on. He was holding mine out to me.

I put it on and sat down next to him. Marco looked at me, "I've been thinking about this Tom problem. I think, if we handle it, or when we handle it, it'll have to be us. I mean Jake and Rachel are in no place to do it. And Cassie and Tobias are gonna side with Jake and Rachel, respectively."

"That's right."

"So," Marco and I are stared at each other, "what now?"

I shrugged my shoulders and turned away from Marco. I stared out the window at the moonless night sky. "I'm not really sure."

Marco gave a little laugh, "Yeah, me neither."

I turned back and smiled at Marco. "I'm glad we talked."

"Me too."

"And I think that was for all the best." I hesitated before continuing. "You know, all of..." I made some odd hand gestures trying to express my point. "...that."

"Yeah, most likely." Marco was smiling but I could hear the sadness in his voice.

We just sat there in silence, unsure of what to say. Marco decided to break the silence, "So, are we cool now? Everything okay with us?"

I nodded, "Most. We are most definitely cool."

Marco laughed, "Good. Good. I guess that means we should work on this Tom problem."

"Probably. I think you're right, it'll have to be us. But I don't know what we'll do. We can't morph and sneak in, and even if we could it doesn't sound like we could beat Tom. We're screwed." Marco got an odd look on his face. "I'm sorry, that was an inappropriate choice of words."

"No, not that. I have a plan."

"What?"

Marco's face brightened up. "I have a plan. A good plan. This plan could work!" And then his demeanor changed. "Oh, God, we're gonna die!"

"What? Is that the plan?"

"No, it's... I'll tell you later. I need to get to the phone."

Marco hurried out of his room and down the stairs. I quickly followed Marco until we reached a phone. He thought for a minute, apparently trying to remember a number, while I looked around the empty and dark room. "Um, Marco, where is your father?"

"Oh, he's working late. Got it!" Marco quickly dialed a number and waited for a response. "I'm going tonight, Cassie." A pause. "I'm going to the club, tonight. To take care of this once and for all." Another pause and then Marco gave an exasperated sigh. "It's Marco, Cassie."

And Marco talked to Cassie some more. I'd tell you more, but I really only heard one side of the conversation. Finally, he hung up. "Don't I get to be in on the plan?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"If I tell you, you won't do it."

I was irritated at that. "I might."

Marco smiled. "You won't."

"Okay then."

"Alright. Come on, Ax, let's go."

*****

I quickly stepped inside the backroom, and looked around. Empty.

It's clear, Marco.

He quickly entered and morphed to gorilla. Cool. I guess the alarms only on the door.

What now, Marco?

Now? Now, I'm gonna start smashing things. Hopefully, if Tom is here, this will attract him to us. When he gets here, attack. Hit him with your blade, or something. Incapacitate him. I'm hoping if we catch him by surprise, we can get him before he can get us.

That sounded like, well, it sounded like a stupid plan. But a stupid plan that had a chance of succeeding. A pretty good chance, actually. What if we can't? What if we have to fight?

Marco brought up one gorilla palm and gently placed it on the side of my face. Then he did what I think was a smile, but looked more like a snarl or growl. Kill him. If we're fighting, kill him.

Marco was right. If I had known about the plan I wouldn't have done it. If he had told me that I would have to injure and possibly kill Prince Jake's brother, I couldn't have done it. I knew what it was like to lose a brother. But now I had no choice. I brought up one of my hands to meet Marco's, and we shared a brief, but intimate, touch. Only for tonight. I thought. Okay.

"Aw, how touching. But I don't really know if this is the place for that." Marco and I let our hands drop as we turned to face Tom. Prince Jake's brother looked at us and waved. "Hi."

Marco instinctively backed away. Oh, shit.

Tom smiled wickedly, "Appropriate comment." I was too stunned to move. I couldn't stop it. It was all too fast. Tom stepped forward and grabbed Marco by the arm. As Marco began to roar in protest, Tom's hand shot straight forward. I saw the blood soaked hand sticking out of Marco's back. I saw the fingers wiggle briefly and then slide back out. Then I saw the gaping hole in Marco's chest, right about where his heart was.

I didn't have time to think, MARCO! Demorph, now!

I think he might have heard me. I know Tom did. He turned to face me with a look of wonder on his face. "Marco?"

And then I attacked. It was so fast, I didn't even know I had until my tailblade came back bloody.

Tom stared at me in confusion and reached down to touch his stomach. When he reached down, one hand was already soaked in blood. When he pulled them back up, they both were. Tom stared at the gaping red gash across his stomach and then turned to face me. "Huh," he mumbled before collapsing to the floor.

To reviewers: Jinako-chan: I'm not sure, but I think a mix of self-determination, the fact that I have one day left of school, and the fact that I really want this bloody fic to be over might have something to do with it. ...Um, I have no idea what would give you that idea. Yes, yes, we all bask in the wondrous glow that is Barenaked Ladies. You know, if you don't know I'm talking about a band that sentence comes off weird. Why, yes, Marco does like Storm/Nightcrawler. He also enjoys Beast/Iceman slash. Or was that me? Hmm, darn, that's cool and all, but I loves me some Tom slash. Which might be why I wrote an NC-17 fic with him. Not sure if I'm gonna post that. And on the "Boys Will Be Boys" front, the next fic will be up probably the day or day after this fic ends. And the number of sequels has risen from three to five. It seems like a happy ending for all. Even, Jake. Though he does get punished.

Aqua Rhapsody: Well, what happens next is that Tom doesn't die, Marco realizes he's better off with Tom than Ax. But don't feel bad, because Ax falls in love with Cassie. Then, after being dumped and finding out his best friend and his brother are getting it on, Jake begins a torrid love affair with Tobias, who is emotionally upset over Rachel's death. Then the whole gang moves to Seattle and opens up a sports bar. Wackiness ensues. It turns out the whole Balthazar thing was a big misunderstanding and that message was meant for Marco Polo.

Myself: I'm busy but I just want this damn fic to be over with. Um, it turns out the Animorphs weren't going to be visiting the club that much anymore, so the chicken wings had to take a backseat to the evil horny guy and the emotional melodrama. Sorry