A/N: Whee. And now- Lance's chapter! Oooh, insight into the rock-tumbler's thoughts... Scary. Trying to get this one done quickly, so I can put more attention on After The Applause Dies Down. ::nods:: Which is why you should *review* and encourage me!! ::hopeful grin::
Chiru- ^_^'' Honestly, it disturbs me too... But it fit. And my stories have a tendency to do as they please. I don't think I could've stopped it, anyways. ::sheepish grin::
~*~
Take A Bow
by Wolfie
~Part Two~
"Damn. What's his problem, yo?" I give Todd a weary look, before turning and walking off. Like I know any fucking better than he does what Pietro's deal is. *No*one fucking knows what Pietro's deal is. I don't think *Pietro* even knows.
"I dunno, man," I hear Fred say, a few feet behind me. Oh. They followed, "He's been real pissy lately. Pro'lly on his period, or something," The two of them laugh, and I let myself chuckle. Just a bit. Sometimes, I swear that boy *is* on his period. Or having PMS. Or... some other annoying... womanly problem. He sure as hell doesn't act *masculine*.
Ever.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kitty. And the look on her face tells me she's gonna interfere. But before I can stop her, she steps back, and phases through the wall, completely unnoticed. Dammit. And I don't even know where Pietro went. She'll definitely find him first.
Should I even bother trying to beat her to it? Nah. She wouldn't say or do anything... stupid. Would she? Jesus. I hope not. Last thing I need is for him to find out-
"What the fuck? Is it contagious? La~nce?"
-That we live with two idiots. I glare at Todd, who's caught up to me now, and is waving his webbed hand in front of my face. Fucking little...
"Get lost, 'tard," I snap, shoving him away. I'll just pretend not to notice that kicked puppy look, "Bug Fred. I'm not in the mood."
"Why is it- that whenever Pietro gets bitchy, you do too?" I glare a little harder. I *know* he did not just call me bitchy.
"I am not-"
"Hey, can we go eat already? I'm hungry..."
You know what? Screw it. Just... Screw it.
"Lance? Where're you goin'?"
And, in the process of screwing it, I'm going to ignore them, too. I'm... I'm...
Fuck. I have no idea where I'm going. Just... *away*. Who knows? Maybe I'll find Kitty before she feels the need to let Pietro in on any of my deep darks. Rather not have that one happen. Not yet, anyways. But, I mean... she wouldn't, right? Right.
...
Right?
Ah, fuck. I gotta go find them.
~*~
It didn't actually take too much thought to realize that Pietro went to the track. So, that's where I am, standing just out of sight, watching them talk. Somehow, I can't *force* myself to go up there. I guess... maybe, I kinda hope she *will* tell. Maybe, because then... at least... I'll know.
But, judging by the way he keep slooking her over...
"I'll, like, see you later!" And now she's coming this way. I duck back, behind the bleachers as she reaches me, and give her my best, most intimidating look.
"What did you say?" I ask, keeping my voice low. There's something about that grin, and that *blush* that I just don't like.
"Like, chill out, Lance. I didn't, like, *tell* him. I just said that you... y'know... You care about him. Like, you guys are... uh.. family."
Oh, thank you, Kitty. Why do I suddenly feel a headache coming on?
"Ok, *one*- that's just *not* something one guy says to or about another guy. And two- *family*?!" She kinda grimaces here, wringing her hands nervously.
"I know! I just- I choked. It was, like, the first thing I thought of!" I rub the bridge of my nose. Headache... "Well, what's worse? That I told him you, like, think of him as family, or that I, like, almost told him you-"
"Don't say it. Please."
"-like him?"
"Dammit, Kitty," She just shrugs. Did I mention that headache?
"Just go talk to him. He seems, like, upset. Maybe you can find some way to... y'know... cheer him up?"
How does she do it? She looks *so* fucking sweet and innocent, but she's got a tone to her voice, just *implying* much, much more. And the little wink she added helps.
"I think I hate you," She smiles sweetly, leans up to kiss my cheek, then turns and walks away.
"You can't afford to hate me. I'll, like, out you to the entire school," And she just... walks away. Fuckin' woman. She is the source of all my damned headaches. Not really, but that's not the point. She's just- gah! Infuriating. Frustrating. And-and- Fuck. I don't even know. Her and her goddamned... meddling. I can't even remember why I'm friends with her in the first place.
Wait- yes, I remember. It's called a cover-up. She's my fall-back. Should anyone find out... She's there to tell them they're nuts. But, I worry. 'Cause I'm not so sure she *will*.
So... I weigh my options. Talk to Pietro... or go back inside and get lunch.
...
I wasn't that hungry, anyway.
"Hey, Pietro!" I jog around the bleachers, then up to where he's sitting. And he watches me like he's hoping I'll trip and fall on my face. Fuck. What's with the damn moods? He's really starting to worry me.
"Why is it so hard to just be *alone*?" He asks, glaring. I think I'll just ignore that.
"Well, you're just so *fucking* popular," I tell him as I sit down, deciding he needs to get a little of that irritating sarcasm of his thrown back in his face, "What can you do?"
"I could put a bullet in my head. Everyone'll leave me alone then. And these damn voices'll shut up for once..." I stare, unsure if he's joking or not. He smiles, but it seems out of place. Completely mirthless, "Breathe, Lance. Guns aren't my style. I'm more of a masochist, really."
"You've got one fucked up sense of humor..." If you could even call it that. I still can't tell if he's actually joking with me or not. That worries me even more than his stupid moods. At least when he's pissed, I *know* he's pissed. This is... I don't even fucking know. I mean- should I keep an eye on him? Hide the knives? And the aspirin. And the... Okay, there are just *way* too many ways to kill yourself.
"Yeah... Guess I'm just *talented*..." I can't help but looking at him weird. Sometimes he says shit and you *know* he means... something else, but he's got this whole... genius thing going, and I can't ever fucking figure it out. I'm not saying that I'm stupid- I'm sure I've at least got a hell of a lot more common sense than he does, but he's... sneaky. And tricky. And... Sometimes I wish I had that stupid Professer X's powers. It'd give me the upper hand with Pietro.
"So... you're not running?" He shrugs, staring out at the track, eyes clouded, unfocused.
"Kinda tired... And it's pretty warm out, anyway. I'd get all gross and sweaty. No thanks."
It's weird... but... he doesn't seem... himself. Like, he's *trying* to act normal, but not really doing a very good job of it. Like... he's trying to keep from showing me something.
"Listen..." I look up, and realize he's actually turned away from the track, now. And he's looking back at me, an odd look in those sky blue eyes of his, "I'm sorry. About how I blew up at you guys. I'm just... I got a lot of shit on my mind, that's all."
I feel myself nodding, smiling slightly.
"Yeah... I understand."
~tbc~
Review now! ^_^ Thank you. Come again.
Chiru- ^_^'' Honestly, it disturbs me too... But it fit. And my stories have a tendency to do as they please. I don't think I could've stopped it, anyways. ::sheepish grin::
~*~
Take A Bow
by Wolfie
~Part Two~
"Damn. What's his problem, yo?" I give Todd a weary look, before turning and walking off. Like I know any fucking better than he does what Pietro's deal is. *No*one fucking knows what Pietro's deal is. I don't think *Pietro* even knows.
"I dunno, man," I hear Fred say, a few feet behind me. Oh. They followed, "He's been real pissy lately. Pro'lly on his period, or something," The two of them laugh, and I let myself chuckle. Just a bit. Sometimes, I swear that boy *is* on his period. Or having PMS. Or... some other annoying... womanly problem. He sure as hell doesn't act *masculine*.
Ever.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kitty. And the look on her face tells me she's gonna interfere. But before I can stop her, she steps back, and phases through the wall, completely unnoticed. Dammit. And I don't even know where Pietro went. She'll definitely find him first.
Should I even bother trying to beat her to it? Nah. She wouldn't say or do anything... stupid. Would she? Jesus. I hope not. Last thing I need is for him to find out-
"What the fuck? Is it contagious? La~nce?"
-That we live with two idiots. I glare at Todd, who's caught up to me now, and is waving his webbed hand in front of my face. Fucking little...
"Get lost, 'tard," I snap, shoving him away. I'll just pretend not to notice that kicked puppy look, "Bug Fred. I'm not in the mood."
"Why is it- that whenever Pietro gets bitchy, you do too?" I glare a little harder. I *know* he did not just call me bitchy.
"I am not-"
"Hey, can we go eat already? I'm hungry..."
You know what? Screw it. Just... Screw it.
"Lance? Where're you goin'?"
And, in the process of screwing it, I'm going to ignore them, too. I'm... I'm...
Fuck. I have no idea where I'm going. Just... *away*. Who knows? Maybe I'll find Kitty before she feels the need to let Pietro in on any of my deep darks. Rather not have that one happen. Not yet, anyways. But, I mean... she wouldn't, right? Right.
...
Right?
Ah, fuck. I gotta go find them.
~*~
It didn't actually take too much thought to realize that Pietro went to the track. So, that's where I am, standing just out of sight, watching them talk. Somehow, I can't *force* myself to go up there. I guess... maybe, I kinda hope she *will* tell. Maybe, because then... at least... I'll know.
But, judging by the way he keep slooking her over...
"I'll, like, see you later!" And now she's coming this way. I duck back, behind the bleachers as she reaches me, and give her my best, most intimidating look.
"What did you say?" I ask, keeping my voice low. There's something about that grin, and that *blush* that I just don't like.
"Like, chill out, Lance. I didn't, like, *tell* him. I just said that you... y'know... You care about him. Like, you guys are... uh.. family."
Oh, thank you, Kitty. Why do I suddenly feel a headache coming on?
"Ok, *one*- that's just *not* something one guy says to or about another guy. And two- *family*?!" She kinda grimaces here, wringing her hands nervously.
"I know! I just- I choked. It was, like, the first thing I thought of!" I rub the bridge of my nose. Headache... "Well, what's worse? That I told him you, like, think of him as family, or that I, like, almost told him you-"
"Don't say it. Please."
"-like him?"
"Dammit, Kitty," She just shrugs. Did I mention that headache?
"Just go talk to him. He seems, like, upset. Maybe you can find some way to... y'know... cheer him up?"
How does she do it? She looks *so* fucking sweet and innocent, but she's got a tone to her voice, just *implying* much, much more. And the little wink she added helps.
"I think I hate you," She smiles sweetly, leans up to kiss my cheek, then turns and walks away.
"You can't afford to hate me. I'll, like, out you to the entire school," And she just... walks away. Fuckin' woman. She is the source of all my damned headaches. Not really, but that's not the point. She's just- gah! Infuriating. Frustrating. And-and- Fuck. I don't even know. Her and her goddamned... meddling. I can't even remember why I'm friends with her in the first place.
Wait- yes, I remember. It's called a cover-up. She's my fall-back. Should anyone find out... She's there to tell them they're nuts. But, I worry. 'Cause I'm not so sure she *will*.
So... I weigh my options. Talk to Pietro... or go back inside and get lunch.
...
I wasn't that hungry, anyway.
"Hey, Pietro!" I jog around the bleachers, then up to where he's sitting. And he watches me like he's hoping I'll trip and fall on my face. Fuck. What's with the damn moods? He's really starting to worry me.
"Why is it so hard to just be *alone*?" He asks, glaring. I think I'll just ignore that.
"Well, you're just so *fucking* popular," I tell him as I sit down, deciding he needs to get a little of that irritating sarcasm of his thrown back in his face, "What can you do?"
"I could put a bullet in my head. Everyone'll leave me alone then. And these damn voices'll shut up for once..." I stare, unsure if he's joking or not. He smiles, but it seems out of place. Completely mirthless, "Breathe, Lance. Guns aren't my style. I'm more of a masochist, really."
"You've got one fucked up sense of humor..." If you could even call it that. I still can't tell if he's actually joking with me or not. That worries me even more than his stupid moods. At least when he's pissed, I *know* he's pissed. This is... I don't even fucking know. I mean- should I keep an eye on him? Hide the knives? And the aspirin. And the... Okay, there are just *way* too many ways to kill yourself.
"Yeah... Guess I'm just *talented*..." I can't help but looking at him weird. Sometimes he says shit and you *know* he means... something else, but he's got this whole... genius thing going, and I can't ever fucking figure it out. I'm not saying that I'm stupid- I'm sure I've at least got a hell of a lot more common sense than he does, but he's... sneaky. And tricky. And... Sometimes I wish I had that stupid Professer X's powers. It'd give me the upper hand with Pietro.
"So... you're not running?" He shrugs, staring out at the track, eyes clouded, unfocused.
"Kinda tired... And it's pretty warm out, anyway. I'd get all gross and sweaty. No thanks."
It's weird... but... he doesn't seem... himself. Like, he's *trying* to act normal, but not really doing a very good job of it. Like... he's trying to keep from showing me something.
"Listen..." I look up, and realize he's actually turned away from the track, now. And he's looking back at me, an odd look in those sky blue eyes of his, "I'm sorry. About how I blew up at you guys. I'm just... I got a lot of shit on my mind, that's all."
I feel myself nodding, smiling slightly.
"Yeah... I understand."
~tbc~
Review now! ^_^ Thank you. Come again.
