A/N: ::sighs:: I'm really sorry this is taking me so long to write. I've been grounded and I can only get on once a week, at best- and in between that, it's hard for me to find the time to write. So bear with me. ^_^' Please. *This* chapter took longer, I think... maybe... because it just didn't want to work with me. ::thwaps Pietro and Todd:: They were being brats. Direct your bitching at them. ^_^
Oh, and before I forget- there *will* be hints of Todd/Kurt (hints, I say. Just not *this* chapter) because I got more votes for than against. ^_^ ::waves a 'yay' flag:: Anyhooters, there's that, and there's bits of Lance/Pietro floating about this chapter. Oh, and also a rather... *energized* Pietro...at one point Be warned. ::nods solemnly::
And without further ado (Jesus, I chattered for a long time... Sorry!) Chapter Four!!
~*~
After the Applause Dies Down
by Wolfie
~*All This Time I've Felt So Hollow Inside*~
Pietro winced as he stepped into the shower, the hot water stinging his still tender wrist, then sighed as he turned to let it run down his back. He was consciously aware of Lance's presense- the older teen was sitting on the counter, just a few feet away, reading a magazine- and tried to be as quick as possible, not giving him any reason to worry. Not that he cared if Lance was worried, of course. He just didn't want the brunette to decide to 'check up' on him.
The speedster nodded at that thought. Yeah, that was exactly it...
In mere moments, he was finished, the water off and a towel securely around his waist before Lance could even blink. He shook his head rapidly, spraying the entire bathroom, including the other mutant.
"Pietro!" The snowy haired boy blinked, and looked over at Lance, who was now splattered with water. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Sorrysorry. Hey! I've got an idea! Let's go do something! Like watch TV! Or go to the mall! Or destroy the world!" He exclaimed, hoping to buy himself more time out of that God-forsaken bedroom, "I know! I'll help you get a date with Kitty! Comeoncomeon! How can you say 'no' to that?"
Lance only scowled in reply, snatching the towel from around the younger teen's waist and using it to dry his own face, and the front of his clothes. A bright blush spread over Pietro's cheeks. He grabbed the towel, but Lance already had a good hold on it, a smirk playing over his lips as he watched Pietro try to retrieve his towel, and cover himself at the same time. He was half tempted to just let go, to make Pietro go tumbling ass over head, backward into the tub- but something kept him from it. He was trying to help Pietro get better, not hurt him worse.
"What'll you do for me if I give you your towel?" Pietro paused a moment, considering.
"How 'bout that date with Kitty?" Lance wrinkled his nose and tightened his grasp on the terry cloth in his hand, "What? I thought you liked her!"
"Nah. She's fun to flirt with, but... Just- no, okay?" The speed demon nodded thoughtfully, still tugging on his end of the towel.
"Alright, then...I'll give you a blowjob!" Lance's eyes seemed to bug and in his surprise, he forgot to hold onto the towel, and Pietro easily wrenched it free, wrapping it around himself again quickly, "Ha. I knew that'd work. Come on, already," The brunette blinked, his shock not quite worn off, and then shook his head.
"You don't fight fair," He announced, following Pietro out of the bathroom and across the hall, where the snowy haired teen rapidly re-dressed himself in clean clothes.
"Nope. But if I did, we'd still be in the bathroom, fighting over the stupid towel," Pietro pointed out, pulling a t-shirt on. Lance stood in the doorway, blocking his exit- if he wanted to make one, that is- arms folded over his chest, "I~ think you just liked seeing me naked."
"Tch. Dream on, you little queer," Lance said the last word as if it were a term of endearment, rather than an insult, and Pietro grinned.
"So what if I am? You know you want me," The speedster closed the distance between their bodies, leaning up so that his lips were mere centimeters from Lance's, the look in his eyes daring the older teen to say or do anything. But despite himself, Pietro couldn't help but wonder how Lance would react if he *did* kiss him. If he leaned in just a little bit more... His breath caught in his throat, and he quickly backed off, turning away so that the other couldn't see the blush on his cheeks. Lance coughed, seeming to regain his senses as well.
"You wanna get something for lunch before you get tied back down?" Pietro jerked back around to glare at Lance.
"You're gonna tie me down again?!"
~*~
Lance sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead as he watched Pietro bounce on his bed, his white hair still a mess from the shower he'd taken, and falling in his face every few moments.
"I'm bored," The younger teen announced rather suddenly, still bouncing up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Lance was getting tired just being in the same room, "I'mBoredI'mBoredI'mBoredI'mSoFuckingBored!! La~nce! When am I gonna be able to leave my room?"
"Once I'm not afraid you'll kill yourself as soon as I let you out of my sight..." Lance replied in monotone. It was the fifth time Pietro had asked that in less than half an hour...
"That's not fair! It was just the one time! I promise I won't do it again! ISwearToEveryFuckingGodThatEverWasIWontDoItAgain!!" Lance sighed once more. It was the fifth time Pietro had said that, as well, "You can't just keep me here! I'll go crazy! I need to get out! I need to go!! I need to *do* shit! I'm better, Lance! See? Look at me! CheerfulCheerful! Let me go. Please let me go!"
"Coming from the guy who spent nearly an hour last night crying in my arms? You're not better, Pietro. You're just energetic," The bouncing stopped abruptly, and the snowy haired teen's eyebrows knit themselves together in a frown.
"What the hell would you know? I fuck up once and you're treating me like my purpose for living is dying," Lance twitched. How much longer were Todd and Fred going to be in school? If he didn't get a break from this, *he'd* kill Pietro.
"Once? I'm not *blind*, numbnuts. You've got scars all over your arms. And your legs. Even if it was the first time you've nearly killed yourself, that was *not* the first time you've done it, so don't pull that shit with me," Pietro pouted. He hated it when Lance was right. He hated that Lance knew what he was talking about. And he hated even more that Lance had seen his scars.
"So what?" He asked quietly, staring down at his wrist, wrapped with fresh bandages, "I mean... what does it matter? As long as I don't *actually* kill myself... Who cares? Right?" It always seemed like Lance knew the quickest ways to drain him of all his energy, to break the cheerful mask he put up to hide the pain.
"*I* care, Pietro. You're my... my friend. I can't just let you go on slicing yourself up. What if we're not around the next time? Huh?" Lance's gaze shifted to the floor, a certain darkness dancing behind the amber depths as he remembered that night, "As it was, we barely made it to the hospital in time..." For a long moment, silence fell between them, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, both boys seeming to wince at the other's words. Finally, a soft chuckle from Pietro broke the quiet.
"You're not threatening to beat my face in... You're not mad anymore?" Lance closed his eyes and smiled slightly.
"No, I'm still pissed off- but what good would it do to break your face?" With a sigh, Lance leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest, "Besides... I'm getting a nice sense of revenge, making you stay in one place all day long..." The snowy haired teen scowled.
"Revenge?! It's not like I did anything to *you*!" He barely caught Lance's movement out of the corner of his eye, still focused on his wounded wrist. It seemed to go by in slow motion- to Pietro- but it was only a second before Lance was up, out of his chair, and leaning across the bed, pinning him to the wall by his throat. Pietro was almost embarassed that he didn't dodge it, but he just didn't have the energy anymore. Or even the will.
"You're such a self-centered little prick, you know that? You never think of anyone else. It's always 'me, me, me' and it's really starting to get on my nerves. Do you have any fucking *idea* how worried I was? And never mind Todd. He fucking made himself *sick*, and you're sitting here saying that you didn't do anything to us," The younger boy was clawing at Lance's hand, trying desperately to gasp for air. A low growl spilled from Lance's lips as he released his grip, shoving himself away from Pietro angrily, "You're so... fucking... *clueless*."
Pietro couldn't do much more than stare, rubbing at his throat as he tried to regain his breathing, positive he'd have bruises. He vaguely watched as Lance slumped back, against the nearest wall, groaning slightly.
"Fuck... What the hell are you doing to me?" The brunette asked- more to himself than to the room's other occupant- rubbing the bridge of his nose, a headache creeping up on him. He glanced warily at the smaller teen, then sighed, "Sorry... 'bout the whole... Yeah. Sorry. You can like... punch me... if you want."
"You're on the other side of the room..." A soft chuckle escaped the snowy haired teen, but it was without humor, his gaze unfocused as he stared out, across the room. Lance looked at him sadly, seeing the pain that was beginning to seep through Pietro's carefully constructed guards.
"You know... you don't have to pretend to be happy..." He said, voice quiet. Pietro didn't seem to hear him, at first, but then slowly, let a smile play across his lips.
"Yeah... I know."
~TBC~
::dies:: That didn't come out the way I wanted it. Yuck. ::thwaps Lance and Pietro for arguing so much:: Damn you two!! *cough* Anyways, review or something... huh?
Oh, and before I forget- there *will* be hints of Todd/Kurt (hints, I say. Just not *this* chapter) because I got more votes for than against. ^_^ ::waves a 'yay' flag:: Anyhooters, there's that, and there's bits of Lance/Pietro floating about this chapter. Oh, and also a rather... *energized* Pietro...at one point Be warned. ::nods solemnly::
And without further ado (Jesus, I chattered for a long time... Sorry!) Chapter Four!!
~*~
After the Applause Dies Down
by Wolfie
~*All This Time I've Felt So Hollow Inside*~
Pietro winced as he stepped into the shower, the hot water stinging his still tender wrist, then sighed as he turned to let it run down his back. He was consciously aware of Lance's presense- the older teen was sitting on the counter, just a few feet away, reading a magazine- and tried to be as quick as possible, not giving him any reason to worry. Not that he cared if Lance was worried, of course. He just didn't want the brunette to decide to 'check up' on him.
The speedster nodded at that thought. Yeah, that was exactly it...
In mere moments, he was finished, the water off and a towel securely around his waist before Lance could even blink. He shook his head rapidly, spraying the entire bathroom, including the other mutant.
"Pietro!" The snowy haired boy blinked, and looked over at Lance, who was now splattered with water. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Sorrysorry. Hey! I've got an idea! Let's go do something! Like watch TV! Or go to the mall! Or destroy the world!" He exclaimed, hoping to buy himself more time out of that God-forsaken bedroom, "I know! I'll help you get a date with Kitty! Comeoncomeon! How can you say 'no' to that?"
Lance only scowled in reply, snatching the towel from around the younger teen's waist and using it to dry his own face, and the front of his clothes. A bright blush spread over Pietro's cheeks. He grabbed the towel, but Lance already had a good hold on it, a smirk playing over his lips as he watched Pietro try to retrieve his towel, and cover himself at the same time. He was half tempted to just let go, to make Pietro go tumbling ass over head, backward into the tub- but something kept him from it. He was trying to help Pietro get better, not hurt him worse.
"What'll you do for me if I give you your towel?" Pietro paused a moment, considering.
"How 'bout that date with Kitty?" Lance wrinkled his nose and tightened his grasp on the terry cloth in his hand, "What? I thought you liked her!"
"Nah. She's fun to flirt with, but... Just- no, okay?" The speed demon nodded thoughtfully, still tugging on his end of the towel.
"Alright, then...I'll give you a blowjob!" Lance's eyes seemed to bug and in his surprise, he forgot to hold onto the towel, and Pietro easily wrenched it free, wrapping it around himself again quickly, "Ha. I knew that'd work. Come on, already," The brunette blinked, his shock not quite worn off, and then shook his head.
"You don't fight fair," He announced, following Pietro out of the bathroom and across the hall, where the snowy haired teen rapidly re-dressed himself in clean clothes.
"Nope. But if I did, we'd still be in the bathroom, fighting over the stupid towel," Pietro pointed out, pulling a t-shirt on. Lance stood in the doorway, blocking his exit- if he wanted to make one, that is- arms folded over his chest, "I~ think you just liked seeing me naked."
"Tch. Dream on, you little queer," Lance said the last word as if it were a term of endearment, rather than an insult, and Pietro grinned.
"So what if I am? You know you want me," The speedster closed the distance between their bodies, leaning up so that his lips were mere centimeters from Lance's, the look in his eyes daring the older teen to say or do anything. But despite himself, Pietro couldn't help but wonder how Lance would react if he *did* kiss him. If he leaned in just a little bit more... His breath caught in his throat, and he quickly backed off, turning away so that the other couldn't see the blush on his cheeks. Lance coughed, seeming to regain his senses as well.
"You wanna get something for lunch before you get tied back down?" Pietro jerked back around to glare at Lance.
"You're gonna tie me down again?!"
~*~
Lance sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead as he watched Pietro bounce on his bed, his white hair still a mess from the shower he'd taken, and falling in his face every few moments.
"I'm bored," The younger teen announced rather suddenly, still bouncing up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Lance was getting tired just being in the same room, "I'mBoredI'mBoredI'mBoredI'mSoFuckingBored!! La~nce! When am I gonna be able to leave my room?"
"Once I'm not afraid you'll kill yourself as soon as I let you out of my sight..." Lance replied in monotone. It was the fifth time Pietro had asked that in less than half an hour...
"That's not fair! It was just the one time! I promise I won't do it again! ISwearToEveryFuckingGodThatEverWasIWontDoItAgain!!" Lance sighed once more. It was the fifth time Pietro had said that, as well, "You can't just keep me here! I'll go crazy! I need to get out! I need to go!! I need to *do* shit! I'm better, Lance! See? Look at me! CheerfulCheerful! Let me go. Please let me go!"
"Coming from the guy who spent nearly an hour last night crying in my arms? You're not better, Pietro. You're just energetic," The bouncing stopped abruptly, and the snowy haired teen's eyebrows knit themselves together in a frown.
"What the hell would you know? I fuck up once and you're treating me like my purpose for living is dying," Lance twitched. How much longer were Todd and Fred going to be in school? If he didn't get a break from this, *he'd* kill Pietro.
"Once? I'm not *blind*, numbnuts. You've got scars all over your arms. And your legs. Even if it was the first time you've nearly killed yourself, that was *not* the first time you've done it, so don't pull that shit with me," Pietro pouted. He hated it when Lance was right. He hated that Lance knew what he was talking about. And he hated even more that Lance had seen his scars.
"So what?" He asked quietly, staring down at his wrist, wrapped with fresh bandages, "I mean... what does it matter? As long as I don't *actually* kill myself... Who cares? Right?" It always seemed like Lance knew the quickest ways to drain him of all his energy, to break the cheerful mask he put up to hide the pain.
"*I* care, Pietro. You're my... my friend. I can't just let you go on slicing yourself up. What if we're not around the next time? Huh?" Lance's gaze shifted to the floor, a certain darkness dancing behind the amber depths as he remembered that night, "As it was, we barely made it to the hospital in time..." For a long moment, silence fell between them, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, both boys seeming to wince at the other's words. Finally, a soft chuckle from Pietro broke the quiet.
"You're not threatening to beat my face in... You're not mad anymore?" Lance closed his eyes and smiled slightly.
"No, I'm still pissed off- but what good would it do to break your face?" With a sigh, Lance leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest, "Besides... I'm getting a nice sense of revenge, making you stay in one place all day long..." The snowy haired teen scowled.
"Revenge?! It's not like I did anything to *you*!" He barely caught Lance's movement out of the corner of his eye, still focused on his wounded wrist. It seemed to go by in slow motion- to Pietro- but it was only a second before Lance was up, out of his chair, and leaning across the bed, pinning him to the wall by his throat. Pietro was almost embarassed that he didn't dodge it, but he just didn't have the energy anymore. Or even the will.
"You're such a self-centered little prick, you know that? You never think of anyone else. It's always 'me, me, me' and it's really starting to get on my nerves. Do you have any fucking *idea* how worried I was? And never mind Todd. He fucking made himself *sick*, and you're sitting here saying that you didn't do anything to us," The younger boy was clawing at Lance's hand, trying desperately to gasp for air. A low growl spilled from Lance's lips as he released his grip, shoving himself away from Pietro angrily, "You're so... fucking... *clueless*."
Pietro couldn't do much more than stare, rubbing at his throat as he tried to regain his breathing, positive he'd have bruises. He vaguely watched as Lance slumped back, against the nearest wall, groaning slightly.
"Fuck... What the hell are you doing to me?" The brunette asked- more to himself than to the room's other occupant- rubbing the bridge of his nose, a headache creeping up on him. He glanced warily at the smaller teen, then sighed, "Sorry... 'bout the whole... Yeah. Sorry. You can like... punch me... if you want."
"You're on the other side of the room..." A soft chuckle escaped the snowy haired teen, but it was without humor, his gaze unfocused as he stared out, across the room. Lance looked at him sadly, seeing the pain that was beginning to seep through Pietro's carefully constructed guards.
"You know... you don't have to pretend to be happy..." He said, voice quiet. Pietro didn't seem to hear him, at first, but then slowly, let a smile play across his lips.
"Yeah... I know."
~TBC~
::dies:: That didn't come out the way I wanted it. Yuck. ::thwaps Lance and Pietro for arguing so much:: Damn you two!! *cough* Anyways, review or something... huh?