A/N: Jeez. This chapter did *not* want to work with me. And neither did part three of Take A Bow (the prequel to this that you should go read if you have not ::nod::) I just had awful, awful writer's block. -_- Yuck.
~*~
After The Applause Dies Down
by Wolfie
~*Supressed By All My Childish Fears*~
He woke with a start. Eyes snapping open and staring- unfocused- out into the darkness, tears streaming down his cheeks, breath stopping completely. His fingers curled into a fist, grasping at the front of Lance's shirt desperately.
"Pietro?" Lance asked tiredly, nudging the boy beside him gently, felt Pietro's body jerk again. The younger teen's breath returned, a bit labored, but mostly normal, "You alright?"
"I..." He was shaking terribly now, still clutching at Lance's shirt with a white knuckled grip. Anything else he might've said simply dissolved into a wordless sob, muffled against Lance's chest. Strong arms wrapped protectively around him, rocking ever so slightly, soothing hands stroking over his lower back.
"Shh... It was just a dream. It's alright now. I'm here..." Pietro felt like a child, being talked to that way- being rocked that way- but he found no energy within him to protest, his strength drained as the terror of his dream faded into the misery of his reality. Even with Lance's arms around him, he couldn't force the tears to stop, couldn't force the images and voices in his head away, "Now...what on earth could reduce the great Pietro Maximoff to tears?"
"I-I can't... I can't remember..." The younger boy admitted, voice still shaky and hoarse. Lance's embrace tightened, lips brushing just lightly over the top of Pietro's snow white head, "I don't think I *want* to..."
"Then don't," Lance said quickly, before Pietro could let the subject race about in his brain any longer. He could feel the slow relaxing of the smaller teen's muscles, the calming of his rapid heartbeat and labored breathing. Whatever it was that lurked within Pietro's dreams, waking him every night... Well, Lance only knew that he never wished to encounter it himself.
"I'm so tired..." He barely registered the soft whisper, nearly missed the three, faint words falling from Pietro's lips so delicately.
"Then sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise," Gently, he pushed Pietro away- just enough to stare the snowy haired teen in his puffy, red-rimmed eyes- and he smiled a small, sad smile. He tipped the younger mutant's chin up, and pressed the slightest of kisses on Pietro's lips, unable to keep his smile from widening at the sound of a tiny squeak from the back of Pietro's throat.
"You kissed me," Were the first words to roll off of the speedster's tongue, as Lance broke their chaste kiss- quiet and disbelieving.
"You kissed me first," Lance corrected, "And then spent twenty minutes ignoring me. I *know* you didn't fall right to sleep."
"I was kinda worried you'd decide that I needed to get my face smashed in for that... But... I guess... you don't feel that way?" Pietro tilted his head questioningly, hopefully.
"Of course I don't, stupid," It was all Pietro could do not to laugh. Relief washed over him, settling in the pit of his stomach as a bundle of warmth.
"So... then... What does this mean? Are we..." He couldn't quite bring himself to ask that one question. Because fear still tugged at him. What if Lance said... no?
"Dating?" The older boy asked *for* him, looking thoughtful. He felt himself nod, though hardly noticed the action, too transfixed on the teenager lying beside him, "I suppose... if you... If that's how you want it to be. *Is* that how you want it?" Pietro chewed on his lower lip, looking thoughtful for a moment.
"Yeah... yeah. That'd be... nice," Lance chuckled.
"Nice?"
"Don't push me, rock-boy."
~*~
Pietro whined loudly as Lance slipped out of bed, grabbing his t-shirt and jeans as he went. The older boy was *leaving* and that was just unacceptable.
"I have to go to *work*, Pietro," Lance stated as he pulled his jeans on, "I could only get a few days off. Unless you don't like the heat, electricity, water-"
"Shut up. I get it. Doesn't mean I want you to go," The younger teen rolled onto his back- blankets barely keeping him modest- and stretched, "So, who's *babysitting* then?"
"Todd. God forbid I let Fred stay with you, and you get *bored*..."
"Yeah, 'cause the Toad's just *so* much more fun..." Lance sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Just- I don't know- harrass him. Like you normally do. I'll only be gone for..." Lance checked his watch, "Six hours. You'll live," A pout formed itself on Pietro's effeminate face as he sat up, folding his arms over his chest with a loud 'hmph!'.
"I hate you, Lance Alvers."
"You don't."
"Don't tell me-" The speedster was cut off by a quick kiss.
"Todd'll be up in a sec. Can you behave yourself?" Sapphire eyes rolled, and Pietro flopped back down.
"No. I have a knife hidden under the bed. I'm going to kill myself as soon as you leave," He paused, "Which is why you should *stay*."
"Not a chance. Be good."
"Ass!"
"Thanks for noticing."
"I hate you!"
There was no reply from Lance, who had already gone back to his own room in search of clean clothes. Pietro pouted harder, glaring up at his ceiling as though *it* was at fault. A moment later, he made a vague note of the youngest Brotherhood mutant standing in his doorway.
"Hey," Todd said, hands stuffed into his pockets. Pietro was still pouting, "Uh... Can I ask why you're layin' there naked?"
"No."
"O...kay... then," Todd sat down in the chair beside Pietro's bed, giving the speed demon an odd look. He couldn't believe how pale, and thin the older boy was. He knew he'd seen Pietro in the same state of undress before, but he simply couldn't remember him looking like that. And stretched out like that, Pietro seemed even thinner than normal. His usually flat belly was concave, his ribs showing, his hips jutting out.
"Jesus. Quit looking at me like that," The brown haired teen tilted his head.
"Like... what?" Pietro scoffed, tugging his blanket up, over his stomach.
"Like you're pitying me. Stop it," Todd raised an eyebrow, then sighed.
"I was just noticin' how thin you are."
"Well, stop."
It wasn't until at least an hour later that either of them spoke again. It was Pietro broke the silence, but only to ask Todd to hand him a book. And that was it. The snowy haired teen rearranged his pillows, and then settled back in, opening his book to the first page.
Todd chewed on his lower lip, watching Pietro as the older boy scratched absently at his wrist, blue eyes quickly skimming page after page. He watched as the nearly healed wounds were scratched open, drawing blood. He watched as that blood beaded up along the long cuts. Until finally, he couldn't watch anymore, and he shot forward, grabbing the hand that was doing the scratching.
"Fuck, yo. Quit that," Pietro looked up at him tiredly, then down at his wrist, head tilting slightly as he saw the drops of crimson forming on his flesh.
"Oh... whoops," Todd released Pietro's hand, sinking back into his own seat, "I didn't- I didn't mean to..."
"Yeah, I know," He nodded, eyes following Pietro's thumb as it ran over the reopened wound, smearing scarlet over his alabaster skin. As the uncut nail dug into the split flesh. As new blood spilled forth.
"It's just... I feel like I'm gonna explode. And, Lance... he..." The speedster trailed off, an odd look glimmering in his sky coloured eyes.
"I *know*," Todd didn't stop him this time, almost too fascinated by the sight, "Lance isn't gonna like this..."
"I know..." Pietro tilted his head again, "When do you think he'll let me go back to school?"
"I dunno... Soon, I guess. Can't keep you out for too long," The older boy nodded, closing his almost forgotten book- leaving bloody fingerprints on the pages- and snuggling down into his blankets.
"Good. I've got to work on your relationship with Kurt," He said, smiling to himself as he turned his back to the brown haired mutant, and pulled his quilt up around his shoulders.
"I was *really* hopin' you'd forget about that..."
"Not a chance in hell, Toad Boy."
"Damn."
"You need to get *laid*, man. It's just not healthy," Pietro rolled onto his back again, holding his bloodied wrist up, staring thoughtfully, "I still can't figure out how it is you're surviving without sex on a regular basis," The younger boy snorted.
"Well... it helps that I got a *really* good relationship with my right hand..." At this, Pietro laughed.
"That was good. You're funny. But you still need to get laid."
"Y'know, I'm only fourteen. I got some time before bein' a virgin makes me pathetic," Todd argued, a bit half-heartedly. Pietro was still chuckling.
"Rightright. But sex is *good*. You don't even know. It's like... like taking a break from all the *shit* life gives you. You can forget. Even if it's just for a little while..." The speed demon's eyes seemed to cloud over, his gaze wistful as he continued to stare up at the dried blood on his flesh.
"That why you're such a slut?" Pietro's fingers curled into a fist, arm falling onto the bed beside him.
"What do you know?" Todd shrugged, looking toward the door. He could hear the defensiveness in Pietro's voice. Maybe he wasn't *quite* as proud of all his 'conquests' as he pretended to be...
"My room's just across the hall, yo. I hear *everythin'* that goes on in here," It was Pietro's turn to shrug, then.
"I don't do that anymore," He said lightly.
"You had to run outta chicks eventually. Bayville's only so big," There was a soft snort from the older teen, his arm coming back up to lay across his eyes. He shook his head, sad smile on his lips.
"That's not why..."
"Yeah?"
"Me and Lance... last night..." He shook his head again, "I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when he gets home," Todd only nodded silently.
~tbc~
O_O I cut out the whole middle of that day. Trust me, there *was* a middle somewhere, we just... uh... lost it. Under Pietro's bed. ^_^'' Review now, hmm?
~*~
After The Applause Dies Down
by Wolfie
~*Supressed By All My Childish Fears*~
He woke with a start. Eyes snapping open and staring- unfocused- out into the darkness, tears streaming down his cheeks, breath stopping completely. His fingers curled into a fist, grasping at the front of Lance's shirt desperately.
"Pietro?" Lance asked tiredly, nudging the boy beside him gently, felt Pietro's body jerk again. The younger teen's breath returned, a bit labored, but mostly normal, "You alright?"
"I..." He was shaking terribly now, still clutching at Lance's shirt with a white knuckled grip. Anything else he might've said simply dissolved into a wordless sob, muffled against Lance's chest. Strong arms wrapped protectively around him, rocking ever so slightly, soothing hands stroking over his lower back.
"Shh... It was just a dream. It's alright now. I'm here..." Pietro felt like a child, being talked to that way- being rocked that way- but he found no energy within him to protest, his strength drained as the terror of his dream faded into the misery of his reality. Even with Lance's arms around him, he couldn't force the tears to stop, couldn't force the images and voices in his head away, "Now...what on earth could reduce the great Pietro Maximoff to tears?"
"I-I can't... I can't remember..." The younger boy admitted, voice still shaky and hoarse. Lance's embrace tightened, lips brushing just lightly over the top of Pietro's snow white head, "I don't think I *want* to..."
"Then don't," Lance said quickly, before Pietro could let the subject race about in his brain any longer. He could feel the slow relaxing of the smaller teen's muscles, the calming of his rapid heartbeat and labored breathing. Whatever it was that lurked within Pietro's dreams, waking him every night... Well, Lance only knew that he never wished to encounter it himself.
"I'm so tired..." He barely registered the soft whisper, nearly missed the three, faint words falling from Pietro's lips so delicately.
"Then sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise," Gently, he pushed Pietro away- just enough to stare the snowy haired teen in his puffy, red-rimmed eyes- and he smiled a small, sad smile. He tipped the younger mutant's chin up, and pressed the slightest of kisses on Pietro's lips, unable to keep his smile from widening at the sound of a tiny squeak from the back of Pietro's throat.
"You kissed me," Were the first words to roll off of the speedster's tongue, as Lance broke their chaste kiss- quiet and disbelieving.
"You kissed me first," Lance corrected, "And then spent twenty minutes ignoring me. I *know* you didn't fall right to sleep."
"I was kinda worried you'd decide that I needed to get my face smashed in for that... But... I guess... you don't feel that way?" Pietro tilted his head questioningly, hopefully.
"Of course I don't, stupid," It was all Pietro could do not to laugh. Relief washed over him, settling in the pit of his stomach as a bundle of warmth.
"So... then... What does this mean? Are we..." He couldn't quite bring himself to ask that one question. Because fear still tugged at him. What if Lance said... no?
"Dating?" The older boy asked *for* him, looking thoughtful. He felt himself nod, though hardly noticed the action, too transfixed on the teenager lying beside him, "I suppose... if you... If that's how you want it to be. *Is* that how you want it?" Pietro chewed on his lower lip, looking thoughtful for a moment.
"Yeah... yeah. That'd be... nice," Lance chuckled.
"Nice?"
"Don't push me, rock-boy."
~*~
Pietro whined loudly as Lance slipped out of bed, grabbing his t-shirt and jeans as he went. The older boy was *leaving* and that was just unacceptable.
"I have to go to *work*, Pietro," Lance stated as he pulled his jeans on, "I could only get a few days off. Unless you don't like the heat, electricity, water-"
"Shut up. I get it. Doesn't mean I want you to go," The younger teen rolled onto his back- blankets barely keeping him modest- and stretched, "So, who's *babysitting* then?"
"Todd. God forbid I let Fred stay with you, and you get *bored*..."
"Yeah, 'cause the Toad's just *so* much more fun..." Lance sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Just- I don't know- harrass him. Like you normally do. I'll only be gone for..." Lance checked his watch, "Six hours. You'll live," A pout formed itself on Pietro's effeminate face as he sat up, folding his arms over his chest with a loud 'hmph!'.
"I hate you, Lance Alvers."
"You don't."
"Don't tell me-" The speedster was cut off by a quick kiss.
"Todd'll be up in a sec. Can you behave yourself?" Sapphire eyes rolled, and Pietro flopped back down.
"No. I have a knife hidden under the bed. I'm going to kill myself as soon as you leave," He paused, "Which is why you should *stay*."
"Not a chance. Be good."
"Ass!"
"Thanks for noticing."
"I hate you!"
There was no reply from Lance, who had already gone back to his own room in search of clean clothes. Pietro pouted harder, glaring up at his ceiling as though *it* was at fault. A moment later, he made a vague note of the youngest Brotherhood mutant standing in his doorway.
"Hey," Todd said, hands stuffed into his pockets. Pietro was still pouting, "Uh... Can I ask why you're layin' there naked?"
"No."
"O...kay... then," Todd sat down in the chair beside Pietro's bed, giving the speed demon an odd look. He couldn't believe how pale, and thin the older boy was. He knew he'd seen Pietro in the same state of undress before, but he simply couldn't remember him looking like that. And stretched out like that, Pietro seemed even thinner than normal. His usually flat belly was concave, his ribs showing, his hips jutting out.
"Jesus. Quit looking at me like that," The brown haired teen tilted his head.
"Like... what?" Pietro scoffed, tugging his blanket up, over his stomach.
"Like you're pitying me. Stop it," Todd raised an eyebrow, then sighed.
"I was just noticin' how thin you are."
"Well, stop."
It wasn't until at least an hour later that either of them spoke again. It was Pietro broke the silence, but only to ask Todd to hand him a book. And that was it. The snowy haired teen rearranged his pillows, and then settled back in, opening his book to the first page.
Todd chewed on his lower lip, watching Pietro as the older boy scratched absently at his wrist, blue eyes quickly skimming page after page. He watched as the nearly healed wounds were scratched open, drawing blood. He watched as that blood beaded up along the long cuts. Until finally, he couldn't watch anymore, and he shot forward, grabbing the hand that was doing the scratching.
"Fuck, yo. Quit that," Pietro looked up at him tiredly, then down at his wrist, head tilting slightly as he saw the drops of crimson forming on his flesh.
"Oh... whoops," Todd released Pietro's hand, sinking back into his own seat, "I didn't- I didn't mean to..."
"Yeah, I know," He nodded, eyes following Pietro's thumb as it ran over the reopened wound, smearing scarlet over his alabaster skin. As the uncut nail dug into the split flesh. As new blood spilled forth.
"It's just... I feel like I'm gonna explode. And, Lance... he..." The speedster trailed off, an odd look glimmering in his sky coloured eyes.
"I *know*," Todd didn't stop him this time, almost too fascinated by the sight, "Lance isn't gonna like this..."
"I know..." Pietro tilted his head again, "When do you think he'll let me go back to school?"
"I dunno... Soon, I guess. Can't keep you out for too long," The older boy nodded, closing his almost forgotten book- leaving bloody fingerprints on the pages- and snuggling down into his blankets.
"Good. I've got to work on your relationship with Kurt," He said, smiling to himself as he turned his back to the brown haired mutant, and pulled his quilt up around his shoulders.
"I was *really* hopin' you'd forget about that..."
"Not a chance in hell, Toad Boy."
"Damn."
"You need to get *laid*, man. It's just not healthy," Pietro rolled onto his back again, holding his bloodied wrist up, staring thoughtfully, "I still can't figure out how it is you're surviving without sex on a regular basis," The younger boy snorted.
"Well... it helps that I got a *really* good relationship with my right hand..." At this, Pietro laughed.
"That was good. You're funny. But you still need to get laid."
"Y'know, I'm only fourteen. I got some time before bein' a virgin makes me pathetic," Todd argued, a bit half-heartedly. Pietro was still chuckling.
"Rightright. But sex is *good*. You don't even know. It's like... like taking a break from all the *shit* life gives you. You can forget. Even if it's just for a little while..." The speed demon's eyes seemed to cloud over, his gaze wistful as he continued to stare up at the dried blood on his flesh.
"That why you're such a slut?" Pietro's fingers curled into a fist, arm falling onto the bed beside him.
"What do you know?" Todd shrugged, looking toward the door. He could hear the defensiveness in Pietro's voice. Maybe he wasn't *quite* as proud of all his 'conquests' as he pretended to be...
"My room's just across the hall, yo. I hear *everythin'* that goes on in here," It was Pietro's turn to shrug, then.
"I don't do that anymore," He said lightly.
"You had to run outta chicks eventually. Bayville's only so big," There was a soft snort from the older teen, his arm coming back up to lay across his eyes. He shook his head, sad smile on his lips.
"That's not why..."
"Yeah?"
"Me and Lance... last night..." He shook his head again, "I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when he gets home," Todd only nodded silently.
~tbc~
O_O I cut out the whole middle of that day. Trust me, there *was* a middle somewhere, we just... uh... lost it. Under Pietro's bed. ^_^'' Review now, hmm?