John followed Pete and Kurt through Excalibur's base. He'd wondered before if maybe he'd been too harsh on Pete over her betrayal. After all, she'd been not much more than a child at the time. But seeing where she'd ended up, he didn't think so. She's signed on with high-minded, over-idealistic wankers. She was even shagging one of them. John shuddered at the thought at that little pair. He did take a bit of comfort in the fact that he was yet to see Pete in spandex. Maybe she'd retained a bit of self-respect…
By the time they got to the meeting, the rest of Excalibur was already there. Pete immediately sat down beside Kit, and John felt his blood rise. He told himself that it was his extreme dislike for self-righteous blighters that made him hate Kit and not any residual feelings he had for Pete. John had effectively quashed those years ago.
John took a seat beside a blonde woman with pointy ears as Nightcrawler sat at the head of the table. The blonde smiled at him, and John gave her a nod. She seemed like a nice person—had a very bright aura. John wondered what she was doing mixed up with this lot.
Kurt cleared his throat and all of Excalibur immediately turned to look at him. John rolled his eyes. There were like trained monkeys.
"As you all know, ve had a little…trouble in the sewers of London earlier this evening."
John snorted. "That's an understatement, mate." Kit gave John a look, and John had to restrain himself from "convincing" Kit that he wanted to put rocks in his pockets and walk off the side of the island.
Kurt continued speaking. "Our mission vas not successful. Not only did ve not manage to eradicate the threat completely, but ve do not know who has sent it."
"Black Air."
Excalibur all turned sharply to look at Pete. "Are you sure?" Kit asked.
"Yes. When John and I were trying to get out of the sewers, we ran into some agents. They were wearing the Black Air insignia."
"Why is Black Air working with demons?" Brian asked. "Did they when you were with them, Wisdom?"
John was a bit started by that. Pete had been a Black Air agent? Maybe he'd have to reexamine his previous assessment…
"I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't doubt it. Michelle Scicluna seems like the type who'd make a deal with the Devil. Hell, sometimes I was almost convinced she was the Devil.
"Nah, she's not," John said. "I've met the guy. Flipped 'im the bird an' tol' 'im 'up yours.'"
Most of Excalibur gave John a look that made it clear they didn't believe a word he said. But somehow, Pete did. If any man would flip off the Devil, it was John Constantine. "Anyway," Pete said, pulling the attention off John and back on her, "I'm not sure wot those bastards are up to, but it's Black Air. I might be able to see if I can get any of me old contacts to…"
John cut her off. "No need for that, luv. I know wot's going on. I've been noticin' all the phenomena recently, jus' didn't know who was doin' it. Now I do."
"Well do you care to fill us in or are you going to keep this information to yourself?" Kit asked.
John shot him a look that clearly said "shut up or I'll rip your bleedin' head off." "There's been a lot of paranormal activity recently that suggests that someone is opening the door to Limbo. I believe those buggers we fought tonight were a test run before Black Air pulls somethin' bigger through."
"Whoa, back up," Kit said, all the color draining from his face. "Did you just say Limbo?"
"Yeah, you 'eard of it?"
"Yes."
Piotr began to fidget at the end of the table. He turned to Kurt who was beside him. "Tovarich, this door to Limbo…could they bring Belasco back out?"
"It is a possibility, mein Freund," Kurt said. He put his hand on Colossus arm. "Ve von't let it happen. Don't vorry."
"Am I correct in assumin' you blokes 'ave dealt with demons from Limbo before?" John asked.
"Ve have indeed," Kurt said. "Colossus's sister was taken by Belasco and raised as the Queen of Limbo, the Darkchilde."
"Bloody 'ell," John muttered. "Well, at least I won't be havin' to pull off whatever it is we're gonna have to do with a bunch of amateurs."
"No offense, Herr Constantine, but if this is vhat ve think it is, it is a matter for Excalibur. Your services are no longer required."
"No offense, mate, but if someone has opened a door to Limbo, I don't exactly feel comfortable leavin' the fate of the world into the hands of people runnin' around in blue an' yellow knickers. Got to 'ave a sense of self-preservation, you know."
"Funny to hear that from a man who's apparently hellbent on giving himself cancer," Kit said, gesturing to the cigarette John had lit at some point during the meeting.
John's expression became positively frightening. "You want to know about cancer, boy? I've got plenty of stories I could tell you…"
"I think we should let John help us," Pete said quickly, wanting to prevent any of her boyfriend's blood from being spilled. "He knows his stuff when it comes to this sort of thing."
Brian crossed his arms in front of him. "I noticed back in the sewers that the two of you had some sort of past connection. Care to share what that is to the rest of us before we just take your word on it, Wisdom?"
"I knew 'im when I was younger. He was…my sister's boyfriend."
John narrowed his eyes. So that's what he'd been. Nice.
Brian raised a blond eyebrow. "That's it? We're supposed to take your word on him being valuable to this mission on that?"
"Brian," Meggan said, speaking up from the first time since the meeting had begun. "This is Mr. Constantine's area of expertise. Granted, most of the people here have dealt with Belasco before, but he's always caused a lot of trouble. If it is him who they're trying to bring out of that door, then we'll need all the help we can get."
John turned to Meggan and smiled. "Thanks, luv." Meggan smiled back.
"You know, Fuzzy, Meggan and Pete have a point," Amanda said, turning to Kurt. "He is an expert on this sort of thing. I think it would be unwise to not include him in this."
Kurt sighed, realizing his girlfriend was right. "Fine." He turned to John. "We can give you temporary accommodations on Muir Island."
"Whatever, mate."
"I can show him to one of the guest rooms," Pete said.
Kit glanced over, giving her a look. Pete shrugged.
"Good." Kurt sighed. "Let's get to bed. Ve have a long day ahead of us, I believe."
Pete walked over to John as Excalibur began to file out of the room. Kit grabbed her arm before she could say anything to him. "I'll be waiting for you back in our room," Kit said, giving Pete a hard kiss. He shot John a look before walking out of the room.
"Well, someone's insecure," John muttered.
Pete rolled her eyes. "Come on. I'll show you to one of the guest rooms."
xxx xxx xxx
"Nice place you got 'ere, Wisdom," John said, looking around the room. "So are you gonna leave me alone now?"
Pete frowned. "John, about, well, about what happened seven years ago…"
John held up his hand. "Like I tol' you back on the balcony, I don't want to 'ere it. You made your decision back then. If it hurts now, well good."
Pete felt tears forming in her eyes, but told herself she couldn't cry. She wouldn't give John the satisfaction. "Go to Hell, Constantine," she said, running out of the room.
"Already been there, luv!" John called after her as he got up and slammed the door.
xxx xxx xxx
Kit was back in their room, sitting on the edge of the bed. Pete sat behind him, kneading his shoulders. "Hey."
"Hey, yourself."
"Kit, please, don't be this way, all right? John's just an old friend."
"You said in the medlab he was more than that."
"Was, dear. He's me past, you're me present—and me future."
Kit turned to look at her. "I saw the glances he was giving you in the debriefing. I didn't like it."
"He can glance all he wants, Kit. Only you get to touch." She gave Kit a slow smile.
Kit smirked, running a hand through her hair. "Do I get to touch right now?"
Pete took hold of the collar of his shirt, pulling him back onto the bed with her. "Yes."
xxx xxx xxx
"Remind me why I'm going back to this bloody place," said Pete. Excalibur was standing around a sewer grate in a back alley of London.
"To close zhe door to Limbo and save zhe vurld," said Kurt. Pete took one last puff of her cigarette before stamping it out.
"I was looking for a good reason, but I guess that'll 'ave to do."
"Are you absolutely sure this is where the gateway is?" said Brian to John. John shrugged.
"Not at all, mate. But it's as good a guess as any." Kit frowned.
"Well, Mr. Constantine, you'd better hope your 'guess' doesn't get anyone hurt." John grinned around his unlit cigarette.
"'Fraid of mussin' your hair and tearin' your spandex, son?" Kit made a move towards John, but Pete put a hand on his arm.
"If all of ye are through flexin' yer muscles," said Rhane. "This place reeks of demons. I think Mr. Constantine guessed right." Colossus hauled the grate off of the hole in the ground.
"Then down we go," he said. "I am not letting that bastard Belasco get through the gateway again." One by one, the members of Excalibur filed down the ladder. Pete and John were the last ones left.
"After you," said John, bowing sarcastically. Pete glared at him.
"Sod off, Constantine." She climbed quickly down the ladder and went and stood next to Kit. John followed her somewhat less gracefully, his long coat tangling around his legs.
"Smooth," commented Kit.
"Shaddup," John muttered, picking himself off the ground. He reached into his pocket and fished out what appeared to be a bunch of tangled string and bits of wood. "Put these on, all of you."
"Vhat are they?" asked Kurt, putting one around his neck.
"Bits of a cross used by the Romans to crucify a heretic," said John. "They should keep anythin' nasty from gnawing on yer ankles when we get into the shite."
"I'm really not comfortable wearing this," said Kit.
"Then I guess you'll get eaten, won't you, lad?" said John. Kurt gave Kit a look.
"Put it on, Kit." Kit grumbled, but slipped the charm around his neck. "Alright," said Kurt. "Ve split up--two groups canvassing the tunnels. Try to avoid being spotted by Black Air. Once ve find zhe doorway, ve must close it before anything else can come through. Can you do zhat, Herr Constantine?"
"Easily, mate," said John with a smirk. Pete made sure she was in the group that didn't go with John. She didn't know what had crawled up his arse since he'd shown up again, but she didn't want to have to deal with it now. She felt Kit take her hand as they walked through the damp, close darkness.
"I'll be glad when this is over and that guy is out of our lives," he said.
"Yeah," said Pete, although she wasn't entirely sure she meant it. "Me too, luv."
xxx xxx xxx
As far as sewers went, John Constantine had seen worse. He felt more at home in the shadows than the light, anyway. If it wasn't for the bunch of secret agents and demons running about, he might have almost been enjoying himself. He looked at the group he had been sorted with--the Braddock wanker, the shiny metal guy, and the blond woman with enormous tits, and sighed. Or maybe not.
At least he didn't have to watch Pete hang all over her boyfriend. It was one thing to dip into the younger dating pool, but another thing entirely to be shagging a bloody escapee from a daycare center. What in the seven hells did Pete see in the little bastard? When he knew her before, she would have told Kit to sod the fuck off and given him a boot in the arse to help him on his way.
Maybe that was the problem--Pete had obviously changed in ways that were deeper than John could see at the moment. He had carried the image of her as a sweet little schoolgirl for seven years, and that obviously wasn't the case any more. Although, he had to admit, some aspects of the change weren't entirely bad. A slight smiled played around John's face. She had filled out rather nicely...
John felt a prickle over his skin, and looked up to see runes scrawled over the tunnel walls in chalk. They were the equivalent of a supernatural electric fence--no one who wasn't human could get in--or out. "'eads up, you lot," he said. "We're gettin' close." The three members of Excalibur became almost comically alert, and John sighed. How could Pete live with these people? They were driving him over the sodding edge and he'd only been acquainted with them for two days.
Well, he wasn't going to stick around to find out. After he'd closed the gateway--or not, he didn't really give a shite--he was done with Pete Wisdom. She was one less ghost to haunt him.
xxx xxx xxx
When Pete, Kit, Kurt and Rhane came upon the convergence of tunnels that was home to the Limbo gateway, Pete thought at first they were too late. Michelle and a phalanx of Black Air agents stood around the perimeter of the small circular area, while in the center a bunch of sods who looked like escapees from her mother's old commune chanted over a dead body whose throat had been cut. The blood had run over the slick stones and towards a circle drawn on the floor, which was glowing, already beginning to open.
"Disgusting..." Kit whispered next to her. Pete saw John, Colossus, Brian and Meggan appear at the tunnel entrance across from them. "What do we do now?" Kit was whispering to Kurt.
"Herr Constantine says to scatter the agents, but under no circumstances touch the circle," Kurt whispered. "Is everyvun ready?" Pete let her hot knives glow to life on her fingertips.
"Ready."
The Black Air agents were considerably less tough than the demons Pete had faced the day before. At least when you put them down, they stayed down. But there were a lot of them, and they were all well-armed.
"Keep chanting!" Michelle screamed at the figures around the dead body as she pulled her gun and fired at Excalibur. Pete knocked the gun out of her hand and grabbed Michelle by the collar.
"I've waited too bloody long to do this," she said, drawing back her fist. Michelle snarled at her.
"You're a friggin' dead woman, Wisdom! You all are, whether you know it or not!" Pete punched her, and Michelle stumbled backwards--into the circle. There was a hiss and the smell of cooking meat, and one of Michelle's arms came cleanly off as it touched the ring of light. John turned at her scream.
"Aw, fuck it," he said. The circle glowed brightly, and bright flashes of light began to shoot forth. Each flash became a demonic creature, some of whom actually helped Excalibur by feeding on the Black Air agents that hadn't had the sense to run.
"This is bad," said Kit as the portal grew larger and larger, sucking in air and anything lying lose in the tunnel.
"The blood sacrifice has been given," a disembodied voice boomed. "And now...I am released." The light and wind abruptly stopped, and a tall man with long black hair and a black beard stood before Excalibur in front of a still-open but calm portal. Kit stopped breathing next to Pete and Colossus growled.
"Belasco."
"Oh, shite," said John. Belasco smiled thinly.
"So good to see my dear friends again." He inclined his head towards Colossus. "Your sister sends her regards, Piotr Rasputin." Colossus lunged for him.
"Bastard! Murderer!" Belasco grabbed Colossus by the throat, and Piotr screamed as his metal skin started to melt off under the demon's touch. Kit leapt forward and grabbed the larger man, phasing them both away from Belasco. Belasco chuckled.
"Intangibility only goes so far, Mr. Pryde."
"I'll kill you!" shouted Kit.
"Boy has absolutely no sense of self-preservation, does he?" said John.
"As much as I would enjoy tormenting Illyana's only love in his own private Hell, time presses," said Belasco. He swept out his long arm and caught Kit off guard, the force of his blow slamming Kit into the wall hard enough to crack brick. Belasco tsked. "So sad when that happens." Pete started to run to Kit, but John grabbed her arm, holding with surprising strength when she struggled.
"He's playin' with you, luv. Don't fall for it or you'll end up worse than them." Pete looked at John, her eyes enraged.
"How do we kill 'im?" John shrugged.
"Beats the bloody 'ell out of me. I favor screamin' and runnin', actually." Pete turned back to Belasco.
"Well, I have a few ideas..." She started to walk towards the demon. As long as he didn't start shooting fireballs out of his hands, she wanted to be as close as possible when she took her shot. John saw what she was trying to do and put a hand over his face.
"Stupid bloody woman..." The rest of Excalibur was standing tensely, not wanting to end up like Piotr and Kit. "You lot!" John snapped at them. "Best clear out--there's going to be a fairly spectacular explosion in about ten seconds." They blinked and stared at him. "Friggin' move!" John shouted as Pete released a volley of her hottest knives at Belasco. Brian picked up Kit and Nightcrawler bamfed Colossus away.
Pete's knives would have melted a man's flesh off his bones from the inside out, but they merely knocked Belasco backwards into the open gateway. Belasco made a sound matched only by the terrible noise Nergal had made in the club seven years ago as he was sucked backwards into Limbo. His features contorted and his form began to discorporate. "This...isssss....AHHH...not...the end!"
"Die, you bloody wanker," said Pete, and shot him again. John dipped his fingers into the mingled demon and human blood on the floor of the tunnel, drawing out a hasty symbol on the floor.
"Blood fer blood, let the gateway be shut eternally and..." The walls began to shake as an unearthly rumble came from the bowels of the ground. "Oh, sod it," said John. "Run!" He grabbed Pete and they both ran for their lives as a wall of fire ripped from the closing portal and the tunnel began to collapse.
"Is it shut?!" Pete shouted over the noise of the explosion.
"Shut as I can make it!" John yelled back, panting as they rounded a corner. Pete pressed herself against the wall as the cloud of dust, smoke and fire shot by, the noise dissipating as the fire quickly went out in the damp tunnel. Pete let out a shaky breath, reaching for a cigarette. John did the same. "Got a light, Wisdom?" Pete felt for her lighter, realized it had gotten lost in the battle, and lit John's cigarette with the tip of her finger. He grinned. "Yer bloody useful to have around...in certain situations at least."
"Go bugger yourself, Constantine." She exhaled, her breathing returning to normal. "We'd better get topside. The others'll be waiting for us."
"Yeah. Better go make sure yer little boyfriend didn't get 'imself an owie." Pete glared at John.
"Lay off me'n Kit. You don't know the first thing about real relationships, John." John dropped his cigarette and started to walk.
"Fer once you're right, Wisdom. Guess when it comes to the true an' undyin' love you and Kit 'ave, I'm bloody clueless." Pete started to retort, but instead just muttered a curse and walked after him.
xxx xxx xxx
John had planned to leave as soon as they'd sealed the door, but when Meggan has asked him to go with them for a celebratory drink at the pub, he figured what the hell. After all, it wasn't every day that you managed to stop the world from being run by demons.
Okay, well, maybe it was as far as John was concerned, but still. He had to spend his evening somehow. Might as well be the Excalibur lot.
He watched Kit and Pete from over the edge of his pint. When she looked at Kit, it was with that same kind of adoration she'd once looked at John with. He slammed back the rest of his drink and ordered another.
Pete snuck a glance at John. She wondered why he'd even come out with them. He obviously wasn't having a good time. He'd said a few words to Meggan, but mainly he'd been just drinking and glowering. She looked back at Kit. He didn't seem happy either. Pete sighed inwardly. Shouldn't people be in better spirits than this after saving the world?
Kurt stood. "I hate to cut the evening short, but Amanda and I have decided to return to Muir. It's getting late, and ve are both tired."
"Do ye mind if Douggie an' I come with ye?" Rhane asked.
"Me, too," Kit said.
Pete looked at him. "You want to leave?"
"Yeah. You can stay if you want to, sweetie. My head just really hurts. Probably from Belasco throwing me through that wall…"
Pete gently kissed his forehead. "Yeah, I can see where that would do it. Go on 'ome and get some rest. I'll be along soon."
Kit glanced down the table at John. "Don't let him give you any trouble," he said quietly.
Pete smirked. "Don't worry, luv. I can handle meself."
"Well, Brian, Meggan, and Moira are all still here if you need them."
"I know. Go 'ome, Kit."
Kit stood, then leaned down to give Pete a lingering kiss. He glanced up at John, making sure the other man had seen it. John discretely flipped him the bird. Kit smirked and kissed Pete one more time before leaving with the others.
xxx xxx xxx
Pete sat picking the label off her bottle of Bass. She figured she probably should have gone home with Kit, but she really wasn't ready. John would probably be leaving in the morning, and she would never see him again. After spending so many years thinking he was dead, that thought gave her a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
John had moved to a booth alone as soon as the others had left. Brian and Meggan were off in a dark corner somewhere. Moira was singing loudly at the bar with some people she knew but Pete didn't. Pete sighed. This was ridiculous. She didn't know what had happened in the past seven years to make John so bitter, but she was going to find out.
She walked over to the booth where John was sitting and slid into the bench across from him. "That seat's taken," John slurred.
"I don't see anyone."
"'e's invisible."
Pete wasn't in the mood for games. This could be her last chance to talk to John, and she wasn't going to waste it. "Enough of this, Constantine, wot 'appened to you seven years ago?"
John sneered. "Don't act like you don't know."
"I don't! The last thing I saw of you, that…thing…was standin' over ya about to make ya 'is dinner!"
"You know wot happened after that," John snapped. "You jus' didn't care enough to do anything about it."
"I thought I knew what happened after that, but seein' as you're sittin' 'ere, apparently I didn't."
John's eyes flashed angrily. "No? Does the word 'Ravenscar' ring any bells?"
Pete's eyes grew wide and her hand went to her mouth. "John, you weren't…"
"Yeah, I was. An' don't play the innocent either, actin' like you didn't know I was there."
"I didn't! Bloody 'ell, Constantine, I thought you were dead!"
"Dead? Wot, you think jus' cause some bloody demon tries to eat me, that I'd be dead? Takes more than that, luv." John's voice got quiet. "Besides, I tol' you I'd get out of it an' come find you. I promised…"
"I know. But, well…" Pete sighed. "After I left the club, I ran 'ome. I didn't know where else to go. I tol' Romany wot 'ad 'appened. I thought maybe with her knowledge of the occult, she could help or something, I don't know. She left, and when she came back a bit later she was crying. She told me you were dead."
Anger flashed in John's eyes again. "That bloody whore!" he yelled, loud enough for a couple of the pub's other patrons to give him a glance. He lowered his voice again. "I saw Romany that night, after it all 'appened. I was a mess, an' the cops wanted to take in for 'questioning,' but I got a few words in to her. I tol' her to let you know I was okay, and I'd send word for you. An' I did, too. After a couple months, I was able to smuggle a letter out. Didn't say much, just that I was still breathin', and that I wanted you to wait for me it ya could. I got a reply fairly quickly. Said you weren't interested in someone in the looney bin, and that you didn't want to ever 'ear from me again."
Pete reached across the table, placing her hand on top of John's. "I never would've said that, John. Romany must've gotten the letter. I didn't stick around home long at all after I lost you."
John looked up, meeting her eyes. "Would you 'ave waited for me, luv?"
Pete felt her breath still. What could she say? That she would've waited a lifetime for him if she had to? That she wanted him to take her into his arms and make her feel sixteen and alive again? But she had Kit now, and she loved him. "John, I…"
John could tell what she was going to say. She was going to remind him of that wanker she called a boyfriend. "Dance with me, luv," he said quickly, cutting her off.
"Wot?"
"Dance with me. I think I can see a jukebox in the other bar."
"John, why do you want to dance now?"
"Jus' do." He finished his drink. "C'mon."
Pete got up, deciding she did want to dance with John. She wanted to feel his arms around her, just for a moment, and this way she could do it without being disloyal to Kit. "All right then, let's dance."
Pete and John walked back to the jukebox. Pete leaned over, resting her arm on in as she assessed the choices. She frowned. "God, this jukebox is out of the ark." Her eyes scanned down a bit further, and then lit up. "Oh, here's the Ramones." She dropped in her money and made her selection, smiling as the song began. "This is the sound of being in love when you're sixteen and forget everyone else…"
She stopped when she realized what she was saying. John just nodded, taking hold of her and swaying slowly to the music. Pete felt herself melt. His arms felt so strong.
Have
I ever told you
How good it feels to hold you
It isn't easy to explain
And though I'm really tryin'
I think I may start cryin'
My heart can't wait an other day
John pulled her a little closer, and Pete rested her head on his shoulder. He breathed in the scent of her hair, loving the way it felt to have her next to him. He'd been telling himself ever since he'd seen her again that those old feelings were gone, but it was clear to him now they weren't.
He figured he could blame it on the alcohol, but he knew that would be a lie. Sure, he'd had more than his fair share that night, but he couldn't blame wanting her on that. This woman had taken hold of him seven years ago, and when he was honest with himself he had to admit that had never gone away.
When
you kiss me I just gotta
Kiss me I just gotta
Kiss me I just gotta say:
Baby, I love you
Come on baby
Baby, I love you
Baby I love, I love only you
I can't live without you
I love everything about you
I can't help it if I feel this way
Pete let herself just relish being with John. She knew it was only a fantasy, and that the love that they had was long gone, but that didn't mean she couldn't pretend for a little while. She let herself get wrapped up in the scent of cigarettes and alcohol that she never got to smell on a man anymore. It was a dark, almost forbidden sort of scent, and she'd always liked it. She had since she'd first kissed John when she was sixteen…
Oh
I'm so glad I found you
I want my arms around you
I love to hear you call my name
Oh tell me that you feel
Tell me that you feel
Tell me that you feel the same
"Um, am I interrupting something?"
Pete and John jumped out each other's arms. Pete looked back, brushing the hair out from in front of her eyes. "Brian! Hi! No, John and I were just dancing. Everything all right?"
"Yeah," Brian said, frowning. "Meggan and I are going to bring Moira back. She's starting to get…violent."
"Hit the bartender again, did she?"
Brian sighed. "Yes. That woman is one mean drunk."
Pete laughed. "I'll go on back with you." She turned to John. "Are you coming back with us?"
"Probably should. I doubt I could find me way back to London in this state."
"Yeah, you'd probably end up face down in a bog somewhere," Pete said. "C'mon. I'm sure you can stand one more night on Muir."
John smirked. "I've slept in worse places," he said as he followed Pete and Brian out.
Baby I love, I love only you…
xxx xxx xxx
John fell asleep on the trip back on the Midnight Runner. He woke to feel Pete shaking him gently. "Get up, Constantine. We're 'ome."
"Home?"
"Well, mine, anyway."
"Right." He tried to stand, but had to grip the seats for support. "I'm 'avin' a bit of trouble, luv. Seems the world is spinnin' a bit faster than normal."
Pete shook her head. "I think you may be smashed, Constantine."
"Really?"
Pete put her arm around him, letting him rest some of his weight on her. "I'll 'elp you back to your room."
"Thanks. You're an angel."
"Wotever."
Pete helped him slowly off the plane and into the building, down the hall and to his room. She opened the door, guiding him over to the bed. John lay down, putting an arm over his head. "I do wish the bloody room would be still."
"That'll teach you to drink that much."
John raised her arm. "Why aren't you tipsy? You were drinkin' a bit, too, and the girl I remember couldn't hold a pint."
"Well, I'm not anywhere near sober," Pete admitted. "But somewhere in the past seven years I managed to turn into a human sponge."
John chuckled. "Good. I like me women to be able to hold their liquor."
"John…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You got a wanker waiting for you back in yer room. Be a friend, though and take off me shoes. I don't think I can." Pete rolled her eyes as she knelt beside the bed, taking off John's shoes and socks. "And me tie?" John asked. "Don't want to be chokin' in me sleep now."
Pete got up and sat beside him on the bed, carefully undoing his tie and placing it on the bedpost.
"Belt? Sort of uncomfortable for sleepin'…"
Pete undid his belt, sliding it off slowly and letting it fall to the ground.
"Shirt?"
Pete looked at him, her eyes wide and her breathing shallow. She carefully undid each button, then spread the shirt open with her hands, running her fingers along John's chest. He let out a shaky breath, shivering at her touch. She looked up to meet his eyes, and John reached up, threading his fingers through her long, black hair. "I was right when I said you'd grow up to be beautiful," he said softly. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." He pulled her face down, kissing her gently at first, but then with more force. Pete moaned, letting herself sink into the kiss.
John pulled her to him, and Pete straddled his waist, never breaking contact with his lips. John slid his hands under her shirt, caressing her back. Pete whimpered against his lips. John moved his hands up, starting to take off her shirt. It was then that Pete snapped up, her eyes wild.
"John, I can't…I…Kit…"
"Pete, please…" John said softly, reaching up for her but not touching her.
Pete scrambled off him. "I'm sorry," she said quickly, making a dash for the door. John sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Bloody 'ell."
xxx xxx xxx
Pete felt horribly guilty as she got back to her own room where Kit was already asleep. She undressed and slipped into bed, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Kit opened his eyes. "Pete?" he murmured sleepily.
"Any other women crawl into bed with you?"
Kit smirked. "No." He kissed the top of her head. "You're the only woman I could ever want."
Pete felt her guilt grow tenfold. "I love you, Kit. I love you so much."
"I love you, too," Kit mumbled, already drifting back off to sleep.
Pete lay in his arms until sleep finally came for her.
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