Tangible
Chapter One:
Dreams and Premonitions
PART II
Summary: We shall now deliver on the promised funki-delic dreams and bunny mayhem. Yes. Delivery! Mo ha ha wha ba hwa …ha. 1337 evil laughter. Indeeeeeed. And a bit more Morgaine, and a bit more of the two "familiar boys"…but this can't be followed by evil laughter, so we can't feel too excited…boo.
Disclaimer: I stood where the sidewalk ended and exclaimed " I own nothing!" And so I heard a echoing mystical voice, and it said " Go forth young man, the world is your oyster." And that just made me so so so so soooooo angry! For I am SHEMALE not a Male-male. And so I searched out the source of the mystic-like voice and I declared "Stop breathing my oxygen you dirty old hag!" And she then gave me a rose. It was a pretty rose, but it doesn't make up for the fact that she turned me into a beast…
1:10 A.M – Present – Dakota City – Virgil's bedroom
Virgil really didn't like bunnies. They were so fluffy and girly. Real ones were okay, but he really couldn't stand animated cartoon bunnies (excluding of course, bugs bunny – he was cool).
So then why was he having tea with a roomful of these cutesy animated rodents?
Why was he even drinking tea? He couldn't recall ever being British, or even Asian! He was American! American's drank coffee! Not Tea!
But try as he might, he couldn't seem to get the ever-smiling rodents to understand that.
He commanded them to stop being so goddamn cheery – this was no laughing matter!
Alas, they did not listen!
Instead they continued smiling, large creepy smiles that reached all the way around their two-dimensional heads. Shiny teeth that appeared to reflect every color of the rainbow, (focusing on the darkest and grossest colors that actually didn't exist), seemed larger than their actual faces.
And their eyes! Such horrid eyes! Larger than a Sumo-Wrestler's dinner-plate, polished with evil, their luster but reflected…the…room?
Wait – where was the room? Were those swirling clouds of color supposed to be walls? Why were the lights so psychedelic? WHY WERE THOSE DAMN RODENTS LAUGHING AT HIM?
It wasn't just laughing either, it was snorting, chortling, giggling madness. The only sound he could think of that would ever describe it would be that of an orchestra that used dying cats as flutes, nails on a chalkboard as harps, the sounds of the student bathrooms after chocolate-coated-fried-chicken day as saxophones, and the sounds of drunken monkeys as drums.
He couldn't take it anymore! Swiftly he summoned his powers to his hands; and, with a furious yell he unleashed a giant ball of – …cotton candy…?
Weird - definitely not his power – but, hey, it got the job done!
The bunnies slowly melted and boiled away when the sugary substance touched them. As their fur went up in angry puffs of smoke they continued to laugh with their horrible voices, oblivious to their soft candied death.
It was ghastly in a mystical and fluffy way.
Before he had time to celebrate he felt someone shaking him. He tried desperately to slap them out of the way, but found, to his angry surprise, that he couldn't seem to move his arms.
"Virgil! Wake up man! It's the League!"
Huh? The league? OH! THE league! His eyes snapped open as he bolted up to a sitting position, staring wildly around his room, until his eyes settled on his sidekick –still in his pajamas. He smiled, a stupidly lethargic brain-not-quite-awake-yet smile.
Actually, Richie was wearing the pajamas but they belonged to Virgil.
This happened a lot when his friend came over. As smart as he was, he always managed to forget to bring his own pajamas, toothbrush, and extra clothes. But he never forgot to bring nonessentials (junk food) and hero-related items (new wacky inventions). That was okay though, he made up for it by his appearance when he wore the other boy's oversized blue t-shirt and his almost-tight, almost knee-length black shorts.
When the shirt covered the shorts his blond friend looked like the cutest most huggable teddy bear Virgil had ever laid eyes on. Whenever the shirt was absent (a very rare occasion – it only happened when the A/C failed), he looked…like Virgil needed to take a cold shower.
"Hey, bro?" Richie waved his hand in front of his friend's sleepily glazed eyes, when that inspired no response he dropped his hand to Virgil's bare shoulder and shook him roughly until a sleepy arm batted his hand away.
"C'mon V! I think this is an emergency, get your uniform on!" He threw the mentioned garment at the only half-awake hero.
"Don't be so mean! Its too early!" Virgil cradled his outfit to his chest and didn't even try to convince himself to keep his eyes open as his partner changed into his own uniform while telling him something about being woken five minutes earlier by backpack, and something about him wondering why J'onn sounded so odd.
He had thought that was a no-brainer.
J'onn was a Martian- or wait –a martini? Anyways he was an alien, it was only natural that he'd sound odd. Plus his skin was green…
Before he knew what was happening the room was once again psychedelic… he had fallen back asleep.
1:20 A.M – Present – Same Place
After he was dressed he double-checked his gear, making sure he had spare zap caps - his shock box – backpack – a comic book for light reading? On second thought, he didn't need that last object.
"Do you have everything?" He turned to the still undressed Static. Who was…Sleeping?
Richie sighed. Well, it was one in the morning still…so…he smirked as an EVIL plan entered his head.
Leaning over his friend he whispered softly into his ear "Hey V…?" He earned a smile, ah hah! - the boy was only lightly asleep – even better for his EVIL plan.
"Hey Veeeee?" he whispered again, his voice as soft and soothing as he could make it, not noticing a small shudder that surged through his unconscious friend, caused by the soft contact of his breath to the young teen's sensitive ear.
"Veeeee, its time to… WAKE! UP!" He shouted the last part as loud as he could – forcing the other boy to jerk awake and cover his ears with a sleepy whine.
"God Rich! Don't do that!"
The offender stepped back laughing out his amusement as loudly as he could without waking the other sleeping members of the Hawkins family. "We have a mission bro, sorry!" he apologized with a smirk
"At one in the morning? That's ungodly!" Virgil complained as he at last struggled into his uniform.
"Well we're not gods, are we? C'mon – we've got to go to the watchtower again." He smiled as Virgil plopped back onto his bed, as if he had fulfilled his superhero requirements by simply putting on his clothes.
"Oh no you don't, c'mon bro." He pulled his lethargic friend from his bed and motioned toward the window. " Something telepathic is telling me to meet J'onn at the docks, lets not keep the League waiting!"
A few seconds later, and all was quiet, as the two teens disappeared into the night – er- morning - darkness.
1:00 P.M. – A/U – Castle East – Throne Room
"May it be known to his Majesty's Scribe that this meeting is beginning at One P.M, on this Friday of the eighth month, in the year of the Moth. This prisoner presented to the king is here for attempting to trespass on the Central Kingdom…"
She listened with barely contained annoyance as the Court Crier dealt over the specifics of her accusation, his words stumbling from his mouth as if he were new to the English language. And he was the Court Crier for what reason?
Morgaine Le Fay was bored. She wondered briefly what it would be like if it were possible (because she was just so bored) for her brain to crumble into ashes that would pour out of the eye sockets of her mask… which would be an interesting idea if it wasn't something her once young son had suggested to her once when he was at the tender age of four. But he was gone now, partially because of that damn Justice League. Everything was gone.
Everything but her taste for vengeance.
All in due time though, she first had to convince this rather slow-looking king that she wasn't a criminal. That she was a possible benefit to have around.
He began the questioning by asking, rather rudely, just what she was doing so close to the elite Center Kingdom, what business could such a lowly wretch as her have with the Great King Hawkins?
She squared her shoulders and drew herself to her full height, tilting her chin up with an aura of natural royalty. " I am searching for a princess for my young son to marry, in the hopes that she may inherit my kingdom when I pass away." The words flowed naturally, sounding as truthful as any words could ever be. She saw the King's eyes widen with greed, saw his temple twitch in anticipation. He was but a power-hungry fool, which, of course, was to her advantage.
" My territory stretches over the width of many planets. My empire has the unique ability to travel through all dimensions of space, yet we are still deeply rooted in tradition. The founding Empress of my Kingdom outlawed the formation of Kings, only Queens may hold power, only Empresses." She lowered her head, feigning sorrow to the best of her ability, "Yet I have only one child, and he is never to be much more than a lowly powerless prince. I planned on asking King Hawkins if he would so kindly lend his lovely daughter to my cause, it was never my intention to invoke an emergency among the guards. I can only suppose that they haven't before seen dimensional travel, and as such, had judged my sudden appearance as a threat."
She smiled beneath her mask, she had lain the line, now she need only wait for the king to take the bait. If she could convince this man that huge power would come his way if he so assisted her…
The king inhaled and thought about this opportunity. What would he give to see his little Frieda married off to inherit such power…? He smiled, a thick crooked smile. This prospect was too great to chance losing! And he had at first been alarmed about this woman who had been captured by the Central Kingdom's guards…apparently she was but a blessing in disguise!
If he could he would give the woman his daughter at that very instance… But first there was a problem that he would have to deal with, the problem that she was already betrothed to the young prince Virgil. He had betrothed the two in a deal with that Hawkins bastard years ago, wishing to grab the unmatched fortune for his daughter to inherit the most powerful kingdom in the land. And now a better opportunity presented itself! But he'd have to find a way around the rules of arranged marriages first. He cleared his throat with a phlegm-intensive cough and smiled again.
"My dearest daughter Frieda would be honored to help you," he began, studying the powerful lady before him, "Yet there is the slightest of problems. She's already betrothed to Prince Virgil, I'd have to find a way around - "
"Where I come from the only way to stop an arranged marriage is with death."
- he was suddenly cut short by the golden armored royalty before him, who spoke with such energy that he cringed against the back of his throne.
"Tha – That's hardly necessary!" he spluttered, paling at the thought of what Richard Hawkins' wrath would be if he were known to be connected to a crime toward the King's son. He gazed in horror as the strange woman laughed mirthlessly.
"Not necessary?" she hissed, slowly walking toward the throne, menacingly clenching her fists, " Then I suppose I'm to let my kingdom go without a leader? And I suppose you would give up such power that is almost within your grasp? I know you desire the power of my kingdom for your daughter!" She laughed harshly again, so harsh it sounded almost more like a bark than an expression of humor.
"Do not worry about King Richard, I will take care of the problem myself. He need never know you had anything to do with it." She narrowed her eyes as the King was defeated by his greed, smiling beneath the mask as he gave her permission to formulate a plan. She was even offered her own sleeping chamber, a hugely cozy white room that burned brightly in comparison to the dusty dungeon she had previously been locked in.
12:55 P.M – A/U – Central Kingdom – The Courtyard of Meditation
There was nothing more peaceful than his courtyard. There were many trees to run around when he played with his best friend, and there were pretty designs everywhere that he would often stare at when he was tired out. At those times he would usually rest with his back against the huge fountain conveniently located in the center of the courtyard, lean against his friend and enjoy whatever conversation would come up.
Presently he was seated in the same fashion at the fountain, having just finished a vicious water battle with his best friend Richie. But right now there was no conversation. Richie didn't seem to be in a very talkative mood.
Which was remarkable for the young blond, who never knew how to close his mouth when he was around Prince Virgil.
The young prince glanced over at the boy who apparently thought of his left shoulder as a good pillow. He appeared lost in thought, his hands folded lightly in his lap, his gaze fixed somewhere that was light-years away. The darker pre-teen couldn't figure out which emotions were poring out of the other boy's eyes, but he knew he didn't like them.
"What's up bro?" he asked, pulling his arm up from his own lap and slipping it around Richie's shoulders, so that he could half-embrace his friend, drawing the other pre-teen closer. The blonde's silence ate away at the atmosphere, took the fun out of the day, and was just plain out of character and annoying.
The blond sighed and scooted closer to his best friend.
"My birthday's in a week." He mumbled miserably. Readjusting so that his elbows rested on his thighs and his head rested in his hands, which weren't quite as comfortable as the Prince's shoulders.
Virgil broke into a huge smile and laughed "Man, that's it? Don't sound so friggin miserable! You know I'll throw you an awesome party! Just cuz your stupid parents don't care about it, doesn't mean my parents'll forget! What're you so worried about?" He punched his friend's shoulder lightly with his right fist for emphasis.
"I…I'm going to be twelve."
"Yeah, so?" sometimes his friend was so melodramatic, was this going to be some kind of peter pan-ish 'I don't wanna grow up' moments? Twelve was a cool age – not a kid and not yet a teen! Virgil loved being twelve!
"I was looking forward to it earlier this month, it meant I'd be your age for a while." He glanced up at the darker pre-teen and flashed the smallest of smiles, which was swiftly replaced with a slightly worried expression" But I had this dream last night…"
"We had been in this red building, me, you, and these two other guys-" he flushed remembering the muscular teenage duo, there was something about them that had been so…anyways their presence had made his stomach flutter strangely.
Richie cleared his throat " Anyways, I don't remember what we were there for, but I know there was some kind of big battle thing – we actually fought well though! For a while anyways…you were especially really cool!" His eyes shone with something remarkably like admiration when he glanced up again at the Prince.
"But – then- I dunno what happened – but all the sudden it was like I was paralyzed – I couldn't move at all!"
His features again took on that strange mixture of emotions that Virgil couldn't quite place. As he watched his friends face, which had twisted as though he were remembering something horrible, he was finally able to place at least one of the emotions.
"I …it suddenly felt like I was on fire. And I can't really remember what was going on, but it was so dark! And there was – I could hear this woman – she sounded so frightening! And she was laughing at me! The last thing I heard before I woke up was this lady saying 'happy birthday'. But she sounded so mean about it!"
Virgil's mouth had dropped open on its own accord, his lips twitching, Richie got worried about the stupidest things" You don't think that's actually going to happen do you? It was just a dream Rich, C'mon!" He received a soft glare for his comments.
"Don't make fun of me V, that dream was so real! It felt like a premonition – I mean, it was creepy bro!"
The prince simply laughed off his friend's anxious words, as if the frightened boy were merely pulling his leg. Richie sighed, he knew Virgil wouldn't understand stuff like that; he was completely naïve when it came to human emotions and deep stuff like premonitions.
But it was okay, it didn't matter so much once his friend flashed him one of those pure smiles that were simply his. Virgil was such a happy person that it was hard to be scared about random dreams when he was around.
"Don't worry about stuff like that bro" he laughed and shook his friend lightly to get him to loosen up a bit " Nothing so interesting as that ever happens here."
End Part II
Yeay! I did it! I made the deadline! One a week, one a week! I can so do this:runs away from evil sharp-toothed homework: WHEEE! Spring break is but a week away. I can hold out! Indeed! I believe I made this part longer than part one, which is a good thing right? Or was it overkill? Under kill? I have no idea if I made it more confusing this time…and those last paragraphs won't be as irrelevant as they seem right now, once the story progresses a little…yah, progression. I think this is satisfactory – is it satisfactory? I dunno. Get your dead on. Yeah, DEAD BUNNIES! Sorry, I have a " cute things are the ultimate evil" complex. Heh. Heh. Hehhhh….eh. Didst thou enjoy the bunnies? They were somewhat irrelevant…
Thank you very much to those of you who reviewed! It really does mean a lot to me, I was laughing with joy and showing my mom and sister when I saw that my story actually brought in reviews! Because you people are so cool you can make requests or something so that I can pay you back for reviewing! Thank you so much: Kali- thanks for being interested! Leev – I shall indeed dodge the swords! Onward to typing-mad vengeance! Yeay! Dimitri – I also like cookies! And J'onn! And as for Richie's thoughts, did you like his EVIL plan? R's Kitten- cliffs are fun! But you should be wary of hanging on them, that's for professionals only ! Gracie- please don't take Gear! We needs him for the story! Besides, I loves him too! He's adorable:fights Gracie for Gear:
