And again the usual Disclaimers on Lyrics/Song-titles. Yes there is
something about Benji, but really, a Belmont Reincarnated/Descendant? We'll
see guys, we'll see. ^_~
Warning: "Throw-Back" Geekiness, a running gag (that established itself),
and general plot.
****************************************************************************
*********
"Belt's shot." Soma groaned as he slammed the hood shut. "We're stranded!"
"Nope, let me try something, it won't be permanent, but if this works, we can go for a few more miles, hopefully to a repair shop." The redhead muttered as he unhooked his belt, and then slipped it off. "Let's remove the fan belt, hook this in..." He paused after he opened the hood, and stared at the engine. "Say, Soma, will you do this part? You're hands are thinner then mine."
"Are you sure it'll work?" He questioned as he took the belt from the smaller teen, and slipped it in. "Where in the hell did you learn this?"
"A-Team, Starsky and Hutch, McGuyver, All the good stuff." He laughed quietly as he guided his companion in the set-up. "There, that should do it."
"This better work." The pale one sighed deeply as he jumped back into the passenger seat.
"Trust me, trust me, it'll work, and if we don't find a good place when that belt snaps, we can use yours." Benji shrugged as he popped the bonnet down, and slipped back into the automobile.
"Excuse me? Who says you're the king of belts?" Soma huffed. "I rather not waste my belt on a piece of crap."
"For your information, this piece of crap is our only source of transportation." The mix-raced American stuck his tongue out, and started up the Jeep.
For several miles, they rode on in near-silence, save for the English- language station that was blaring out oldies and modern favorites, and the occasional comment between the two.
Two Belts and Three Hours later, the young men pulled up to a rather desolate-looking roadside motel, with peeling paint and a sign that flickered in and out of existence.
"Stay here Cross, I'll see if the owner will call a Tow, or at least provide another belt." The smaller man urged as he leaped from his seat with surprising agility. "Oh! Almost forgot." He snapped his finger. With that he, spun on his heel, and shut the engine off, which left only the Radio on.
"You and your belts!" Soma yelled after him. With a groan, he slid into the seat, eyes partially closed.
I don't want him to get into trouble, hell I don't want to get into trouble either, we've come too far to just run back, I guess. Damn it! If only Alu-- Arikado left me some way to reach him, maybe this mess would've been over. He was in the government right? Couldn't he sweep this mess under the rug?
It was definitely that part of me... no, not me, him, that did it, for sure. But why? Why now? Why not before? Why not later? Skull Millione, The Balore, Wereleopard, their souls... did they possess me? Or did I-he called them up? Gah! It's confusing as hell!
Huh? Wet? His Cerulean eyes blinked as he saw a droplet splattered on his nose. Oh, it's just rain. He shivered slightly as the darkened sky started to burst open, and wept heavily.
"Hey, Cross, Peso for your thought." The soft accented voice prodded gently as a loaned umbrella was held over him.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking." The near-albino evaded the question as he looked over the redhead. "So what did the guy say?" "Bet you're thinking about what happened." He smiled sadly as he joined the taller man.
"Yea, you can say that...." The Spaniard started slowly; his body language was almost evasive.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault." He assured him, as he leaned over, and turned up the volume of the radio. "Oh yea, 'I love a Rainy Night', talk about a Psychic Radio." Benji laughed weakly, but then grew somber. "Really, it's not, it's just the whole thing was not quite... natural, you know."
"What do you mean?" Cerulean locked with hazel, which had a smoky haze due to the dim light.
"Well you see, I...." He started, but then thought better of whatever he was to say. "What I mean is that just the whole incident just reeked of wrongness, just a sense that we're missing something important, you know it?"
"I don't know it." He lied, and broke eye contact. "Who does this song? I kinda like it." Soma abruptly changed the topic, though he indeed had an interested in the song.
"Eddie Rabbit, yea, he does good stuff. I swear I was born about sixty years too late." He groaned as he absent-mindedly adjusted the umbrella. "Any ways, if you want to confide in me about anything at all, I'm here with a zipped mouth." Tsukikyobi gave a soft, assuring smile.
"... I'll keep it in mind."
There was a long moment of silence, each man churning in their feelings and thoughts privately, and avoided eye contact with the other.
Thanks, but no thanks, you will not understand it at all. Hey, I did it, but it's not really me, it's the Dracula part of me. Good grief, that sounded crazy even to me! Now why is he being so damn nice? Does he want something?
Well he's a swell guy, no question about it, just shy with a shit-load of problems, too bad. Now if only Cross can open up, he doesn't realize what I mean, I don't think. Speaking of opening up--...! Benji! Benji Teetonka Tsukikyobi! You will not think like that! You will not even consider that thought! There, Mental Mother mode off. Cross, whatever it is, just try me, I doubt I would've heard anything new.
"So what did the guy say anyway?" The pale young man broke the silence first.
"Wha?" The wiry one started. "Oh, yea, a tow-truck's coming soon. We could go in if you want."
"No, I actually like sitting in the rain." Soma sighed softly.
"You too? Okay, but if 'Mickey' comes on, I'm going in." He joked.
"What?" He did a double take. "What is 'Mickey'?"
"World's most annoying English-language song." He deadpanned.
"Oh, trust me the Ketchup song is worse, it's my father's favorite." Soma winced.
"Oh, that Spanish one, almost forgot you were a Spaniard." Benji slide deeper into the seat.
"How did you know? I never told anyone on the Campus I was from Spain, except for the Administrators of course."
"You got that bit of an lisp, your 'H' is very harsh, and your 'J' sounds occasionally sound more like H's, I used to grow up in a heavily Hispanic- populated town, so I recognize a Spanish accent when I hear one."
"My, How Observant we are." Soma Cruz replied dryly.
"Since we're on that topic, how was Spain? Is it as beautiful as it's supposedly is?"
"How the hell do I know? My parents keep sending me over to Japan whenever they want time for themselves, which is all the time." The pale man laughed bitterly.
"Ouch, and I thought my parent's divorce was a nasty experience." Benji sympathized, as he goes to rest a hand on the taller man's shoulder. "Soma, if you want to talk, I'll listen."
"It's okay, really." He rolled his eyes as shrugged him off, as the Eagles' 'Sad Café' drifted over the airwaves.
"Suit yourself."
Again it was silence.
Feh, Psychic Radio, I have to admit that it seems like it is, Now if only the stupid radio would also tell me where to find Arikado as well finding mood-fitting music, then I will be impressed. When will that tow truck get here? I'm getting edgy from just sitting around and waiting. And worse this rain is making me sleepy. He yawned, as he tried to fight off the incredible urge to take a nap.
Boy, he's nervous, couldn't blame him, he just reeks of fear, literally. Last time I smell fear that strongly is when Mom... good grief, do I really want to think of that? Well, speak quietly, and carry a Nori-han I say. The redhead though to himself as he checked his pack for the said weapon. Who ever thought glue makes a good weapon? He chuckled to himself.
The soft splattered of rain droned rhythmically on the material of the umbrella in a lullaby-like beat, which added to the dozy feeling that the cold, wet weather brought to the former college students.
"Yea, kinda cute like that you know, all right, I'll let you sleep, you need it." Benji chuckled softly as he turned the volume down on the radio, until it was barely audible. "Good ideal, Cross. Nap-time." He turned in his seat, and went to duct tape the handle to the back of the seat. "There." He crawled down the cushion.
With that, the two dozed off until the tow arrived.
"Belt's shot." Soma groaned as he slammed the hood shut. "We're stranded!"
"Nope, let me try something, it won't be permanent, but if this works, we can go for a few more miles, hopefully to a repair shop." The redhead muttered as he unhooked his belt, and then slipped it off. "Let's remove the fan belt, hook this in..." He paused after he opened the hood, and stared at the engine. "Say, Soma, will you do this part? You're hands are thinner then mine."
"Are you sure it'll work?" He questioned as he took the belt from the smaller teen, and slipped it in. "Where in the hell did you learn this?"
"A-Team, Starsky and Hutch, McGuyver, All the good stuff." He laughed quietly as he guided his companion in the set-up. "There, that should do it."
"This better work." The pale one sighed deeply as he jumped back into the passenger seat.
"Trust me, trust me, it'll work, and if we don't find a good place when that belt snaps, we can use yours." Benji shrugged as he popped the bonnet down, and slipped back into the automobile.
"Excuse me? Who says you're the king of belts?" Soma huffed. "I rather not waste my belt on a piece of crap."
"For your information, this piece of crap is our only source of transportation." The mix-raced American stuck his tongue out, and started up the Jeep.
For several miles, they rode on in near-silence, save for the English- language station that was blaring out oldies and modern favorites, and the occasional comment between the two.
Two Belts and Three Hours later, the young men pulled up to a rather desolate-looking roadside motel, with peeling paint and a sign that flickered in and out of existence.
"Stay here Cross, I'll see if the owner will call a Tow, or at least provide another belt." The smaller man urged as he leaped from his seat with surprising agility. "Oh! Almost forgot." He snapped his finger. With that he, spun on his heel, and shut the engine off, which left only the Radio on.
"You and your belts!" Soma yelled after him. With a groan, he slid into the seat, eyes partially closed.
I don't want him to get into trouble, hell I don't want to get into trouble either, we've come too far to just run back, I guess. Damn it! If only Alu-- Arikado left me some way to reach him, maybe this mess would've been over. He was in the government right? Couldn't he sweep this mess under the rug?
It was definitely that part of me... no, not me, him, that did it, for sure. But why? Why now? Why not before? Why not later? Skull Millione, The Balore, Wereleopard, their souls... did they possess me? Or did I-he called them up? Gah! It's confusing as hell!
Huh? Wet? His Cerulean eyes blinked as he saw a droplet splattered on his nose. Oh, it's just rain. He shivered slightly as the darkened sky started to burst open, and wept heavily.
"Hey, Cross, Peso for your thought." The soft accented voice prodded gently as a loaned umbrella was held over him.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking." The near-albino evaded the question as he looked over the redhead. "So what did the guy say?" "Bet you're thinking about what happened." He smiled sadly as he joined the taller man.
"Yea, you can say that...." The Spaniard started slowly; his body language was almost evasive.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault." He assured him, as he leaned over, and turned up the volume of the radio. "Oh yea, 'I love a Rainy Night', talk about a Psychic Radio." Benji laughed weakly, but then grew somber. "Really, it's not, it's just the whole thing was not quite... natural, you know."
"What do you mean?" Cerulean locked with hazel, which had a smoky haze due to the dim light.
"Well you see, I...." He started, but then thought better of whatever he was to say. "What I mean is that just the whole incident just reeked of wrongness, just a sense that we're missing something important, you know it?"
"I don't know it." He lied, and broke eye contact. "Who does this song? I kinda like it." Soma abruptly changed the topic, though he indeed had an interested in the song.
"Eddie Rabbit, yea, he does good stuff. I swear I was born about sixty years too late." He groaned as he absent-mindedly adjusted the umbrella. "Any ways, if you want to confide in me about anything at all, I'm here with a zipped mouth." Tsukikyobi gave a soft, assuring smile.
"... I'll keep it in mind."
There was a long moment of silence, each man churning in their feelings and thoughts privately, and avoided eye contact with the other.
Thanks, but no thanks, you will not understand it at all. Hey, I did it, but it's not really me, it's the Dracula part of me. Good grief, that sounded crazy even to me! Now why is he being so damn nice? Does he want something?
Well he's a swell guy, no question about it, just shy with a shit-load of problems, too bad. Now if only Cross can open up, he doesn't realize what I mean, I don't think. Speaking of opening up--...! Benji! Benji Teetonka Tsukikyobi! You will not think like that! You will not even consider that thought! There, Mental Mother mode off. Cross, whatever it is, just try me, I doubt I would've heard anything new.
"So what did the guy say anyway?" The pale young man broke the silence first.
"Wha?" The wiry one started. "Oh, yea, a tow-truck's coming soon. We could go in if you want."
"No, I actually like sitting in the rain." Soma sighed softly.
"You too? Okay, but if 'Mickey' comes on, I'm going in." He joked.
"What?" He did a double take. "What is 'Mickey'?"
"World's most annoying English-language song." He deadpanned.
"Oh, trust me the Ketchup song is worse, it's my father's favorite." Soma winced.
"Oh, that Spanish one, almost forgot you were a Spaniard." Benji slide deeper into the seat.
"How did you know? I never told anyone on the Campus I was from Spain, except for the Administrators of course."
"You got that bit of an lisp, your 'H' is very harsh, and your 'J' sounds occasionally sound more like H's, I used to grow up in a heavily Hispanic- populated town, so I recognize a Spanish accent when I hear one."
"My, How Observant we are." Soma Cruz replied dryly.
"Since we're on that topic, how was Spain? Is it as beautiful as it's supposedly is?"
"How the hell do I know? My parents keep sending me over to Japan whenever they want time for themselves, which is all the time." The pale man laughed bitterly.
"Ouch, and I thought my parent's divorce was a nasty experience." Benji sympathized, as he goes to rest a hand on the taller man's shoulder. "Soma, if you want to talk, I'll listen."
"It's okay, really." He rolled his eyes as shrugged him off, as the Eagles' 'Sad Café' drifted over the airwaves.
"Suit yourself."
Again it was silence.
Feh, Psychic Radio, I have to admit that it seems like it is, Now if only the stupid radio would also tell me where to find Arikado as well finding mood-fitting music, then I will be impressed. When will that tow truck get here? I'm getting edgy from just sitting around and waiting. And worse this rain is making me sleepy. He yawned, as he tried to fight off the incredible urge to take a nap.
Boy, he's nervous, couldn't blame him, he just reeks of fear, literally. Last time I smell fear that strongly is when Mom... good grief, do I really want to think of that? Well, speak quietly, and carry a Nori-han I say. The redhead though to himself as he checked his pack for the said weapon. Who ever thought glue makes a good weapon? He chuckled to himself.
The soft splattered of rain droned rhythmically on the material of the umbrella in a lullaby-like beat, which added to the dozy feeling that the cold, wet weather brought to the former college students.
"Yea, kinda cute like that you know, all right, I'll let you sleep, you need it." Benji chuckled softly as he turned the volume down on the radio, until it was barely audible. "Good ideal, Cross. Nap-time." He turned in his seat, and went to duct tape the handle to the back of the seat. "There." He crawled down the cushion.
With that, the two dozed off until the tow arrived.