Artemis and Diana were finally getting to sit down and chat about recent events. Diana's eyes gleamed as she whispered, "This calls for celebration."
Artemis' eyes took on the same devilish glow. "Oh yeah..."
The lab was finally enjoying some much-needed quiet, and the girls were nowhere to be found. For now. Alas, it was not to be. Suddenly, the two adjoining doors opened, and Artemis and Diana leapt out towards each other, bellowing the first lines of (predictably enough) Falcon in the Dive.
Hunt for this man
Comb the city, every street, every grate
You put a guard at every gate
Drag him out, shout the moment that you find him!
DAMN!
On damn, they jumped in the air and landed with a loud BANG, making ripples appear in Harry's cold coffee and causing a lamp to tip dangerously to the side. The bang brought a wide-eyed Bob frantically through the wall, only to step aside quickly as they began stalking towards each other, half crouched and staring intensely into each other's eyes.
Knock in the doors, lock up the city
Track him down through this town
And be quick about it now!
They reached out their hands to each other, desperate expressions on their faces.
How the devil can I ever prevail when I'm only a man?
I can never be duped by that scurrilous phantom again!
Flinging their arms to their sides, angry expressions twisting their features, they stood tall and walked stiffly to the center of the room.
I wasn't born to walk on water
I wasn't born to sack and slaughter
But on my soul, I wasn't born
To stoop, to scorn, and knuckle under
They began to walk again, towards the end with the couch.
A man can learn to steal some thunder
A man can learn to work some wonder
And when the gauntlet's down
It's time to rise and climb the sky
Flinging out her arms, Diana managed to knock over a bowl that still contained a few cashews, and then clambered onto the couch without noticing a thing.
And soon the moon will smolder
Artemis jumped up next to her, arms spread as well, and grabbed Diana's forearms.
And the wind will drive
Yes, a man grows older but his soul remains alive
Diana wriggled away and climbed onto the back of the couch, arms spread once again.
All those tremulous stars do glitter
Artemis stepped up next to her, arms akimbo, and they turned to each other.
I will survive!
They crouched down, still staring at each other.
Let my heart grow colder and as bitter-
Suddenly, they leaped off, landing with a huge THUMP and bringing down the couch behind them. Bob stopped staring blankly at them and reached out his hand, almost as if to push the couch back up (not that he could), only to be distracted by the CRASH of the lamp on Harry's desk smashing into Harry's coffee mug, which in turn spilled a large amount of coffee all over his papers, including his tax forms, like some psychotic Root Goldberg machine.
As a falcon in the dive
They paused for a brief moment, allowing the unheard music to crescendo. All the while, they took no notice of Bob, who was, for once, lost for words.
There was a dream
A dying ember
There was a dream
I don't remember
But I will resurrect that dream
The rivers stream and hills grow steeper.
For here in hell, where life gets cheaper
They spun around to face each other once more, dropping to their knees and raising their arms. Then they threw their heads back and curved their spines backwards, fingers twitching as if to claw at something. Subtle, it wasn't.
Oh here in hell, the blood runs deeper.
Their eyes blazed with an inner fire. This was THEIR SONG, and they were determined to do it justice.
And when the final duel is near
I'll lift my spear-
They rapidly rose to their feet and raised their right arms, as if rallying an unseen army.
-and fly
They leaped into the air once more, never once dropping the melody.
Piercing into the sky and higher
And the strong will thrive
Yes the weak will cower
While the fittest will survive.
At this point Bob had retreated to a corner of the room, watching the drama unfold. Both of the girls could sing, Artemis extremely well. The two seemed to be possessed by some psychotic spirit of Broadway, showing no signs of fatigue.
If we wait for the darkest hour
'Till we spring alive
Then with claws of fire
We devour
Like a falcon in the dive
They stood, hands clasped and arms raised, staring into each other's eyes with a fearsome intensity. They paused once more, and closed their eyes.
These are the days, yes!
Artemis' black and Diana's storm grey eyes snapped open.
Days of glory
Days of rage
And the dream
And the dream of Paris preys on my bones.
They had lost all sense of self-consciousness they had in the first place. There was no elaborate choreography anymore, simply circling one another, but there was a feral grace about their movements. They had also upped the decibel level by a significant amount.
Gnawing night and day and
Clawing through my brain
No, never kneel
Never bend!
Rend him to bits
Bite!
For the beauty of the fight
For once, Bob was glad that he was insubstantial. Diana's eyes strongly suggested that there was nothing that she would not do right now. And besides, she had made…comments about feelings for him.
I'm not a man to hunger for blood
But the spirit can cry
To be younger
And fiercer
And fly
Their arms raised once more.
Piercing into the sky
And the strong will thrive
Yes the weak will cower
While the fittest will survive.
If we wait for the darkest hour
'Till we spring alive
They stopped their pacing and stood side by side.
Then with claws of fire
We devour
Like a falcon in the dive!
Something finally gave in their eyes, and the two collapsed into hysterical giggles punctuated with hyperventilating. They looked reasonably normal…but Bob knew better now.
It was just as well that Bob didn't trust their silence, because it turned out to be the calm before the storm. They were giggling, when suddenly, Artemis began to sing a slinky, whirling tune, gesturing to and advancing on Diana.
See the moon slink down in the sky, darling
Let your fantasies fly, darling
Life is cold, and the game is old…
Diana's eyes flashed and she began to sing the next verse, sliding towards Artemis and making the same sort of 'come-hither' gestures.
Just see how virtue repays you
You turn and someone betrays you
Betray him first, and the game's reversed!
Artemis started back in, grabbing Diana's hands and whirling her around. Artemis' voice soared high, Diana's dug low, the two of them weaving a sinuous duet.
For we all are caught in the middle
Of one long treacherous riddle
Can I trust you?
Should you trust me too?
They broke apart, then came together again and locked arms, face to face. Half crouched, they began to slowly circle each other again.
Shamble on through this hell
Taking on more secrets to sell
Till there comes a day when we sell our souls away!
They stood up straight, taking on a poised and dignified air. Their eyes were locked on one another, never once glancing away. They extended their hands, almost touching.
Through the mist your lover is beckoning
Comes that moment of reckoning
Faces change
Even smiles grow strange
They grasped hands, turning their pseudo-dance into something like a waltz crossed with a tango.
And we all have so many faces
The real self often erases
Enticing lies
Flicker through our eyes
Bob had now given up all hope of rescue.
Feel the terror
Draw ever nearer
The more you stare in the mirror
But hold your own
Face the wind alone
They stopped their pacing, standing still side by side.
Reel on love
Toughen your scars
Year by year
We're falling like stars
They began to walk towards opposite sides of the room.
Till there comes a day
When we sell our souls away.
Bob had now moved to the middle of the room, close to the door, considering his options. He could witness the amazing example of the power of hormones in front of him, or her could tell Harry to call the police.
They were now standing on opposite sides of Bob, and for once in her life, Diana took no notice of him.
Artemis' voice rang out loud and clear and she practically hurled herself at Diana, and through Bob in the process.
Can I run to you?
Are you true to me?
Diana did a sort of twirling leap through the air, and Bob, landing where Artemis had been only moments before. Her alto voice never once faltered.
I'll do unto you
As you do to me!
They sang together once again, still amazingly on key.
And we slowly learn
Someone has to burn
Better you than me.
They slipped into their waltz/tango again. Their steps slowed, but they still contained the same ferocity and passion.
Oh every Judas once loved a Jesus
But finally treason will seize us
Diana's eyes blazed anew. Her favorite line was coming up. She sang it with a passion yet unheard.
And only fools follow golden rules!
Bob was by now as far away as he could possibly get from the girls without leaving the room.
We all are caught in the middle
Of one long treacherous riddle
Of who trusts who
Maybe I'll trust you
But can you trust me?
Wait and see!
They fell to their knees once more, giggling hysterically.
Bob stood, waiting. Where they about to start again? The answer was, of course, yes.
They turned to each other, still on their knees, their expressions softened, singing low and soft.
I remember days full of restlessness and fury
I remember nights that were drunk on dreams
I remember someone who hungered for the glory
I remember her, but it seems
She's gone
They slowly stood, and they began a slow, sad, circling. Diana's eyes were filled with tears, but not one fell.
Where's the girl
Where's the girl with the blaze in her eyes?
Where's the girl with that gaze of surprise?
Now and then I still dream she's beside me
Where's the girl who could turn on the edge of a knife?
Where's the girl who's burning for life?
I can still feel her breathing beside me.
They were no more than a foot apart now, still circling, drawing ever closer.
And I know
She remembers how fearless she feels
To take off with the wind at her heels
She and I took this world like a storm
Come again!
Let the girl in your heart tumble free
Bring your renegade heart home to me
Harry was standing outside the door, fumbling with his keys. Unfortunately, he didn't take notice of the music streaming through the wall, dismissing it as the neighbor's radio. Too bad for him. Upon opening the door, he was hit with a blast of sound as Artemis and Diana waltzed around the room.
In the dark of the morning, I'll warm you...arouse you... Artemis looked to the right, at a stunned Harry, and purred the last words as Diana did the same to the left (and Bob). They shimmied their shoulders and bit their lips, then continued on.
Harry stood there, shocked, as chills ran up and down his spine. He could feel his eyes bugging out, and his left eye began to twitch once again. Never again would he underestimate the sheer power of the teenage female mind. Oh dear god...
Bob was stunned. He thanked any and all deities listening profusely that Diana was incapable of touching him. Never before in all his years had he been so terrified of a teenage girl. Her grey eyes glittered with some untamed madness, staring into his.
Marguerite,
This one word was whispered by the both of them, almost as if they really didn't want it to be heard. They sank to their knees, hands clasped, looking straight at each other.
Don't forget I know who you are
We were cut from the same surly star
Like two jewels in the sky sharing fire
Where's the girl so alive and still aching for more
We had dreams that were worth fighting for
We were caught in the eye of the storm
They stood once more, hands still entwined.
Come again!
Let the girl in your heart tumble free
Bring your renegade heart home to me
In the dark of the morning-
Harry and Bob made a valiant but futile effort to ignore THE line and the actions that came with it.
Where's the girl?
Is she gazing at me with surprise?
Do I still see the blaze in her eyes?
Am I dreaming, or is she beside me
Now
When the last note had faded into silence, Artemis and Diana once more began the hysterical giggling and hyperventilating.
Harry looked at Bob, both men pale. Harry's eye had not stopped twitching and Bob was extremely shaken.
"Bob….Bob, what happened?"
"Broadway happened."