I know everyone saw this coming. If not, really? REALLY?
:p
:P
The earth continued to fling itself on its orbit, spiraling on its invisible tug across the cosmos. For time continued, regardless of its inhabitants. For time would continue.
Pepito glared out the window, cringing as his mental clock ticked in anticipation. The fire orb rose higher in the sky, causing the ticks to grow louder and louder. He pulled Todd closer to him. He did not want to let go. The two hearts beat as one though one was slowly busting into dust. Todd glanced up at the strange friend. He was acting peculiar. Todd waved his hand in front of Pepitos distracted gaze.
Pepito shook his head and looked quizzically at Todd. "Let's go to Johnny's. I'm worried about him," Todd said softly as he eased out of Pepitos arms. Pepito tilted his head as he tugged Todd closer by his torn collar. He slipped his arms around Todd again, fully enjoying the last moments he would have embracing the boy he had grown so close to. "I do love you, ya know," he whispered in Todds ear before he let go.
Todd reddened as he buried his head in his chest. Pepito told beautiful lies. Todd refused to believe him. He was not worthy of anything like love. Pepito absorbed Todds waves of embarrassment and tried to twist them away. Shit, he cursed to himself as he realized his powers were not to be installed just yet. Curse you, old man.
"Let's go then," Pepito decided, standing up and pulling Todd up with him. "You should change first," Pepito mentioned, pinching Todds rags between two fingers. Todd looked down and blushed again. He had almost forgotten about last night. Pepito had brought him solace, even more comforting than Johnnys shack had. He stripped off his shirt and tossed it on the floor. Cool air stung his scrapes as he scavenged thru the wreckage of his room for another one.
Peptio traced his finger over the red and black streaks lining Todds back. Heat followed; Todd grimaced quietly but allowed Pepito to continue with his touches. The wounds melted back into the pale skin, leaving them unblemished. Pepito grinned at his handiwork as he laid butterfly kisses along Todds spine. Todd shivered and turned around quickly, confused at Pepitos caresses. "What are you doing?" he asked solemnly. Pepito was being extra strange today.
"Making sure you never forget that I do in fact love you Todd." Pepito said as he slid his hands over Todds healed back. Todd found that Pepito was drawing him closer and closer and that he did not want to escape. He sighed as Pepitos lips found his and did not let go. On the contrary, Todd pulled his closer.
His heart dripped with sadness. This was another dream, far worse than his usually night terrors. Yet it was so realistic. He listened to the birds outside, random cars buzzing in the street. And Pepito kissing him.
Pepito pulled away, his arms still around Todds back. "Please, don't forget that." Pepito whispered as he laid his head in Todds quivering shoulder. Todd didn't know what to think. "Pepito, what's wrong? Why are you so upset? Is it because of yesterday at Johnny's?" Todd trembled out. What the hell is going on, he racked his brain for any conclusion but came up empty.
Pepito wandered over to Todds window and turned his head to the sky. The ticks were now deafening. "Please get dressed Todd. We have to see Johnny," he scowled at the sun. Giving up on understanding his amigo, he resumed searching his floor for a shirt again. After trial and error with the sniff test, satisfied, he tugged on one of his many long sleeved striped shirts. "Don't worry about the pants. We don't have time." Pepito said, grabbing Todds hand and leading him out the door.
Pepito stumbled down the stairs, careful of the shadow mans faint aura in the house. He crept out the door, Todd numbly in tow. "Pepito! Please, what is going on?" Todd stopped in the middle of the street. "There's not much time….." Pepito answered shortly, tugging Todd to the other side. Todd could only follow.
Pepito walked in, the door still absent from its hinges. "Johnny! Nny!" He called. Frantic scrambling rustled in the walls, the sound of a thousand disembodied insect feet. "Satans spawn……" a spiteful growl rumbled hatefully from the kitchen. Pepito steadied his feet in the worn wood floor as he prepared for any attack. "Johnny!" Todd shouted, overjoyed, as he rushed over to his old protector. Johnny, still splattered with last nights' rendezvous, lounged against the curved kitchen breezeway. Todd wanted to hug him, but thought twice on it.
"Are you okay, Johnny? Yesterday wasn't a good day, and I wanted to say bye but Pito said you wanted to be alone and you look like you're feeling better today-" Todd rambled, trying to find the right words. Johnny continued to glare at Pepito, who in return rolled his eyes. "Todd, me and Nny need to be alone right now." Pepito muttered, annoyed. Johnny would always hold Todds affection and Pepito was coming to terms with this. It is better that way, he tried to reason. Now he won't fully hate you….
"Why? I don't wanna talk with you, spawn. And we have nothing to talk about. You and your father have won your stupid little game for my brains." Nny spat. He did not want to see Pepito or Diablo ever again. He had done there bidding and would probably continue until they blessed him with death.
"Todd, Johnny and I have to talk. Please go to his room or watch some t.v." Pepito ordered coldly. He wasn't in the mood to put up with any of Nny's bullshit today. Todd looked at Johnny for approval, but the man continued his death stare at Pepito. Solemnly, he nodded and trudged away to the living room.
Pepito waited till he heard the t.v. click on and fill the house with its obnoxious noise. He closed in on Nny quickly, not giving the man any time to even think about moving. He caged Nny in his arms and pressed the man into the wall. "I don't want Todd to hear this. Do not make me make a scene, scum," Pepito threatened, his breath puffing out hot steam. His horns started to curl out in his anger. "What the fuck do you want from me now?" Johnny limped, exhausted from his anger. From his years of being emotionless, returning to the routine of angst had started to take a toll on his withering bones. "Todds birthday is in an hour." Pepito lamented softly. "Well that's good. See, when humans get older—"
"No, you idiot, it is not good. Todd is going to be a Flusher, like you. His first kill is scheduled for tonight. I need you to teach him, be his mentor, so to speak." Pepito explained.
Johnny refilled with every emotion he had taught himself to hate. Rage, sorrow, denial…..no. What the hell was Diablo thinking, making Todd a Flusher?! "No! No, I'm not gonna teach him! What the hell is wrong with you? Are you that sick? He's your friend, for fucks sake. You sick, little bastard-"Johnny lunged to wrap his fingers around Pepitos throat but the demon child slipped out of the way.
"Shut up! I don't want him to know right now!" Pepito hissed. "Know what?" Todd asked, trembling in the doorway. They exchanged looks, Pepitos of fear and Johnnys of disgust and smugness. The two stopped their rage and turned towards Todd. "Todd, go back in the living room," Pepito tried to smile reassuringly. "No, Squee, stay here. Pepito has a little something he forgot to tell ya this morning." Johnny fumed, crossing his arms across his chest.
Todd started to shake. He wanted answers, even tho they were apparently not happy ones like he had hoped for. "Pito, please. I want to know what's going on." He whimpered, his black eyes growing round in concern. Pepito, defeated, stepped over to Todd and took his hands. Laced their fingers lovingly and led him back into the living room. "Sit down," he motioned to the musty couch. Todd sat, his palms dripping with anxious sweat and Pepitos heat. Something surged thru him, gentle electric pulsed thru him, tingling up his arm and coursing into his blood. His round eyes drooped and he slumped back onto the couch.
"That's cheating! You can't put him back to sleep! He has a right to know!" Johnny yelled, stomping over to the now slumbering child. Pepito, dazed, stared up at the outraged man. He hadn't expected his powers to be returned this quickly but if he was right and his father was watching then drastic measures were at hand. Johnny was not going to accept his responsibilities quietly.
Pepito flung himself off the couch and planted his feet in front of Nny. "Will you teach him?" he asked calmly. "No." Johnny sneered, steadying himself out of instinct. Pepito cocked his head to the side and snapped his fingers.
The ground under the house shimmered, dust falling off the rafters in sheets. "What the hell are you doing?" Johnny screamed as he tented his arms over his head protectively. "Taking you to hell again." Pepito said coldly. The dirt around the shack began to whirlpool, sucking the structure into the Earth. And it fell, fell, fell until flames started to lick around the windows. The house landed with a dangerous thud.
"You have to teach him. I will not allow you to live otherwise. Either, he lives to be a Flusher or he dies and is sent to that potato king in the sky as an innocent. Do you understand this?" Pepito tried to explain as calmly as he could but unshed tears were thickening in his throat. He sniffed and avoided Nny's inquiring glance.
Nny lowered himself to the floor. "Why did you tell me not to hurt him then? If you're so protective of him, why are you doing this to him? Can't you bend the rules and let him live? What kind of friend are you?" Johnny asked, his sanity pressing to the front of his brain
."I am a better friend than you are! You abandoned him for 10 years so don't you dare tell me I'm not a good friend." Pepito argued back, his face bursting into a magnificent shade of magenta.
"Oh, no, you just want to watch him drift into a malignant madness that eats away any bit of happiness that he deserves. Is that what a good friend does? Watch their buddy deteriorate into a mindless slaughter-puppet. You are more manipulative than I took you for." Johnny noted monotonously as he stared at the slumbering child. It wasn't right. Squee deserved something more than this.
"You are meant to save guard against anything he might mess up on. Todd is rather timid still. He needs someone to be with him once we assign his demons. Please Johnny. I only trust this task with you." Pepito started to plead. He didn't want Todd to die and rot in heaven.
Johnny could not stop staring at poor innocent Todd. Todd, the small boy who was to be the same monster creation as himself. Sickness washed over him. He couldn't drag his Squee down to the same level as him.
"He dies if I refuse?" Johnny asked.
"Yes. His father is set to kill him unless Squee kills him first. Without you, he won't. Please, teach him." Pepito said, his pent up tears finally escaping and trailing down his face.
:P
:P
I was planning on slaughtering everyone and ending this. So, what will Johnny choose? I updated early, I know…..Sorry.