^_^V It's me again!
I am SOOOO sorry for the delay! I'm not even going to make excuses. I'm SORRY. Here. And there's more THIS WEEKEND. Promise. So the chapters a tiny bit shorter than usual, but it's setting up for the next one, with lots of plot. *hugs everyone* Thank you SO much for all your support and reviews! More notes at the bottom!
And I'm updating whether or not I get more reviews, so no worries, but if you want some fanart to go along with the update, I'd like 20 more reviews! Thanks! *hug!!*
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Nita shivered slightly in the rain as she popped into existence in Tom and Carl's backyard. The two Senior wizards must be used to this by now, Nita noted, as the rest of the wizards she knew actually transported into the house. Somehow, that didn't seem polite, though. So as Kit materialized beside her, she tromped up to the back door, opening the screen, and knocking firmly.
Carl opened the door, his Police Department shirt
contrasting vividly with the Hawaiian-colored flip-flops he had on. "What
going on? Why are you walking around in the rain?" He let them in quickly,
rooting around in the kitchen for mugs while they told him about the manual
entry, and their run-in with the Lone Power.
"Huh," Carl murmured, as he poured hot chocolate
for them both. "I don't know."
The two of them stared blankly at him. Nita was the first to
speak. "You don't... know? But how could you not know? That's what Senior
wizards are for, right?"
Tom shrugged, coming in and sitting at the table with them. "Not exactly. If you've ever tried being a Senior, you'll find that training is on the job. What have we got now?"
Carl pointed to his version of the manual, looking like a very large edition of War and Peace, and to the entry Nita and Kit were worried about. "What can you make of it?"
Tom looked startled. "It's changing."
"What?" Nita, Carl and Kit said in unison. They peered over the table at the manual, which was indeed blurring underneath Nita's name, fuzzing out and back in until the words were visible again.
CALLAHAN, Juanita L.
243 E. Clinton Avenue
Hempsted, NY 11575
(516) 555-6786
power rating: 20.33 +/- .7
status: conditional active
assignment: subject classification withheld, in partnership
(see RODRIGUEZ, Christopher)
period: to be terminated at 12/25/03, regardless of
completion
Nita put a hand over her mouth at the power rating alone. "How on earth?!"
Carl whistled softly. "I've never seen anything like
that. Ever. People's power levels don't just spike like that..."
"It's changed since this morning," Kit stared, too. "That's more power than even Dairine
ever had! And we've been at this long enough that our levels have definitely
dropped, and possibly stabilized, too." He then read the rest of the
listing. Christmas...?
"That kind of power rating only comes during Ordeals, and aren't ever anywhere near that particular level even then." He shifted slightly, knuckles ash white where they gripped the edge of the table. "And it appears that this isn't negotiable, either. It sounds more than a little like an ultimatum."
Nita groaned. "Can't we just have one normal day? That's all I ask..."
Kit patted her hand gently. "Not till Timeheart, apparently, Neets."
Carl and Tom threw each other a look that neither Kit nor Nita could catch. "So, uh... you two getting on okay, then? Outside of wizardry?" Carl asked carefully.
Nita looked up, surprised at this new angle of attack. "Erm... yeah, I guess so. Kit?" She staved off a blush as she thought, As well as we could be given the romantic tension rising between us...
Kit twirled his necklace around a finger. "Sure." Whoops... that probably wasn't very convincing... he cleared his throat--"Good as ever."--and smiled faintly.
Carl and Tom exchanged yet another look. Tom vocalized it this time. "Kit, you remember what Tom and I said about keeping the relationship healthy in and outside wizardry, right?"
Kit nodded, worried.
"Well... maybe this is what the powers have in mind."
The Powers That Be are playing matchmaker?, Kit thought for one wild moment. He shook his head. "Erm... I guess we'll just have to find out what we're supposed to be doing the hard way, eh?" He chuckled nervously, fingering his wand through his claudication under the table. He stood abruptly.
Carl got up as well, and dragged Kit bodily into the next room, much to his alarm. He smiled kindly at Kit. "You're in love with her."
Kit blushed hotly, in between calming his racing heart. For Carl to just drag him in here was one thing, but... "What are you talking about? We're just friends. Partners."
Carl looked down at him skeptically. "I'm your Senior, and besides that, I've known you for years now. I know you better than that, Kit."
But Kit stood his ground. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I think you do, Christoph--"
"Okay, okay!" Kit cried in defeat, wincing at the sound of his given name. "You win. Yes, I'm in love with her, I guess. Is it really that obvious?"
Carl's eyes looked triumphant, but as though he was hiding something, too. So Kit sighed and leaned against the nearby wall. "There's nothing I can do, anyway. Something'll happen eventually, and our partnership will fall to pieces." He rubbed his neck, easing out the tension created by the stress of being unable to acknowledge that which he needed most in his life.
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Nita blushed furiously. "No way I'm going to say that!"
"Isn't it true?" Tom wheedled.
"That's... that's beside the point!" Nita spluttered indignantly.
"So it is true."
"..."
Tom put his arm around the young wizard. "What are you so afraid of?" he asked, trying to catch her eye.
She avoided his gaze. "It'll ruin everything, if it doesn't work out," she murmured, suddenly despairing at even the idea that her partnership with Kit might be terminated. "I can learn to live with being his friend."
Tom bit his lip, returning his hands to clasp nervously in his lap. "Nita, Carl and I have been partners for almost twelve years now, and we've had some pretty rough times. But the nature of wizardry forms a deeper bond in partners, too deep to be overcome by such troubles. You've been inside each other enough to know that."
"Not recently," Nita sighed. "We're both awkward, now. It's messing with our spellwork."
"Then get this resolved as quickly as possible," Tom warned. "Before you have to do a major spell."
Nita began to ask Tom about solutions, but Kit and Carl returned just then, Carl giving Tom a funny nod on his way in. "Well, then," Tom said, shifting to make room for Kit beside Nita purposefully, "let's just see about this new assignment, shall we?" He flipped open his manual again. "It seems to me as though we're playing the waiting game at the moment. It seems as though something's coming to a head between the Powers. You said the Lone One seemed... different?"
Kit nodded. "Tired, sort of."
"Maybe he's just worn out by the centuries of fighting?" Nita asked doubtfully.
"Fat chance. Remember our Ordeal? He seemed pretty chipper. I think he's just taking a different approach." Kit mused.
"Probably," Carl agreed. "That's what wizardry is about, these days. Figuring him out and trying to keep the damage from mounting up. But he's always one step ahead."
"Kit," Nita said quietly. "Why are They giving us so much power? What on earth could They be planning? You know They only choose those who are suited... Why us?"
Kit shook his head. "No idea, Neets."
Tom closed his manual softly. "I'm guessing you'll just have to cool your heels for a bit. You've got months before the termination date. I'm pretty sure something will happen... They'll send you a sign of some sort. Remember your Ordeal. Fred?"
Nita and Kit both winced.
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"Mom," Nita called, dropping off her bag at the front door. "We're back!"
Dairine came calmly down the stairs, munching on a carrot, nose buries in print-outs of some sort. "She went to the store. Fend for yourselves on dinner," she muttered, her laptop version of the Manual trundling down the stairs after her on spindly legs.
Kit rolled his eyes. "My specialty is supposed to be mechanics... but I don't think I'll ever figure that thing out."
"You aren't supposed to, nitwit," Dairine said tartly, reappearing briefly around the doorframe of the kitchen to give Kit another eternally patronizing look. "Your shoelaces are untied, by the way."
Kit sighed as Nita laughed, and bent down to tie them. "She got you," Nita commented brightly, leaning idly against the banister. She was suddenly caught off guard. Ooch! That is a NICE piece of... she blushed hotly, catching herself before she could finish her dangerous thought. If Kit overheard her...
But apparently he hadn't, as he stood up, cuffed her on the arm, and dashed into the kitchen. "Hungry!"
"Ow, Kit!" Nita yelled after him plaintively. "Jeez, Kit! We just had sandwiches over at Tom and Carl's! Where are you putting it all?"
"I'm a growing boy," Kit shrugged, rooting around in her fridge. "Mmmmm... leftover pizza!" He popped a slice on a plate and into the microwave. "Better for breakfast, but what'cha gonna do?"
Nita made a face. "Gross, Kit. Totally gross. I swear, if I didn't know better I'd think you were hiding Ponch in your claudication, and that he's the one eating all of this."
Kit raised a brow. "Not a bad idea.... not a bad idea at all..."
"Don't you dare, Kit!"
-THUMP!-
Nita opened her eyes slowly, gripping Kit's arms hard. "Kit, of all the--"
"It wasn't me," he whispered, staring wide eyed into Nita's face, tightening his arms around her. "I swear, Neets, it wasn't me!"
Nita could only believe him, because at that moment, the llama in her living room took up most of her attention as it began to sing.
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Okay! That's it for another update! Yes, the llama is in fact a vital part of the plot, and is NOT just randomness! It just takes a while to get there. I'll leave it to you. Just be glad it wasn't a narcoleptic Argentinian or something.
*smile* So, updates possibly tomorrow or Monday. Happy St. Valentine's to everyone!!! Sorry this took so long!
I updated my site, by the way, if anyone cares: http://www.cerenacat.com
3 always!
- MKD 2.15.03