The Bride of Chase Young Chapter 14
"Whoo-hoo! Ninja, speed up! There's another one on the left!" Sean swerved to the left and Marie swung her bat, knocking off the head of a statue of the Virgin Mary.
"Alright! Way to go Marie!" screamed Brittany.
The group had been driving around Marie's hometown for an hour now, Marie sticking her torso out the window every time they saw a nativity scene and smashing it with her bat.
"So you do this every year?" asked Chase from the back seat. John turned around from the passenger seat up front.
"Been doing it since Ninja got his license." he said with an evil grin. "Why don't you give it a try?" Marie pulled herself back inside.
"Give it a rest Trenchcoat. He's too dignified to go around smashing stuff." she said, giving him a light swat. Chase frowned and held out his hand.
"Give me that bat. I'll show you how to smash things." he said. Marie handed over the bat and watched as Chase stuck his torso out the window. He took careful aim as Sean drove closer to the next scene. He swung the bat hard as they passed, shattering the wooden cutout to splinters. He pulled himself back into the car, a smug smile of satisfaction on his face.
"Well, congrats Chase, you're one of the group now." said Brittany, giving him a hearty slap on the back. Chase's smile turned into a scowl.
"That doesn't mean I want you to touch me." he snarled. Brittany backed off, her hands raised in surrender.
"Fine. But being part of the group means you get a nickname. Hey Marie, you're his girl, what do you think we should call him?"
"How about Lord of the rubber Ducky?" asked Sean.
"Why the hell would we give him an asinine name like that?!"
"I dunno. It sounded good to me"
"How about Stud Muffin?" suggested Brittany.
"Tempting, but no."
"Gay man's god?
"Adonis?"
"Lets just go with something simple and call him Dragon." said Marie, putting a stop to the flow of names. "What do you think?" she said, looking at Chase. He merely shrugged and muttered.
"If it stops this ridiculous conversation."
"Oh stop being such a killjoy Dragon." said Trish. "I know you're like, the overlord of evil and all, but lighten up! It's Christmas eve, have some fun."
"I was under the impression that driving around town at insane speeds in this van was "fun"."
"This is only a small part of it Dragon." said Tom. "The fun part is when we crash the choir. Hey! Why don't you transform when we get there? That'll give those brats a scare!"
"Great idea Fruitcake!" said Sean. "Marie, convince him!" Marie looked at Chase with an apologetic smile.
"Their hearts are in the right place." she said. "They just want to make you feel like part of the group." Chase frowned again. Marie scooted closer, lowering her voice so only Chase could possibly hear.
"If you do it, I'll give you an extra special Christmas present tonight." she whispered. Chase stiffened for a moment before composing himself once again.
"Fine. Let's go."
"Sweet! Gun it Ninja!"
"You got it! Everybody hang on tight!" He pummeled the gas and they sped through a back ally, towards a large and imposing cathedral.
"Alright everyone." said John. "Suit up!" Chase was about to ask what he meant when he was tossed a bundle of black cloth. It turned out to be a floor length cloak with thin silver chains and a silver wolf on the back.
"We always wear these when we have our hijinks. It makes sure no one knows who we are. But tonight, we're going to reveal our identities. Keep the hood up until I give the signal." John explained.
"John is our leader. He's always got a plan in mind when we do this. Not to mention three or four backup plans." said Trish, eying the slight confusion on Chase's face. He nodded and pulled the cloak on, making sure he was fully covered. They leaped out of the back door of the van and dashed to the cathedrals' big wooden doors.
"Okay team, the plan is: we wait for them to get to "O holy night" and burst in when they get to the chorus. Chase, when I give the signal, transform. The rest of you, throw off your hoods and cause as much havoc as possible."
"Aye aye captain!" said Brittany, throwing a smart salute. John smiled at her lovingly before setting his ear to the door and listening for the right moment.
"They're dating." Marie whispered to Chase when he looked slightly confused. "And she's his second in command. Kinda sweet really."
"Now!" Barked John as the chorus began to swell. They threw open the huge wooden doors, with a whoop....just as three girls in the choir threw off their robes and whipped out super soakers!
"Merry Christmas ya bastards!" screamed a girl with long black hair tied in a braid. Maire ducked as a jet of icy water came her way. Audience members screamed and ran for the door, but found it blocked by John's gang.
"Hey you brats! The Christmas choir is Steel Wolf territory! Buzz off!" yelled John. The girl with the braid jumped onto the preachers podium.
"The Steel Wolves are old hat!" She yelled, pointing at him. "This is Dark Phoenix land now!" she twisted around to show her the emblem on the back of her jacket which was indeed a black phoenix within a circle.
"The hell it is!" Marie snapped, whipping one of the chains off her cloak and whirling it over her head. "Get lost kid, I'm lethal with this thing!" The girl stopped cold, staring at Marie in shock.
"Wait...Marie?!" she said, her grey eyes lighting up. Marie stopped whirling her chain.
"How do you know my name?" she asked.
"It's me, Sam!" She grabbed a hold of her hair and pulled, revealing a head of bright purple hair, cut short.
"Sam? What are you doing here? And why are you wearing a wig?"
"Cause I cut my hair and dyed it purple. Sarah didn't like it, so I have to wear it. And as for what I'm doing here, I'm crashing the choir!"
"But that's our thing! The Steel wolves have crashed the Christmas choir for years!"
"Not anymore they don't! Phoenixes, attack!" the other two girls and a pair of twin boys who Marie had not seen before leapt up towards the rest of Marie's friends. Marie screamed, but her voice was lost in the uproar. Just before The Dark Phoenixes reached them, Chase entered the scene. He quickly transformed with a roar, causing Sam and the others to stop in their tracks.
"Holy hell! When did the Steel dorks get a crocodile?!" screamed a boy. At this, Chases eyes narrowed in rage.
"Who are you calling a crocodile?!" he roared, whipping the feet out from under them with his tail. Sam leaped onto her feet again and grabbed a candelabra, brandishing it at him like a staff.
"You, Croc face!" she laughed. Marie stepped between them.
"Both of you, stop it now!" She snapped. "Chase, back off, this is my little sister! And Sam, put down the heavy metal thing."
"Like hell I will! How do I know Croc face over there won't eat me once I do?"
"Sorry, I'm on a low bitch diet."
"Keep talking mister, I've always wanted a crocodile skin handbag."
"Can't have a handbag without any hands!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!"
Chase and Sam instantly went quiet and looked at Marie. She was livid. Sam dropped the candelabra instantly, making a loud clanging noise that distracted the various members of the rival gangs. She put up her hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Okay Marie, okay. You win." she said soothingly. Marie took a deep breath to try and clam down.
"Right." she said after a moment and another deep breath. "First off. Sam, the guy you just tried to attack is my boyfriend, Chase Young."
"Really?! Oh crap! Sorry about that! I thought he was...well, my reaction should explain things." Chase shifted back into human form.
"You should be grateful Marie stopped me. I would have normally killed you in a heartbeat." he snarled. "So you're the little sister Marie mentioned."
"And you're the evil warlord who my sister is going to marry? Dude, isn't that like, bestiality?" Marie snorted with laughter while Chase looked mildly offended.
"Sam, that was awesome!" said Tom, throwing off his hood. Sam gasped and tackled him in a bone crushing hug.
"Tommy! I didn't know you were part of the Steel wolves!"
"Hey kiddo, good to see you too. Now could you please let go? I can't breath." Sam released him and the other members of the Steel Wolf pack gathered around, also removing their hoods. They were beginning to get into really a good chat session when a voice screamed out.
"Samantha! Get away from those hooligans at once!" a panicked looking middle aged woman was striding towards them.
"But Sarah, they're my siblings!" protested Sam. Sarah reached the group and grabbed Sam by the elbow.
"I don't care! They're part of that sinful gang and you'll have no part of it. Do you want to end up burning in the pits of hell for all eternity?" cried Sarah, trying to drag Sam away by force, but Sam planted her feet.
"They aren't sinful! They're my family!" she shouted.
"Not anymore! Now come along!"
"No! They are my family! I wanna stay with them!" Screamed Sam. "You're not my mom! You can't tell me what to do!" she tore her arm out of Sarah's grasp and ran to Marie. The other members of the Steel Wolves gathered around, forming a barrier.
"Sarah, I know the courts awarded you custody of Sam." said Tom. "But we're her real family. She needs us."
"Like she needs a hole in her head!" Sarah screeched. "If she goes back to that house with that woman, she'll just end up with us again."
"If you're talking about our mother, she's dead." Sarah looked at Tom in shock. He nodded slowly. "She went off the deep end last night and got herself killed by our horse." Sarah seemed to mull it over for a moment before throwing up her hands.
"Fine! FINE! Go ahead and spend the most holy night of the year with sinners! But don't expect a home when you return! You can just stay with him you ingrate!" And with that she stomped off, muttering to herself. Tom waved cheerily.
"I'll come over after New Years to get her stuff! Merry Christmas Sarah!" he called. Sarah whirled around.
"Go to hell!" she snapped before turning around and storming out. Sam poked her head out from behind Marie's shoulder.
"So...I'm free?" she asked. Marie nodded.
"As a bird kid." Sam gave a mighty whoop and leapt into the air. Preforming several cartwheels and a few back flips, she laughed joyfully.
"Free! Free! I'm freeeeeeee!"
"Yes, very nice kiddo, now get down here so we can go home!" called Marie.
---
An hour later found the newly reunited family sitting together in the farmhouse living room. Ashanti was lounging near the fireplace, Derek was perched on top of the Christmas tree, watching Sam and Chase play chess, and Marie and Tom were playing duets on the piano.
"So, Croc boy." said Sam. "What's it like getting your butt whooped in chess by a thirteen year old?" Chase merely smiled and took her last knight.
"I think it is you who is getting the whooping now." He replied with a smirk. Ashanti looked over at them with a maternal smile.
"You'd do better to lay down your king Sam. Chase hasn't been beaten in over three hundred years." she said. Sam shook her head.
"No, no. I can do this. Just gimme a second." she said. "Aha! There it is! Check!" she moved her rook to corner Chase's king. Chase smirked again and moved one of his pawns that Sam hadn't noticed.
"Checkmate." Sam looked at the board in shock and face palmed.
"Ah hell! How could I have missed that?" she cried, running her fingers through her hair. "Oh well, good game Chase." The two shook hands.
"Not bad for a kid." Chase admitted. "You almost had me a few times. You are quite the worthy opponent."
"She was captain of the junior high chess team three years running, what did you expect?" said Tom from the piano. Sam huffed angrily.
"Don't spread it around. People will think I'm a nerd!" Marie laughed.
"Hey, be lucky you're even allowed in a club! When I was your age, mom wouldn't let me go anywhere!" she said. "I would have given anything to be a nerd instead of the pariah."
Suddenly, there was a tentative knock at the front door. Marie stood.
"I'll get it!" she said. She opened the door to find, of all people, Jack Spicer standing on her porch!
"Jack? What are you doing here?"
"Oh nothing. I stopped by the lair to drop off yours and Chase's presents and Wuya said you were here. I just came to give you this." he held out a brightly wrapped box. "Well, now that you haver it I guess I'll just go home. Later!" he turned to activate his helipack, but Marie set a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey! You don't have to go. I mean, you flew all the way here, why not stay?" she said. Jacks face lit up as he allowed himself to be steered into the warmth of the house.
Tom heard the door close and the sound of boots being set on the mat. Getting up from the piano, he poked his head in the door to the kitchen.
"Hey Marie what's going..." his voice trailed off as he gazed at the young man in the entrance way. He was a vision of beauty. Pale white hands brushed snowflakes out of fiery red hair. Tom felt a sudden jolt as ruby colored eyes met his. He ducked back behind the door, breathing hard.
"Oh sweet Jesus, there's an angel in my house!" he muttered.
Said angel walked past him with Marie to sit on the couch. Sam looked up at him.
"Hey, who's the albino guy?" she asked. Marie handed Jack a mug of hot cider.
"He's a friend of mine from China a real whiz kid in robotics. He builds robots for fun." she replied.
"He looks San Francisco to me." said Sam, raising an eyebrow.
"San Francisco?"
"You know, Gay." Jack chocked on his cider, coughing and sputtering for a moment before Tom rushed over and thumped him on the back. Jack looked into his eyes.
"Thanks for that." he croaked feebly. Tom flushed.
"N-no problem. I'm Tom by the way, Marie's older brother." He held out his hand for Jack to shake.
"I'm Jack Spicer. Evil boy genius." replied Jack. Tom smiled charmingly.
"What a lovely name." he said. Jack blushed and changed the subject to his robots..
–
Marie observed the two, noting how Jack's diminutive size, pale skin and red hair seemed to perfectly complement Tom's darker hair, and tanned skin. Sure there was a bit of an age difference, but Tom was smart, and he liked working with his hands. Combine that with Jacks techno knowledge and love of robots....dear god, they could be unstoppable! And they talked easily. If there was one thing Marie knew about relationships, it was that if the words came easy, so would love.
"Hey Tom, why don't you play for us again? Show Jack your skills." she said. Tom nodded and turned to Jack.
"Do you know any songs you'd like me to play?" he asked. Jack blushed before leaning over and whispering into Toms ear. Tom beamed and crossed the room to the piano, grabbing Jack by the wrist as he went.
"That's an easy one to play!" he said, settling Jack next to him on the bench. He quickly cricked his fingers and began to play the opening bars to a song. (Authors note: Think South Parks "a lonely Jew".) After a couple bars, Jack began to sing in a soft, clear voice.
It's hard to be a Goth at Christmas.
My friends won't let me join in any games.
And I can't sing Christmas songs or decorate a Christmas tree,
or leave water out for Rudolph 'cause there's something wrong with me!
My people don't believe in Jesus Christ, Divinity!
I'm a Goth,
A lonely Goth,
On Christmas...
Tom played the bridge and smile encouragingly at Jack, who blushed before continuing.
The sabbats are all nice but why is it?
That Santa passes my house every year?
instead of eating ham, I have to eat raw cow meat
instead of "Silent Night" I'm singing "I Want Your Blood Spilling at my Feet."
and what the heck is up with all these rituals? Tell me please!
I'm a goth.
A lonely goth
I'd be merry, but I'm so lost.
On Christmas...
Jack exhaled slowly and closed his eyes, only to snap them open again in surprise when the room erupted into cheers. Everyone but Chase was clapping enthusiastically and cheering.
"Jack that was awesome! I never knew you could sing!" said Marie.
"Yeah, you rock San Francisco boy!"
"Sam, stop calling him that!" said Tom.
"It's a compliment. Besides having a lot of gays in the area, the city is known for having a large musical population."
"Oh...well thanks then." replied Jack. "Self taught." He shot a look at Chase, who scowled and looked away.
"Well, I think it's time for bed guys." said Marie, sensing the tension. Jack stood up, the package he had brought in his hands.
"Wait wait!" he said quickly. "Isn't it like, an unwritten rule that you can open one present on Christmas eve? Well, you can open mine! I have one for Chase too. Please?" He gave a puppy dog look that would have made Paris Hilton green with envy. Marie sighed and held out her hand for the packages. Jack squealed in joy and handed them to her. Handing Chase his present, which was surprisingly wrapped in greens blacks and golds, mimicking Chase's armor, Marie began to carefully unwrap hers. (a soft blue with silver accents) inside was a beautiful midnight blue dress. Marie lifted it out of the box, holding it against her. It was floor length with a sort of floaty material on the hem and sleeves. Beneath the dress was a silver hair pin with a small cluster of sapphires, and a pair of matching slippers.
"Oh my gosh..." Marie whispered. "Jack, this is just beautiful. Where did you get it?" She heard a small "wow" from Chase. His outfit was slightly more simple. A set of regal looking navy blue robes with matching shoes. The whole thing looked fit for royalty.
"Yes Spicer, I am intrigued as to where you got these outfits." he said.
"Would you believe I made them by hand?" replied Jack with a cocky smile.
"No way!" said Marie.
"Yes way. Remember when we met in that fabric shop? I was actually getting the material for the outfits. So what do you guys think? Do you like them?" Marie hugged Jack tightly.
"I love it Jack!" she said happily. Chase remained silent, still looking at his outfit.
"I knew you were good with robots Spicer." he said after a while. "But this is something else entirely. A very thoughtful gift actually." Jack gave a tiny squeal of happiness at Chase's praise.
"Jack, are you staying the night? You could use the guest room." said Tom. Jack smiled.
"Thanks. That's nice of you." He replied. Tom smiled back and offered his arm.
"May I escort you?" he offered, his voice smooth as silk. Jack blushed, but took the offered arm. Sam took the couch, snuggling under a warm blanket that Tom had left. Marie took Chase's hand and led him towards her room.
"Merry Christmas Chase." murmured Marie before falling asleep. Chase pulled her close, sharing his warmth with her.
"Merry Christmas Marie."
Okay, I know this ending sucks, but I couldn't think of a good way to end it. See y'all at the 15 chapter mark. BTW, I'll be skipping the actual Christmas scene and going straight to the day after. I've had enough of Christmas....