A/N: Alright, here we go again... Once more, thank you everyone who's reading!
Right... Well. After the events of last chapter... A slightly less nasty chapter.
Not that I'm saying it's exactly a happy one...
The title for this chapter is from the Danger Days song "The Only Hope For Me Is You"
Nothing's changed, I still don't own them! ;)
Chapter 7 - Where Will You Stand?
It was dark by now, and Party Poison still hadn't returned. Jet Star got everyone back to the main room, by the entrance, knowing that when Party Poison did return, it'd be with news for all of them. Saint Jimmy had found his way there too, obviously sensing something was happening, and if something was happening, he sure as hell was gonna be there. It was taking every bit of strength Fun Ghoul had not to beat the hell out of him right there. Of course, he did have one distraction. "He had me so worried, Ghoul. You promise he's alright?" Fun Ghoul smiled, as best he could. And lied completely. "Rave, I've told you, he's fine." God it was killing him to lie to her, to all of them. But like hell was he betraying Party Poison.
Finally, Party Poison returned. There were so many slight shifts in the room, it was impossible not to notice. Jet Star stood, Kobra Kid stepped forward, Fun Ghoul sat forward and Rave. Rave jumped out of her seat and practically ran at Party Poison. She stopped just before getting to him though, just as Party Poison looked up. The look in his eyes, it told her so much, but still so little. Whatever it was, it was serious. He was looking directly at Rave, but addressing everyone. "We're heading back to base."
"When?" Jet Star asked. "Tonight." Party Poison replied, simply. Taking his turn to stand, Fun Ghoul was beside him, asking, quietly, "Poison. Are you sure you-""This is important." He said, flatly. "Take a few minutes to make sure we've got everything packed up, then we're leaving." Everyone had (somehow) forgotten about Saint Jimmy, right up until, "Could use a change of scenery." Everyone (except, it could be noted, Fun Ghoul, who was keeping careful watch on Party Poison. And, truthfully, was avoiding Saint Jimmy at all costs) turned to look at Saint Jimmy. Funny how he can command so much attention. A gift, a curse to those around him. The look, the meaning in Party Poison's eyes was unmistakable now. "You're not coming." Saint Jimmy raised his eyebrows, but before he could utter a protest, another voice cut through. "Poison! What the hell?" Rave looked shocked, and upset, almost… Disappointed. "He's more trouble than he's worth. We don't need the drain on our resources, or our patience." Party Poison told her. Well, at least, it was meant for Rave, he wasn't looking at her though. "I'll second that." Kobra Kid added. Rave spun her head to Kobra Kid now, "Kid! We can't just-" She didn't bother finishing the sentence, she knew there was no point. Of everyone, Kobra Kid had been the one to hate Saint Jimmy on sight anyway. So she looked to Jet Star, "Jet, what do you-"
"Come on, Rave. You gotta admit, the last couple of days…" One last chance. And she was pinning all her hopes on him to be the one to speak some sort of sense into everyone. As she looked to Fun Ghoul, miraculously gaining the eye contact from him that she hadn't from anyone else, Rave already knew. "Ghoul. Please. I- We can't-" More than ever, Fun Ghoul wanted to tell her, tell her what'd happened. Tell her what Saint Jimmy had done. Wanted to scream it, knew he wouldn't have to, to make an impact. He could whisper the words and they'd still have the same effect. Then Rave wouldn't be asking to keep Saint Jimmy close. She'd never want to see him again. He could replace that pleading look with one of shock, one of anger, one of sympathy for Party Poison. But… He couldn't. He'd promised. And hell, he knew how much Party Poison would hate him for it if he did. Especially like this, especially in front of everyone. All he did was drop his gaze, and Rave had her answer. Back to Party Poison again then. "Poison, please-"
"Why the hell do you still want him around anyway, Rave?" Party Poison snapped. "After what he did, to you. After everything." Stepping closer again, Fun Ghoul placed a hand on Party Poison's shoulder, squeezed gently. He was the only one who knew what that 'everything' really meant, after all. Rave opened her mouth, but no words came out. "You'd really forgive him anything. Wouldn't you?" Party Poison challenged. A tighter squeeze. Come on Poison. You know she wouldn't forgive that. Fire creeping into her eyes now. "That is not what this is about, Poison! It's about-""You know what?" Party Poison cut in. "You care so fucking much? Stay here then."
"Poison!" Fun Ghoul protested, but at the exact same time, Rave replied, "Fine!" Eyes going wide, then settling into a hard glare, Party Poison echoed, "Fine." An eternal few seconds as the two of them stared at each other. Both furious. Both hurt. Both desperately wishing the other would back down. Eventually, Party Poison looked away, to the rest of the Killjoys (though not Fun Ghoul, he'd seen the look on his face, knew what he'd have to say) "Five minutes. Then we're gone." He turned away then, heading out the door. Fun Ghoul watched, looking from Party Poison to Rave. Waiting, wanting, desperately for one of them to say something, anything. "Poison!" He called out. He was ignored. So then he looked to Rave. "Rave, come on, please. You know you-" Rave shook her head. Looked down. "Rave. Think about this. You know what this looks like, don't you? It looks like you're saying you're choosing him, choosing Saint over Poison. You can't-" Rave looked up again then, furious again. "No, Ghoul. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying no one gets left behind. Something Poison used to believe in too." A pause. "Something I thought you believed in." Ok, wow. That hurt. Fun Ghoul shook his head. "Rave… If only you knew." He said, quietly. Rave ignored him, and, really, Fun Ghoul was glad. "I know what a fucking pain Saint Jimmy is, hell, I think I probably know it best." Fun Ghoul winced at Rave's words. "But we took him in. And until he decides he doesn't want to be here anymore, we stick with him. And if none of you are willing to uphold that, fine. I will!" She stormed off before Fun Ghoul could say anything.
"Poison." Party Poison was at the trunk of the car, pretending to be checking it. Fun Ghoul tentatively walked closer. "Ghoul. Whatever it is. Not now." Party Poison told him, wearily. "We can't leave her." Fun Ghoul continued anyway. "She made her decision." Said with a lack of emotion Fun Ghoul knew was untrue. "It wasn't the decision you think it was." Now finally, Party Poison looked up, and there was all that emotion. "So you're saying she didn't just choose him? Didn't just-" He stopped himself, closed his eyes, calming. Continued. "It's fine. I've been expecting this since I found out who he was." What the hell? "Poison! You're really just giving up on this? Giving up on her?" Just briefly, all that anger and fire slipped away as Party Poison replied, "What else can I do?" Fun Ghoul seriously felt like screaming then.
"Please, Rave, c'mon." Kobra Kid was trying to talk her into coming now too. She shook her head. "No. Kid. Not without Jimmy."
"Rave!" Kobra Kid exclaimed. "You're really doing this? Really sticking your neck out for that worthless-"
"Hey! You know just as well as anyone what Saint Jimmy means to me!" Rave snapped. "Yeah? Well, I thought my brother meant something to you too. Guess I was wrong." As he turned to leave, Rave called after him, "It was your brother that suggested I stay here!" Kobra Kid spun back around, alarmingly close to Rave, she would never admit it, but she was just a little scared of him then. "He didn't expect you to take him up on that offer! None of us did. How could you betray him like that, Rave? After everything he's done for you?" And he was right, of course. And she didn't want to betray Party Poison, didn't want to hurt him. But he had to have known it would hurt her when he said Saint Jimmy was being left behind. As much as she still hated Saint Jimmy, feared him, the thought of loosing him, again, was unbearable.
Just like the thought of loosing Party Poison. Her eyes to the ground, she didn't like being seen this upset, and really only two of the Killjoys were used to seeing it. Kobra Kid was not one of them. Fire gone from his voice now, and unexpected hands on her arms. "Please, Rave, c'mon." She shook her head again. Not really knowing what exactly she was saying no to.
Five minutes later, and the four Killjoys out by the car. "Poison. Please. At least go tell her goodbye." Fun Ghoul was pleading. Party Poison had taken to steadfastly ignoring him. "At least let her know when we're coming back!"
"We might not be coming back." Party Poison muttered, but Fun Ghoul caught it. "Poison!" Looking up at him again, Party Poison snapped, "And even if we do get back here, who's to say she won't have run off someplace to live with the love of her fucking life, huh? Saint fucking Jimmy." The last part said with such venom, such hatred, and yes, Fun Ghoul understood all of it, but Party Poison wasn't stopping, wasn't thinking. Possibly worried what'd happen if he did. Well, Fun Ghoul would make him stop, just for a second. Shoving Party Poison against the side of the car, pinning him there. Party Poison winced, not because it hurt, because it made him think of something else. Had to remind himself, quickly, who it was. Fun Ghoul would never hurt him. Hair snatched up by a familiar hand, a friends hand. "Come on, pretend you don't fucking want it." Stupid fucking dream. "Poison! Stop, just stop for a second, would you? Now I know you two are fucking hopeless when it comes to saying it, but it's obvious, to all of us." Fun Ghoul looked to the other two quickly, but they looked awkwardly away. They didn't know what the hell to do either. "And I know you know it, and she knows it too." Fun Ghoul pushed on. "Rave loves you, Poison. And I know you love-""Yeah? Well, that all means shit now he's here doesn't it?" Party Poison snapped. Fun Ghoul shook his head. "Poison. Who did she want to spend the night with last night? You. Who was she propped up against, out in the sun earlier? You. Who was she asking, anxiously after all afternoon? You. For fucks sake Poison! She. Loves. You." Party Poison closed his eyes. Fun Ghoul was right. And he thought about all the times Fun Ghoul didn't, couldn't know about, all within the last day. When he'd gone to apologise to Rave, and she'd apologised back. Last night, this morning. And the last kiss they'd shared. Just like Fun Ghoul described, out in the sun. Hot, sweet, everything as it should be. But. Then… "Please, Poison." He'd never heard such desperation in Fun Ghoul's voice, and he was whispering, close to Party Poison's ear. "Please. Just let me tell her what he did." He felt Party Poison tense up, carried on in a hurried whisper. "I don't expect you to do it, but, please, please. I can get her out here in a couple of minutes, she'll never want to think about Saint again let alone-"
"No." Party Poison snapped, pushing Fun Ghoul off him finally. "You promised." And Fun Ghoul nodded. Indicating he would keep that promise, of course he would.
