'Novel cover!' Leo strolled around the front of the bed, pacing, smiling, still snapping pictures.
Roman sprawled across the sheets, feeling terribly embarrassed at being dressed up in this garb. The bare feet and black pants he didn't mind but the unbuttoned white pirate shirt, puffy long sleeves and all, was making him beet skinned.
Beyond humilation if his fellow Shieldsmen walked in on the scene ( he could imagine the guffaws) but Leo DID call him 'Roman-ce Novel' and meant it.
Even dressing goofball was okay as long as Leo smiled.
'Hey what's the time, Hyena? i've an appointment.'
Leo briefly glanced at his watch. 'It is between early and late.'
'then I'd best get a move on.' roman partly flipped from the bed, gratefully anxious to remove the silly blouse.
Leo poked out his bottom lip. 'No more photos?'
roman managed to laugh while white cloth slid over his face, muffling the sound. He wadded the shirt into a tissue ball and tossed at his lover who rubbed his face against, actually purring.
'We'll finish up when I get back.'
'Director's cut!' Leo said gleefully.
'yeah and I'LL hold the camera.' Roman got his kiss and nuzzle before tying shoelaces and out the door.
A dozen drinks on the table.
He had his own place in the bar, far in the back, sectioned off, kept fans away. He was regular here enough the owners treated him well, gave him privacy.
He had courage already, didn't need it from the liquid.
Tall met tall, eyes locked across the room, barely lit by candle.
He could see alright in the dark, being Were and he knew his guest could also, same reason.
'Nice place.'
'Yeah, it's my fighting ground.'
'You plan to fight.'
'Not with YOU, you're the only one in that group who DIDN'T try to murder my friend so I owe you there.'
'and I owe you. if it wasn't for you and your boyfriend...' Roman paused. 'It WAS cruel but it turned out to be wonderful, you two Changing Leo or trying to. If he hadn't ended up the way he did, a human with lion legs and mane, I'd never have given him the time of day.'
'Yes.' Drew drank and was quiet in thought. 'We fucked up, I admit. Leo was ALREADY a Were-hyena, Changing him messed up his DNA for a short time.'
'Funny too, Seth is the one who caused it.' Roman shook his head and chuckled. 'SETH , who dislikes Leo, gets irritated over every little thing he does...but if it wasn't for him harping on justin to create a Pack...'
'You'd never have met.' drew drank again. 'Well you WOULD'VE but not-'
'Cared for him until he got better and fell in love.' roman finished.'
'True. So how IS Leo?'
'Crazy, deranged, sweet, loving and exotically erotic.'
'Temper worse than a female at her worst, impossible to get along with, untameable but easy to love.'
'Ah.' Roman smiled. 'So how IS Justin?'
Drew laughed enough to spit beer which increased Roman's beaming.
'Nice shirt by the way.' Drew commented with approval, nodding at the dark green with black lettered tee- My Eyes Are up Here- it stated.
'Gag gift for a past Christmas.' Roman shrugged.
'statement piece.'
'It's only a shirt.'
'I was speaking about your eyes.'
'Oh.'
'They're lovely.'
'Yours are beautiful too.'
One drink downed after another.
they weren't friends, they weren't going to spend time together talking past this but for now they sat across from each other in a bar, agreeing and chatting.
For now they'd enjoy the night.
Fight at work when ready.
The shattered smashed chunk of glass that stabbed into his heart.
He'd always blame himself, his ignorance and irresponsibility.
the babies, his children were flyers now, diving around his scalp.
Never, never, never, Heath scolded himself everyday after, should he had brought them to work.
Arena full of dangerous people, evil people, heartless horrible people.
Jack had gotten away from, flew lazily out the open door.
Heath ran after his little bat-child, Lucy flitting along beside him.
the parking area where the trucks were unloaded was full of crates, boxes, chairs piled high. Itr seemed suspicious, as though someone had placed this crap in his way to block him.
Jack had found a friend, it seemed, a big man perch, settled down on his cap and squeaked happily, ready to nap.
'Oh oh SORRY! He thinks...' Heath whistled and beckoned but his son stayed put. 'He likes people, I'm so...is he bugging you?'
'The musical act.' Large man said with a growl. 'There's a singer who bites the heads off of bats, you know.'
A stone of a big fist engulfed Jack, squeezing.
Brown teeth appeared behind rotten gums.
'Hey! HEY! don't!'
tripping over boxes didn't help. He heard Jack's squeal and felt his skin grow cold.
A tiny blood stain on the ground.
Lucy darted forward too late to rescue her brother, biting and squeaking.
'LUCY! Come HERE!please?!'
heath fell over another crate in panic, increased spped in his legs, icreased heart rate, too slow to keep Lucy from being crushed under a large boot.
'Just like Derrick wanted.'
Of course Derrick, Derrick who hated him and wanted Wade and had paid this foul goon to murder his children.
child killer. Of course.
'Snitsky?!'
'Yeah.'
The brown teeth showed in a smug grin.
'i am going to kill you for taking my babies lives.'
'Just TRY it, jobber.'
heath roared and charged, didn't notice the music notes surrounding Snitsky, squeezing and tunneling into his ears until-
until...
'Ah fuck! Dammit I'm DEAF!' snitsky crouched and screamed, hands over his ears couldn't hide the blood pouring from them.
'Serves you right. You killed my children!'
A balloon pop that was Snitsky's head exploding.
Bloody music notes chirred sympathy at Heath as he sat and held the still bodies of his son and daughter.
sympathy meant nothing.
Life meant nothing.
He sat holding them, wanting to take his last breath.
He was still there in the lot hours later when his friends and husband found him, with two tiny corpses and a much larger headless one.
