He wasn't sure how long his mind was drifting when a series of sharp, rhythmic sounds made him jump to attention. Looking around in confusion, David heard the noise repeat from the kitchen. Oddly, he was sitting in a chair in Jamie's living room, his art supplies and sketchpad settled on a tray in front of him.
Wasn't it well into the night just moments ago? How was the sky suddenly bright blue outside the window, the sunbeams highlighting a half-started landscape? On the other side of the glass pane, the leaves of the trees were brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow; a scattering of them drifted to the ground on the gentle breeze rustling the branches.
This wasn't right. David was sure it was nighttime during a summer season when he went to sleep. Turning his head to scan the room, he noticed there was no one else present. Where had everyone gone? Did they just take off and leave without a word?
And he realized something else as he moved his head to and fro, a soft weight about his shoulders and upper back. Frowning, the tyrant reached up and his fingers brushed long, thick hair, hair that had been burned away forever from radiation. He pulled a section before his eyes to inspect it closely.
It was the same silky brown strands he'd had so long ago. The fingers holding the hair were no longer scarred or gnarled from the same circumstance that claimed his tresses. His hazel eyes widened in stunned surprise.
'Impossible!'
David raised his hands in front of face, turning them back and forth. More smooth, unblemished skin. Frowning, he looked down at himself, curious about the condition of the rest of his body.
The white and green flannel was thick and fluffy beneath his fingertips as his hands moved down his front. Underneath was the same hard muscle he'd always had, he noted with relief. Carefully, he palpated about his belly, mindful not to dislodge the colostomy bag and risk creating a disgusting accident.
Nothing but flat muscle.
David quickly grabbed the hem of the garment and yanked it up, exposing his abdomen. There was no appliance present. Just normal skin like his hands. Surely, he shouldn't dare to hope that…
Shoving back from his art tray, long legs clad in dark green denim met his eyes. Black sneakers protruded from pants. His heart pounding, he experimentally attempted to wiggle one of the feet.
The appendage easily glided about the wooden floor. David found he could even bend and then extend the lower leg beneath him.
'What's going on? I lost my legs.'
The brisk noise from the kitchen made him jump yet again in his chair.
'What is that?'
Time to see if the legs would function as they were fully intended. Nervously, the tyrant stood up from the chair, the action peculiar after all this time in his wheelchair. The extremities appeared to be holding up just fine as he stood getting his bearings.
Now that he was standing, he could see more of the view outside the window. Most of the flowers had gone and, in the garden, he could just make out large orange shapes under receding greenery. Jasper stood in her pen, bleating as she stared up at the window.
'Ridiculous creature.'
David carefully made his way to the kitchen doorway to determine the source of the sound. Peeking around the corner, he observed Jamie standing at a counter by the stove, chopping a series of vegetables before depositing them into a large metal pot. A beautifully marbled cut of meat sat on another cutting board, ready to be seasoned and sliced.
Jamie glanced up then, feeling the weight of eyes upon him. His dark eyes sparkled behind his glasses; two dark eyes, David noted, in wonderment.
"Have a good nap, sleepy head?" he grinned, sweeping a pile of cut up potatoes into the pot from their board.
"What's going on?" David asked, coming all the way into the room.
Jamie raised his brow in amusement.
"I'm putting on a pot of your favorite stew for later. It has to simmer all day but it will be worth it. I just want to make sure I make enough for everyone."
"Everyone?"
Placing the vegetable blade down on the counter, Jamie wiped his hands on a small towel and approached the other man. His expression was now confused.
"Are you feeling alright, babe? I can always cancel."
Strong arms encircled David's waist as Jamie nestled against his chest. He felt soft, full lips brush his cheek tenderly. This was not the way that his pet would normally behave.
"You don't feel hot," the grey-haired man joked, looking into his partner's eyes. "What's wrong?"
Strategically, David settled his face in a relaxed expression, deciding to play along and guide Jamie into releasing the information he desired. He smiled down into concerned face.
"No, don't cancel. I must have been having a moment. Taking a nap this early wasn't the best idea," he laughed. "Need any help with that?"
He gestured toward the stove, where vegetable peelings littered the counter nearby.
Jamie was silent a moment, scrutinizing David's face in thought. Then he drew a relieved breath and smiled.
"Actually, I was sort of hoping you would do the dessert," he purred, batting his eyes.
Pointing toward a basket on the tabletop, Jamie chuckled.
"I snuck out early this morning and picked them. Aren't they gorgeous?"
David moved towards the butcherblock table and peered inside the container. A pile of deeply hued apples tumbled over each other, full and smooth.
"Apple pie?" he teased, caressing Jamie's jaw.
He carefully bided his time, continuing to go along with this narrative. This was not reality after all, of that he was sure. But why pop this lovely bubble so soon?
"Everyone's been begging for you to make one. And now that the season is upon us, I thought we'd surprise them," Jamie laughed.
"Remind me who all is coming for sure. So, I know how many pies to prepare."
The other man had turned and crossed back towards his prep work at the counter. He pulled the cutting board with the meat glistening upon it in front of him.
"Well, they all said they'd come," Jamie answered.
He started counting off the list of names.
"We've got Kimberly, Bulk, Billy, Skull, Zack, Trini, you and me. So all together 8 people."
David raised a brow as he selected an apple from the basket. He held it to the light, marveling at the dark red skin.
Jamie was still chattering away while he deftly chopped the beef into chunks.
"I figure this and the pies will be done by the time everyone arrives this evening. I checked to make sure we had enough wood when I went out to get the apples. There's plenty for a nice bonfire. That just leaves the hot chocolate," he continued, glancing back over at his partner.
Hmm, this was an interesting situation. Sad it wasn't reality. It was rather beautiful. A dream, of course.
But why not enjoy it while it lasted?
Placing the apple back amongst the others, he crossed to where Jamie stood.
"I love this, you know," he whispered, hands gliding around the man's middle. "Being here with you like this."
Jamie's laugh rumbled through his back pressed against David's chest. He turned within the circle of the embrace to look tenderly into his partner's eyes.
"You're in a sentimental mood," he grinned. "Well, I love our life too."
He planted a kiss on David's nose. A strong hand cupped Jaime's jaw then. Leaning forward, the tyrant pressed his lips to Jamie's softly.
"I don't deserve you."
The dark eyes looking into his own suddenly widened and Jamie gasped in pain.
"Ahhh!"
A hand clutched the lower portion of his chest and he started panting.
"Jamie! What's wrong!" David yelled in panic.
"Don't know. Hurts," the man managed, tears rolling down his cheeks.
His body started going slack and David carefully lowered him to the floor. Jamie hunched over on his knees, both hands now holding tight to his chest. His glasses clattered to the floor and he moaned again even louder.
A bright gout of blood bubbled over his lips and splattered his lap.
"Jamie!"
The man hunched lower, gasping harder, the blood starting to pour.
An icy laugh echoed in the room.
David's skin felt a chilly upsweep of air in the suddenly darkening room. Loud, angry barks sounded from outside as Bear viciously confronted an unseen enemy in the leaf strewn yard.
Grasping Jamie's bleeding, raggedly panting body tightly, the tyrant snarled.
"Get the fuck out here and show yourself!"
Suddenly, high pitched yelps pierced the air before an agonized scream made David flinch.
'Bear!'
"Pity about the puppy, but pets are nuisance animals anyway. Much like your precious Vulpecula," a disembodied voice cooed.
Lip lifting in a snarl, David spat.
"Or much like your mangy, sightless mutt!"
Another mirthful laugh.
"Vindicta is a tool, not even a cherished possession. If he perishes, there is always another."
Through the large glass door, the hound hunkered in the yard, Bear's limp, bloody body under one large paw.
Jamie shuddered in David's arms and groaned miserably. Shifting him over in his grasp, he noticed for the first time a long, wavy blade poking through the lower part of his chest.
"What the fuck!" David yelled, reaching for the kitchen towel dangling by the sink.
"So distressed about the Vulpecula. He's merely filthy vermin. And he somehow managed to topple an empire," the voice laughed deeply, sounding much closer now.
"Show yourself! Unless you don't think yourself capable of challenging me!" the tyrant bellowed.
"Please," the voice scoffed. "Even if my body were 'put together', who is it exactly that I'd be facing? The infamous but defeated Lord Drakkon? Or perhaps the weak, demented David who lives with his head in the clouds?"
Propping his love against the cabinets, David stood to his full height, bristling with fury.
"I wouldn't get too attached to that body, motherfucker, because I'm going to rip it limb from limb. Now who are you, so I know what name to carve out on your stone?"
A shadowy shape moved in the corner of David's eye, a large cloaked figure of a man with heavy black boots. It shimmered, not fully in this realm.
"In due time. But you and I have history. We're well acquainted."
It swept across the room like a ghost.
"Pine for Vulpecula while you can. It's rather charming. Dreaming that he will ever be your partner and you can have a happily ever after. That beast was your downfall and now you be his."
Jamie stared sightlessly up into David's face, blood still streaming from his mouth and nose. Even his eyes had turned red.
David sat up in bed, eyes wide, heart hammering, staring into the darkness.
Staring at the ceiling in the lonely blackness, time stretched on endlessly. After Skull ascended the stairs to the loft, all was silent from the living room besides the soft, easy snoring of an unconscious Jamie. Each inhale and exhale made David feel a little better despite knowing that the sedative wouldn't kill his darling.
It would do no good to be exhausted tomorrow. He could feel in his bones that the hound was going to show up again. Hopefully, Jamie would be awake and be himself again. Though he couldn't be sure, he also felt strongly that Red was thoroughly embarrassed of the situation he'd created and most likely would have retreated. For now.
Slowing his respirations and focusing on each in and out pull of oxygen, David somehow eventually slipped into a deep sleep.
A distant, soft noise from the kitchen caught his attention. Hazel eyes opened and he scanned the bedroom, confused how the bright blue sky filled the window across the room. He was sure it had just been late into the night when he'd shut his eyes just moments ago.
Sitting up, the colorful quilt drifted from his chest into his lap. Oddly, he found another pillow laying next to his own. When did that get there? And where was his wheelchair that had been parked next to the bed?
Something else unusual caught his attention as he looked about the room. A tickling sensation brushed his shoulders and upper back as he turned his head.
'Huh?'
Reaching up, his fingers threaded through long brown hair, hair that had been burned away forever by radiation. He lifted a section in front of his eyes for inspection.