MariaShades asked: Day 27: "Let me see" with John and Alan.

Characters: Alan, John

Warnings: sword wound

Alan sighed.

He looked down at his tablet.

And sighed.

He looked up and out the window.

And sighed.

He looked longingly at the fridge in the kitchen.

And sighed.

'Alan.'

John may not be sighing, but Alan could hear it in his voice.

'Sorry, John.'

And Alan returned to Death-by-Shakespeare while John continued whatever it was he was doing.

He sighed.

John sighed and looked over to his brother. He understood Alan's frustrations. Their brothers were out on a mission and he was stuck at home doing homework he really didn't want to and probably couldn't see the need to do.

He remembered doing Hamlet at school and probably had the same feelings as Alan was having now. At least Alan had one of the more interesting plays to do, one that had interested John when their Dad had suggested International Rescue and with good cause.

Maybe Alan just needed a nudge to see why this particular Shakespeare was so applicable to them. Yeah… An idea forming, John put his own book down and decided a break was in order and then they could work together and make Two Gentlemen of Verona come alive.

'Hey Alan, how about an early lunch and then you and I can make your play more interesting?'

'YES! Lunch!'

'And then the play.'

'Ugh, fine. And then the play.'

'You make the sandwiches then while I go gather some stuff.'

'FAB!'

Alan didn't require much encouragement to abandon schoolwork, even if it was only going to be temporary, and the prospect of John's help perked him up almost as much as the idea of food.

They ate their sandwiches in companionable silence, both keeping one ear on the rescue. Grandma had taken John's usual place at comms and was running point with EOS, insisting John needed some downtime. It didn't stop either of them listening, but it seemed like a straightforward rescue.

Lunch over and the table cleared, John lay the bundle he'd brought in on the chair beside him and cleared his throat.

'So, Alan, have your read the play?'

'Yeah.'

'So what is the lessons you've learnt?'

'Um…I dunno. It's…Shakespeare is really hard, John!'

John laughed at Alan's response. He remembered feeling that way once, but he'd had a love of reading and an excellent English teacher.

'Ok. Rather than look at it at act by act, what do you think Shakespeare is telling us?'

'I don't know, John. Honestly, it' all over my head!'

'Name the four main characters and how they relate to each other.'

'Valentine and Proteus are best friends. Silvia is the woman they both fall in love with and Julia, Proteus' girlfriend.'

'Good. So what do you think the main theme is?'

'Betrayal.'

'Yes, that is certainly a main one, but the overall theme is love, in particular first love. Shakespeare explores how all-consuming that first rush of love can be, how it can override all senses, including the love for a partner and a best friend.'

'Oh. Oh, yeah, I see that!'

'Sometimes we can forget how strong feeling a emotion for the first time can be, and if we are not careful that emotion can make us do negative things. Can you think how we can apply that?'

Alan blushed deep red. Unbidden thoughts of Kayo flooded his brain and he averted his eyes from John's knowing smirk.

'Alan. I'm thinking more of some events in our past.'

'You – you are?'

'Think about the Hood. What was his downfall?'

'He loves power.'

'That's right. We all have that first taste of power. You and I both got that as pilot of Three. Did we let it go to our heads?'

'No, we used Three and all our Thunderbirds for good.'

'Agreed. The Hood would not use them for good, he is too wrapped up with power.'

'I see!'

'In the end of the play the two men make up, marry their true loves and all is well.'

'Are you saying the Hood may turn good?'

'No, Alan. I'm saying that at all. The Hood has chosen his path.'

'So what are you saying?'

'You blushed earlier.'

Alan sighed and blushed again. John chuckled.

'Don't worry. We all have that first crush, Al. All of us.'

Alan nodded and looked at the table. John reached across and laid a brief hand on his arm before getting up and grabbing the bundle.

'Enough mushy stuff, Al. Let's have some fun.'

As Alan stood up John tossed him a sword. It was one of the training foils John had kept since his college days. He had taught both Gordon and Alan for a time, and Alan regularly used what he learned in Cavern Quest and other games.

'Let's do one of the fight scenes from the play. That might help too.'

'Ok! That idea I love!'

'Let's move to the gym.'

'Yesss!'

They made short work of clearing the gym and before long they were standing facing each other, all suited up and ready. They did the customary salute and let loose.

They battled. The scores were even, John and Alan were well matched, until finally they stopped. Both were grinning and panting by the time they pulled their helmets off.

'Feel better, Al?'

'Thanks, John. I needed that outlet.'

They lay their swords down and changed out of the protective clothing. Alan was ready first and he picked up the foil, slashing the air in front of him. He strode over to the boxing bag and began to stab it, pretending that it was the Hood.

'Take that! And that!'

Alan began to prance around the bag, hitting it while still being careful not to damage the bad completely. He soon became lost in the imagined battle.

A sound jerked him back to reality and Alan spun round.

His blade slashed.

Alan dropped it in horror.

John blinked at his brother in surprise. Then looked down at the slash above his hip. He clamped a hand down suddenly with a grunt before beginning to buckle. Alan was there like a shot, easing him down onto a bench.

'Let me see, John!'

John grinned weakly and moved his hand. Alan had already folded up a towel from the bench and pressed it firmly onto the wound once he'd taken a quick look.

'You'll live, John. It's not quite Death-by-Shakespeare, it's only a flesh wound, but you'll need some stitches to hold your side together.'

'Thanks, Alan.'

'Don't – don't thank me. I should have been more careful. How many times have you told me not to play with the foils?'

'I don't think that I will need to tell you again.'

'Let's call Grandma and she can patch you up before Scott gets home and grounds me for eternity.'

'Sounds good to me.'