Hi all!! Here's the next part of Dreams of an Angel. Hope you all enjoy it! Any comments or suggestions, well, you know how to contact me. My Yahoo ID is Goldenknightuk if you wish to send me an instant message. Sorry for any bad grammars boys and girl. C'mon! Nobody's perfect!! :)
NOTE TO ALL READERS: In order to balance my study time and writings, I decided to set a specific time for every update. For now on, I'll be updating Dreams of an Angel every Tuesday & Friday evening (Well, Irish time. I dunno about the time differences between my place and yours, guys and gals. You have to figure that out yourself :P Trust me, I sucked in figuring it out :)). But hey, if time permits me, I promise I'll update it at other times :)
Before the show, onwards to the boring part! Legal matters! Hehehe. You can press 'fast-forward' now.
Well, first of all, this story, as you will certainly find out soon, is TOTALLY fictional. So! If any of you truly believe in it... dude, I'm worried about you. Secondly! None of the guys in the Backstreet Boys are gay! (No matter how hard I wished it :P). But nobody say we couldn't dream it, heh heh. Thirdly, Warren Worthington is actually a character from Marvel Comics, X-men known as Angel or recently Archangel. Okay fine, I admit it. I'm bored and I am making a pathetic attempt to make life a lil' bit interesting. Its not like I'm gonna publish it or something. What else to talk about hmm? Oh, there may be some adult gay scenes in this story. Unlike my brother, I don't mind writing naughty stuff ;) so! If you're underage, naughty, naughty! I can only ask you to go away, but I cannot do anything else to stop you from reading on anyway. Hell! I've been sneaking into the internet to watch gay porns since I was 13! So, if your parents or whoever responsible for you catch you, don't say I didn't warned you. However, if you're homophobic... well maybe I can seduce you enough to turn you around heh heh. I do so love a challenge ;)
Anyway, enough talk. Any comments or boos or suggestion or whatever, just sent it to the same address as in NNTs, goldenknightuk@yahoo.co.uk . Yeah, we shared the same address. Don't ask. Long story.
Okay then! On to the show. Now, don't be shy now. If you got any comments or suggestions, just drop me a note. You do the request, and I'll do the show.
Andy
Part 39: 'Dancing With Life'
Morning came and warm, gentle sunlight pour through half-covered window. Sigh!... someone opened the window again, judging from the pleasant caress of the morning breeze coming from it.
Strangely enough, Nick found himself waking up in his bed alone.
Eyes still closed, he shifts in his bed restlessly, subconsciously searching for the pleasant source of warm flesh that has kept him warm and safe throughout the past hours. Search as he might, he can't seem to find what he seeks. A tiny irritated frown appears on his sleeping face.
The breeze blew harder, pushing the half-closed blind aside and more sunlight streaks into the room and onto his bed.
"Uuuunnhh!!!" Nick grunts as he rolls immediately onto his stomach, burying his face deeply into the pillow. He really should start putting a note on his window saying: 'DO NOT open the window in the morning!!'
The clock on the stand next to him bleeps once and still hazy from his pleasant sleep, he lifts his head slightly from the pillow and stole a peek at it.
12 noon.
His head plopped back into the pillow resignedly.
'My God, Brian was right. I am turning into a lazy slob.' He groaned inwardly as he sprawl limply in his rumpled bed.
The breeze blew again and he purr gratefully at the warm thick blanket covering his naked body. Thinking of naked bodies brought back the pleasant memories from last night, which in turn remind him of Warren...
Sneaking his hand searchingly to the side, he began searching for his man. He lifts his head to peer around the bed when his hands found nothing but all he saw is an empty bed covered by rumpled bed-sheet.
"Warren?" He croaked out sleepily as his eyes began roaming around the room searchingly.
'Whoa, Carter. That's a beautiful frog-voice you got there.' The small irritating voice inside his head snickered mischievously.
Gathering his strength, he began the thankless effort of sitting up on the bed in the morning... well noon to be exact. After a great deal of huffing and puffing and moaning and groaning, he finally succeeded and began staring blearily around the room like an ogre waking up with a bad hangover.
The bed is empty and so is the room. His bag is still on his desk, half-opened with his clothes half-spilling from it as usual. He could have sworn those clothes came to life when he is not watching and simply 'flow' out of the bag. Warren's bag is half-opened too, but despite the small pile of discarded clothes lying beside it, and the small pile of neatly folded clothes on the other side, and some other items placed here and there on the table near it... obviously he was already up and about while Nick was still sleeping.
Glancing at the opened bathroom, he noted the used shaving kit, wet shower stall and the wet towel hanging nearby... yup. Richie-Rich is already up and about alright.
'Shake yer body, funky-time, funky-time...' a song began playing and replying in Nick's mind as he began to arduous process of getting out of the bed.
'One foot out of the bed, put it on the floor...' He thought lazily, 'Put the other foot on the floor, that's it, now stand up... God, the room is cold... maybe another hour in bed?'
The clock cheerfully clicked 12:23, and he changed his mind about staying in bed.
"Gawdammit... I slept half the day away already." He mumbled grumpily as he stumble into the bathroom and slammed the door. His grumpy mood didn't improve at all when the thought of his parent expecting him to be home at 7 for dinner this evening came into mind.
About half an hour later, following his brief usual morning ritual and a light shower, he emerges from the bathroom, still a little bit grumpy. Looking around the room, he sighed. His mind is not working in its usual 100% peak efficiency right now and he doubt even Professor Xavier's infamous Cerebro can improve that. So he be damned if he gonna do any deep, hard thinking right now, such as deciding which clothes to wear.
Picking up the black boxer short he wore to bed last night, he put it on and made his way to the door. His stomach grumbled loudly at that moment and he wince as another problem came into his mind. There is no food in the kitchen. Ooookay. Welcome Nick Carter, into a morning from Hell. He should have stayed in bed!
Where the hell is Warren anyway?
Combing his hair briefly, he stares at his image in the mirror... more particularly at the wound on his side. Touching it gently, he traces the stitches lightly all through its length.
'OH MY GOD! Nick! How the hell did you get that scar at your side???' Nick could envision Kevin's word when he finally notices the wound.
'Oh this? Some crazy mutant tried to kill me a while back when I was in New York. No biggie.' Nick grin as his typical choice of smart-assed answer immediately came into mind.
The wound is healing though, thank God! The pain has by now become a dull blur. Better than it was yesterday or the day before. But still...
He turns to the side slightly in front of the mirror to inspect the stitches better and to judge his overall present image in the presence of the scar... he sighed after a while.
'I still need to avoid any photo-shoots or performing with my shirt off for several weeks.' He thought gloomily. 'I looked like someone who has been bitten by a crocodile or somethin'.'
Picking up his bathrobe, he threw it on lazily. Instead of tying up the girdle, he let it hang loose and untied. He walks out of the room, searching for his angel and maybe (if luck is still on his side), some still-not-expired canned food in a cupboard to start his morning. Let see... today is Tuesday... and Katy, the pleasant woman he hired to come over twice weekly for cleaning and stuff, only come on Monday and Saturday morning... so there's no chance for him to call and beg her to bring in some groceries... sigh!... which means he has to go out and do some shopping soon... God, where is his mom when he needs her?
Down the stairs he stroll, searching for his lover. The house is very still and quiet. No sound of padding of feet (except his own of course), no rustling of shirts, not even the occasional fluttering sound of wings. Where the hell is he?
He strolled into the kitchen, living room, the small gym he has near the back... aha... the gym has been used recently. Walking back to the living room, out to the pool... back again, into his small work office... Warren's laptop is there, open but not switched on... Obviously he has been here too...
"Warren?" He called out aloud at last.
Back in the hall, he finally notice a note stuck on the front door.
'GONE FOR GROCERY SHOPPING. I'M TAKING ONE OF YOUR CARS. BE BACK SOON. LOVE, WARREN.'
Grocery shopping! That means food is on its way! For a moment, Nick could envision a light shining upon him from above and voices singing "Hallelujah" appearing all around him. Picking up the small pile of letters from the nearby table, he smiled as he strolls back into the living room. Talk about a caring lover.
Picking up the remote control, he flicks on the TV. Some soap drama is on but his attention is more on the pile of letters. Leaving the TV on, he began the arduous process of sorting out the letters.
Bills... bills... bills... (sigh!)... more bills... hmm... what's this? Letter from Jive...
Reading the letter quietly for a while, he finally put it aside and move on. It's about his solo album. He needs to call Johnny later. Picking up the next letter, he moves on, pausing briefly at the rather interesting brochure about some newly opening holiday resort in the nearby beaches...
This is boring...
Throwing the brochure onto the pile, he lounged back against the coach lazily, stretching his legs as he did. He groaned as his stomach grumbles again.
"Just hold on a minute, will you??" Nick grumbles softly before laughing. Oookay, maybe events from last night had impaired his brain a little bit considering that he is talking to himself. "Warren, hurry up with the food."
He stood up and sighed when a Burger King commercial appears on TV and pretty soon, he is drooling at the juicy sight of the sizzling burgers and fries.
He took up the remote control and turned it off, not for the sake of saving himself from the torment, but more for the sake of preventing himself from hurling his body onto the TV.
A wave of amusement rolled into his mind from the link and he cursed. Warren knew how hungry and frustrated he is right now and he has the gall to be amused about it. Just he waits till he gets here. God help him if he doesn't jump on the man and devour him there and then, right at the front door.
Mmmm... devouring Warren...
Harrumphing loudly, Nick shook the... admittedly arousing... image from his mind. Oookay, the pleasant experience he had last night with Warren has definitely addled his brain this morning... or noon... or should it be afternoon by now... WHATEVER.
'Oh joy. Here comes little Nicky.' Nick thought in dismay at the erection that slowly develops in his boxer.
"That's it. I'm gonna go for a swim." He spoke to himself and marches off to the pool.
He inhaled the fresh breeze deeply as he steps out of the house, narrowing his eyes against the pleasant warm sunlight as he did. He smile as he open the link wide to share the pleasant feeling with Warren whose mind is now filled with boredom, no doubt either stuck in a long queue at the supermarket paying counter or in a traffic jam. He greeted Nick's presence in his mind in such a grateful way that Nick laughed softly. Men are simply not made for grocery shopping; it is a fact of life!
It's almost feels like Warren is standing next to him whenever he merges their minds together. It's a pity he is not a telepath. A telepathic link would make the whole feeling more real that an empathic link.
Letting his bathrobe slides lazily to the floor, he stepped forward to the edge of the pool and dives in, swimming through the water smoothly before coming up again for air, pushing his hair back as he did. God, he missed this.
He lapped around the pool lazily, enjoying the coolness. When was the last time he felt as calm as this? Humming to himself inwardly, he dived underwater again, wondering briefly what the others are doing right now. Maybe he should call Brian later to see what he is up to.
He emerged from the water again, gasping for air and wiping his face. A cloud floated by and blocked the sun at that moment, and a slight shadow engulfs the area. He swam idly for about half an hour or so before a sweet, sweet aroma caught his attention.
Sniffing as he smiled, he turns around towards the direction only to be greeted by Warren smiling face as he knelt beside the pool; his wings flutter slightly against the gentle breeze.
"Hotdog?" He waved it playfully before him.
"FOOD!!!" Nick cried out happily, hit eyes lit up as he saw the hotdog. Swimming... well, more like splashing actually... frantically, he made his way desperately through the water towards him. "Gimme, gimme, gimme!!"
Warren laughed as he held the hotdog high in the air above the pool, well beyond Nick's reach.
"Whoa, down boy, down!" He laughed before standing up and backed away towards the small nearby poolside table where the rest of the food is located. "C'mere boy, c'mere."
Nick actually growled as he lumbered out of the pool, dripping wet and padded towards the table.
"Lor' 'ave mercy! Look at he goes." Warren laughed on as Nick immediately wolfed down every single burgers and hotdog on the table.
"Can't t'lk... eat'ng..." Nick mumbled as he continue to shove it all in.
"Slow down or you'll choke." Warren smiled as he gently massages Nick's shoulder.
"Woof." Nick answered with his mouth full.
"Don't blame me if you choke." Said Warren as he took a can of coke and put it beside Nick.
"Woof, woof." Nick answered back as he smiles and chew at the same time.
"I can get you a bone if you want one." Warren snickered as walked to one of the nearest storage cabinet and took out a spare towel. "That hungry, huh?"
"Took your own sweet time, didn't you?" Nick glowered briefly before wolfing down another hotdog.
"It was a long queue and the traffic was bad." Warren answered defensively as he gently used the towel to dry Nick's back.
"Excuses, excuses." Nick laughed as he ate.
"I guess our li'l last night 'activity' took more energy than we anticipated." Warren said snidely and smirked when Nick coughed chokingly at that. "I thought that'd shut you up."
"Oh you're evil. Very, very evil!" Nick replied as he grins.
"I'm not. I'm the Archangel here, remember?" Warren swooned innocently, fluttering his wings repeatedly as he did.
Nick giggles and leaned back relaxingly as Warren sat behind him and pull him against his body.
"Lemme see the stitches." He murmurs as he peers at it, tracing it lightly with his finger.
Nick winces slightly at the sudden throbbing soreness and at the same time, held back the oncoming giggles at the sudden ticklish sensation.
"Stop twitching." Warren smiled as he continues his inspection carefully. "It's healing well. That's good. See? I told you Hank knew what he was doing."
"Yeah, but his poking and prodding is still irritating. I tell you, he's a sadist." Nick answered as he laughs.
"Bah. That's because you keeps on complaining and wailing and twitching. God, Nick, you were worst than Scott when he got injured." Said Warren as he gently dab the area of the wound with the towel to help dry it off.
"You try and sleep in that cold and sterile medlab bed and we'll see how much twitching and complaining you'll do." Said Nick.
Warren shivers slightly as he knew exactly what Nick meant by that. He himself has his own unpleasant experience in getting himself injured and ended up in that cold and sterile medlab.
"Good point." Warren smiled. "Anyway, I bought some groceries and filled up the poor fridge. Continue treating me nicely and I may do the same favor again."
Nick laughed as he turns around and sat on his lover's lap, kissing him on the lips lovingly. Smiling cheerfully, Warren simply allowed Nick parted his lips and kissed him deeper.
"Thanks baby." Nick smiled after the kiss ended. "I appreciate that. And judging from the delicious taste of cheeseburger in your mouth, I take it your hunger was great enough to win you an early lunch rather than waiting until you reach home to have it with me."
"It was a bad traffic jam and I was hungry and the delicious smell of all those burgers and hot-dogs doesn't help with the whole situation at all. I'm only human, you know!" Warren answered defensively. "Be thankful I didn't finished it all."
They both giggled together before losing themselves into another kiss. An eternity later, they parted and stare at each other silently.
"Take me out flying?" Nick asked at last.
Warren looked at him enquiringly.
"You sure? It's broad daylight." He answers softly. "Someone might spot us."
"Oh yeah..." Nick replied in disappointment. He thought quietly for a moment or two before an idea struck him and he looks up, smiling. "Not unless you can make it quickly to the ocean. No one is around to see us in the middle of the ocean."
He looks at Warren with pure longing in his eyes.
"I wanna fly free today and forget about tonight for a while." He spoke again softly.
Warren looked at him quietly before smiling.
"What about that?" He pointed at healing wound. "I might upset it."
"Not unless you cradle me in your arms. That way, you wouldn't put too much stress on it." Nick answers hopefully. "Please? It's such a beautiful day and you never take me out flying during the day before."
Warren laughed softly as he leans forward to place a loving kiss on Nick's forehead.
"Now, how can I refuse that face?" He said at last. He glances at Nick's wet boxer before looking up at him. "You're only wearing that?"
Nick grins as Warren took a swig of Coke.
"Kinda kinky isn't it?" He laughed. "Ever thought of having sex while flying?"
He was graciously rewarded by Warren spraying out the Coke all over the floor.
"One day, Nick, you'll murder someone with some of those things that comes out of your lips." Warren glowered at Nick who is laughing helplessly like there's no tomorrow.
"Okay, okay," Nick laughed died down as he wiped away his tears. "I'll be serious... (laughter)... okay... okay... NOW, I'm serious. Yeah... why can't I wear this wet boxer? The sun is shining, I need a tan and it's a warm day."
Warren shrugged as he stood and cradle Nick gently onto his arm, unfurling his wings readily.
"It's your funeral. I'll try not to fly too high so that it won't get too cold." He smiled but Nick could feel the eagerness to be free in the sky in his lover's mind. "But mind you. Any funny business and I'll just dump you into the ocean."
"I'll be a good boy." Nick grinned cheekily.
Warren rolled his eyes once before shifting his gaze at the sky before him.
"Ready?"
Nick nodded in anticipation and his heart beats faster when Warren makes one powerful leap into the air, wings fully spread on each side, stroking again and again gracefully, white and shining against the afternoon sunlight.
"Up, up and awaaaay!!!" Nick shouted as he laugh along with Warren, watching happily as the world gradually grew smaller and smaller below them.
"Tally-hoooo!!!" Warren shouted laughingly as the wind took them towards the sea.
That evening...
"So..." Warren reaches over to grasp Nick's hand. "You're ready?"
They are sitting in the car a little distant away from Nick's parent house. Nick sat in the driver seat, hands gripping the steering wheel, his eyes staring at the evening view before him unseeingly.
He looks up when he felt Warren's slender finger slowly grasping his hand and a flood of reassuring emotions pour into his mind through the link.
"It's gonna be okay." Warren's comforting words really does help in subduing his rising panic.
He turn to look at Warren and his nervousness vanish when he saw those eyes looking at him with love... just like it was when they were in bed last night... Warren is wearing his best light gray turtleneck covered by a black velvet jacket. A neat black slack covers his legs. An expensive golden Rolex glitters slightly in the dark on his wrist. Time and again, the pleasant smell of his expensive cologne waft over to where he sits. Deep down, Nick could sense traces of nervousness in his lover's mind but somehow; Warren is able to cover it very well... obviously for his sake.
Nick on the other hand, prefers to dress lightly. After all, he is only having dinner with his parents. It's not like he is attending the MTV award or something. He is only wearing his jeans and a turtleneck sweater, covered nicely by his leather jacket. There is a slight chill in the air tonight... and not all of it is due to the weather.
"I believe in you." Warren spoke softly before leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on his forehead. He touches Nick's neck and adjusts the golden medallion there slightly. "You're going to be great tonight. You're going to shine. I know you will."
Nick was surprise when he found himself smiling in response. The emotions Warren feed him through the link filled him with strength and warmth. His very soul appears to blaze with confidence. With these feelings in his mind, he could march off into the bloodiest of battles without any second thought.
"Remember, if you need strength, look at me and I'll give you mine." Warren spoke again softly before placing another kiss, this time on his lips.
"C'mon." He spoke loudly at last as he opens the door. "We're running late."
Nick inhaled deeply once before forcing himself to release the steering wheel and open the door. Warren helped him out and before long they are walking along the sidewalk towards the house in silence.
"Niiicckk!!!" Jean Carter cried out shrilly as she greeted her eldest son with the strongest hug he ever had in his life as soon the front door was wrenched open... nearly suffocating him in the process.
What stunned him even more are the gigantic waves of joy, gladness and warmth that assaulted him without warning from her mind, so strong that it nearly broke through his mental shield and overwhelm him at that very instant.
"Uhhh... moooom..." Nick whined as he winces amidst the hug and at the same time, blushing as he felt the amusement coming from Warren's mind. Amusement and... sadness? The second emotion was quickly masked as quickly as it appeared.
"Jane, dear, I think he has suffered enough." The smiling Robert Carter came striding down the hall with the smirking Aaron by his side.
"Take your time, mom. Oh, by all means, do take your time." Aaron snickered as he watched the torment with pleasure shining in his eyes.
"Hi dad... Mooomm... we have company!" Nick whined softly as he tried to breathe.
"Oh, hi! You must be Warren." Jane released the hug as she turns towards Warren. "Nick told me your name when he called but he hadn't the decency to tell me anything more. I'm Jane, Nick's mom."
"The pleasure is all mine, ma'am." Warren replied, shaking her hand as he smiles, pouring fourth all the playboy charm that were born along with him at birth long ago, knowing very well how it affect women. Nick almost laughed when Jane found herself taken aback a little as she accepted Warren handshake gracefully, never realizing her other hand moving up to pat her hair unconsciously.
"Oh... how... polite!" Jean gaped for a second before controlling herself.
"Ahem!" Her husband stepped forward, looking at her amusedly as he smiled at Warren.
"WOW!! Dude, you actually stopped mom right on her track!!" Aaron laughed beside the flustered woman.
"As much as it disturbed me, I have to admit, I'm impressed." Robert agreed as he shakes Warren's hand. "I'm Robert, Nick's dad. Come in, come in. Dinner has been ready for quite some time, isn't that right, dear?"
"Oh, why yes!" Jane found her voice at last. "Come in. Nick, what have you been doing to yourself! You're stretched thin!"
"Well, well, well, look at this place! Looks like the renovating project went really well." Nick smiled as he took off his jacket.
"No thanks to you!" Aaron frowned. "I know you've been delaying your return just to escape your chores."
"Warren, you want to take off that jacket?" said Jane.
"No thank you ma'am. I'm fine." Warren purposely stood behind Nick, his mind suddenly filled with wariness. Nick smiled. He can imagine his wings fluttering slightly in alarm behind him. He decided not to strapped his wings tonight, letting it loose behind him, hidden underneath the illusion of his image-inducer. Taking off his jacket will definitely involve considerable effort.
"So who'll be joining us for dinner?" asked Nick. His heart rate slows down again when he felt Warren reaching out again through the link reassuringly. He glances at Warren gratefully before Aaron pushes him into the living room.
"Angel is here. BJ and Leslie went off to Ohio last week for something. They escaped mom's recruiting frenzy as well. They'll be back this weekend." Aaron answered. "C'mon in here, Warren."
"Niiick!!"
"Angel." Nick laughs as he swept his li'l sister up in his arms.
"You've been away too long!" said Angel. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." Nick smiled as he felt the love from her mind. God, the whole room is swamped with intense cheerful emotions. It clawed and hammered against his shield ceaselessly. "Oh, Angel, meet Warren. Warren, meet... Angel."
He laughed softly after realizing what that means to Warren aka Archangel. Warren looked at her in amusement. A tiny smile etched on his lips.
"Hi." Angel smiled at him shyly, obviously falling under Warren's charm just as Nick's mom did earlier.
"Angel's a beautiful name. Some of my friends used to call me Angel as well in the past." Warren grins as he kissed Angel's hand courteously, causing her to swoon.
"Where d'you meet this guy, bro? Suddenly I feel glad I didn't invite my girlfriend to join us tonight. He's worst than ten Justin Timberlakes combined." Aaron whispers to Nick softly causing him to laugh. "Look at how he makes mom and Angel swoon."
Jane and Robert came into the room at that instant.
"So what're we having tonight, mom?" asked Nick.
"My favorite. Fried chicken wings!" Jane answered cheerfully.
Nick laughed when Warren jumped slightly in alarm.
"Are you okay, Warren?" asked Angel curiously.
"Oh he's fine." Nick grins when Warren smoothly maneuvers himself so that Nick stays between him and Jane all the time. Patting Warren's shoulder, he decided to declare a little war on his lover. "He's just a li'l bit sensitive when it comes to chicken wings."
"What can I say? I'm a bird lover." Warren put on his best false smile as he shot an amused glare at Nick, promising a swift and justified retribution later tonight.
Next Tuesday, Part 40: 'Into the Storm'