Here's the next part of Dreams of an Angel. Hope you all enjoy it! I know, I know, I told y'all that my next update will be after my stupid exam somewhere in early or mid November. But at the moment, I'm on the verge of freaking out big time from the stress and the only thing to prevent me from going mad altogether is writing. So here it is! :) I can't say when the next update is gonna be up though. Don't wanna get your hopes too high :)
So here's part 44. 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!! :)
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 44: 'When The Sun Goes Down (Part I)'
AJ woke up in an empty cell, lying on his back. The floor felt cold against him but at least the air is not too cold or too damp. Groaning at the throbbing pain in his jaw, he sat up carefully. His face felt bruised and every muscle in his body hurts as if he had been beaten, but nothing seems to be broken.
Blinking against the dim light streaking through the small barred hole on the door of his cell, he groaned softly as the throbbing pain in his jaw is made worst by the throbbing pain in his head. Looking around the empty cell, he saw a small bench at the side. Scrambling to his feet, he shuffles weakly towards it.
He sighed gratefully as he sat on the bench, closing his eyes wearily as he bury his face into the palm of his hands, resting his elbows on his thigh to support his head.
'God, what a mess I've got myself into.' He thought wearily.
He dimly remember racing through the freeway in his car like a madman with the Mutant Hounds close on his trail. He certainly gave them a magnificent chase; dodging here and there throughout the busy traffic, skidding around corners, taking new routes in his desperate attempt to throw them off...
He could have gotten away if its not for the fact that one of the vans finally forced him to make a wrong turn at one of the junctions, causing him to end up racing along a desolated road leading towards the countryside. There, with scarcely any vehicle around for him to dodge about to throw his off quarries... there was no way he could escape the three vans close on his trail. One of them shot past him and forced his car to the side, causing him to lose control... and he ended up skidding off the road and into a ditch. Luckily he was wearing his seatbelt at the time, or else, he would have been thrown off through the windshield and broke his head and neck in the process.
He remembered looking up dazedly and saw one of the Mutant Hounds appearing over him... right before a powerful, gloved fist struck him on the jaw...
After that... everything went black...
'So here I am now, in one of The Right's prison cell. Never thought I ended up here one day.' He thought to himself gloomily.
He looks around the room glumly, knowing fully well that escape is impossible. This is no ordinary prison cell. The Right spent quite a significant proportion of their funds to equip their cells with the necessary technologies to hold mutant prisoners. Being an ordinary human being himself, what chance does he have to escape it?
Looking at one corner of the room, he saw a camera... well... so much for privacy. They'll be watching his every move too. They should know he is awake by now. Someone will be down soon, probably for interrogation.
He shivers slightly before catching himself angrily. He will not let fear overwhelm him now. JC should have picked that audiotape by now. It'll only be a matter of time before Warren spread the news to all the mutant groups he knew and from there, news of The Right latest project will spread through every other mutant groups in the country like a wildfire.
'Throw a burning match into an oil puddle and let the fire spread.' He smiled slightly at the thought. He has lit the match. Now, it's only a matter of time before the match reaches the oil surface.
He hope he could see Howie's face when the mutants... perhaps that guy, Magneto himself, come knocking on his door. He'll be laughing when that time comes. It's gonna be interesting to watch them trying hard to squiggle themselves out of that.
The light suddenly snaps on all around the cell and the corridor outside. Looks like the interrogation party is here. Mustering his strength, AJ got up to his feet, looking at the door calmly. He'll not let them find him weak and sniveling on the floor. If there is one thing he learned from attending all those meetings with Howie, it is to be cold and defiant to everyone he meets there. If you need to mingle around with tigers in their den, you need to be as fierce as them or else you'll be eaten alive.
Someone stood before his door, pressing the code steadily to unlock it. After a slight acknowledging beep, the door opened and his eyes went even colder as he saw Howie steps into the cell, looking at him sadly.
Looking at him with loathing in his eyes, AJ sat back on the bench and shift his gaze away, sighing steadily.
"So. You come to drive the knife deeper into my back?" AJ spoke flatly. "Or did you forget to twist it."
"AJ..." Howie began softly.
"No. Don't you dare say you're sorry." AJ snapped. "Don't you fucking DARE! I never strangle my own friend to death before but believe you me, I can barely hold myself back from doing it right now."
Howie remained silent for a minute or two before speaking again, softly.
"Don't do anything foolish, AJ. There are guards outside and even now, they are watching your every move through the security camera. So far, I've managed to hold them back from beating you up and hurting you. I won't be able to do so if you decide to fight. This is not a normal State prison, AJ. They don't have much restraint in killing or maiming prisoners here."
"Don't you think I know that?" AJ spat out.
Silence.
"You shouldn't have poke your nose into things that doesn't concern you, AJ." Said Howie sadly. "Had I not intervened, they'd have killed you. The best that I could do is to have you captured and brought here. I'm still your friend, AJ. I cannot let them kill you."
"Gee, how very kind of you." AJ sneered. "You'll regret keeping me alive, you mutant-hating freak! Now, if you don't mind, I need to get some rest. As you can see, I'm all bruised up."
"AJ, you didn't tell anyone about the project right?" said Howie.
"No, Howie baby. You little project is quite safe. Your little mutant-hating friends caught me before I could do anything." AJ answered with as much sarcasm he could muster in his voice to hide the lie. "Now fuck off before I lose the little control I have right now and strangle you to death. To think once I called you my bestfriend. You asshole."
"AJ..." Howie spoke softly.
"Just go, damn you." AJ murmured as he lay on the bench and close his eyes. "Go on and waste your money on this stupid X-Gene Neutralization project of yours. I just hope you realize that they're only using you. They need your money and they don't give a flying fuck about your little petty vengeance over Jess's death. Once they got what they want, you'll be lucky to get out of here alive."
"I also hope you realize that murdering every single mutants on this earth will not bring Jess's back. Oh, I do hope you realize that before it's too late. Because once you cross that line, there'll be no turning back. Your hand'll be soaked with blood, Jess'll never forgive you and our friendship is truly over. But then, you don't give a flying fuck about that either by now, am I right? Just go, D. Leave me alone."
Howie stare at the man before him quietly for a moment before turning around and close the door again. AJ's last words echoed again and again in his mind as he walks down the corridor.
"God, I miss him already." Nick sighed, hugging his knees tightly as he sat at the edge of the balcony, staring at the swimming pool below him briefly before shifting his gaze further to the sea in the distance.
It has been an hour since Warren left for the airport. Most of that times were spent sorting through the rest of his letters and bills, calling Johnny to sort out the plan for their meeting tomorrow, taking a brief shower, getting dressed and then brood quietly. He looks up when he felt the feelings of brooding and loneliness slipping through the link and smiled slightly. It's somewhat reassuring to know that Warren misses him too.
The afternoon breeze blew briefly by and Nick inhaled the pleasant salty smell of the sea deeply. After Warren, the only other thing that could comfort him is the ocean. So calming, so blue... hmm, okay... what's up with this strange obsession he has with the color blue? This is getting freaky.
Nick smiled sadly at the thought.
'Get a grip, you dork. He's only gonna be gone for two nights. It's not like he's leaving you forever. He's a fucking multi-billionaire, for God sake. He has his own work and a whole business empire to manage. You're lucky he could spent any time with you at all.' The small scolding voice in his head appeared at last.
Leaning against one of the pillars behind him, he sighed, drawing his knees closer and hugging it tighter, carefully balancing himself at the edge of the balcony.
Something has changed with this place. He used to treasure his privacy greatly when he is at home. He doesn't mind being at home alone at all. After being surrounded by screaming fans, picture-taking reporters, noisy bandmates and strict (not to mention annoying) touring manager most of the time, spending a quiet time alone at home is considered a major blessing in his celebrity life.
But after spending less than two days with Warren here... something has changed. When Warren is around, the place seemed alive and happy, almost blessed. Now that he is gone...
"Empty." Nick whispers as he looks forlornly over at the pool and garden. "Too empty. Too big. Too quiet. Too... dull."
When Warren is around, the sun is always up. But now he is gone... the sun has gone down...
Suddenly he wished he were back at Xavier mansion in Westchester. For some reason, after spending his time there, he feels like it has become sort of a home to him... to be back amongst the other mutants... others of 'his kind' maybe... Sigh... Okay, he admits it... Xavier mansion has become some sort of a 'home away from home' to him. There, he - and Warren - can always be themselves. There, they have nothing to hide.
He almost falls off the balcony when his phone suddenly rang shrilly inside the house. Swaying slightly at the edge of the balcony, he hurls several hundred thousand curses on the head of the caller as he scramble off the edge and strode inside grumpily.
"Yeah, who is it?" He answered the phone in a voice that seems to lower the temperature within the room.
"Hmm, nice to hear from you too." a familiar voice spoke from the other side of the phone.
"Lance!!" Nick cried out happily.
"Wow, what happened to Mr. Hyde who answered the phone just now?" Lance laughed.
"Shuddup. I was nearly startled off my balcony when the phone rang." Nick replied.
"Really? Damn! Here I thought I had the pleasure of disturbing a hot animalistic sex session between you and Wing-Boy."
"Dream on, Casper." Nick laughed. "If you do that, you wouldn't be alive right now. Remember that little tongue lashing I gave you last time when our groups went off on tour together?"
Nick laughed harder when he heard Lance drew a long shuddering breath as the horrifying memory came back to him.
"Are you kidding? I had nightmares about it." Said Lance. "You really got to start leaning to control you temper, blondie."
"For the last time, I'm working on it!"
"So how're you and Blue-Boy doing?"
"Warren went off to New York about an hour ago." Nick replied sadly. "He got an urgent business to attend to there - something to do with his stocks going down and some missing board member. I'm not quite sure what it was. So I'm all alone now. Poor me."
"GAAAHH!!! I hold quite a lot of shares in Worthington Industries. Should I start sellin' now?" Lance cried out in alarm.
"Dude, you're asking the wrong guy here." Nick rolled his eyes. "I won't be able to tell whether the stock is high or low even if my life depends on it. That's my broker's headache. Not mine."
"I'll check on it later." Lance mumbled before continuing. "Anyway I called because I wanna see if you're free tonight. You owe me dinner remember?"
"Sure, why not?" Nick smiled brightly. "Warren's not around and I don't fancy brooding alone tonight. The house feels too empty now that he's not around."
"I know the feeling." Lance smiled sadly as he remembered the time he spent with Sarah at his own place.
"Anyway, I got a reason to celebrate tonight." Nick continues happily. "I told my folks everything last night, and they were cool with it!!"
"You did? Cool!" Lance replied just as happily. "I'm so glad. Congratulations! How did they react? Did Warren reveal himself? Dude! You have to tell me everything!!"
"Tonight at dinner. It's quite a story to tell." Said Nick. "Where are you taking me anyway?"
"You let me worry about that. Just make sure you got your credit card ready." Lance smirked. "I'm in the mood for something French tonight. You up for it?"
"I don't mind. Just lead the way." Nick shrugged.
"Be at my house at 7."
"Hey Lance, any news from the others?"
"Not from your band. Joey called this morning. He's back in New York yesterday apparently. Justin is having the time of his life being 100% in the spotlight with his solo album. I didn't hear anything from JC or Chris. Looks like everyone simply wants to spend some time alone nowadays. Probably got sick of the screaming crowds."
"I know the feeling." Nick smiled.
"Hey, anyway, I'm gonna check the fate of my shares at Worthington Industries. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah. It's a date." Nick giggles softly. "You better treat me right, Lancey."
"Huh. As long as you're the one who pay." Said Lance. "See you tonight, Nicky."
"See ya, Lance." Nick smiled before hanging up the phone.
Time passes by very slowly now that Warren is gone and Nick sighed again as he prepare himself a cheese sandwich in the kitchen. The house has definitely become too big without Warren around. God, since when did this happened? He has been staying in this place for years and this is the first time he ever felt truly alone here.
He put the cheese back into the fridge and walked back into the living room where he left the pad containing the half written song he has been crafting these past few days. He did say that he's gonna write a song about Warren and him and so far, this song is perfect for it. Munching his sandwich lazily, he picks up the pad and pen and lounged lazily on the sofa, smiling as he remembered what went on that morning at the very same spot where he is sitting right now that. He has to admit, for a first timer in the blowjob business, he did quite well. Well, looks like all the time he spent receiving blowjobs from all those girls in the past didn't go to waste after all. He did learn a thing or two from them. Those girls should be proud of themselves.
Looking at the half written song on the pad, he bit his lips thoughtfully, tapping the blunt end of the pen against his cheek unconsciously as he did. He ran through the whole thing again and again in his mind carefully. Crafting a song is not that hard really, provided that you have something to focus on, something to tie the song to, something that the whole song could relate to. It could be a concept, it could be an idea, it could be a person, it could even be an object. As long as you have something that you can weave the words around it, and intertwine the words with the proper emotions to give it a soul, you'll end up with a living thing, one that could touch the heart of anyone who hears it. It can be a powerful living thing that could draw the strongest emotions from anyone who listens to it or it could be a gentle and caring thing that could soothe any troubled heart.
At the same time, one should always be aware that creating a song is a unique art, one that should not be taken lightly. Create a beautiful song, and you'll be a god who has the power to touch the heart of countless souls. Create an ugly song and you'll create a demon that will tear your heart out again and again everytime you hear it. That had happened before, usually from burned out artists.
Shaking off the gloomy thoughts from his mind, Nick continues on scribbling the words down carefully onto the pad. He glances at the golden chain on the coffee table before him - the one Warren gave him during that one special night when he flew Nick off to that mountaintop. It was a night when they finally found the courage to profess their love to each other amidst the rocks and snow and ice. It was the night when their love was born. It was a night they will always remember in their hearts.
That golden chain is the focus of his song right now. Everytime he falters, he looks at the chain and words began to flow out again through his fingers and on into the pad. He scribbles on, weaving the words and his emotions together. Every word seems to burn as he carves out the shape of their love into something that could be sung and preserved for as long as there is still something that could be sung in this world.
The wind blew gently by but he didn't even notice it. His eyes glance back and fourth at the chain and to the song. In his mind's eyes, he could almost see the words winding and weaving itself around and into the chain. It is a love song, every phrase glitters brightly like the gold that made the chain. Even reading it filled his heart and mind with love and memories of every single lovely moment he and Warren spent together. Flashes of memories appears in his mind at that moment - the time when he first saw Warren while performing on the stage in LA, the time when Warren held him as he cried after realizing his mutant status, the time when Warren took him out flying for the first time, the time when they kissed on the mountaintop, the time when he woke up in the morning beneath the soft, warm wings, the time when he held Warren as he cried because of the memories of his dark past, the time when Warren took care of him when he got injured...
He blinked in surprise when the phone beside him rang shrilly for the second time that afternoon. He was even more surprised to find the lines of tears trailing down his cheeks. Looking down at the pad, he realized that he has completed the song... he must have been totally immersed within his deepest emotions for being able to achieve this level of blissfulness.
The phone continue to ring and Nick put down the pad, scrubbing the tears roughly as he did before reaching out to answer the phone.
"Nick here."
"Baby?" Warren's deep voice appeared from the other end.
"Warren!" Nick half-sobbed, half-cried in reply.
"Are you okay?" Warren's concern voice appeared again. "You mind suddenly felt... I don't even know how to describe it..."
"I'm okay." Nick sniffled softly as he smiled. "I'm just... writing a song... about us and... and I suddenly became very emotional... you know... thinking of the time when we first met and on to all those time we spent together... geez, I must sound pathetically corny... I'm sorry..."
Silence greeted him in return but Nick could feel the stunned feeling from his lover's mind at the other end of the link.
"Nick, that's so... sweet..." Warren's voice appeared at last, laden with emotions. "I'm... sorry for having to leave you... God, I miss you..."
"No, don't be sorry, baby." Nick's voice cracked slightly at the wave of loneliness that came through the link. "You have a responsibility remember? I miss you too, Warren. Okay, that's an understatement. I miss you a lot. The house seems too empty and too big without you around. Just take care of your business quickly and come back okay?"
"I will." Warren whispered. "Just hang on, okay? I'll be back before you even know it. I gotta go. Board meeting is about to start. I'll call you again tonight, baby. Love you."
"Bye." Nick whispered, smiling as Warren hung up. "Love you too."
Next, Part 45: 'When The Sun Goes Down (Part II)'