Title: It was a dark and stormy night

Author: RabidX (rabid_x@yahoo.com)

website

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It was a dark and stormy night 5 - Greymalkin 90210

By RabidX

 

Three days. It had been three, long, slow, easy days for Jono and Remy. Eyes never off each other for long. Hands,
the same. Not always naughty, just the touch, the feel of each other. Minds almost always sliding over each other.
Three days of smiling and pretending it didn't totally SUCK for Bobby. Yeah, he knew there was no going back, he
knew it was over before it really began. But it tore at him. How happy, content, how so very *right* they were
together.
He concluded, as he tried to block out the sounds from their... *their*... room, pillow clamped over his head, that
he was jealous. Not of Jono, per se, but of what they had together. The solid, secure, totally total *thing* they had.
They had it. He and Remy didn't. But they did. When would he have it? Ever? Never?
"Fuck." And then he laughed. *There* was part of the problem.
Well, at least, tomorrow there would be someone else here. Some other soul to talk to without worrying that they
weren't listening. Jono's buddy, Angelo, was coming to visit for a few days. Skin. A real funny guy. Maybe they could plague the lovers together.
A moan, rising in volume, could now be heard through the pillow. And he would swear that Remy was leaking his
power, making him all kinds of uncomfortable.
"They are doing this on purpose." He growled.
He jumped up and snatch his comforter and a pillow up. He stalked downstairs to the living room and made a bed on the couch.
<They'd better be over this noisy fucking when everyone else gets here!>
~~
*Ding Dong*
"Nuh."
...
*Ding Dong*
"Nerg?"
...
*Pound Pound Pound*
"GAH!" Bobby rolled over and fell off the couch.
That last had been a pounding-on-a-big-wooden-door sound. Bobby picked himself up, stumbled over the comforter, and staggered to the front door. He opened it just as a gray fist was coming down on it again. It thumped his chest instead.
"Oh shit! Sorry!"
Bobby stared, bleary-eyed, at the fidgeting young man on the stoop. Who? Why? OH yeah! He didn't trust himself to speak before he had coffee, so he waved Angelo in. He then waved for him to follow him.
Angelo stared at the man who answered the door. Brown hair stuck up in fifty directions. Brown eyes were totally
unfocused from sleep. A white t-shirt and... Speed Racer? pajama bottoms. And this man wanted him to follow him? To what? A slumber party? He shrugged and followed.
Followed him to the kitchen. Where, once there, the man....Angelo stared closer... Iceman! Bobby Drake got
coffee going. Weird, how different people looked out of costume... Angelo could never think of them as uniforms,
please! all that spandex... or out of tuxedoes. Last time he had seen Bobby had been the formal dance that Emplate
wrecked. Angelo decided that Speed Racer pajamas fit him better than a tux.
"You always sleep on the couch?" Angelo asked, accepting a cup of coffee.
Bobby drank two large gulps before replying. "No, just tired of the lovers is all."
Angelo lowered his cup. He stared at Bobby. He opened his mouth. Closed it.
<Aw shit. He didn't... fucking big mouth, Drake.>
"Oh, hey, um. Look, I didn't say a word. You didn't just hear that. Ignore the ramblings of a sleepwalking and talking man." Bobby gushed out.
Angelo's eyes narrowed. "Why should I do that?"
"Because, um, Jono's your friend?" Bobby said, hopefully.
Angelo stared hard at him. He knew that Bobby, Jono and Remy were the only ones in the house. His e-mail from
Jono told him as much. So what, exactly, was Bobby's problem?
"You got a problem with them? Don't like gays?" He said, a tinge of danger in his voice. Noone would dis his best
friend.
Bobby nearly spit coffee. He laughed.
"Good God, no! I'm gay myself." He chuckled.
Angelo blinked. " Then....?"
"I just want to get some sleep!" he laughed.
"Oh." That was all Angelo could say. "But... didn't you an' Frost...?"
Bobby clutched his sides, giggling. "Kinda. Sorta, but not really. I guess technically I'm bi. But I like men better." He eyes Angelo "You got a problem with that?" A fairly good impression of Angelo.
"No! I mean, shit. I didn't know. I mean, I kinda knew about Jono... Ah never mind." Angelo waved his hand.
"Got it." Bobby said.
"That loud?" Angelo asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yup."
"Geeze!"
~~
Remy and Jono walked downstairs to the sound of laughter. Jono's eyes lit up.
~Ange!~
Remy smiled as Jono ran to the kitchen. Jono and Angelo embraced and then hit fists together. Bobby smiled and went back to making breakfast. Angelo nodded his head to Remy and smiled.
"So, vato," Angelo said as Remy put an arm around Jono's waist. "How's it hangin'?" And grinned. A big one.
Complete with waggiling eyebrows.
Jono blushed and Bobby nearly spit coffee in the scrambled eggs. Remy rolled his eyes at him. Bobby giggled more.
"T'anks so much, Bobby." Remy grumbled.
"Hey, don' blame Bobby." Angelo said. "I mean, Jono never sent happy e-mail before."
~Never 'ad a reason to, 'ave I?~ Jono leaned into Remy.
"Madre Dios! Don't know if I can handle this. Bobby, you gonna stand just stand there?" Angelo appealed to Bobby.
"No." said Bobby, walking around them. "I am going to sit and eat."
Between three of them, breakfast was quickly finished. Between four of them, the dishes were quickly cleaned and
put away. Between the four of them, they stood for a bit, wondering what to do next. Remy finally suggested that he
and Bobby go take care of some of the damage the storm cause so Jono and Angelo could play catch up.
"So." said Angelo, as he and Jono were left alone.
~So.~ Jono replied. And they both laughed.
"You happy with him, eh?" Angelo asked as they took a walk outside.
They ground was still damp, soaked really. Their boots, Jono's large and bucklely, Angelo's 6-holed Doc Martens,
squished mud and leaves as they strode along. Birds were coming back, singing in the leaf-stripped trees around them.
~Yeah.~ Jono said, eyes crinkling almost shut, a big grin for him.
"He treats you right? He don't an' he'll answer to me, 'mano." Angelo said, lighting a smoke and making an
unconscious James Cagney face.
Jono's laughter rang in Angelo's mind. ~Mate, I'm the one who acts like a total arse most of the time.~ 'e stopped,
turned and looked Angelo in the eyes. ~'e treats me better than anyone ever has. I don't get it, really, but... I'm gettin' used to it. I think.~
Angelo took a long, slow, deep pull of his cigarette and stared back at Jono. Exhaling through his nose, smoke rising on either side of his demonic face, he nodded. And then smiled.
"Knew you couldn't stand being happy, vato. Better get used to it, eh?" And he slapped Jono on the shoulder and let him continue to show him around.
~~
"Hand me th' nails."
*grunt* "Here."
"T'anks." Remy hammered another roof shingle into place.
They had set to work patching the roof. Brief discussions on the cave the Blackbird was in made them realize they would need more help to patch up the cracks. Better to wait for the others for that project. They had seen Jono and Angelo walking the grounds, talking, pushing and laughing the way friends did. The way they used to. Not much conversation on the roof then.
"Angelo's a cool kid." Bobby said, breaking the vocal silence again. "He was pretty fun to train with. Good in a
fight. Helluva sense of humor."
"Yeah, Jono talks about him alot. His best friend, non?" Remy said.
Bobby nodded. "Guess I shouldn't really call him kid. He and Jono are about the same age. Then again, people still
call me kid."
"Cause y'act like one." Remy said and quickly regretted it. It had come out quicker and harsher than he wanted it to.
"And you're Mr. Maturity I suppose?" Bobby asked, eyebrow raised.
"De very bastion of it, t'ank you." Remy said, making his face all Jean-like and stern.
"WhatEVER!" Bobby said and went back to pounding in nails.
Remy watched him, he could feel it. Red-black eyes staring at him, trying to figure him out. He tried to keep his mind and feelings blank. He didn't need, want Remy picking around in his emotional muck right now. Finally, he looked up, stared right back at Remy, until Remy dropped his eyes and went back to work. Better.
"Bobby," Remy finally said, all quiet and serious. "Don' be upset. Don' worry, it'll happen f'you sometime."
"Don't." Bobby said, rising to his feet. "Just. Don't. The last fucking thing I need is relationship advice from you of all people." His voice was growing lower, deeper, sure sign he was angry. Remy flinched a bit, but Bobby continued. "I'm as happy as I can be for you. I know where and who fucked up you and me. But, yeah it chafes me. Pisses me off really. I'm truly glad you and Jono found each other, no matter if you believe it or not. But, hey, I'm human, it hurts. O.k.? Happy now? I'm jealous of you. So. Just. Don't."
With that, and not waiting for a reply, Bobby iced up and ramped off. Remy sat there, back on his heels. His friend
was hurting, because of him. Friend, if they could be friends now that they were failed lovers. He and Rogue were barely civil to each other sometimes. Then again, Bobby never left him to die.
<Time, what he needs is time.> Remy hoped and rubbed his face.
~~
"Hey, what's wrong?" Angelo asked.
Jono was showing him all the things he never got to see the time he had been to the mansion. Nice spread, different
>from the Academy. Less buildings. He and Jono had been admiring the Blackbird when Jono got quiet. His face was screwed up, looking concerned.
~It's Remy. 'e's upset. If that bastard...~ He trailed off. ~Look, Ange, tours over fer a bit. I gotter find Remy.~
Angelo nodded slowly. "Oookaaay. I'll, um, go somewhere. You gonna be alright?"
Jono shook his head absently and took off. Angelo watched his retreating back, raised eyebrows and surprise etched on his face. He wandered up and outside. What bastard? What was Remy upset about? Bobby? He was the only one here besides the three of them.
He shrugged and walked along one of the paths strewn around the place. His mind wandered as he did. Back to the
basement, Jono's room, at the Academy. They had hung out alot there. Talking, listening to music, watching movies. He listened to Jono rave and cry more than once. Jono listened to him complain and moan more than once. And, way more than once, they fell asleep together. Kinda snuggled up on Jono's little bed, keeping the demons at bay for each other. It was just about the only way Jono got sleep sometimes.
A small, tentative mental bond had formed then. Nothing big, not quite telepathy. Just a feeling here and there.
Knowing when the other was in need, knowing when to hold the other. Just knowing that being there was enough.
Warmth and something approaching contentment.
Gone now. Time apart had stretch, broken it. He had been looking forward to getting it back. It made him feel safe,
knowing there was a place to hide, to let it all hang out. Sometimes literally, when it got too hard to hold himself in
tight. It was going to absolutely SUCK with Jono gone.
He blinked and tears he didn't know had formed fell down his face. He brushed them away with an angry swipe.Where the hell and why the hell were they there in the first place? He's too old to cry like a ... a third grader, like Artie and Leech, at the loss of a friend. Not like Jono was dead or anything. Just in love. In love and gone from school.
He sat on a large, still slightly wet rock. His best friend was in love. His best friend was not going to be where he was used to his best friend being. Not going to be what he was used to him being. Not depressed, not that, that wouldn't be missed. Just... not there anymore. No more nights of comic books and cuddling and deep thoughts. Or not so deep thoughts and music. No more there for Angelo. No more want and need. In love now.
He shook his head. He wasn't in love with Jono. Was he? No. Maybe. Could be. Can't be. He lit a smoke. Quiet
fantasies he had played around his mind. No more of that. And who could he blame? Himself, maybe, for not acting
on them, for not saying a word. Chicken-shit gangbanger >from the wrong side of L.A., too caught up in muy macho.
"Treats him better that anyone else did." and Angelo spat at that. "Jus' didn't notice, 'mano, I did."
But his best friend was still that. And he could be happy for him. If somewhat full of regret and anger at himself. Right?
"In one." he whispered harshly.
He got up and wandered along again. Walked, admiring the sudden sunshine of the day, until he heard it. A thunking splat and a curse. Then another one. He rounded the bend and, beyond the edge of the trees, in a small clearing, was Iceman. Cursing and throwing iceballs at a tree trunk.
"Fucking, sanctimonious prick!" *thwap* "Tell me it'll happen for me!" *thwap* "It did, you bastard!" *THWAP*
Angelo could see frozen tears, strange in the way they started to slide down that icy face and then stopped,
hanging. He took in the large pile of melting ice at the base of the tree. Seemed Iceman... after all, he was frozen just now... had been at this for a bit. No need to be empathic right now, the pain and anger were rolling off in waves, with every pitch of an iceball. Bad place to be right now, intruding on this. He stepped back to move away. Iceman's head jerked up and around, drawn by the rustle of leaves. Angelo stood stock still, wishing he was a small animal and therefore could be unnoticed.
Iceman had another iceball in his hand. He dropped it and melted back to Bobby at the look of shock on Angelo's face. Wonderful. Try to go somewhere and have a private fit, but nope, angst drew mutants the way being a Summers drew Sinister. He sighed and ran a hand threw his hair.
"Um... sorry, vato. Didn't know there was target practice going on." Angelo said, with a shaky smile.
"'s'okay. You got another one of those?" Bobby gestured to the cigarette in Angelo's hand.
Angelo nodded, relieved. He shook one out of his pack and handed it to Bobby. They stood and smoked, awkward
silence around them. Angelo wanted to say something to make the look of embarrassment and dispare on Bobby's
face go away but he was at a loss. Bobby just wanted to melt away like the slush he'd made. They looked up at each
other.
"Anything I can do?" Angelo said, desperate suddenly, to help.
Bobby looked. Why not? "Just being a jealous ass, I guess."
"About Jono and Remy." A statement from Angelo, no question needed.
"Yeah." Bobby sighed explosively. "Long story."
"Tell me." Angelo said, wanting, needing to find some closeness with someone now.
"I... oh hell, what could it hurt? Remy and I, we kinda started a thing. Sorta." Angelo raised an eyebrow. "O.k., we
had sex. Once. And he wanted me to, y'know, be together with him. I ran."
Bobby started to pace around the clearing. "See, I just wasn't sure, I didn't *know*. I mean, he's so gorgeous, so
fucking *sure* of himself. What could he want with me, I thought. So, dumbass me ran. And now, two months later, it's too fucking late." He stopped and faced Angelo. "And you must think I'm a total moron."
Angelo shrugged. "Not total. I'm the one who failed your Accounting test."
Bobby stared and then laughed. Angelo crooked a smile at him. Bobby shook his head.
"SO... I'm resolved to not being with Remy. BUT I'm jealous as hell of what they got." Bobby finished.
"And maybe, still a little jealous of Jono." Angelo said.
Bobby glared. Then his face changed with a sigh. "Yeah, a little."
Angelo patted his shoulder. "Understood, vato."
"Yeah right."
"Hey, I do. Kinda feel the same, I guess." Angelo said, beauty of the soul, confessing.
"You're jealous of Jono?"
Angelo punched his shoulder. "No, stupid! Remy."
Bobby blinked. "You mean, you and Jono...?"
"No." Angelo shook his head. "We never. I just, loved him, I guess. An' I'm gonna miss him. He's my best friend, an' we were pretty damn close, but I..."
"Never told him?" Angelo shook his head again. Bobby's turn to pat a shoulder.
"Well, there's a plus side to yours." Bobby said.
Angelo snorted. "Do tell."
"You won't have to hear them every night."
Angelo punched his shoulder again.
~~
Jono found Remy on the roof, hammering hard enough to make holes if he wasn't careful. Remy looked up when he
felt Jono's mind reach out to his. He was up, over the rail and in Jono's arms in a flash.
~Wot's wrong, love? Yer upset.~ Jono pushed a stray hair out of Remy's face.
"Little fight wit' Bobby, is all." Remy buried his face in Jono's hair. "I'll be fine."
~Fightin' about us?~
"Not really. He's jus'... cher, he's hurtin' pretty bad." Remy said, hugging Jono tighter. "An'd der's not'ing I can do about it."
Jono pulled Remy's head up and looked into his eyes. ~Remy, there's nothing anyone can do fer 'im. 'e's gotta get
over this 'imself.~
"I know. I jus' didn' help t'ings wit' tellin' him dat it would happen f'him someday."
~Aw no, yer didn't. That's almost like 'We can be friends'.~ Jono admonished.
Remy face fell. "Ouiai, but I want t'still be friends."
Jono pulled Remy back close. ~Give 'im time.~
"Funny, I said dat to m'self."
~Great minds.~
They stood for a moment, hugging.
"Where's Angelo?" Remy asked.
~Left 'im in the 'anger. Guess 'e's probably elsewhere now.~ Jono said, pulling back a bit.
Remy kissed his nose. "Bad manners, cher."
Jono shrugged. ~'e's used to it from me, I'd say. Wonder why 'e ever put up with me sometimes.~
"Sexy eyes."
~Wot?~
"Most likely your sexy eyes, petit." Remy said and kissed the eyelids belonging to them.
~~
"I mean, all he had to do was look at me, y'know? With those big ole eyes of his." Angelo said as he and Bobby
walked along. "One look an' I'd shut up an' just hold him till he felt better."
"Yeah, I know that look. I mean, not Jono's, but Remy's." Bobby agreed.
"Bastards." Angelo said.
"Yeah." Bobby said.
They laughed.
"Hope you don't think I'm, like, being a crybaby here." Angelo said.
"Hey, I'm the one you found having a tantrum." Bobby said, hand on his chest. "But, no, I don't. It's nice to have someone to talk to about it, even thought the subject sucks."
"The Angst Files." Angelo muttered.
"Unrequited Love Among Mutants in the Modern Age." Bobby said.
"Too wordy."
"Well, blame my friend Hank. It's his fault. And yours is too derivative."
They walked some more, finally coming back into sight of the mansion. Bobby sighed.
"What?"
"Oh, I'm just going to have to apologize again. I do alot of that." Bobby said.
"Know that one, 'mano." Angelo said.
They walked in the back door of the kitchen. There was a pot of something bubbling on the stove. They exchanged
glances and shrugged. It smelled good. Bobby went to the 'fridge.
"Want a soda or something?"
"Si. Could stand one."
Bobby tossed him a Coke. There was no sign of life other than the burbling pot. Bobby lifted the lid. Chili. He smiled. Remy made great chili. The cook in question walked in just then.
"Put dat lid down!" He admonished. "It needs t'simmer."
Bobby dropped the lid and smiled his most ingratiating smile. The Don't-Be-Mad-At-Me smile. Remy chuckled.
Bobby sighed in relief.
"Sorry for my, um... outburst earlier." He said.
Remy waved a hand. "I'm sorry too. I know it's hard... Don' look like dat! I ain't gonna say dat again! I mean, I really do understand. An' I'm sorry."
Angelo shuffled. Remy was going to upset Bobby again, he knew it. Just when he finally calmed down. He halfway
wished there was a basement bedroom he could retreat to.
Bobby sighed and looked at Remy. Then he stared. He focus on Remy's neck. Remy furrowed his brow. What
now?
"Homme? I got spots or somet'ing?"
"Nnnoooo," said Bobby as he moved closer. "Scratches." and then he grinned a big naughty grin. "Right there, on the side of your neck."
Remy blushed as Angelo burst out laughing. Remy flipped his collar and grinned.
"You should see Jono's arm." He said with a wink.
"O.K! To much info for me!" Angelo said, running from the kitchen.
"Really! Eeeewwwww!" Bobby said, close on Angelo's heels.
They nearly ran Jono over, careening around the corner. Angelo slid to a halt, Bobby piling up against his back. They both stared at Jono's arms. Jono glared at them both.
"Nope, he's clean." Angelo said.
"Good!" Bobby panted, peering over Angelo's shoulder.
With that, they ran off, leaving Jono to look at Remy in utter confusion.
~Wot was that?~
"New partners in crime, I t'ink."
~~
The partners skidded to a stop in the library. They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Bobby wiped tears out of his eyes. Angelo tried to compose himself but fell into giggles just looking at Bobby.
"That was fun." Bobby gasped, holding his sides.
Angelo flopped down on a couch. "Yeah. Nice redirect on the apology."
"I thought so." Bobby said, flopping down next to him. "So... how are things at the Academy? Emma dressing in
the latest Less-Is-More style?"
Angelo waved a dismissive hand. "No, with all they other 'normal' kids around, she's keepin' the goods under wraps
still."
"Is it hard with all the other kids around?" Bobby asked.
"What you think?" Angelo snorted. "I mean, Jono's got to walk around playin' burn victim. Can't talk or nothing'. I get to have a 'skin condition'. Dark, brooding and silent works for Jono's social life, which he hates, an' well... being gray and maybe diseased don't get me alot of dates. It's a blast, really."
"Tell me how you really feel." Bobby said, smiling.
"Sorry, didn't mean to be so vague. It fucking sucks. Chicas don' even look at me, 'cept to see if I might, like, touch
them." Angelo sighed. "I mean, Artie and Leech get image inducers. They're kids and yeah, they look like aliens, but hell, how bad's a guy gotta look before Frosty cuts a break? I mean, it *hurts* to hold it all together sometimes. What if I lose it in class?"
"Lemme guess, " Bobby said. "You have to be strong. You have to learn to control your powers. You can't use the
crutch of the image inducer. You'll never learn if you use it."
"More boobs, but yeah, pretty much what she said." Angelo nodded.
"Yeah, well having her in my head gives me a charming insight on her." Bobby grumbled. "How close are you to
graduating?"
"I got enough credits I think. Jus' don't know what to do, y'know? I mean, there are some classes I could re-take for
better grades or just haven't taken. My academic standing has gotten worlds better since I left Easy L.A. All there is to do is school an' fightin' the Bad Guy of the Week. " Angelo sighed once more.
Bobby sucked his lips in and thought. He knew what Angelo was going through. Not so much the skin problem,
but the alienation and the 'what now?' that came with finishing school. Even college hadn't made things better.
Trying the 'normal' life only served to make him feel even weirder. And what kind of normal life could Angelo have, being gray and prone to sagging?
"You really don't know what to do next? Not college?" Yeah, he had to ask.
"Man, can you see men in college? Frat Boys and Sorority Girls all around? Shit, it'd be like a whole school of Monets!" Angelo waved his arms around. "Gimme a break!"
"Sorry, sorry, boring adult questions have to get asked sometimes." Bobby said, blocking a waving arm. "What
about going to another team when you're done?"
"Yeah, well, that's about the only option. Funny, the Academy is supposed to help you learn about your powers.
Don't do shit for the real world crap." Angelo complained. "I mean, I'm used to the way I am, kinda like it, but not that much! I could deal with the extra skin, but why gray?"
"Why blue and fuzzy? Why green hair? Why no face or red eyes? Mutation. No weirder thing out there." Bobby
shrugged.
"You got the normal look, 'mano. You're lucky." Angelo poked Bobby in the chest.
"Yeah, guess I'd better stop complaining about brown hair." Bobby near whined, rolling his eyes pathetically.
"You're sick." Angelo laughed and poked him again.
Bobby poked back. It degenerated into a small tickle war on the couch. Angelo had the advantage, stretching and poking just when Bobby thought he had the upper hand. Before he knew it, Bobby was entangled, Angelo's arms wrapped around his arms, torso and left leg of all places. They gasped and panted for air. Angelo was mostly behind Bobby, panting in his ear. Goosebumps raised all along Bobby's neck and arms.
"Cooie! Look at what we got here! Rollin' aroun' de library!" cried Remy from the doorway, Jono at his side.
"Oh ha ha. Very funny. You got me back. Now help me untangle Angelo." Bobby groused.
Angelo grunted and began to pull himself back together. "'S'okay, I got it."
At last, untied, they got up. Bobby clicked his heels together and gave a short bow. "Until next time. And I will win."
"You wish, Ice Baron. I shall always triumph." Angelo said, with a nod. "No one beats The Gray Marauder."
Angelo flourished his coat and dashed from the room, grabbing Jono's arm as he ran past. Bobby mock-scowled
and then laughed. Remy mearly shook his head.
"After that work out, think I'll take a shower." Bobby said and headed upstairs.
~~
~Wot was tha' all about?~ Jono asked as Angelo pulled him along the upstairs hallway to his room.
"He insulted my honor, I had to defend myself." Angelo said with a smile.
~Looked more like a grope-fest on a Saturday night.~ Jono said, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.
Angelo stopped unpacking his bag. He turned to Jono, eyes narrowed.
"You playin' my mother now, 'mano?" a small, slightly offended, maybe dangerous tone, in Angelo's voice.
~Wouldn't want tha', yer were probably a terrible kid.~ Jono said, a bit of confusion growing. ~I was joking, Ange.
Lighten up.~
Angelo laughed. "Now that's something different! You tellin' me to lighten up."
~Yeah, well, things change, don't they?~
Silence then, as Angelo stuffed things into a drawer. Jono couldn't feel Angelo anymore, but he could tell he was
upset. He just didn't know why. Unless... Drake seemed to have an upsetting effect around here. But why snark at him?
~Ange, wot's goin' on? Why are yer pissed?~ Jono asked, his voice quiet in Angelo's head.
"Not pissed." Angelo grumbled. "Just don't need you making those kinds of cracks is all."
~Roight, no more teasin' my best friend.~
"Oh lay off it, Jono!" Angelo said, spinning around.
~Hey, yer the one who made the 'ow's it 'angin' comment, mate!~ Jono said, pushing off the wall and coming nearly
nose to nose with his, now truly upset, friend.
They glared. Angelo was so tense, his face looked like his face, and not the demonic parody he usually wore. Faint
red-white light flickered from the loose edge of Jono's facewrap. Finally Angelo looked down and backed away.
He sat on the edge of his bed.
"Sorry." he said, his voice quiet and small.
~Ange, why are yer mad all of the sudden? Sommit I did?~ Jono asked.
Angelo shrugged. "Don't know."
~No, I don't buy tha'. Talk to me.~ Jono sat carefully down next to Angelo.
Angelo lit yet another smoke. He looked at Jono. His best friend. The guy he shared everything with. Almost.
"I... I guess I'm happy for you." He finally said.
Jono stared, eyes wide. ~Yer got a funny way of showin' it, mate.~
Angelo glared. "Look, I am, o.k.? I'm just gonna... miss you."
~'ere, Ange, not like we can't still be friend...~ Jono trailed off.
This was getting strangely familiar. He had heard this one before. From other girls he'd dated. From Paige. From
Remy about Bobby.
~Oh boy. Ange, you don't...~ He looked at Angelo's face, guarded yet miserable. ~Aw no. Why didn't you say
sommit?~
"Say what? 'Hey, Jono, wanna go out? Think I'm falling for you?' I didn't even know, vato! I just knew, know that...
fuck." He exhaled an explosive, smoky breath. "That this sucks."
Angelo jabbed an angry finger in Jono's shoulder. "You totally pissed me off. He treats you better than anyone else
did? W' the fuck did I do? Treat you like shit? Man, I was *there* for all of it!"
~I know.~ Jono said.
"Yeah well, thanks for noticing." Angelo said, bitterly.
~Ange...~ Jono was near to pleading now.
He didn't know how he could have missed what hadn't happened between them. He just did, and it hurt his best
friend. Someone he never wanted to hurt. Why did being in love have to hurt people? Close, very close to tears.
Angelo sighed heavily. He was being a terrible friend right now. Doing nothing but lashing out at Jono. Hurting him when he should be happy. Why did he have to bring it up?
Angelo reached out and squeezed the shoulder he'd poked. "I'm sorry. Please ignore me, eh? You and Remy seem to be right for each other. Even Bobby sees that."
Bobby again. ~Yer been talkin' about us with Bobby?~
"Yeah. Kinda a mutual unlucky bastards society we got goin'." Angelo said, stubbing out his smoke.
~Wot's 'e told you?~ Jono asked, trying not to get pissed.
"Woah. Don' get all crabby on me again. He told me pretty much all of it. Sex, stupidity, dumbass behavior. Y'know, the works." Angelo shrugged. "I can sympathize with him."
~Bloody wonderful.~ Jono rolled his eyes.
"Cut him some slack, eh? He's doing pretty well, considerin'. And you weren't exactly the *nicest* hombre to
be around when Paige and Tristain started goin' out." Jono rolled those eyes again. "'Sides, he's nice."
~Oh bloody hell. Partners in Crime, Remy's right. Trouble comin' now.~ Jono made a snorting sound.
Angelo grinned a wicked grin. "Got that right!"

 

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