http://clampfix.fanworks.net/re-fix/bf18.txt </head><body><pre> Between Friends Part 18 Lantis felt as if all his breath had been knocked out of him. Eagle... raped. Gods, it felt like he was afraid to breathe. Corona's light violet eyes looked calmly at him, too tired to be upset anymore. "I stopped it, but the damage was already done," she continued in a low voice. "It had already had effects on his mind. Cadillac was tried in our criminal justice system, and was sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor with no hope of parole. Our courts take protecting children very seriously." Her eyes closed, and she barely seemed to breathe for a moment. "I tried to kill Cadillac, and failed. I never got another chance. Since then, almost every single thing I've done has been to protect Eagle. I got married to protect him, and got divorced because he wanted to protect me. He's never known how much of my life I've made his because of the one time I failed." "One failure was one too many," Lantis said softly, stating her unspoken thought. "Exactly," Corona agreed. "And what will you do, now that this has happened? What will your course of action be, now that you know what happened to him?" She brushed her hair back out of her eyes. "What will you do, Lantis?" For some reason, Lantis felt no hesitancy or need for concealment around Corona. She was forthright, addressed him as an equal and a confidante, and obviously expected the same in return. "I'll stay with him as it's needed," he replied. "You're not in love with him, are you?" she asked, studying his face, the tone of her question stating the answer that she already knew. "No," Lantis answered. Corona sighed, seeming to grow smaller before his eyes, her energy visibly draining out of her. "You and I understand one another very well, I think, Lantis. We are both devoted to Eagle, though for different purposes... I out of guilt, you out of friendship. I think if he is to be healed of this pain, then it is up to the two of us and him... no others." "Where are your parents?" Lantis asked, noticing for the first time how silent the house seemed. "Gone to a vacation home or something. I suggested to them that it'd be better if they left for a little while, and they seemed to agree. They've never really understood Eagle, anyway, and sure wouldn't be able to help much with him getting better. They mean well, but...." Corona's words trailed off. "I understand," Lantis agreed. Eagle's parents had never really been part of Eagle's life, not for so long as he had known them. They didn't quite understand the wonder that they had created and given to the world. Eagle woke to find a warm figure on either side of him. He turned his head to the left, and saw Corona there, lines of weariness and worry evident even in her sleep. She looked drained, mentally and physically. And to his right was Lantis, looking fierce and protective as he, too, slept. Eagle started crying again, trying to keep his shaking and sobs as quiet and still as he could. It hurt... it still hurt. Lantis' blue-violet eyes opened slowly, looking directly at him, as if he was the only thing in the world to look at, and Eagle started crying even more, seeing the knowledge in those eyes. Lantis KNEW. He knew what had happened to him.... Wordlessly, Lantis gathered Eagle in his arms and held him to him. Eagle choked back his sobs and let his tears wet Lantis' shirt, somehow feeling relieved that Lantis still wanted him, hadn't rejected him, even though he knew what he was. Somewhere that touched a small sphere of peace and relief inside of Eagle, and his tears slowed a bit. "Shhh," Lantis murmured softly, hesitantly stroking his back. "You'll wake Corona. It'll be all right, Eagle... it'll be all right." The touch unwound Eagle's tangled feelings a little more, calming him down to where he didn't have to gasp for breath through his tears. But still he didn't trust himself to speak, and just let the tears run down his face. "You weren't ready for what happened to you," Lantis said quietly. "No one would have been, not at that age, Eagle. It wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done. No one can blame you...." Eagle couldn't answer, listening to his own shuddering breath. "Do you trust me, Eagle?" Lantis asked gently. "Do you really trust me?" Eagle nodded slowly, his cheek brushing against Lantis' shirt. Lantis gently pulled away and moved over Eagle so that Eagle had to lay on his back to look at him. Lantis smiled a bit, sadly, and kissed Eagle with more softness, skill, and willingness than he had ever shown before in their relationship. His deep sky-colored eyes searched Eagle's as he drew away, and Eagle knew what Lantis was looking for; something that wasn't there. "I didn't feel anything," he whispered. "... Nothing at all." "You will," Lantis whispered back. "I promise." The sea washed quietly in and out on the beach, bringing sand up to the shore, playing with it a bit, then dragging it back into the depths of the water. Eagle sat on the porch of the summer house he had been brought to, once Lantis and Corona had agreed that they'd needed to leave the city altogether. He could hear the two of them behind him in the house, Corona cooking, Lantis probably studying, as he stood and stepped onto the finely powdered grains of the white sand. It was still late summer, but school had started a few months ago, so the beach was deserted. The three of them were the only ones for miles, which was why it was so utterly *quiet*. The only sounds were from the house behind him, the waves that now softly lapped at his bare feet, and the occasional seabird flying overhead. Lantis looked out the bay window and watched Eagle as he stood ankle-deep in the surf. The sun and golden sky outlined him perfectly, making Eagle look more beautiful than ever. It was like there was an aura of golden harmony around him, blazing brightly around his black clothes and setting his pale hair on fire. Lantis knew that even if he should never see Eagle again, this one moment would be forever etched in his mind. This was how he would always remember Eagle, now... a delicate figure that withstood the blazing fire of the sun and transmuted it to part of his own self. He was beautiful.... As if he had never seen it before, Eagle looked at the golden sea. It was pink-gold at sunrise, white-gold at noon, red-gold at sunset. Never once in his whole life had he seen a blue sea or a blue sky. He wasn't likely to; neither he nor his hypothetical grandchildren would live long enough to see this world cleansed enough to have a sea or sky the color of Lantis' eyes. A blue sea... a blue sky. The soft, salty breeze brushed past Eagle's face like a gentle kiss. If nothing else, the one thing he would give his world before his death was a blue sky. The one thing that he could bequeath to Autozam that they would hesitate before destroying. Eagle turned, the tide foaming around his ankles, and left the golden sea behind him. He headed for the summer house perched on the sands, and knew he had begun his healing. ********* Kurama: Is this it? Author: No. Nineteen is the final part to this story. I've typed it, but won't be sending it until I confirm the lyrics that go at the end of it. Kurama: Another song? Author: It fits. Kurama: Congratulations, you've managed to nearly-finish a story, then. Author: Before school started, even. Miracle of miracles, that. Kurama: In which case, may I re-direct your attentions to MY stories...? Author: Certainly. I need to see Asuka 9 before proceeding on the next part of Crimson Variant, and I have already done a bit on the next part of Kurama 1/2.... Kurama: And YYH Christmas? Author: Don't rush me. I'm in a "craftsman" mood at the moment, having written this story from myself rather than from itself for once, so settle for something that I can give lots of time and attention to, rather than the fluff fic. Kurama: But your plans for K 1/2 are so long! Author: No, they're not. Several of the external plot threads became more simple a while back. I am not Rumiko Takahashi, to have that story turn into a romantic spiderweb and go on forever without resolving anything. The Botan curse (curse, not the love spell) is out, as are its consequences. I've given myself enough material to work with, fox. No more. The ending of BF brings me down to a reasonable number of commitments... only four majors/currents. The background projects (like Kamui-kun in Wonderland) aren't counted. Now give me a break, and go to sleep. Kurama: ZZZZZzzzzZZZZZZZ.... </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>