http://clampfix.fanworks.net/re-fix/bf9.txt </head><body><pre> Between Friends Part Nine "Eagle!" his mother called. "We're going out for the evening! Come say good-night!" "Coming, mother!" he replied, running down the stairs to be caught up in her arms for a hug and a kiss. "Will you be back soon?" "Late tonight, Eagle," his father replied. "You'll be asleep by then." "Do I get a story?" Eagle inquired as he was passed to his father's arms for a second hug and kiss. "Cadillac will read you a story," his mother assured him, brushing her fingers through his hair and smiling at him. "You be a good boy, okay?" "Okay!" Eagle agreed, smiling back as his father set him down and walked to the door with his mother. After they were gone he raced to the main room, ignoring Cadillac, his babysitter, and turned on the viewer set. It was time for his favorite program, one about the wilds of Autozam. He picked up one of the sweet pastries on his tray and nibbled absently as he watched. Behind him Cadillac came into the room and watched him for a while, until the program was over. And then.... Eagle woke from the dream with a slight gasp. He could feel the dampness on his face, a moisture that was in his eyes as well. His heart was beating so fast he almost couldn't make out the individual beats. He didn't make a sound as he looked up at the sky from his sleeping bag. He was too terrified to. <No waking anyone up to deal with your neurosis,> he told himself. <It's just a dream... it's just a dream....> But it never felt like a dream, and he never knew what he was being scared of. "Eagle?" he was asked quietly. "What is it, Lantis?" Eagle asked, fighting to make his voice normal. Lantis asked him softly "Are you all right?" "Just a bad dream," Eagle replied quietly, sitting up and rubbing the back of his hand across his eyes like he was dislodging sleepiness rather than tears. He was close enough to the fire that it didn't seem too cold. "What are you doing up?" "My own thoughts keep me awake," Lantis replied. "I'm not going back to sleep anytime soon," Eagle offered, watching as Lantis' dark form also sat up. He could feel his fears begin to fade as he and Lantis conversed. "Want to talk?" "So long as we don't wake Geo or Zazu up," Lantis replied, nodding towards the two sleeping figures on the other side of the fire. "Why? Is it going to be one of 'those' types of conversations?" Eagle teased, starting to smile. "Maybe," Lantis answered, startling him. Eagle took a soft breath and met his friend's eyes in the dim light. He could hear his own heartbeat distinctly, it was so quiet. "You're not serious, are you?" he asked softly. "I thought you'd given me your answer." Lantis' violet eyes glimmered oddly in the dying firelight. "You caught me off-guard, Eagle... I hadn't considered." "And you have now?" Eagle asked softly, knowing that his heart had stopped beating and was waiting for Lantis' reply to start again. "I don't know," Lantis answered. Eagle waited a moment before trusting himself to speak. "Don't do this to me, Lantis," he said quietly. "A 'yes' I can handle, a 'no' I can handle, a 'maybe' I can't. Please, just decide." "What do you want me to decide?" asked Lantis, his violet eyes piercing the darkness. Eagle hesitated, unsure of what answer to give. He wanted Lantis to try and be with him, to be sure, but he didn't want to make Lantis' decision for him, either.... <It is easier to act than to speak sometimes,> Eagle decided. He slipped out of his sleeping bag, ignoring the chill air, and moved to sit on the ground next to Lantis, softly touching Lantis' dark hair. Lantis didn't blink as Eagle's lips gently touched to his. Eagle had kissed him once before, but he hadn't been willing to accept it at the time. Now he was at least a modicum curious about what he might have missed, so he let Eagle go as far as he wished, closing his eyes and simply accepting the sensations. Eagle's hands touched on him, one on his side, the other on his chest, balancing rather than confining as Eagle shifted closer to him. Lantis' hands fell naturally to Eagle's waist to help steady him, and remained there, seeming to fit. After a little while, a tongue touched delicately to Lantis' lips, tracing them, then slipped between them, inside his mouth, seeking his own tongue and sparring with it. He returned the favor, his tongue slipping past Eagle's in a mock-duel as his confused feelings towards the Autozam boy became even more confused, then stilled into what he knew to be a momentary calm. He would deal with it later. Right now there was only making Eagle feel good... lulling away whatever remained of the nightmare Eagle had passed off so lightly. Eagle never wanted anyone to worry about him, so he always made light of his own feelings. Lantis slowly leaned back towards the ground, until he was lying down again, Eagle was resting on top of him. His hands brushed along Eagle's sides and back, making the blond Autozam boy relax further into the kiss. He felt himself relaxing as well. Eagle was safe and wouldn't try to hurt him, ever. The boy was too gentle to hurt someone he cared for. Then it ended. Eagle drew away, his gold eyes looking steadily into Lantis'. "Make your own choice," he said softly, and returned to his sleeping bag. ******** Kurama: You like torturing people, don't you? Author: At last! Someone real to heckle me! <enthusiastic hug> Kurama: Now you're home from San-chan's graduation. You have about two costumes' left of work to do on three outfits, and AX is in ten days. Why aren't you working? Author: Gimme a break, Red! You know I sew as fast as I write, read, or do anything I consider worth doing! Kurama: So what's the deal with Eagle? Author: Ahh, *that*. There are hints in the beginning of this part, as well as a hint in the first part. Saying no more than that, any person who can guess what'll happen gets bonus points. Kurama: Me included? Author: Nope, fox spirits can't enter. But for trying, you get this lovely gift.... Kurama <looking puzzled>: A blender? Author: Whoops! Wrong gift. I meant this one.... Kurama <delighted grin>: Puzzle balls! Author: Yup. Enjoy.... <grin> </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>