Lars had never smiled or blushed so much in his life. Andre was quickly on his way to becoming a god, and Lars was quickly on his way to becoming his first follower.
They spent most of the night laughing and sharing over beers, and Lars could barely believe this was actually happening. Was someone actually interested in him? Did someone actually like him for what he was? This was amazing!
After a long night (but not long enough) of laughing and beers, the bar began to close down around 2:00 AM.
"Where are you off to now?" Andre asked in English, smiling at Lars nonchalantly. Andre was really an American backpacking throughout Europe, and although he could speak Lars’ language, it was easier for Lars to speak his language, since Lars knew his better.
"Home," Lars answered nervously. He didn’t like what was going to happen next. He wanted nothing more than to have Andre come home with him, to get to know him better, but he was afraid Andre would want more.....
"Well," Andre began, "I would like to continue this conversation, if you don’t mind...." Andre didn’t think there was any sort of chance that Lars would take him home, but he wanted to at least let Lars know he was interested, and this way he could make sure Lars and him would see each other again another time.
"Um...." Lars babbled. "Well, I’d like to but I don’t think I’m ready to and I dunno but I’m not sure that this would be so wise an-"
"Lars, I do not want to do that," Andre interrupted. "I want to get to know you better." Andre put his hand on Lars’. "But to do that, I must tell you something first. I’m-I’m a mutant."
Lars mouth opened with shock.
"Does that bother you? I-I’m sorry," Andre said. Andre sadly got up and looked towards the door.
"Andre!" Lars shouted. "That does not bother me at all!" Lars got up, and Andre looked at him. "I am a mutant, too," Lars informed. Looking gratefully at Lars, eyes shining, Andre hugged him.
"Then let’s go to my place," Lars hesitated, pulling out of the embrace and frowning nervously."Are you sure?" Andre asked. He knew Lars was more than just shy and didn’t want to push him.
"Yes, I am sure," Lars answered. "But to get there we need to use my mutant powers. Is that okay?
"Sure," Andre shrugged. Having been an excellent swimmer his entire life due to his mutant powers, Andre felt no qualms about using powers for personal luxury. "What are you, a teleporter?"
"No," Lars laughed. "You’ll see." Lars grabbed Andre, quickly and close to him, yearning to do more, but instead walked out the door. Before Andre could step out of it, Lars’ powers kicked in and they morphed into the ground. Flying through miles of earth in less than seconds, travelling as part of the earth itself, they went on. Before Andre could blink, they arrived in Lars’ home, the monastery. Lars grinned at Andre. "There." Lars sat down.
"What just happened?" Andre asked. He was shocked at Lars’ power, which was amazing. He seemed to have a lot of potential, and a lot of control over them. Andre learned how to control his powers when he swam with them for years and years, but why did Lars know his so well also?
Andre sat down in a chair and Lars sat down in the couch across from Andre.
"My power is to morph into mass and I am capable of travelling through it for great distances," he smiled, not because he was proud of his powers, but because for once the fact that he was a mutant had gotten him somewhere. And it got him farther with Andre. He now felt closer to him and more comfortable, and all the barriers Lars mentally had against him were no knocked down by the hours of sitting with Andre, by the alcohol, and by their bonding. Lars, for once, was practically at peace.
"That’s amazing," Andre gawked. "How do you control them so well?"
"Don’t you have control over your powers?" Lars asked, suprised, but then remembering what he was like before he met up with the Acolytes. He had barely made it out of his house with his powers, and had nowhere near the control he had now.
"Yes, I do, but that’s a different story," Andre explained. "Why do you have control?"
"Well," Lars mumbled, afraid that this would be too much for Andre and that he’d finally start to dislike him. "I-I, well.......I was trained....."
"Trained?" Andre asked. "That’s great! You’re a very lucky individual! I wish I had that sort of experience. Who trained you?"
"Um," Lars said. "Well, the, uh, the Acolytes did...."
"The Acolytes?" Andre searched his mind for the name. He knew it sounded familiar, he just couldn’t remember why. Who were the Acolytes? Weren’t they some mutant group? With...... with......Magneto?! "The Acolytes! I remember them now! But...but you were with them?"
"Barely," Lars said, the pain of his exile still torturing him. "I was exiled for working against them. With the X-Men." Lars sighed and took a long breath in.
Andre was suprised. He could tell that Lars had obviously been mistreated in his past and he immediately assumed that the Acolytes had their part in this abuse, especially from Andre’s reaction to them. But he’d never guessed Lars was so courageous and so wonderful as to actually fight against them. He wouldn’t have characterized Lars that way, but now he chided himself for thinking that way. Lars was obviously a wonderful guy.
"That’s very courageous of you, Lars," Andre complimented. "I can tell you’re a wonderful guy." Lars looked at him, not believing his words and wanting to catch him in the lie. When Lars saw Andre’s eyes, though, he was shocked to see that the only thing reflected in them was truth and honesty. Andre meant it, he really like him! Lars’ heart leapt a mile, and continued to do so.
"Thank you," Lars whispered, unable to say anything else. "What about, what about you?"
"What about me?" Andre asked.
"What about your powers?"
"Me? Oh, well, my powers are to basically shoot water outta my hands. Nothing big, but it’s what I do, and it helped me out a lot in swimming." Andre laughed a bit at his last statement, and stood up and sat over next to Lars. "Gold medals all around for me, there were."
"Wow," Lars said, reeling at the thought of Andre’s wonderfulness, and at the mental picture of seeing him in spandex. He moved closer to Andre subconsciously.
"Yeah," Andre agreed, hovering in Lars’ face, looking it all over. Looking into his beautiful green eyes and strawberry blond hair.
Lars stared right back at Andre, soaking the mental picture in so he could remember it for the rest of his life. So he could remember Andre’s grin, or his dyed-blond hair, or the patch of brown facial hair growing on his chin, or his sparkling blue eyes.
Andre saw Lars’ interest, and they both moved closer, their faces inches apart.
With a lurch, Andre crossed the distance and kissed Lars, deeply and for a long time.
***
"Bye, guys!" Meggan said.
"Just leave already, huh?" Kitty said, half jokingly.
"Have fun!" Illyana wished.
"We will," Amanda said. "Especially since this means I get a break from all those training sessions!" Amanda grinned at Kurt, who was one of her fighting instructors. "It’s true!" Kurt laughed, knowing how much Amanda did hate her training sessions. "Well, we’re off!" Amanda raised an arm, muttered some spells, and the two disappeared.
"Great," Pete said, "now it’s up to me to take care of this bloody bunch!"
"Don’t agree to the job if you don’t want it, Pete," Kitty snarled.
Pete glanced back at her, wanting to say something but holding back, knowing why Kitty was recently in such a poor mood. "I’ll keep that in mind, Pryde." He reached his arms around her shoulders lovingly.
"Don’t call me Pryde, and don’t touch me!" Kitty shouted, pushing him off her and storming out of the room. Pete watched her go with a quizzical look on his face. He glanced over at Meggan, who had watched the whole spectacle. Pete shrugged.
"I guess it’s best just to be patient," Pete said.
"You’re doing a good job, Pete," Meggan smiled. "You’re being wonderful."
"Tell Pryde that," he muttered, and walked out of the room, cigarette in hand.
***
Brian Braddock was an alcoholic. Anytime he got anywhere near a drink he transformed into a monster, a horrible person. He knew he wasn’t supposed to go near the stuff. But after his recent abduction, his increased distaste at the superhero businesses, and Meggan’s desire for them to get married, he ran to his old bitter enemy.
And he stayed with him.
Sitting in the bar, Brian scanned the crowd. "I’m so bloody glad I’m not with those wankers," he said, grinning. "Fools." He was glad to be on his own with no responsibilities. He was sick of others being better than him, like the heroes who died in that whole Onslaught affair. He was sick of being responsible. Ever since he’d returned from the timeline, all he’d wanted was one drink. When he was kidnapped, he knew it was time for some personal time alone.
Since then, his condition had deteriorated. Greatly.
Girls winking at him left and right, or at least he thought they were, Brian walked up to the bar for another drink, eyeing one woman’s behind. It has been awhile...Brian thought. And besides, it’s not like Meggan was ever very exciting in bed anyway.......
Brian walked up to the woman, no doubt a prostitute, keeping his wallet in hand. Smiling, he struck up a conversation.
***
Lars smiled. He felt wonderful, like the best person in the world. He no longer cared if it was bad or wrong or if he was evil. This person next to him was the most wonderful being in the whole world, and he had just kissed him.
Andre smiled back, and went in again for another kiss.
Andre’s idea was ruined by a loud crash at the front door of the monastery.
Before they knew it, Lars and Andre were staring at the Acolytes in the doorway.
"We think it’s high time we dealt with you, traitor!" Frenzy shouted, fist in the air.
To Be Continued
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