Chapter 51

Chapter 52

The lights came up in the auditorium as the interval started. Andi breathed a huge sigh, turning around to face the lower sixth, �Beautiful isn�t it?� she asked, without waiting for an answer, she continued, �Shakespeare always makes me breathless, but there�s something about this one that�s absolutely magical, just beautiful.�

�Yeah,� Marcus muttered, not taking his eyes from Fergie�s face, where he�d been looking for most of the performance, �Just beautiful.�

Fergie turned to him and raised an eyebrow, �Sad git,� he muttered.

�You ok?� Marcus asked, �You feeling alright?�

Fergie nodded, �Yeah, not too bad.� He grinned at Marcus, �Talking to you earlier helped�thanks.�

�Not a problem,� Marcus laughed, blushing slightly as he did so, �I always found talking helped�when I finally told anyone about it that is.�

There was a silence, but it was no longer one of the awkward pauses that used to come between the two of them, but a comfortable silence, understanding what each other meant, what each other were feeling.

Marcus reached out and put a gentle hand on Fergie�s thigh, �You could always come back to my hotel room tonight.� He grinned, �You know, to�talk�some more.�

Fergie laughed, �Not on your life,� he muttered.

�Oh well,� Marcus grinned, �You can call me �Marcus the eternally hopeful� if you like.�

�Ok then Marcustheenternallyhopeful� Fergie laughed, and then squealed as his brother dropped a cold tub of ice-cream in his lap. He glanced at it, checking it was his favourite, and then looked back up at his twin, �Thanks Tor,� he grinned, �Love you.�

�Love you too,� Tor sat down beside him, �And I would have got you a pint, but the ID trick hardly works if it�s just me by myself.�

�S�alright, I�m so dosed up on painkillers, alcohol would not be a good idea right now.�

Tor leant across and gentle kissed Fergie on the cheek, �You in lots of pain?� he asked, it was an unnecessary question, he already knew the answer, but he thought he�d better ask, to look caring.

Fergie nodded, but pulled Tor�s face closer for another kiss.

�Too much pain for sex?� Tor asked quietly, locking eyes with Fergie, their identical faces only millimetres apart.

Fergie smiled, and let their lips brush together again, �I�m always up for sex with you, you know that."

Tor smiled, and leant against his twin, �Good,� he muttered, �Really love you.�

�Yeah.� Fergie whispered.

Nearly everyone was buzzing as they came out of the theatre, sparkling with conversation as one always is after seeing a good play, everyone except for the twins, who were silent, hand in hand walking along the cold London streets, thinking about nothing but each other.

Marcus� car was waiting outside the theatre, with his agent inside, ready to discuss stuff about tomorrow. He sighed inwardly, he�d much rather be having sex tonight, but there was work to do. He glanced one more at Fergie, �You sure?� he grinned, �The offer still stands.�

Fergie laughed, �Sweet of you, but no thanks.� He grinned back, �You wouldn�t want me anyway, I�m tainted.� He muttered softly, he didn�t want Marcus to hear that, he didn�t want anyone to hear it, but it was true, it needed to be said.

Marcus caught one whispered word from those lips, and it reverberated around his head, �Tainted,� it whispered at him, �Tainted.�

�Do you really think it�s a good idea?� Andi asked as they started to walk back towards the hotel, �Walking through the back streets of one of the most dangerous area�s of London at night time, with a bunch of school kids.�

Art laughed softly, �It�s only dangerous �cause me and Sei are here. Right baby?� he looked at Seiji, who in confirmation, slipped two blades out of his sleeves and into his hands.

Fergie grinned, that certainly made him feel safer, but he could tell from his racing pulse that Tor was scared. He squeezed his twin�s hand tighter, �S�ok baby,� he whispered to him, �We�re safe with them. You know that?�

Tor nodded. �Yeah. Safe.�

Fergie laughed softly, �Safe with me.� He grinned, and slipped his free hand into his pocket where his own blade was kept.

For a while they walked along in near silence, some of the girls giggling a bit, trying to cover their nervousness with laughter, and they were still on lamp lit streets. Then they turned down the back alleyways, and it was dark, very dark. Silence descended on the group. Raven reached out for Alex�s hand with one hand, and Matt�s with the other.

Matt glanced across at Alex, and they both moved instinctively closer to Raven, instinctively protecting her.

�And we�re going this way why?� Andi asked Art in a hushed whisper.

�Cause it�s about an hour quicker,� Art grinned, �Don�t worry, we�re not in any danger.� He glanced across at Seiji, who slid into the middle of the group, slouching to make himself inconspicuous.

The soft sound of feet on tarmac, the seemingly distant sounds of the busy city, everyone was feeling nervous, and rightly so.

�Well well well,� said a voice from the shadows, �What have we here?�

Another voice snickered, �A bunch of schoolkids, on a trip. Easy pickings if you ask me.�

Between eight figures stepped out of the shadows, all of them dressed head to toe in black, and the only visible light was glinting off the blades they held in their hands.

One of them walked up to Andi, reaching out a rough hand to stroke her face. She flinched back. �Well well pretty lady. What�s a lady like you doing out on a cold dark night like this.�

�Um, er,� Andi squeaked, she looked around, �Art, what should I do. Art?�

The figures from the shadows started to glance at each other, and whispers flew around.

�S�alright Andi,� Art grinned, stepping forward to where they could see him, six foot two, his black clothes contrasting perfectly with his near translucent skin, and silvery white hair, blades very visible in each of his hands.

�Bloody hell.� One of them muttered, �It�s Art. As in Art and the Kid.�

�So,� Sneered a man stood at the front of the group, obviously the leader, �He�s not really much use without his little friend. Awww,� he snickered at Art, �Baby�s boyfriend isn�t here to protect him, where�s your pet ey?�

�Actually,� Seiji said very softly, his voice ringing through the shadows none the less, �He�s my pet. Don�t get that muddled up.� He stepped forward to the front of the group, the only one of them who�s knives weren�t visible, they didn�t need to be, his grin was enough to strike terror into their hearts.

�Fuck. It�s the kid.� Whispers started to fly around the group, �My God, I thought you were just a rumour, a myth, something to tell kiddies to make them behave.� One of them whispered in awe.

Seiji laughed, �It�s a nice sentiment. I like to think I�m doing good in the world, and making little children go to bed on time, is definitely making the world a better place.� He grinned at them once more. �Goodbye gentlemen.� He said plainly, �I trust you won�t bother us again.�

The all shook their heads.

�And no-one else will bother us along the way?�

�I�ll send out a runner ahead of you.�

�Thank you.� Seiji smiled civilly, �And goodnight,�

�Bloody hell,� Matt whispered as they walked away, �That was cool.�

�Thanks,� Seiji grinned at him, �It�s amazing what having a reputation can do for you. Rather disappointing though, I never need to kill anyone these days.�

Matt just swallowed nervously and kept walking in silence.

Despite the shortcut they�d taken it was still late when they got back to the hotel.

�Right guys,� Art ordered softly, trying not to wake the other occupants of the hotel, �Everyone back to their rooms, now. I don�t want anyone in a room that isn�t their own. Ok?�

Everyone nodded sleepily, but most people sped off with hurried delight to their respective rooms.

Ally and Mikey tumbled through the door, and closed it, locking it with a click.

�Well well well Allybear,� Mikey grinned, �A whole night all to ourselves.�

�Heaven isn�t it?� Ally grinned, �And we get tomorrow night as well.�

Mikey pulled his shirt and his jumper over his head, �You ready for bed yeah?�

Ally nodded, �And aren�t you just glad we ended up in a room with a double bed.� He laughed, �I bet Art did that to try and piss us off.� He grinned cheekily at his boyfriend, �And actually did us a favour.�

Mikey grinned and placed a chaste kiss on Ally�s lips, before hunting around for his toothbrush, �I have to say, I wouldn�t mind sharing a single bed with you anyway,� he smiled, �More cosy that way.�

�Aww baby,� Ally laughed, not bothering to unbutton his trousers before slipping them over his hips, �I�m sure we can cuddle up in this bed too.� He wandered through to join Mike in the bathroom, and for a pleasant moment they stood there, side by side, simply brushing their teeth. �Yeah� Ally thought �This is what I want it to be, forever. Just me and him, and no-one to hate us for it.�

�Well,� Mikey grinned as he walked back to the bedroom, �Tonight your wish is my command,� he grinned, �It�s up to you, whatever you want.�

�Mmmm,� Ally sighed softly and flopped down onto the bed beside his best friend. He slipped his arms around Mikey�s waist, and buried his face in his chest. �Love you,� he muttered.

�I love you too.� Mikey grinned, �But what would you like to do tonight?�

Ally shrugged, and thought for a moment. �What are the options?� he asked.

�Well, rough and vicious sex, slow and gentle sex, just fooling around, to name a few,� Mikey grinned, �Can I carry on?�

�Oh God,� Ally groaned, and turned away from Mikey to bury his face in his pillow.

�What?�

Ally just groaned in response, not wanting to speak.

�Ally are you ok? Allybear? Was it something I said?�

Ally rolled over onto his back and stared up at his boyfriend who was lying over him, �I am such a poof.� He muttered, before rolling back onto his front and once again burying his face in the pillow.

�Why?� Mike asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Ally muttered something inaudible into the pillow.

�Allybear hun, you�re going to have to take your face out of the pillow to answer my question.�

�Because,� Ally sighed, taking his face out of the pillow. �I just realised that I�d much rather spend the one night we have alone together not having sex, but just snuggled up in your arms.� He groaned again, �And to think I used to be straight�and sane!� He looked up at Mikey, �Mike, baby, please tell me I�m still a bloke and haven�t mysteriously turned into a girl during the course of the day.�

Mikey laughed and made a show of looking down Ally�s boxers. He whistled in approval. �Nope, definitely a bloke down there,� he murmured, eyes wide. He paused for a second, and then a huge grin broke out on his face and he grabbed Ally, pulling him into a tight hug. �Wanting to spend the night cuddling instead of having sex does not make you a girl.� He grinned, �And I think I�d much rather we did too.�

�Good,� Ally muttered, slipping his arms once again around Mikey�s waist, placing a gentle kiss on the side of his boyfriend�s neck.

�Night babes,� Mikey grinned.

�Mmm, Night.�

Reven paused outside the door to her hotel room. Alex was still holding her hand. She smile up at him, �Wish I could stay in your room.� She grinned.

�Filthy whore,� Alex teased, kissing her forehead softly.

Raven laughed knowing he was only joking, �Womaniser.� She quipped back, standing on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.

He slipped a hand around the back of her neck and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. �Love you,� he muttered, when they finally broke apart, faces millimetres apart from each other.

�Love you too,� she whispered, and with another quick kiss turned around and went into the room.

Tor roughly pulled Fergie into the hotel room, not stopping before he yanked him down onto the bed, grabbing him into a rough kiss, �Need you Fergie.�

�Mmm,� Fergie muttered into the kiss, �Need you too.� He lied.

Tor started to slide his hands over his twin�s torso.

Fergie could only think of how David had been doing something worryingly similar a few nights before. He tried to banish all thoughts of not wanting to have sex with Tor right now, but nevertheless one still slipped though.

Tor lifted his hands off Fergie as if he�d been burnt. �Oh baby,� he sighed, �Why didn�t you say?�

Fergie shrugged.

�I�ve told you.� Tor whispered in his ear, �You might be his sex toy, but you�re not mine. When we do this it�s because both of us want it. Ok?�

Fergie nodded. �Sorry,� he muttered.

�Not something to apologise about is it?� Tor smiled. He lay down beside Fergie and wrapped his arms around him, �Would a hug be alright?�

�Yeah,� Fergie smiled, and snuggled into his brother. He lay there, frozen like that for a moment, before moving away again, and getting out of bed. �Can I sleep on the floor?� he asked.

�What�s the matter?� Tor sat up, �And no you may not. If anyone�s sleeping on the floor it�s me, you�re looking too fragile at the moment for that.�

�It�s just�� Fergie blushed, �Every time you touch me it reminds me of him. Not just you�� he paused, staring intently at the floor, �It�s everyone. I can�t explain why, but I can�t get him out of my head.�

�What did he do to you?� Tor asked eventually, after minutes of uncomfortable silence.

Fergie shook his head, �Can�t tell you.� He sighed, �Just can�t.� Tor didn�t even know about the little games they played. If he thought David did it because of him he�d be heartbroken.

�You told Marcus.� Tor challenged, scowling.

�Marcus understands.� Fergie defended himself hurriedly. He didn�t want this to turn into a fight, but nor did he want his twin to misunderstand him, �Marcus has been through all this, and he knows what I�m feeling. Ok?�

�I�m your twin.� Tor scowled. �I know what your feeling.�

�No acushla,� Fergie placed a gentle kiss on his brother�s forehead, �You know what I�m thinking, it�s not the same thing.� He opened the wardrobe and got out a spare blanket, curling up in a corner of the room with it wrapped tightly around him. �Night,� he whispered softly.

Tor let his head fall back on the pillows, confused. �Night,� he almost forgot to mutter back.

"I know!" Ash squealed as soon as he and Matt got into their hotel room. "We should play truth or dare!"

"Ash, fun though that sounds," Matt flopped down on his bed, "I'm going to go to sleep soon, I'm shattered." He took out his mobile and started to thumb a very familiar number into the keypad.

"Aww, ok then." Ash picked up his hairbrush from his suitcase and then jumped onto his bed, sitting cross legged and running the brush through his bubble gum pink hair.

Matt hit the dial button and held the phone to his ear.

Rrrrng rrrrrng.....rrrrrng rrrrrrng

The ringing stopped as someone picked up.

"Hey gorgeous," Eagle muttered, he sounded sleepy.

Matt smiled and relaxed back into his pillow, happy now he was talking to Eagle, "Hey love."

"You having fun?"

"Mmm, Just got back from the theatre. It was really scary on the way home, these guys tried to attack us but Art and Seiji saved us."

"Are you ok?" Eagle asked hurriedly, worried about his boyfriends health, "Is Ray ok?"

"Oh yeah, everyone's fine, no-one got hurt cause they were scared of Seiji." Matt laughed, "Are you having fun on your own?"

"Yeah," Eagle lied, and then winced, Matt always knew when he was lying.

"Aww, baby," Matt sighed, "I'll be back on Monday, is it really that awful?"

"It's alright really." Eagle laughed, "Bit weird being in the dorm on my own," he paused, and then grinned to himself, "And I've gone back into 'I love Matty' overdrive, and won't shut up about you."

"You're so cute!" Matt laughed, glancing across at Ash, who was now plaiting his long hair.

"I miss you." Eagle blushed, holding the phone closer to his ear, as if it could make him closer to Matt in some way.

"Miss you too," Matt started to climb into bed, "And I swear Alex is going to take advantage of Ray," he grinned slightly.

"He been bugging you?" Eagle asked.

"Actually he was really good, when we were walking back this evening he was looking after her cause she was scared."

"Were you scared?"

"A bit," Matt admitted, blushing slightly.

"Baby!" Eagle sighed, he grabbed hold of his pillow and hugged it tight, "I wanna give you a hug."

Matt smiled, "I'd quite like a hug actually," he grinned. He glanced across at Ash who'd just got back from brushing his teeth and was climbing into bed.

"Do you know what time your getting back on Monday?"

"No, not yet. I'll call you tomorrow though." Matt looked over at Ash climbing into bed, "Look honey, I have to go to sleep now. I miss you, yeah?"

"Miss you too."

"Night."

"Night."

"Love you,"

Eagle grinned, how long had he waited to hear that sentence from Matt's lips, "Love you too."

Both of them continued to hold the phone to their ear for a while, neither of them wanting to hang up on the other. Eventually Matt hit the red button, putting his phone on the little table beside his bed before switching out the light.

Eagle buried his face in the pillow, he was sleeping in Matt's bed, purely because it smelt of Matt and he missed him. He wrapped his duvet around him, and tried to fall asleep, ignoring the tears that were soaking into the pillow.