//My head?! Cable wants to be in my head more than he is already?! No! I can't! No way I can allow him to do that!// "Cable I'll wear the uniform but this business about you getting into our heads. . . my thoughts are my own."

 Cable shook his head, "I understand your concerns but this is for the best."

 Rictor was afraid, and when he got afraid he went into defensive mode. He got mad. "You talk a
new game Cable, but it's just the same old song. And I'm not listening any more." He stalked out of
the room leaving his startled friends behind. Shatterstar was the only one to run after him. "Rictor. . .
Julio!" He did a flip over the retreating boy and held up his hands, his eyes more expressive than
Rictor had ever seen them before. "There has to be a way to work this out!"

 "Star I gotta think it through." He held back tears, of all of the team Star was the hardest to say
adios to. "Maybe if I take some time off. . . get away. . . I haven't seen my family in a long time, they
need me."

 "But -I- need you!" He cried out then caught himself, "Julio you are my best friend. My   -only-
friend."

 "And I'll always be there for you amigo. You or anybody else on the team needs me, all you gotta
do is ask."

 "I. . . I see."

 "Star?"

 "Am I just that to you?"

 "What?"

 "Just another team mate?"

 "No! You're my best friend! I mean. . ."

 "Then I'm asking."

 "Star I can't. . ."

 "I wasn't given emotions when Mojo created me, but I find I have them anyway. The strongest is for
you."

 "Star what are you trying to say?"

 "You make me feel more complete than anyone or anything I have known. Fighting doesn't even feel so right. I can't loose you now, before I find what this feeling is. Please. I'm asking."

 Rictor ran his fingers through his hair nervously. He had thought to make a clean break from the
team. Shatterstar had never acted like this before. //Like he's losing something precious to him.// "I
can't." Rictor ran from the hall.

 Shatterstar watched him go with a lost look in his eyes, "You said I only had to ask."

 His bag was packed and his bike was ready. As Rictor revved up his motorcycle he concentrated on the familiar vibration of the engine between his legs and tried to put the image of Star's haunted eyes out of his mind.

 "Stop." Suddenly the object of his thoughts was standing in front of his bike, holding it back.

 "Star. . ."

 The Mojoworlder pulled Rictor off of his bike and crushed his lips against the other boy's, holding
him tight up against his chest. At first the young mutant struggled but as his friend's lips softened and
his tongue slipped to drink from his own mouth, Julio felt his head spin and his heart speed. When
Star broke the embrace, the dazed Latino just stared up into his eyes.

 Star looked back at him, drowning in the eyes he had come to know so well. Finally he found his
voice, but it came out small and pleading rather than strong as he intended. "That is why you can not
leave me."

 <I. . . how long. . .> He spoke in Spanish, unable to form English words in his mind at the moment.

 Shatterstar answered in the like, <Since I got to know you. The real you.>

 <You said you learned Spanish so we could talk when conversations got personal. . . is this what
you meant?>

 <It is what I dreamed.>

 Julio suddenly realized he was still in the other boy's arms. He pulled back and swallowed passed
the lump in his throat, <You a. . . you also told me you had a wife.>

 <She was forced on me by Mojo to make the show more entertaining. I was programed to care for
her. No one -made- me care for you.>

 <But you do?>

 <Very much.>

 Star was so close. They were almost touching noses. Before either boy realized it they were kissing
again. Arms around each other. Willing the world to go away and let them be like that forever. When they broke apart to breath, Rictor was shaking.

 "I'm sorry Julio. I had no right. . ."

 "No." Julio stopped his apology and touched his lips wonderingly, "I. . . I'm not like the others."

 "I know. You're unlike anyone I've ever met."

 "No, I mean, I like. . . other guys. I'm bisexual Star. Do you know what that is?"

 "I have heard the term used."

 "I never actually kissed a guy before, but I. . . have wanted to."

 "Who?"

 He took a deep breath but refused to meet his friend's eyes, "You."

 "Don't go. Cable can be a hard task maker, but I will be here to make it easier. Please."

 "Are you sure about this Star? Because once we. . . once we decide this, there's no backing out. It'll be forever."

 "I've never been more sure."

 "Me neither."

 Star took the bag from Julio's Harley and slung it over his shoulder, "You will not be needing this."

 Rictor wheeled his Harley back inside and they went up to the room they shared. From an upstairs
window, Cable watched with a smile. //I knew Shatterstar wouldn't want him to go, but I had no idea he could be so persuasive.//
 
 

 Morning came early for the new couple. They had fallen asleep and awoken in each other's arms.
Shatterstar's bed on the other side of the room remained untouched. The boy's hadn't taken that step further into a sexual relationship yet. Though they shared many deep kisses and learned each other's bodies, neither took the final step. Each afraid that it would be too much too soon for their partner. When morning broke through the window, Star kissed Julio good morning and whispered, "I think I love you."

 Rictor smiled, "I love you too Star."

 "My name is Gaveedra, I would be honored if you would call me that."

 "Alright, Gaveedra."

 The large man shivered and kissed his friend's neck softly, "I love the sound of my name coming
from your lips."

 "So do I, Gaveedra."

 "Mm."

 They changed quickly and headed for the locker rooms off of the danger room. Awaiting the call for
their turn. Gaveedra sat on the bench and Julio straddled the wooden plank beside him so close their
knees brushed against each other.

 "Thank you."

 The Latino looked up at his friend in question, "For what?"

 "For staying with me. I know how much it cost you to let Cable closer even than before."

 "You really like him don't you."

 "He is an honorable warrior. I admire him greatly."

 Julio frowned.

 "What did I say? Have I done something wrong?"

 "No I just. . . I hate it when you talk about Cable like he's some kind of immaculate being. He's just
a man."

 "Julio, are you jealous?"

 "Wha. . .?! Me?! No way!"

 "You have no need to be." Gaveedra turned to straddled the bench, facing his friend. "Cable is like a father to me. Someone to emulate, someone to look after me and to look up to. He is nothing more.  Because he isn't my Julio."

 "I know I'm being silly, I just. . ."

 "Shh. I know."  Gaveedra wrapped his arms around the other boy and moved so close every inch of their front's were touching. "Have you noticed how perfectly we fit together? Like One body that has
been split into two pieces." He kissed his love's shoulder and worked his way up over his breast bone.

Julio snuggled closer to him and sighed, "We have to go to our training session."

 "Uhuh." He kissed his way over Julio's chest.

 "It starts in five minuets. . ."

 "Mm." He drew on taunt nipple into his mouth.

 "G. . . Mmm. . . Gaveedra. . . We. . . ahh. . . we're going to get caught."

 "Small price. . ."

 **Shatterstar. Rictor. Your turn.** Cables call echoed in their minds.

 Both boys grimaced and then laughed at the other's expression, "You still consider him a great man?"

 "I'd prefer to rip out the great man's tongue at the moment." Gaveedra admitted.

 "He'd still talk to out minds."

 Shatterstar chuckled, "Let's see what he say's about this." He gave Rictor a kiss so deep and full of
emotion that the boy couldn't help but project his joy.

 Cable chuckled to himself **NOW**

 Both boys jumped to attention and ran from the lockers to the danger room.

 [The program I'm running for you is a battle situation.] Cable said over the intercom, [Your objective is to neutralize all threats without fatal blows.]

 Rictor grinned and nodded, "Let's get this party started!"

 Shatterstar nodded and unsheathed his swords.

 As the room shifted into their training grounds Rictor couldn't help but whisper, "Oooh what a big
sword!"

 Shatterstar blushed and took a playful swipe at him.

 [Julio! Gaveedra! This is not a game!]

 Shatterstar glared toward where he knew Cable was watching, "I have not given you permission to
use my given name. I am Shatterstar to you."

 [My apologies now pay attention!]

 Rictor darted behind him to kiss him between the shoulder blades in the guise of pushing him out of
the way of an attack.

 As the session progressed many more stolen touches and accidental caresses were made, but the
job got done. When it was over both boy's smiled and waved in Cables direction.

 [Smart ass kids.]

 Rictor grinned, "Did you know I had a smart ass?"

 "I had not heard an ass could be smart." Shatterstar teased back.

 "We have smart asses."

 "Interesting concept, we should look into this."

 Rictor switched to Spanish suddenly, <That could be interesting in itself.>

 [Ok wise guys, get out of here and let Warpath and Sunspot have a go.]

 They left the danger room smiling. <He knew about us all the time.> Julio grimaced, <I hate having him in my head!>

 <He accepts our feelings at least.>

 <Sure, but just once I'd like to be _really_ alone with you.>

 <The time will come Julio. For now though, we have found something special and I don't care if the whole team finds out about us.>

    Rictor smiled, "One step at a time here Gaveedra."

    "Of course Julio."

    They stepped into the open air of the grounds and watched the sun rise on their new relationship, and a brighter future.

    And they sealed their silent pledge with a kiss.
 
 

~End~