Chapter 156: FU!
Peter colored the sunset.
Then he shot through the sky, letting his stress disintegrate into atmospheric particulate.
It had been a long day indoors and Peter just needed to stretch his proverbial wings. Assuming Wendy could manage the household without him, he soared through Sky World.
At first he flew at breakneck speeds, but slowed as the sky turned a sleepy grey.
Peter floated with hands behind his neck, pondering over the day.
The CIA thing was getting old. Peter had thought the secret government project would be cool, like a James Bond movie, but it was no better than high school: the nitpicking – nagging – the three thousand rules! It was like no one knew how to have fun during a criminal investigation.
Speaking of the criminal:
Oogie Boogie was obviously taunting Wendy. And his tactics, while theatric, were eerily similar to Eris' and Pitch Black's.
They all played mind games.
If history repeated itself, Oogie would exhaust Wendy mentally, then strike. It made sense – Wendy's shadow working magic was her strongest weapon, and it was all in her head.
The CIA thought they kept hitting dead ends, but with Wendy there, it was only a matter of time before Oogie Boogie attacked. Honestly, the surest way to capture him was to use Wendy as bait. Peter knew that. Ariel knew that. Jim knew that. And Arthur probably knew that. But, no one had the guts to endanger Wendy again.
Jim had said Wendy always wanted a Prince Charming, a hero that would sweep her off her feet. Peter once thought he could keep Wendy safe, but the scars on her abdomen reminded him otherwise.
Peter pressed his eyes. He wished Oogie Boogie was right here, right now so he could wring his sorry neck! Peter was sick of the chase! He was tired of waiting for Oogie Boogie to attack! Being reactionary wasn't working, Arthur was never going to catch him if they kept playing hide and seek. There had to be a faster way to find him! There had to be –
Peter stopped, suddenly struck by the solution.
"Tink."
Of course. Tinkerbell. She was obviously conspiring with Virana Fang and Oogie Boogie, but she was too influential to be threatened by Arthur. Nothing short of torture would prompt a confession.
Well, nothing short of torture, or desire.
Peter remembered Garrett saying Tinkerbell would 'sing like a canary if he slept with her.' The idea a knife was his conscience, but that didn't make it untrue.
Peter exhaled. He realized he was holding his heart.
He couldn't sacrifice fidelity for Wendy's safety.
He couldn't.
Couldn't he?
Far below, a roar jarred his thoughts. Peter jumped. It was the roar of a dragon. The dragon was echoed by a comparatively punitive, although still impressive, cheering crowed.
Peter flew down to investigate. Breaking through the clouds, he found the dragon. It was a brilliant red beauty, and she was parading across the Fantasia University Football Stadium. The stadium was lit like a firework and teaming with students.
Peter gathered the red dragon was the Viking mascot, likely School of Dragon, and the Viking fans were wearing the same color: red mixed with various metals, bronzes, irons, and golds.
The Fantasia University mascot was less impressive – clearly Fred Fredrickson IV dressed as a wizard – but his enthusiasm was unparalleled. Fantasian University also had a better cheer: when the dragon roared, Fred would lead his fellow Fantasians in a response of "F-U! F-U!"
Fantasia University. FU. Fuck You. Peter smiled. Clever. He liked that.
The football players charged the field: School of Dragon in red and gold, Fantasia University in purple and orange. Checking the time, Peter decided he could spare a few minutes. There was nothing like watching competitive head bashing to clear your own mind.
He settled atop the stadium light. Sighing, he willed all his drama onto the field.
Fantasia University Football Stadium was like a bounce house for adults in the best and worst ways you can imagine. It was a lot a fun, but definitely X rated. Gwen didn't blame Jim for telling Melody she couldn't go.
Gwen felt out of place. Studying 30 hours in a 24 hour day didn't give her much time to party. Everything seemed awkward, like knowing how to stand or what to do with her hands if she wasn't holding a book.
Enviously, she thought about Titania, casually drinking alongside Jak at the Noodle House, navigating all situations like a super model. For a split second, Gwen wished they were friends so Titania could teach her how be cool. But that thought disappeared quickly as it had come. She was on her own.
Gwen took out her phone. She started to text Drake when someone said her name.
"Oh my god, Gwen?"
Gwen looked from her phone. Behind her, were Hydra Triton, Orca Triton, and Isabella Madrigal, with their usual group of chummies. Hyrda was wearing little more than a startled smile, but she gleefully pointed out Gwen was wearing even less.
"Nice bikini. Or is that Victoria Secret?"
Gwen didn't even try to act confident.
"Hi, um." She rubbed her midriff. "I guess I'm a little underdressed."
"Don't apologize." Orca took a photo. "You look very purtyful."
Lots of smirks.
Hydra nodded toward the bleachers. "We're on our way up. Want to join us dearie?"
Gwen raised her phone. "I'm meeting someone."
"Meaning she's going to pig out at the concession stand then puke it all up." Orca stuck a finger down her throat. "Bulimic."
"Ew I know she's so skinny."
"I can count every rib."
"Those booty cheeks are flat as fuck."
Gwen's insecurities devoured her. Melody's earlier compliment seemed so silly. It didn't matter that her weight loss was an agent of stress and endless studying. She looked like a skeleton with red hair and pointed ears. Why did she come here wearing this stupid outfit? Why did she think she looked sexy?
She started to leave, but someone grabbed her waist. Huge fingers sunk into her belly button.
Anxieties already high, Gwen immediately twisted, reaching for the attacker's face. This was a maneuver she and Jak practiced often, something he assured she would find useful. 'At some point, someone's going to grab you around the waist,' he had said 'probably at a bar or public event.'
Well point one Master Sergent, Gwen thought. If they were on better speaking terms, she would have texted Jak that he was right.
Gwen gripped the attacker's jaw. The second she saw the owner, she let go.
"Drake?!"
Drake laughed. He was with a group of Vikings, all wearing red face paint. Drake was also wearing a Viking jersey, and looked absolutely delighted that Gwen had almost ripped his teeth out.
"What did I tell you?" he addressed his friends. "This one has the dragon's heart! Everyone, say hi to Gwen!"
"Hi Gwen!" They raised water bottles. The bottles were duck-tape to hide the contents, but Gwen could smell the alcohol. Her insides squirmed. She felt uneasy, especially as Drake held her waist. He was being ultra friendly which was comforting, but he was definitely looser than last night.
People were pooling into the bleachers around them, but Drake was completely immersed with Gwen.
"I'm so happy you came!" Drake smiled so broadly Gwen thought his lips were going to slide off his face. "You're always studying, working hard, harder than anyone at FU! I'm just so happy you chose to be with me tonight. You look – "
Cheers, mixed with cowbells and fog horns, erupted in the stands.
"Game is starting!" Drake took her hand. "This way, you can sit with us. Onward everyone!"
"Onward!" The Vikings echoed, charging into the bleachers. Hand in hand with Drake, Gwen followed the Vikings into the heart of the student section. She thought the Vikings would group together, but they actually intermingled amongst the Fantasian students, preferring to be annoying as possible.
Drake lead them to the front row, at the 50 yard line, alongside Gullgill the Outspoken and Quailscale Ingerman.
Aside from having amazing seats, Gwen was thrilled to be in full view of the Triton sisters, who were staring enviously at Drake's hand on her hip. Taking the opportunity to avenge herself, she leaned into Drake.
"Thank you for inviting me!" she shouted into his ear. "This is nice!"
"Nice?" Drake chuckled. "You don't get out much do you?"
Gwen felt a ping of embarrassment. "Does it show?" she joked, trying to overcome the jab.
"Little bit!" Drake bent toward her ear. The crowd was roaring, creating a perfect opportunity for him to move closer. "Can I give you a compliment, Gwen?"
Gwen smelled alcohol on his breath. She thought of her mother, overacting to Gwen's simple question, "Was your father an drunk?" She'd probably shadow work them both if she discovered Drake had been drinking while they hung out.
Gwen became angry. Tinkerbell was right, Wendy was a prude! Drake had been drinking and he was fine! Just fine! Uninhibited perhaps, and awfully liberal with his hand on her hip but other than that he was --- was that his thumb under her jeans?
"A compliment?" Gwen tried to discretely maneuver from his thumb. She nodded to the field, trying to distract him. "Is it that I would destroy you in football?"
Drake hooted. He pointed opportunistically as a Viking linebacker took out the entire Fantasian offensive line "You would destroy me, would you?"
"Of course! I crushed you in the CFT race!"
"That you did, I can't deny it." He winked. "But I'm sure you excel at all types of cardio."
He winked again. Gwen was mystified to the exact meaning, but was smart enough to know Drake was using some sort of double entendre.
"But, back to the compliment." Drake squeezed her waist. His aquamarine eyes gleamed through the red face paint. "You are gorgeous. You have the prettiest eyes and a smile that could charm a dragon. I'm not a musician, but for a long time, I've wanted to write a love song about you."
Gwen considered herself a strong, independent woman, but since the guardians' return, she'd felt too weak to fight. So when Drake called her gorgeous, she yearned to love him with all the broken pieces of her heart.
Drake lifted a hand. Lovingly as last night, he smoothed her fly-aways.
"Hey look! AHHH!" Gullgill smacked Drake's shoulder. "You're on the jumbotron! Look!"
They followed Gullgill's finger. Gwen watched herself looking up at the jumbotron screen, which was elevated over the VIP box. Everybody collapsed around her and Drake, waving, shaking their jerseys, and shouting "LETS GOOOOOO!" or "F – U! F – U!"
Drake raised his arm, waving. Gwen supposed this wasn't his first time in the spotlight, being Viking royalty. Calmly lowering his arm, he rest it over Gwen's shoulders.
"You know Gwen," he said. "This would be a perfect first kiss."
He looked from the jumbotron, directly into her eyes. "May I?"
Gwen didn't know what to say. All she knew was that Drake smoothed her flyaways again, as their lips touched.
The barracks was relatively empty, as Jak knew it would be. The Viking vs Fantasia football game was tonight, and King Arthur donated tickets to any service member who wanted to attend.
Most recruits took advantage if they weren't on weekend duty, except for Titania. She thought football was stupid, and she didn't support either team.
To be honest, a football wasn't Jak's scene either. He didn't like crowds. Lots of slobbering drunks, lots of pointless screaming, lots of oh-my-god-don't-touch-me moments. Jak usually found himself scanning for emergency exits and criticizing the substandard security.
Titania was in the barracks common area, legs propped on the pool table and wings flopped over her chair. The game was on the wide screen, but she seemed more preoccupied with the empty beer bottle swirling on the end of her cue-stick.
Jak brought over a chair.
"Got a minute?"
Titania angled her cue-stick. The bottle lulled toward the T.V. "I have four hours of dumb assery to spare. Wanna beer?"
"Sure." He took a bottle. She'd already drained two. "Thanks."
"Yep-puh." She tossed the bottle opener at his feet. "Just give me a heads up if you're going to be a judgmental bitch like the virgin pigtail."
Jak ignored the bottle opener. Notching the beer on the table edge, he smacked off the cap.
"I want to talk to you about that." he said, shifting as the beer foamed. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Why?" Titania swigged her beer. "Did you tell Pigtail to be a contentious prick?"
Jak squeezed his bottle. He was admittedly irritated with Gwen for personal reasons, but Titania was pushing the envelope with the insults. Gwen was still his cousin and his shipmate.
"Gwen actually came to your defense that night."
"Oh wowww noooooo shiiiit."
"She said I was leading you on. She said -- " Jak clenched the bottle harder. "She said the next time I ask you for a favor, I should decide if I have feelings for you. Otherwise, it's...it's um..."
Jak cleared his throat. He'd rehearsed this apology a thousand times in his head, but his emotions were getting caught in barbed wire.
As for Titania, she was regarding him like a wild animal he just tried to pet. Emotions were new for them. While she was trying to decide if his tenderness was genuine, he was trying to gauge if she would exploit it.
"Regardless," Jak finished. "I wanted you to know that I respect everything you have achieved, and would never take advantage of our friendship or any feelings we have –"
"Feelings? What feelings?" Titania moved her cue-stick, indicating the past. "We kissed once Jarhead."
"I know, I remember. It was Christmas Eve, the year I found Oogie Boogie. We were at the Triton Christmas party. We were both lonely. You were wearing a gold gown. You – " Jak felt a little awkward. But he couldn't lie. "You looked amazing."
"No shit I always look amazing." Titania tried not to grin. "So fuck your feelings. Like you said. It was Christmas. We were both lonely. It was just a kiss."
Jak nodded soberly. "Well, despite that, feelings or no feelings, I would never lead you on. I just wanted you to know that. Aelius was in trouble, I needed help from someone I could trust."
Titania clenched and unclenched her cue-stick. Presently, she nodded. "Okay. I believe you. Thanks."
"Yeah. Yeah of course." Jak sipped his beer. With it, he swallowed a load of anxiety. "Want to watch the game?"
"I guess." Titania slanted the cue-stick invitingly against her inner thigh. "Unless you can think of something better."
Jak did a double take. Titania tapped the cue-stick, drawing his attention exactly where it needed to go.
"We did agree to fuck our feelings." She leaned into him, cue-stick planted like a spear. Mannerisms similar to Tinkerbell, she undid a blouse button, letting her cleavage hang. "Right, Jarhead?"
Jak's desires begged to be let loose, but he was tethered to years of mistrust. Titania's sexual prowess was mythical amongst military men, but that wasn't enough. Jak wanted to know Titania would love him no matter what. He he wanted their souls knotted into one lifeline.
Titania touched his cheek with hers. Jak hesitantly cradled her head. The tenderness between them was so gentle, it hurt to think it could be without depth.
The thought of wholeheartedly trusting Titania was so tempting -
But could be actually do it?
Jak glimpsed something through Titania's wings. The football game had paused for a time out, and videographers were projecting students on the jumbotron. The students were wild as always, but one girl stood out like sore thumb.
Jak's inner marine shot his twelve-year-old self through the heart.
"Whatever." he murmured, bringing Titania over his hips so he wouldn't have to look at the T.V., or the girl kissing the Viking who held her.
Drake's kiss, which was Gwen's first kiss, gave rebirth to her inner princess, the person who she had been as a child, the little girl who wore fairy wings, played tea party, and believed in magic tea. He transformed the fantasy of her childhood into a sensual teenage romance for everyone to see on the jumbotron.
Everyone including –
"Dad?!"
Horror and embarrassment almost knocked Gwen unconscious. Peter was floating before them, murder on his mind and fire in his eyes. The stadium cringed as he took Gwen's hand and dragged her from the bleachers.
"Come with me! We're going home! I can't believe my daughter would dress – would kiss – I mean--"
Peter was beside himself. "What will your mother think?!"
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sultal's note:
1. It KILLS me to make Fantasia's colors orange and purple, bc my home college team is orange and blue! Sorry Clemson folks -- I respect your game but I'm not a fan. Regardless, the "magic" of orange and purple pair well for the colors of Fantasia!
2. VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT. I believe in hard work. I strive for excellence. As a Slytherclaw, I am 50% creativity and 50% ambition. My creativity is here, in this story. My ambition is here, but it is also in my healthcare career.
So, for better AND worse, I will be going back to school for my residency program. It will be 1 year of studying and discipline.
I will write every day, even if it's a sentence. But my posts will be fewer (I know that is frustrating, because they are few now).
Please PLEASE realize that even if I don't post often in the next year, I am ALWAYS aching to be immersed in this story. I want to be a writer, but this is a path I must take for my career in healthcare.
Women in STEM - you know it matters.
Again, my dream is here. I will devote any free time that I can, as I return to school (while also having a full time job). Thank you for staying with me and these characters.
keep writing -