Calm Betwixt the Storms

Jed stared at him in the dark, unblinking, the sole light from the muted motel TV giving flickering shape to his peaceful, lips-parted slumber. Unable to resist, he kissed Ehren’s mouth softly; it was a pure and sincere gesture, with nary a hint of regret or hesitation. Crouched over his once-secret lover’s naked form, he proceeded to run his fingers through his thick, dark hair, their bodies touching again under the large, thin blanket that somehow, miraculously and continuously, kept the airconditioned chill at bay.

Ehren stirred, scratched his left cheek, and quietly exhaled, “Hnnnnnhhhrrrr… heyyy…”

They hugged abruptly and fiercely, and tossed aside their “magic” blanket, suddenly excited that their bodies were generating their own protective warmth.

“God, I love you so much,” Ehren whispered.

Jed didn’t reply anymore, as his mouth was busy doing other things. He’s used to replying in actions, anyway, and that particularly endeared him to sweet, loyal Ehren early on. Their bodies blurred, heaved and thumped their shifting, slapping percussion beats, until they rapidly gasped into a spasm, in unison, eight minutes later. They burst into loud giggles and happy cussing, unmindful of the sheet of paper posted at the door (and it was posted at every door) that hopelessly requested, “PLEASE OBSERVE SILENCE”.

“Hmh… that chubby veejay’s so cuuute… he needs a veejaying workshop, but damn, he’s so ooomffff!” Jed said while shaking the remote control giddily. “I rode a jeep last week with the seats covered in tarpaulin banners of his first ad… remember that? So anyway, I sat on his face--well, his tarpaulin face--so, yuumm…”

“Jed. She knows,” Ehren interrupted.

“Who? Knows what?!”

“Rubie Regalia. She knows that we’re on to her. It’s only a matter of time until she tracks one of us careless or drunk enough to stray off of Andy’s mind-maps, and breaks him or her into revealing each and every Alternatural’s location. Andy and Octophelia are gathering the others right now. I’m needed, Jed. We need volunteers too. So, are you--”

“But… but the others can handle it. You don’t have to be Spectro anymore. Come on! I gave up being Jacob the Fibber for you. There are dozens of them, Ehren… please, stay.”

“I’m needed. I gotta do this. You know I should. There isn’t much time left. And once Regalia mobilizes her troops—we’ve seen her organizing a new Core Four already—we’re all done for. I mean, that earth elemental Gaulus? He’s a confirmed member already. Our team’s gonna be needing me and some of the other heavy hitters. And please, don’t use telepathy on me to keep me from the job this time.”

Jed’s brow knitted. He pulled the blanket up to his shoulders and quietly stared at the still-muted TV.

Ehren sat down and stood up; activating his mystically spawned gift of speed, he rushed to the bathroom to briskly clean up for at least half a minute. He sped out back, while a playful glow of colors from his chest emitted heat that dried his dripping body in barely three seconds.

He then manifested his uniform by thought, which enveloped his glistening physique like interconnecting tentacles of spandex, leather and enduramesh. Jed has seen this transformation numerous times before, and has always shown enthusiasm for the “kinky” aspects of every private spectacle. But he just sat there on the bed this time, unmoving and his eyes transfixed on the old Kylie video.

“Bye, baby,” Ehren said after planting a kiss on the sulking Jed’s left cheek. "I’ll be back as soon as I can. Just yell if there’s anything wrong. You know the drill. I… I’m sorry, but I gotta go now. Oh, and the car needs gas, don’t forget.”

Ehren opened the window and flew off, leaving a streak of tiny red and gold sparks in his wake. Jed slowly moved his head to the direction of the open window, whose curtains fluttered violently at the intruding post-typhoon winds.

He sighed, tisked and flipped the remote to change the channel.