Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 21:05:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Marvel Knights: Idol 8 Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. It has no intentions of resembling any real persons dead or alive. This is entirely from my imagination, with a little help from already established sources. This story is based loosely on the comic book character "The Punisher" from Marvel Comics. Other characters may appear from Marvel comics as well as DC Comics. Punisher and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics. Blade and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel copyright Joss Whedon, United Paramount Network and Warner Bros. Respectively. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. I have written another story on nifty entitled "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". It is in the Celebrity/Boy Bands section. Batman may appear in this story once or twice, as the Punisher may appear in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". Any comments may be sent to authorjames2002@yahoo.com Thank you and enjoy. Chapter 8 Promises The following morning, Weatherby and Johnny had to go to the grocery store for supplies for the mansion. But first they were to go to the hospital to visit the young man and dig for information. The two walked into Doctors Hospital and approached the gentleman at the reception desk. "Can I help you?" he asked. "We're looking for a young man that came in last night," Weatherby answered. "Do you have his name?" "No, but I'm the one who brought him in. I wanted to see how he was doing, maybe talk to him for a little bit." "Hold on one moment, please," the receptionist said. He looked through the computer for a moment and found some information. Then he picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Yes, I'm down here with the gentleman who said he brought in the young boy last night. Is the gentleman and his companion allowed to visit...Okay, I'll let him know. Thank you." The receptionist hung up the phone. "Yes, you may go visit him. He's in room 107 in the Pediatric Center." "Thanks." Weatherby and Johnny left the desk and headed to the Pediatric Wing. As they passed patients, Johnny sighed. "It's a shame there are so many sick people here." "I wonder how many of them were victimized by greedy, careless persons. Do all of these people have insurance to take care of themselves? If not, how are they going to pay their medical bills? Behold, the greatness of our nation." "Man, you have become awfully cynical," Johnny stated. "I've always been this way." "I never noticed it before." "That's because we never had the opportunity. We were either fucking or fighting others. And we can't forget your abduction." Johnny looked at Weatherby, who walked down the hall as if he didn't care. The two arrived in the Pediatric Wing and Johnny approached the nurses station. "Hi, we're looking for room 107." "Down the hall on your left," the nurse answered with a smile. "Thank you." Johnny and Weatherby went down the hall until they found the room. They knocked as they entered the open door and found the youth by himself. "Hey," Weatherby said as he approached the young man. The young man turned and looked at Weatherby narrowly. "Why the hell are you here? Did you bring your lady friend to hurt me some more?" "No. She didn't realize who she was hitting. She thought you were someone else." "Yeah, right. We complain about police brutality. Now we have vigilantes who are more brutal." "We aren't brutal to young people," Johnny said stepping forward. "In fact, that is why we are here, to check on you and to ask your help." "Help for what?" "I noticed your tattoo last night." "Yeah?" "How did you get it?" The young man became quiet and turned away. Weatherby walked around him and looked him in the face. "We know it is part of some religious order. That religious order isn't full of very nice people. If you tell us, we can help you." "Who said I needed help?" "We know the kind of people that are in this order," Johnny answered as he walked over to the boy. "We know that they aren't like anybody else you know. There is something about them that isn't exactly normal. They don't go out in daylight. You probably never see them eat." "Yeah, right," the boy said. "So you have seen them eat. Let me guess. They bite people and drink their blood." The boy's eyes widened. "How did you know?" "Let's just say we've dealt with people like that before. We fight them." "They won't like me saying anything." "We can protect you." "Really? How?" "The one last night that hit you," Weatherby said. "She has the power to fight the vampire. She is a Vampire Slayer. She mistook you for one. That's why she hit you so hard." "You have to believe us," Johnny pleaded. "What can you guys do?" he asked interested. "He shoots things," Johnny smiled. "I, on the other hand, have a unique gift." He walked over and closed the door. "Now, promise me you won't scream." "I won't," the boy answered. Johnny reached into his pocket and found the gas cap. He spoke an incantation and changed into Ghost Rider. The young boy's eyes widened in disbelief. Immediately, Johnny changed back. "You promised not to scream," Johnny replied. "How did you do that?" Weatherby asked. "I thought it only worked with the motorcycle." "Dr. Strange put a spell on it so I can do that. It is possible I might not be around my motorcycle when I need to change into Ghost Rider." "I'll talk. But I need to be sure I'm safe." "Someone will be here tonight," Weatherby answered. "We have some errands to run now. But someone will be here tonight. Johnny, can you place a protection spell over this room?" "Sure can," Johnny replied. "I haven't done one before, but I've read up on them." Johnny held his arms out to his side and muttered an incantation. What felt like a wave of energy pulsed out from him. "That's it," Johnny said. "He should be safe for the time being." "Good. Someone will be here tonight and you can tell us all about what happened to you, how you got involved and so forth." "Will you come?" the boy asked looking into Weatherby's eyes. "Sure," Weatherby replied. The boy nodded his thanks and the two Marvel Knights left. Around lunchtime, the singers in Orlando were allowed to return to their rooms for food. Ryan invited Davey and Harris up to their room for lunch. Harris sat down at the table. "You guys can sit on the bed," Ryan said as he jumped on the bed and folded his legs. "You won't get cooties. You might get some cum on your pants, though that is probably dry by now." "Excuse me, what did you say?" Harris asked. Ryan smiled. "Never mind. Just a goofy joke." Caleb took their orders and called them down to room service. "It should be ready in a half hour," he said as he hung up the phone. He walked over and sat down on the bed next to Ryan. Davey sat on the edge of the bed by Harris. "We're going to have to eat on the bed," Caleb said. "There won't be any room on the table for all of us. Come on over, Harris." Harris reluctantly got up and walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down on the edge. "How long have you guys been together?" Caleb asked Davey and Harris. "A few months now," Harris said, "since last spring." "That's cool." "How long have you guys been together?" Harris asked Caleb. "Oh, we're not together technically. We've been friends for a long time, though. I guess you could say our relationship is a 'friends with benefits' type." "You mean..." "We act like friends but have sex together." "Lots of sex," Ryan added. "And it's awesome! It's nice not having any pressure to be a specific way. We don't have to commit to each other so we can have sex with other people." "Do you?" Harris asked. "Do we what?" "Have sex with other people?" "Yep," Caleb answered. "Usually we bring those other people in when we have sex." "You mean..." "We have three-ways." "Don't either of you get bothered that the other person is having sex with other people?" "Not at all," Ryan said. "Like I said earlier, we don't have the pressure that couples might have. We don't let our hearts get involved. I mean, I care about Caleb a lot. But sex isn't always about caring. Most of the time, actually, it is about getting off. Most couples have sex simply out of lust and urges anyway. There's no difference." "Except for the fact that feelings could get in the way," Harris said. "And then someone ends up hurt." "Not if we decide from the start that we aren't going to let feelings get involved. If that happens, we stop having sex, plain and simple. It's not a contract. We know feelings can change. We just have a contingency plan." The food arrived and the four ate. Then they headed back down to continue practicing. To Be Continued...