Wrath and Love

Wrath and Love: Chapter Ten


Todd looked up from his journal, shocked by the sudden loud thumping on the door to his quarters that forced him out of his thoughts. Reluctantly, he closed the plain black notebook, slipping it between the cushions of the couch as he rose from it to answer his insistent caller. “Uh, hey, Marla. Can I help you?”

“You're going to be my date for the Valentines Day dance tonight.” The woman leveled him with an imposing stare and a deceptively inviting smile.

“O-oh,” he frowned, “but I've already told Miss Reilly that I'm not going.”

At first, when his only real interaction with Dr. Marla had been as her patient in the camp, he had thought that the air of authority that she always seemed to carry about her was a facet of her job. When she continued to treat him somewhat forcefully after the move, he had thought that it was some kind of Satanic superiority thing, but now, having gotten to know her better, as well as observe her treating almost everyone else in the same manner, sometimes with much less consideration of feelings, he was convinced that it was just an intrinsic part of her personality. Watching her show submissiveness toward Pepito, even over the phone, was like watching a well practiced and highly calculated act.

Marla rolled her hazel eyes, sending him a small smile all the same. “I don't think she'll mind. Who do you think suggested that I invite you?”

That figured. He chose to pretend that the order really had been a request, even though he could already tell that there was no way he was going to worm his way out of it. “Well, I guess I could come down...for a little while.”

“Good. Because I'm expected to be there, and you're one of the only people here that I can stomach for most of the night. Come by my room at 7 o'clock.” She turned to go, stopping half a second later to face him again as she pulled an envelop from the satchel that nearly always accompanied her. “I forgot, Rosemary asked me to bring up your mail.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Taking the item tentatively from her hand, he raised a brow at the pink color, closing the door when Marla walked away. The only person who ever sent him mail was, of course, Pepito as he was still a prisoner of the state. This didn't stop him from receiving it in abundance though. Ever since the President had returned to New York nearly two months ago, he had been sending Todd a steady assortment of packages and even a few cards, but none of them had been pink. It had to be the season.

The man slid his index finger along the sealing, accidentally tearing the envelop some, as was his accidental custom, so that he could pull out an electronic card. There was a picture on the front of the two of them as young teenagers. The words “whenever I call you friend” were printed in red letters down the side on top of a typical heart-patterned boarder. He ran his finger over one heart at the bottom that stood out because of its larger size and darker color, and a familiar song of the same title began to play.

He gave a short laugh as he returned to the couch with the card still playing, putting his legs up and leaning back against a plush pillow that covered the arm rest. It was funny because he and Pepito had both always considered that sort of thing to be irredeemably cliché, much like the holiday itself...not to mention completely commercialized.

That was, supposedly, why Pepito had decided in middle school that they should start spending that day together instead of with any potential dates...not that Todd had had any to give up back then. He had said something about friendship being the truest form of love, and most romantic relationships being built on lies, and Todd had quietly agreed, not having had any experience with that sort of thing...the sort of thing where 'involved' people actually loved each other. Not that he had many friends either, but the ones that he did have did seem to genuinely care about him...in their own ways.

At first they had spent their time together as they would on any normal sleepover, doing their best to ignore any trappings of the holiday, with the one exception of Mrs. Diablo's Valentine's Day cupcakes, but at some point Pepito had decided that cliché things were amusing, especially when used in an over the top, if not quite traditional, manner. Todd thought that the cards had probably started at about eighth grade. They had always born some variation of the ever popular “be mine” angle, except that, coming from the Antichrist, that request took on a whole new meaning that had nothing to do with flowers and candy and more to do with inverted pentacles and world conquest.

Eventually, they had added more trappings to what had become almost a parody of the holiday, many of which, like the cards, centered around Pepito's long standing quest to win his soul. It was mostly little things, obvious jokes, but sometimes the demonic youth would throw a more substantial, more serious offer his way.

Todd had always dreaded those offers. For one thing, sometimes they really were tempting, and that was scary. Another reason was how let down Pepito had always looked after one of his bigger, more thought out offers failed to get him what he wanted. It made Todd think that maybe that was the whole point of Pepito being his friend. That thought was more painful than he'd like to admit, and the pain reminded him that he really shouldn't have let himself become so attached to someone like Pepito to begin with.

Because of the nature that the holiday had taken on over the years, he hadn't expected Pepito to still want to celebrate it with him senior year, after he had turned down any such requests permanently. Instead of admitting it or wallowing in self-pity, he had planned on replacing his usual routine with a stack of his favorite books and maybe a movie on the small, black and white TV/radio in his room, but the Antichrist had abducted him after school that day just like always. He had even gotten another card that year, although the “be mine” had been noticeably missing.

Todd shook his head, placing the card on the coffee table so that he could get dressed for his fast approaching “date”. He quickly selected one of the few dress suits that Pepito had ordered for him before leaving. At the time he had thought that it would be a bit superfluous, but as it turned out, Rosemary was quite the entertainer...especially for someone who was technically not even a citizen of the new order...

The phone rang when he was making yet another doomed attempt to fix the tie for the suit, causing him to let out a frustrated grunt as he gave up for the time being. On his way back into the bedroom to answer it, he glanced at the clock on his nightstand. He still had a good twenty minutes, so it probably wasn't Marla calling to tell him that he was late. “Hello?”

“Open your door.”

“Pepito, tell me you didn't get me another present. I really don't know what to do with all this stuff.”

“Sorry, Amigo. I couldn't help it. Just open up.”

“Alright, alright. I'm going.” Rolling his eyes, Todd walked through the small living room, fumbling with the phone as he finished rebuttoning his shirt before finally opening the door.

“Surprise!” Pepito clicked off his own phone, returning it to the pocket of his jacket.

“Pepito! You-” The words stopped dead in his throat as he was nearly lifted off the floor when Pepito swung him around in a tight hug. He was laughing by third round, and then Pepito let go, ruffling his freshly combed hair along the way.

The half-demon smiled at the disarray that was his doing. “Miss me?”

Todd cocked his head to the side as if the question merited serious consideration, though there was never really a doubt in his mind. “Yes. What are you doing here?”

“I finally managed to get things under control enough to take a short vacation. My mother has this party every year, and I've never gone. Of course, I didn't bring a date, so I may have to crash yours. You don't mind, do you?”

Todd shrugged. “Not really. Marla was kind of forcing me to go anyway.”

“She told me. But you're not getting out of it, you know.” Pushing himself off of the door frame, where he had been leaning back, Pepito walked further into Todd's quarters, letting the door close softly behind them with a little help from his powers.

“But, you just said you're stealing my date.” Todd crossed his arms to signify a type of solid resolution that, for the most part, only martyrs and teenagers possess. “You can't make me go alone. I didn't even want to go to begin with!”

“I said that I'm crashing your date, not that I'm stealing it. We're all going. Together.”

Todd blinked at him stupidly. “I really don't mind not going. Really. You and Marla should go together anyway; you're...” He stopped, realizing that he had never actually heard it confirmed, “are you dating?”

“Not...dating...exactly. No.” It was more like a political courtship with a sexual undertone, but Todd probably wouldn't understand that sort of thing, though it was fairly common in demonic and political circles...and especially when said circles were both demonic and political.

“But you like her, right?”

“Yeah. She's intelligent, funny, competent, dedicated without being truly submissive. She's a good Satanist and a good friend. However, she's not...well, to be honest, Todd, she's not you. She might make a good wife and queen someday...kings of Hell are expected to have many mates, you know. But she'll never be my best friend. And you know you've always been my valentine. So if I'm stealing anyone's date, it's Marla's, but I'd rather not because, as you said, I like her and I think that's rather rude. Wouldn't you agree?”

Todd nodded, though in many ways he was now even more confused. “But what about all those people, guests. Won't they think that it's really...odd?”

“Heh. Let them. They know better that to say it, even if they think it. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good. Now let's get you ready. Can you still not tie a tie properly?” He let out a huff of amused disbelief. “Come here.”

When they had both arrived at Marla's door together, Todd noted that she seemed distinctly unsurprised, leaving him to conclude that Pepito had probably called her first about the whole thing. They received a lot of attention when they entered the ball room together, but so far as he could tell, it was only because of Pepito's status as World President and the owner of the house.

No, the real strange looks hadn't started until Pepito had eventually asked him, at length until Marla had finally intervened to threaten him until he caved, to dance with him. But he had to admit that even then the looks had been subdued and not shared by most of the party-goers.

Pepito looked behind him, where Todd's line of vision led, laughing at several people who had instantly looked away and committing them to memory. There were, of course, other people dancing with a person of the same sex, who were receiving no extra attention from the crowd, but he supposed that heterosexism was more easily uncovered when it involved someone who was supposed to be your leader or even your God. “Don't worry about them, Todd. The old ways are dying, whether they really understand what that means or not. Just follow my movements. And stop trying to lead.”

Despite the slight awkwardness of the situation, Todd managed a small grin himself. “Sorry. Force of habit. I've never danced with a guy before.” That and he hardly knew anything about more formal, high society dancing anyway. Luckily, the music soon changed to a slow and mushy song that required no actual talent or training, and he quickly adapted.

Pulling Todd closer so that they could talk without being overheard, Pepito smirked at the pink tint that rose in the man's cheeks. “Thank you, Todd.”

“For dancing with you? It's...not so bad...once you get used to it.”

“That, and coming here with me...and for the last few months. I was afraid that we'd never get this back.”

“This?” Todd raised a brow.

“Our friendship. I know it isn't...exactly as it used to be, but we've been getting along pretty well, right? Even if it is because I've been on the other side of the country and our interaction has been purely through telephone?” That last premise was actually highly possible. With him so far away, Todd could talk to him without any kind of fear that he would blow up. If things got too heated on either end, one of them could simply hang up, and they would try again in a couple of days. But hopefully by now they were passed that point anyway.

“Yeah,” Todd nodded, “Yeah, I guess we have.” To be honest, while he too was grateful for the change in their relationship that he hadn't really expected to work out so well, he also felt a little guilty. So many people were living in horrid conditions while he was not only living in luxury, but also trying to improve his friendship with the one who was responsible for it all. Still, being friends with Pepito might well be the best way for him to try to help those people under the circumstances, and it seemed to be helping Pepito as well.

The song started to fade out, and even more people stared when Marla draped her arms around them both for the last of the dance. “Mind if I take my date back for the next song?”

Pepito let the other two break away from him with an easy lift of his shoulders. “Of course.” Todd gave him a fleeting look of apprehension before they were sucked into the crowd. He turned to head back to his table, only to find his mother standing in his way. He bowed playfully, offering his hand. “May I have this dance?”

Mirth tugged her lips up a little more as she took her son's hand and they joined the other dancers. She hadn't seen Pepito so much, well, himself in years, but at the same time, she couldn't help but worry about the reason behind it. “Pepito, what are you doing?”

“What you do mean, Mother?”

“With Todd?”

His brow furrowed. “You told me to be his friend.”

“Yes, darling. Be his friend, but I don't think you should try to pursue anything more.”

“Anything...more?”

“Don't give me that, young man. I may be losing my charms, but my sight is just fine. I know that look.”

“There's no look!,” He let out an exasperated laugh, “And even if there was, I don't see how-”

“There is a look! It's the same one you used to give him back in high school, and you remember how well that turned out.”

“Of course, Mother, but...things change. People change.”

“Besides, I thought you were interested in Marla.”

“Well, you thought wrong then, didn't you?” Okay, so that was a little exaggerated, but the conversation was starting to grate on his nerves. His mother had never been the type to pry into his love or sex life before, much less push her opinion of whom he should be with on him.

“What's wrong with Marla?”

“Nothing's wrong with Marla! I like Marla. Do you want me to be with Marla? You acting like I've just told you you'll never have grandkids or something, which is odd because I thought that you had already given up on that, what with the coming Armageddon and all. You do realize that any kids that I might have will be well out of your reach in Heaven, correct?”

“Pepito, this isn't about grandchildren! Or about Todd's sex organs! It's about Todd as a person. He's...well, don't you think that Marla's a better match for you? More your type of person?”

“Not really. I wouldn't mind having sex with her or even marrying her to form a strong political front, but I just don't love her. And she doesn't love me either.”

“Pepito!”

He exhaled heavily. “I'm sorry, Mother, but this is ridiculous. You can't keep prying like this and expect not to learn anything unwanted. And I thought you liked Todd. Hell, you act like you like him more than you like me!”

“I do! I mean, I love him. Not more than you, sweetie. And I know you do too. That's why I think you should back off.”

“I'm not following.”

“Darling, Marla...she's a nice girl with a good head on her shoulders. And...she already belongs to you. Why can't that be good enough?”

“Oh,” he groaned, “this is about Hell again, isn't it?”

“I just don't see how you could want someone that you love to go there.”

“First of all, it wouldn't be Hell because I'm not going to lose. It will be the Earth, under Infernal rule. Secondly, I've been to Hell, and it's not that bad. You've never been to Heaven. For all you know you could be buying into a load. And lastly, this situation with Todd is far more complicated that you can imagine.”

“I'm sure.” She smiled bitterly. “But you're not going to bother finding out, are you?”

“I can't. It's classified. Just...please trust me when I say that I'll always do what I think is in his best interests.”

“Darling, your intentions...are not the part that I doubt.”

After a long night of dancing, wine and socialization, Pepito brought his dates back to his quarters to watch a few movies that his production company had churned out recently, which had yet to make it to the theaters for mass consumption. At the end of the first, Marla had left, claiming that she had an early morning the next day...or in a few hours that same day by then. By the middle of the second, Todd had fallen asleep with his head on Pepito's shoulder.

“Well, I guess this one's no good,” Pepito muttered to himself as he flicked the TV off, tossing the remote onto the coffee table with a soft clink. Of course, it could have simply been that Todd had had more excitement than he was used to now.

Resting his own head against the unconscious one, Pepito felt his eyelids become heavy. Sighing against the other's dark brown hair, he turned out the lights and summoned a blanket with his powers, putting an arm around Todd to make the position more comfortable. He probably should have put him to bed, but he knew that Todd had always had problems sleeping. He was too tried to to carry him down the hall, and waking up in Pepito's bed might not be received so well.

The Antichrist chuckled lowly at himself. He was making up excuses and he knew it. The truth was that he just didn't want to give up that causal intimacy that still had the feel of a miracle. Ick. Miracles. Even if it was one, he didn't think that he could turn it down. But it wasn't enough because he knew that, as things currently stood, he would have to let go.

He smiled. Maybe his mother had been right about “the look”. Before she had accused him of it, he hadn't really thought that much about whether or not he was still interested in Todd romantically, mostly because he had thought that it was irrelevant. His last attempt to protect him from the Christ spirit had failed, not completely, but still pretty horribly. Apparently wrath wasn't Todd's cup of sin; however, if his mother was that insistent that he not “pursue anything more” with the man, then that was as good a hint as any that pursuing it was exactly what he should be doing. It meant that she believed that it had a reasonable chance of working.

He pulled Todd a little closer, finally letting his own eyes close. He was going to have to thank her...much later, of course...after Todd was safely his.


Notes:

-Whenever I Call You Friend
By Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester

Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anything we are, you and I have always been
Ever and ever

I see myself within your eyes
And that's all I need to show me why
Everything I do always takes me home to you
Ever and ever

Now I know my life has given me more than memories
Day by day, we can see
In every moment there's a reason to carry on

Sweet love's showin us a heavenly light
I've never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowin on us every night
I know forever we'll be doin it right

Whenever I call you friend
I believe I've come to understand
Everywhere we are, you and I were meant to be
Ever and ever

I think about the times to come
Knowing I will be the lucky one
Ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend

Sweet love's showin us a heavenly light
I've never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowin on us every night
I know forever we'll be doin it right