It has been brought to my attention that I am annoying everyone to no end by doing my marathon Author's Notes, so today, as a favor to you ALL, it will be semi-brief. Except for the review response section, but that part doesn't pertain to most of you anyway, so... yeah. But I still expect reviews, people! There is much to review in this particular chappy... :D And I will say it ONE MORE TIME: the chapters are short because I feel the need to update more often than most authors (pretty much every other day, or at least every third day so far...) because I am a terribly impatient person. Having short chapters allows me to do this without chaining myself permanently to my computer to pump out super-long chapters. And sometimes, the things aren't even chapters, they are simply little bridge things to get us from one section into another without leaving everyone horribly confused. You know, like the second part of most trilogies -- they are pointless and they usually suck, but they are necessary to get from point “A” to point “C.” Understand? ::nods:: Good. :P

Just in case you haven't noticed, this is a Tabby-free zone! I don't hate Tabitcha, (no, that is not a typo, don't even get me started) she just doesn't work with the story. So that's why Mystique's room is still locked up! :D

And response to... (don't bother reading unless you've reviewed/read the reviews recently) *batE: Umm, yeah, I kinda snagged the whole “sugah” thing from the X-men movie and subsequent fanfics, but ya never know, Rogue coulda been all sweet and nice when she lived with the boys! In my perfect world, she was! :D *Kelly: Age has nothing to do with maturity level, which is what I base my rating judgments on... I mean, it's unreasonable to think that people will abide by the rating depending on their age. Kiddies of all shapes and sizes will be clicking on the thing just because it does say NC-17! (Hell, I would! I do!) So what does that tell me? Lil' kids can be converted into slash loving pervs too! XD And back onto the subject of Lance's barf: I saw it. There was no barf on that seat. Does this lead us to believe he was only dry-heaving? Cuz, maybe it's just me, but I though it sounded like real puking to me. (I'm surprised they were so graphic with the sound effects, if ya know what I mean...) But really, on the chair? Why not on the floor, where it's easily moppable, or better yet, go into the other room! Silly Avalanche! :D *Evil Bunny: Heavenly, angsty slash: the cure for everything that ails ya! ^o^ *R: See above -- first paragraph. And don't go making me feel all bad! ^_~

Disclaimer: As if! No, really, if you actually believe I own any of this (makes grand sweeping gesture) then I have some prime swamp land down in Florida you may be interested in... No, seriously. I don't own anything. (Duh?)



Chapter nine: *SCHWING!*



Instead of going to school, Lance spent the day coaxing the furnace to work again. He thanked his lucky stars when it sputtered to life around noon. At least some good came of me going through all those foster homes, he thought bitterly. You sure do pick up lot of cool things, like how to fix stuff. And break stuff.

Lance spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in Pietro's room in the armchair, staring at the bed, and wondering what had happened between the night from Heaven and the confrontation from Hell to change so much. Oh, yeah. He happened. He was just about to curl up in Pietro's bed to sleep and have nice PietroDreams (TM) when he heard it -- the telltale clanking followed by silence coming from the basement as the furnace died again.

"Dammit!"



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Pietro came home determined to set things straight with Lance. His talk with Rogue had really helped him sort out his feelings. When he walked through the front door, however, he was met with an, er, interesting sight: the massive toolbox from the garage had been emptied haphazardly on the floor. Tools were strewn everywhere. Pietro tripped over a large, complex-looking metal contraption that had been placed directly in front of the door.

"Owwie..." Pietro moaned quietly, rubbing his paining shin. That was gonna leave a bruise.



* * * * *



Lance had originally brought the toolbox inside to avoid making multiple trips all the way out to the garage every time he needed a new part or tool. He would have just brought the entire thing down to the basement, but he had two good reasons for not doing this: one, he wanted the tools in a centralized location, and two (the real reason) he didn`t want to risk carrying/hauling/dragging the huge thing down the stairs and have it fall on him and possibly break a bone, which would cost money, not to mention cause some major suspicion as to the whereabouts of his legal guardian. So Lance left the toolbox in the front hallway.

He knew that it was only a matter of time before they would need money for major repairs. Obviously, his furnace-fixing abilities were limited. Last time, the temperamental furnace had lasted for almost three weeks after Lance's fixing, but this morning's job had only gone for a few hours. They needed a professional, and they needed one desperately. For more than just the furnace. The stove was erratic; the dishwasher hadn't worked without leaking profusely ever since they'd moved in. The refrigerator was on it's way out as well. Lance had deduced that the only way they could afford the costly repairs and replacements was if he broke down and stole from Mystique. She would have to understand, right? She and Magneto had abandoned them, in the dead of winter, in an old, falling apart house! If she was even alive. Lance didn't like the possibility either way. He chose to ignore it for the time being and continue his focus on removing Mystique's bedroom door.



* * * * *



Pietro heard a muffled sound coming from upstairs, so he sped up the staircase to investigate. He was met with the pleasant view of Lance, in a tight white t-shirt and jeans and in the process of removing Mystique's door from it's hinges. Lance turned to face Pietro, some kind of tool between his teeth. (Not that kind of tool, you perverts! Get your minds out of the gutter and back into the middle of the street where they belong! XD)

Pietro wanted to drop to his knees and service the rock-tumbler that very second, he looked so sexy. Pietro practically drooled.

"Hey, gimme a hand?" Lance asked, tool in mouth.

"'Kay."

Pietro grabbed a screwdriver and had the door disconnected in about five seconds.

"Wow."

"Impressed?" Pietro asked with a small laugh. An awkward silence followed.

"Umm, I just wanted to, uh, apologize for, you know, this morning."

"S'okay."

"No, really, I was, like, a total jerk to you, and it was wrong. I'm sorry." Pietro finished lamely. Cripes! When did I start talking like a valley girl?!

"Really, it's okay, Pietro. I scared myself as much as you. I mean, it was the whole `no coffee' thing, I think..."

Suddenly, Pietro pounced and pinned Lance against the wall. "Are you sure about that?" Pietro whispered in his ear, and before Lance had a chance to respond, Pietro ran the tip of his tongue from Lance's jawbone all the way up his cheek. It was the single most erotic thing Lance had ever experienced. He went weak in the knees. Pietro looked Lance straight in the eyes, then pressed his lips to Lance's.

Lance was drowning in feeling, both emotional and physical. On the one hand, everything he'd been fantasizing about and praying for was happening right now, right this minute, and while dealing with that, he had to sort out the feelings of Pietro's tongue in his mouth, his lightning-quick fingertips traveling up and under his shirt; against his chest, along his back. He was so lost in the feeling, there was only room in his head for one thing: me-giggle-likies-Pietro-lots-giggle-giggle!

*SCHWING!*

To Be Continued...



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Ack! Short again! But I kinda had to leave it off there, cuz the next chapter is, well... It'll all come together eventually! Promise! :D

Didja like that part with the whole “running his tongue up Lance's cheek” thing? Real life adventure! I did that to my ex at school one day (loooong time ago). Just pinned him against the wall, whispered something rather inappropriate in his ear, licked `em, and sauntered off... it was hella hot! Had him following me around like a lovesick puppy for weeks before I acknowledged his presence again -- SO much fun! Drives the boys (and girls, I would imagine) wild! Ya'll should try it... works every time! :D

Summary continuation/update: Pietro wants Lance, Pietro makes plan, Pietro accomplishes plan (sort-of) Pietro changes/revises plan midway through, Lance acts on his own unknown-to Pietro-and-himself feelings, Lance blurts out mega serious but true three-words and kisses Pietro due to lack of caffeine, Lance feels guilty but relieved, Pietro freaks out, Todd blabs to Rogue (implied), Pietro confides in Rogue, Rogue comforts Pietro, Pietro goes home to sort things out with Lance, who is taking Mystique's door off it's hinges to gain access to the possible money/jewels/valuables inside so they can fix up the house, Pietro takes over and gets the door off in five seconds, Lance is impressed and says so, Pietro brushes it off and apologizes for being a retard earlier, Lance says it's okay, Pietro jumps Lance and, well, you know... :D

No trivia/cool quote(s)/crazy X-Men and/or Brotherhood related thing I do (so ya'll can laugh at me)/random category thing! today, and I'm not gonna lie to ya -- I'm just too damn lazy to do it. :P

Well, I lied -- one cool random thing! More of a question, really -- did everyone get the Wayne's World reference? (The very last line of the chapter, people.) Wayne's World rocks! :D I luvvvv Wayne's World!!

Please review! Reviews are coddled and pampered and luvved to pieces! =^.^=