by Anne
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency.The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, Thames/Tetra and ITV television. Highlander is the property of Panzer/Davis, Rysher/Gaumount Television. Stargate SG1 are owned by Stargate (ll) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Products. Alex belongs to Kevin and he's very possessive and overprotective so don't touch or even think about it. I promise to return the characters in one piece, more or less, when I'm finished, but hold no liability for any physical injury or psychological trauma sustained by them in my fiction.
Thanks to: Linda and Misanagi for beta reading.
[ ] indicates telepathy
Alex stretched his legs out in front of him, balancing the heavy textbook on his lap so it wouldn't fall into the sand. He regretted doing a summer uni paper on days like this, especially with the amount of reading attached to this one. At least he had Monday's off so it didn't interfere with his and Kevin's weekends. Time zones were a pain but he wanted to complete his teaching degree in New Zealand, and Kevin supported that decision, so they worked around their different hours the best way they could.
He heard the sound of the teleport behind him and smiled, caressing his lover through their telepathic bond. An arm snaked around his waist, and warm lips kissed the back of his neck. [ Nearly finished, love?] Kevin asked.
Shutting the book with a bang, Alex grinned and leaned back into Kevin's embrace. [ I am now. How was work?]
[ Frustrating.] Kevin kissed across Alex's neck. [ Colonel Maybourne decided to pay us a visit and was asking questions about that last artifact Daniel found. Sam wasn't very impressed.]
[ I can imagine.] Alex moaned softly, tilting his head to give Kevin better access. [ It sounds as though we both need some stress relief.]
[Subtle as ever,] Kevin chuckled against Alex's skin, pulling his shirt free of his jeans. It was warm in the sun, the breeze ruffling Kevin's hair so that it tickled the back of Alex's neck.
[It saves time.] Alex sighed contentedly. He turned so that they were facing each other. [I missed you today.] Another detrimental point about this paper was not being able to work at the SGC with Kevin during the long break. Undoing the top button of Kevin's shirt and loosening his tie, Alex pulled his lover down for a long kiss. Although they had been together for just over two years, they still couldn’t keep their hands off each other and he didn't want that to ever change.
[I missed you too, Alex.] Kevin smirked into the kiss. [You were too much of a temptation sitting in the sun. I thought we could sample dessert first and then think about what to have for dinner once we get home.]
Alex blushed. He focused his telekinetic abilities and undid the first notch of Kevin's belt. [You're hot.] Licking his lips slowly, he matched Kevin's smirk. [What if we make this an appetiser and have dessert when we get home?] He opened their bond wider, sending Kevin a mental image of chocolate ice cream dripping….
[Oh god] Kevin groaned, his fingers fumbling for the buttons on Alex's shirt. [You're an evil man, Alex MacDonald.]
[Me?] Alex feigned innocence. This was a game they played often. [I'm a good catholic boy.] He finished undoing Kevin's belt and eased down the zipper on his fly to prove his point.
Kevin slid Alex's shirt off his shoulders, and kissed down his chest. [You're anything but…] He stopped and frowned.
[Kevin?] Alex paused, his hand on the waistband of Kevin's boxers.
[I felt something.] Kevin was still frowning, his eyes scanning the beach. [Someone.] If this was one of the other Tomorrow People, their timing sucked.
[Do you want to continue this at home?] Alex removed his hand, but didn't bother to grab his shirt from where it had fallen onto the sand. There was no point if they were both going to be naked in a few minutes. He reached out telepathically, but couldn't sense anything. "Are you sure there's someone there?"
"Not telepathic." Kevin shook his head, standing, brushing the sand from his trousers as he refastened them. "Maybe…" His eyes glazed over. "There's someone in the water! Too far out to see but they are there. I can feel them."
"Empathically?" Alex asked. It wasn't a power he possessed; his own edge power was something quite different. He stood, straining his eyes but couldn't see anything. "If it's a new Tomorrow Person I should be able to sense them and I can't." He kicked off his shoes, just in case. "Do they need help?"
"Fear, panic, disorientation." Kevin spoke quickly, sounding slightly out of it. He took off his shoes. Sea water was hell to get out of leather. "I'm going to port out there and take a look. You stay here until…"
"No!" Alex shook his head. "I'm coming with you." If someone needed help, he wasn't going to sit on the beach and do nothing. Nor would he let Kevin teleport into a potentially dangerous situation alone. He undid his jeans and stepped out of them.
Kevin glared at him. "No, Alex." He could be very overprotective at times, but whatever was out there they would face it together.
"We haven't got time to argue about this, Kevin," Alex pointed out practically. "I can port out again if I have to. Take off your trousers, the water will ruin them, and they're the new ones you just bought for work."
"You're stubborn as hell, and I know you'll just follow me anyway" Kevin complained, taking down his trousers. "Next time I take these off it won't be for a dip in the ocean." He held out his hand. As he could sense whoever was out there, he would have to initiate the teleport.
"Next time I'm getting you completely naked," Alex grinned, debated removing his glasses, and decided against it. He needed them to see and the worst that would happen is they would need cleaning. Taking Kevin's hand, Alex squeezed it reassuringly.
The beach faded and a split second later they were in the water. Directly in front of them were two boys about Alex's age, treading water. There was no boat or any other mode of transport in sight and they were both fully dressed, their clothes waterlogged and heavy.
"What the hell?" The brunet glared at them. His friend opened his mouth, swallowed sea water and coughed. "Quatre?"
The blond boy shook his head. "I'm okay, Trowa." He was struggling to stay afloat. Trowa moved closer, snaking his arm around him in a very familiar protective and possessive gesture. Quatre began to protest and then leaned back against him.
"You can't swim," Alex told Quatre. The water was cold. They were a long way out from land. But, how could they be here without a boat if they hadn't teleported? He swam closer to the boys. Kevin was faster.
"How did you get out here?" Kevin asked. [Quatre's projecting strongly, Trowa not as much.] Closing his eyes, he focused. [They aren't Tomorrow People but…]
[Kevin?] Alex followed Kevin's lead and switched to telepathy.
"Our ship came down," Trowa said. The wording was odd. Ships didn't come down, they went down. "Where are we? Where did you come from?" His grip strengthened around Quatre.
[Quatre's empathic. Like me.] Kevin frowned. "I don't see a ship." He shivered. Neither he nor Alex were dressed for an extended swim in the ocean, and especially not this far out.
"We came to rescue you," Alex said brightly. "The water's cold. We can talk about this later." Trowa glared at him; Alex returned it unflinching.
"Thank you," Quatre said, pushing himself free from Trowa, and floating on his back for a moment before treading water again. Alex caught sight of something metallic and a holster. God, was that a gun? "How far away is land? How did you get here? You seemed to appear out of thin air." Quatre didn't seem scared, just curious.
[Kevin, he's got a gun.] Alex sneezed, water fogged his glasses, and he swore under his breath.
[They both have.] Kevin placed a warning hand on Alex's arm. [You're cold.]
[I'm fine. We need to get them out of the water. We need to get out of the water.] Alex bit his lip, cursing his bad eyesight. He removed his glasses, wiped them on the wet collar of Kevin's shirt, and put them back on again. Not perfect, but better.
[Port back to the beach. I'll bring one and come back for the other.] Kevin was watching Quatre and Trowa carefully. This was ridiculous, and the water was getting colder.
[No. They have guns. I'm not leaving you.] Alex shook his head and focused telepathically, but couldn't pick up on any surface thoughts. [Do they feel like they mean us any harm?] They couldn't just leave them here to drown; killing wasn't an option for a Tomorrow Person. If Quatre was an Empath, how could he have a gun, let alone use it?
Trowa glanced between them, his eyes narrowing. "Do you have a boat?" Watching the way he kept looking at Quatre, Alex realised that it was doubtful that Trowa would let Quatre out of his sight, either by allowing him to be teleported to by being teleported himself. They didn't have the luxury of the time to argue about this.
"No," Kevin frowned. [No, but…]
"We can't stay here talking," Alex decided, trusting Kevin's instincts. He extended his hand to Quatre; it made sense to teleport him first as he couldn’t swim. Alex knew Kevin wouldn't be happy about this, but they would worry about details later. Besides, he could always teleport again once they reached the beach. "Give me your hand and I'll take you to the beach."
"Don't touch him!" Trowa exclaimed, reaching for Quatre at the same time the blond took Alex's hand.
"Alex! No!' Kevin yelled, but Alex focused and teleported, taking Quatre with him.
Damn it! Alex could be so stubborn and pig-headed when he put his mind to something. [Alex! What the hell do you..?] Kevin 'pathed, ignoring the look on Trowa's face.
[We're fine. I'm getting towels from the ship. You need to get out of the water.] Alex refused to argue, which made what he had done even more infuriating. Didn't he realise what danger he had put himself in?
"Where's Quatre?" Trowa's voice was very quiet. He was angry. Kevin cringed, forcing himself to keep his empathic shielding lowered. It was important to know what Trowa was feeling in order to anticipate any moves he might make. "You are going to take him to me. Now."
"Now?" Kevin looked at Trowa and shook his head. This guy was dangerous and there was no way in hell Kevin would put Alex at further risk, as much as he was worried about leaving him alone with Quatre. "I'll take you when you've dropped your weapon into the ocean. Not before."
"That's not an option." Trowa didn't move. "Where's Quatre? What have you done with him?" Trowa closed his eyes for a moment and Kevin felt something, although he couldn't be sure what exactly, brush against him empathically. He frowned. But Trowa wasn't empathic, was he?
"It's the only option you have," Kevin said, firmly. "Drop your weapon or I'll teleport without you and leave you. It's a long swim to shore."
"I believe in making my own options." Trowa dived under the water. Kevin looked around, and muttered under his breath.
[Kevin? What's going on?] Alex was worried. [Quatre's not happy. He's making me nervous.]
[Get out of there. Leave him and port to the ship.] Kevin shook his head although Alex couldn't see him. [Trowa's not….] Kevin gasped, getting a mouth full of salt water as he was pulled under water, arms tightening around him.
[Kevin! Kevin!] Alex sounded frantic. [I'm coming back out for you….] He went quiet. [Oh fuck]
[Alex!] Without thinking, Kevin teleported, taking Trowa with him. Materialising on the beach, Trowa didn't loosen his grip, although his breath was coming in gasps and he was clearly shaken. Alex was pale, Quatre pointing a gun at him. "Teleport, Alex! Teleport!" Kevin yelled.
"I…can't." Alex was terrified; Kevin could see glimpses of his lover's thoughts, of his memories. "Kevin…."
"Put the gun down. Please." Kevin didn't dare teleport himself, even to place himself between Alex and the gun. He wouldn't be fast enough.
"Let him go, Trowa." Quatre kept pointing the gun at Alex. "I'll put the gun down once he's moved well away from you."
"I want some answers first," Trowa said. "There is nothing to stop him disappearing and leaving us here, apart from the fact you have a gun pointed at his friend."
"Let Kevin go, please." Alex was shaking. [I won't let someone hurt you again because of me, Kevin. I can't. You have to teleport. Please.]
[No! I'm not leaving you.] Kevin tried to project calmness to Alex. Something sparked on the edge of their bond. Fuck fuck fuck. Not now. [Alex, love. It's okay. You have to calm down.]
"You give me the answers and I'll let him go," Trowa told Alex. "It's your decision." Kevin cringed, frozen, knowing the effect those words would have on his lover.
"Trowa. No." Quatre shook his head, rubbing at his chest. He was staring at Alex, frowning as though trying to put together pieces of a puzzle.
Alex let out a strangled moan, dropped to his knees, his hands over his head. "Get out, Kevin! Get out!" he screamed. Seemingly out of nowhere, a wind began whipping the sand around them heading towards Trowa and Kevin. They were thrown through the air, and slammed against the ground. Although dazed, Kevin tried to teleport to Alex, and couldn't.
"Alex! No!" Kevin frantically kept projecting calm through their bond, opening it as widely as he could. Damn those Hunters and what they had done. Damn this fucking so-called edge power. He knew what would happen next, and that he was powerless to stop it. Around him the sand kept moving, the out of control telekinetic power forcing it through the air.
Dropping the gun, Quatre was moving towards Trowa, running. "I'm unarmed. Turn this off!"
"He fucking can't." Kevin rarely lost control like this in front of others, but he didn't care. Forcing himself to his feet, he took a shaky step towards Alex. "Please, love. Please."
Alex looked up, his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed in a crumpled ball on the sand. Immediately the sand storm stopped; everything calmed. Kevin ran to Alex, cradling him in his arms. "I hope you're happy," he glared at Trowa and Quatre.
"What was that?" Quatre was pressed up against Trowa, the taller boy's arms around the blond's waist, both of them covered in sand, it sticking to their wet clothes, skin and hair. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked Trowa.
"I'm fine, Cat." Trowa shook his head and grimaced. His voice was very calm. He was angry and scared although not for his own safety but for Quatre. The emotions flowing between them were very strong.
Protectiveness, anger, concern, and love
Kevin slammed up his empathic shields, protecting himself and Alex. Quatre and Trowa were together. Frowning, Kevin focused. They weren't bonded, but…
"Who are you people? Are you even human?" Trowa's question cut across Kevin's thoughts. He was thankful it had been asked before Alex regained consciousness. His lover had enough issues about that after what he had been through at the hands of Galt and the Hunters.
"If you ask or imply anything of that like in front of Alex, I will kill you." Kevin spoke calmly, his masks firmly back in place, at least on the outside. Inwardly was another matter altogether. Trowa did not need to know that Tomorrow People couldn't kill; he and Quatre had seen enough to be a risk as it was.
[Alex? Kevin? Are you guys okay?] Megabyte asked telepathically. [What the fuck just happened? Want me and Adam to come over?]
[Not yet,] Kevin warned. [We have visitors. Alex's edge power kicked in.]
"He acted to protect you, didn't he?" Quatre asked softly. "That was all we were doing, trying to protect each other." He glanced at Alex, who was shifting restlessly in Kevin's lap. "Is he okay?"
[Did someone threaten you?] Adam asked. He didn't miss much. [Be careful. We'll be over in a few minutes. Where are you?]
[On the island.] Kevin sighed, recognising the 'tone' in Adam's voice. When he decided to play overprotective big brother there was no stopping him. Megabyte, on occasion, wasn't much better, although he would never admit to it. He raised his telepathic shielding before the girls decided to get in on the act.
"He will be," Kevin told Quatre. "Thank you for your concern." It was genuine, Kevin could feel it. He decided to ask a few questions of his own. "How did you and Trowa end up in the water? It's a long way out from land." Hopefully, Quatre would be more forthcoming with answers than Trowa had been.
"I don't know," Quatre admitted. "It's very confusing." He paused, thoughtful. "The way you and Alex appear and disappear, it's not technology, is it?"
Alex groaned, saving Kevin from having to reply. Kevin stroked his brow, making soothing noises. Alex would have a headache when he came around. He always did. [It's okay, love. I'm here.]
[You're okay.] Alex opened his eyes, and struggled into a sitting position. He turned, saw Trowa and Quatre, and tried to pull Kevin closer. [He was going to hurt you. ]
[It's okay, love,] Kevin repeated soothingly. "I don't think they mean us any harm." He looked at Quatre, reached out empathically, felt nothing threatening and relaxed.
"He pulled a gun on me, Kevin. Trowa was hurting you. That's not exactly not meaning us any harm." Alex sat up, shook his head, and grimaced. [Could you hand me my shirt? I'm cold.] Kevin looked around for it, noticing it lying in the sand next to a couple of the towels they kept in the ship.
Stretching over, he grabbed it and handed it to Alex. "When did Quatre pull the gun on you?" Both Trowa and Quatre had been watching them carefully; Kevin didn't want them to work out about the telepathy just yet.
"After I ported back," Alex admitted pulling on his shirt. [From the ship.] He shivered. His edge power always left him off-kilter for quite a while afterwards. It also scared him.
"I was worried about Trowa," Quatre said. "If you had disappeared again, I could have lost him."
"I was worried about Kevin but I wouldn't have pointed a gun at you," Alex snapped. He couldn't have even if he had wanted to, but that was beside the point. Arguing with Alex over that fact would also be a waste of time. "I also wouldn't have pulled Trowa under the water." He glared at Trowa, who matched it with one of his own.
"How did you know about that?" Trowa glanced between Kevin and Alex. "I repeat. Who are you? What are you?"
Three flashes of light solidified in front of Kevin and Alex. Adam and Megabyte moved to place Ami between them instinctively. Adam frowned, covered it with a smile and took a step towards Trowa and Quatre. "Hi, I'm Adam. This is Megabyte and Ami."
Megabyte had never been as tactful. "Who the hell are you?"
Close window to return to Author's Index
Return to Dryer Space