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Once a label is on something
It becomes an ‘it’
Like it's no longer alive

It's like a loss of vision
Or some dark impression
Or a black spot on your eye
-Morcheeba

Movieverse: X2
What New York Couples Fight About



The 75-watt bulb overhead fills the bathroom with its dim thrum of electricity, and between the click of St. John’s lighter and the sound of jagged breathing, Bobby finds himself listening to the white noise of burning filaments.

Anything to fill the void and avoid the pain in his right hand.

Click fwoosh.

Bobby’s seriously fucked things up this time, and he does his best to keep his eyes firmly fixed on the yellowing tile and the toes of Johnny’s Pumas. Bobby remembers when St. John bought those Pumas; they’re in good shape for being almost six months old. If Bobby thinks hard enough he can probably also remember the date and what else Johnny bought that day.

If he’s been like this that long, it’s no wonder he’s in this position now.

There’s a slight shadow being cast by Johnny leaning back against the wall. At least that’s what Bobby thinks he’s doing. He hasn’t bothered to actually look at St. John since he got dragged into the bathroom five, ten, maybe fifteen minutes ago. It feels like it’s been five to ten hours.

“All you had to do was say something,” Johnny says finally. His tone is amused, yet… something else. It makes the hairs on Bobby’s neck stand at attention more than they already are. It’s possible they might wind up frozen.

St. John shouldn’t be amused; he should be fucking pissed off. He should be livid.

Bobby should be on fire. “I didn’t know what to say.”

Click fwoosh.

It’s a small bathroom and probably not meant to be shared. However, there are a lot of things that aren’t meant to be shared. Bobby is realizing this rather quickly.

With both him and St. John in the bathroom, though, crowded doesn’t really begin to describe it. The edge of the sink is poking him in the tailbone, and he would move, but he deserves a little discomfort after what he’s done.

He’s pretty sure about that. He’s never thought of himself as the possessive kind.

Bobby’s also never thought of himself as gay or bi or whatever, either.

He’s getting a crick in his neck from looking down so much

Click fwoosh.

“Whatever you think is happening, you’re wrong,” St. John says. His voice is low, but it rings in Bobby’s ears. The implications are pretty fucking clear. Bobby has no reason to be bitter and hateful.

He’s the one who said they were just messing around. Obviously Bobby was wrong. He underestimated his feelings for St. John considerably.

“I didn’t think anything,” he says

“Bull. Shit.” Click.

“Whatever.”

It takes Bobby a minute to realize the lighter hasn’t completed its regular exhalation. Click fwoosh. Click fwoosh. Bobby’s been going to sleep and waking up to the same sound for the last six years of his life, and he lifts his head just enough to see the bulge in St. John’s pocket and the fingers hooked into his belt loops.

“I always put you first,” St. John says.

Bobby closes his eyes. “I know.”

Bobby has always prided himself on his self-control, but all he’s feeling right now is shame. He didn’t have to hit Johnny. He didn’t have to hit Piotr, either, which is also quite possibly the stupidest thing he’s ever done. His right hand is throbbing. He’s probably fractured something.

Jealousy does strange things to people, and Bobby would like to say he’s never been jealous and doesn’t know what it’s like, but that would be a lie. A huge, great, big lie almost as prominent as the bruise that’s probably darkening under St. John’s left eye. It’s too early for the skin to be turning purple, but that will come soon enough.

Bobby’s eyes flutter open at the feel of St.John’s fingers on his hand. He blinks as Johnny moves directly into his personal space, forcing him to climb up on the counter of the sink; and it takes Bobby several seconds to realize that St. John has turned on the taps and is running his aching hand under cold water.

Johnny’s body feels incredibly warm, and the calluses from his hands are making Bobby forget about his bruised knuckles.

“Only an idiot would hit Piotr, you know,” Johnny points out, his eyes darting to Bobby’s face before looking back down at the basin of cold water. “You did more damage to yourself, dumbass.”

“Yeah, well. I hit you, too.” If Bobby apologized every day for the rest of his life, he’s still not sure he could convey how sorry he is. He blinks again as Johnny reaches around him and snags a dry towel.

“It’s not like it hurt,” St. John points out. He pulls back, cocking his head, and giving Bobby one of his smirks, which stirs up all sorts of butterflies, grasshoppers and green monsters in Bobby’s stomach.

Again, all Bobby can do is blink. His left hand is itching to touch Johnny and sooth the hurt; the rest of him just wants to beg for forgiveness. Bobby’s sorry, really sorry, but when his lips move, nothing comes out.

His breath hitches when Johnny leans in again, and Bobby sighs in Johnny’s right ear. “It looks like it hurts.”

“Yeah, well, that’s the thing about looks,” Johnny says, using the towel to dry Bobby’s hand. “They can fuck with your head.”

The white noise from the light bulb nearly deafens Bobby as St. John pulls away slightly, and Bobby immediately locks his legs around Johnny’s waist. If he’s going to fuck up everything, he might as well do it all the way. “What does this look like?” he says, attempting to clutch at St. John’s shirt with sore fingers.

Johnny could bat off Bobby’s hand without any effort; instead he glances down at Bobby’s grip on his shirt, and then back at Bobby’s face, expectantly. “Like you have an issue.”

“I do,” Bobby admits, shifting as much as the sink edge will allow him to. “I have a sharing issue. I don’t want to share you with anybody.”

He reaches out cautiously, the fingers of his left hand tracing St. John’s forehead, nose and lips. He leans forward too quickly, and the kiss is awkward and off center. He pulls away, shaking his head and muttering. Obviously Bobby never should have gotten out of bed this morning. Perhaps he should never get up again.

Johnny is going to fucking kill him for sure now.

All other thoughts are obliterated when St. John pushes Bobby back against the wall and the corner of his head glances off the medicine cabinet. It should hurt more than it does, and Bobby bruised hand is still clenching Johnny's shirt.

“I don’t share well either,” Johnny warns, his lips brushing against Bobby’s.

The kiss is deep and hard, full of teeth, tongues and impatience, and the pleasure of it makes Bobby’s head swim. After all the pain and misunderstanding he’s caused today, he’s at a loss to understand how he’s still wound up getting what he wants.

When Johnny finally pulls away, he nips at Bobby’s lower lip, hard. Bobby can feel the blood pooling to the surface, and he can feel heat in places he’s always cold.

“You won’t have to,” he says. “I promise.”

-finis-

Belated Happy Birthday wishes to [livejournal.com profile] iscaris, and thanks to [livejournal.com profile] serialkarma for beta duty and wicked smarts.

Improv words (shadow, bitter, pleasure, crowded) courtesy of Larshine. Title and inspiration courtesy of Morcheeba’s Charango album, and Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Wrong Impression.’

Date: 2003-06-19 02:33 pm (UTC)
jb_slasher: enter shikari; common dreads (otp/ot3)
From: [personal profile] jb_slasher
Hmm. I wanted to kill Bobby for hitting Johnny. Hmm. Oops. Yeah. This was.. in a way nice and.. yes, I know I'm crappy at feedback. But I liked it. It's how.. Johnny is smarter than Bobby. Bobby screws up and Johnny just.. is Johnny. I don't know. But this was good. Yes. It's good.

Date: 2003-06-20 09:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Hmm. I wanted to kill Bobby for hitting Johnny. Hmm. Oops. Yeah. This was.. in a way nice and.. yes, I know I'm crappy at feedback. But I liked it. It's how.. Johnny is smarter than Bobby. Bobby screws up and Johnny just.. is Johnny. I don't know. But this was good. Yes. It's good.

Bobby's not a bad kid, he just has posessiveness issues. To quote The Duke, "I'm not a jealous man, I just don't like people touching my things."

Date: 2003-06-21 02:36 am (UTC)
jb_slasher: enter shikari; common dreads (Default)
From: [personal profile] jb_slasher
People have been there, including myself, I have to admit.

Date: 2003-06-19 03:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] resplendissante.livejournal.com
I loved the exposition here; slow enough to build up the tension, but fast enough that it doesn't drag. The Bobby characterization in particular was spot-on -- great work!

Date: 2003-06-20 09:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
I loved the exposition here; slow enough to build up the tension, but fast enough that it doesn't drag. The Bobby characterization in particular was spot-on -- great work!

What lovely feedback, thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

Date: 2003-06-19 03:40 pm (UTC)
titti: (Default)
From: [personal profile] titti
Loved this fic. The feeling of it is just perfect.

BTW, where is Lar hiding this improv?

Date: 2003-06-20 09:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Loved this fic. The feeling of it is just perfect.

BTW, where is Lar hiding this improv?


It's not a public improv, I'm sorry, it's just some words she gave me to play with. I'm glad you enjoyed the story though, thanks!

Re:

Date: 2003-06-20 09:53 am (UTC)
titti: (Default)
From: [personal profile] titti
Oh, I thought she was running a X Men Improv to go with the Buffy one. :)

I'll look forward to see your HP fics as well. Oh, the joy of multi fandoms.

Date: 2003-06-19 03:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kdorian.livejournal.com
Watch me melt.

But geeze! Hitting Piotr? Owww! Punishment enough, I think.

Date: 2003-06-20 09:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Watch me melt.

But geeze! Hitting Piotr? Owww! Punishment enough, I think.


He's not the smartest boy, our Bobby, but his heart is in the right place. Kinda.

Date: 2003-06-19 04:21 pm (UTC)
ext_9141: (Default)
From: [identity profile] suaine.livejournal.com
Uhm, how can I say this in a nice way? I want to have your children!

Your the Goddess of Bobby/St. John. You rule my (X2)world!

Date: 2003-06-20 09:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Uhm, how can I say this in a nice way? I want to have your children!

Your the Goddess of Bobby/St. John. You rule my (X2)world!


*laughs* I'm glad you liked it.

Date: 2003-06-19 06:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] serialkarma.livejournal.com
Oh yeah. Still guh. I've decided, after this and Andariell's fic the other day, that smartass boys being possessive of each other while snarky *to* each other is totally my bulletproof kink. Yeah.

And wicked smarts?*blushes* Whatever.*g*

Date: 2003-06-20 09:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Oh yeah. Still guh. I've decided, after this and Andariell's fic the other day, that smartass boys being possessive of each other while snarky *to* each other is totally my bulletproof kink. Yeah.

And wicked smarts?*blushes* Whatever.*g*


Pfft. Yes, you with the wicked smarts. Thank you.

Date: 2003-06-19 08:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shellies.livejournal.com
*encourages the requisite possessive!johnny follow-up*

Date: 2003-06-20 09:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
*encourages the requisite possessive!johnny follow-up*

It's important for everyone to want something, you know. Like me, I want a billion dollars.

Re:

Date: 2003-06-20 09:58 am (UTC)

Date: 2003-06-19 10:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] swallowmewhole.livejournal.com
oh god. [spasms]

[snags for hte archive]

arg... i need to get a move on as far as updates are concerned too..

Date: 2003-06-20 09:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
oh god. [spasms]

[snags for hte archive]

arg... i need to get a move on as far as updates are concerned too..


The spasms stopped though, right? I mean because, you know, don't hurt yourself there there's already enough bruising to go around.

Re:

Date: 2003-06-20 02:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] swallowmewhole.livejournal.com
i've stopped, but it took some time.

Date: 2003-06-20 05:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] goodtwin.livejournal.com
Ooh.. a most delicious kiss..

~sigh~

Date: 2003-06-20 09:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Ooh.. a most delicious kiss..

~sigh~


I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Date: 2003-06-20 06:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] therosewilde.livejournal.com
*Nods* Not bad. Not bad at all.
Is there a companion piece? A prequal/sequal dictating what happened before, to spark this off, if you'll excuse the pun?

@-'-,---------

Date: 2003-06-20 09:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
*Nods* Not bad. Not bad at all.
Is there a companion piece? A prequal/sequal dictating what happened before, to spark this off, if you'll excuse the pun?


Ah, no, I tend to be a fill-in-your-own-blanks type of writer.

Date: 2003-06-20 10:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lux--aeterna.livejournal.com
probably i say this every time you write an x2 fic.

but.

you just write them so well.

Date: 2003-06-23 10:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
probably i say this every time you write an x2 fic.

but.

you just write them so well.


Yes, well, I'm only as good as the people I get to beta me. *pokes* So, um, what are your thoughts on HP fic?

Re:

Date: 2003-06-24 11:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lux--aeterna.livejournal.com
what are my thoughts?

i <333 HP. used to write it, in fact, back when i was.. wee and really bad. *snorts*

you writing HP again? bring it on, baby!

Date: 2003-06-22 07:24 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Hope you don't mind strangers commenting, but... oh man. This *points at fic* is single-handedly responsible for getting me hooked on X2 slash. I haven't even seen the movie yet, and already you have me loving the characters.

Thankyou so much. I came here for the Smallville slash, but I'm definitely staying for the X2

Date: 2003-06-23 10:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Hope you don't mind strangers commenting, but... oh man. This *points at fic* is single-handedly responsible for getting me hooked on X2 slash. I haven't even seen the movie yet, and already you have me loving the characters.

*laughs* Just doing my part to promote the pairing. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Would you like an LJ code? I have some to spare.

Date: 2003-06-23 12:01 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Hehe, I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I wouldn't know what to do with a code even if I had one. Thankyou, but I'm quite content to lurk around and post anonymous comments

Date: 2003-06-23 03:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cyclogenesis.livejournal.com
Ooooh. *shivers* Nice. Dearest darling tormented Bobby, how charmingly tormented he is. I really like their dynamic here. It's complex, yet sweet. Good stuff.

Date: 2003-06-25 11:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
Ooooh. *shivers* Nice. Dearest darling tormented Bobby, how charmingly tormented he is. I really like their dynamic here. It's complex, yet sweet. Good stuff.

*hugs* So, you finished the book yet? Going to start writing Harry/Neville? Harry/Ron? H/D? Come on. You've gotta give me something.

Date: 2003-06-25 11:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cyclogenesis.livejournal.com
Hell yeah I've finished the book. I'm not seeing any Harry/Neville in my near future, and Harry/Ron doesn't seem likely either. But I'm currently working on a fight!wank fic. Because like, the fistfight omg. There's definitely (um, more) H/D porn on the way. I have five parts to go on the epic and at least three solid OoTP bunnies. Yay new canon!

Date: 2003-06-25 08:19 am (UTC)
andrealyn: (Iceman be cool!)
From: [personal profile] andrealyn
I adore, adore, adore the title, and the whole image of the setting and the conversation and every expression is just so perfect and it astounds me how wonderful your writing is. Adore!

Re:

Date: 2003-06-25 08:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com
I adore, adore, adore the title, and the whole image of the setting and the conversation and every expression is just so perfect and it astounds me how wonderful your writing is. Adore!

I have been dying to use that title for ages, but for the longest time none of my fandoms had any business in NY.

Point in fact, this particular album has soooo many good song titles that it pretty much forces you to use them. I'm so glad that you enjoyed it, thank you!

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