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jesterladyficThis part's title is from the Holy Writ.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five: The Way of All the Earth
i
2254
The wind rushed against Claire’s body as she soared through the clouds. It was a feeling that never got old for her and, while she would rather have been flying with someone she’d once flown with so often, flying with Peter was a highlight in her day.
“Shall we find some place to stop for lunch?” Peter asked loudly, over the wind.
“We need to find someone with supreme food scouting powers or something for you to leech from,” Claire said. “It’s hard to find good restaurants here. This area was torn apart after the Heroes war.”
“That's why we're here,” he reminded her. “Don't worry, we’ll find something. If not, we’re not too far from home, or, hey, there’s always teleportation.”
“Our lives are way too easy and yet so complicated,” Claire commented as they touched the ground.
“What the…?” was Peter’s response.
Claire turned to see what he was looking at.
About ten feet away stood a man in the process of an incredible transformation. He was tall and bearded and about seventy years old. But as they watched, Claire’s jaw dropped; for the gray began to vanish and the beard receded into his chin and his posture straightened while wrinkles faded and muscles gained more definition. Before them stood a twenty five year old man in perfect health.
“That’s pretty neat,” Peter said from beside her.
The man turned his head more fully toward them and Claire’s breath caught in her throat as his eyes met hers. They were a piercing blue that seemed to penetrate inside her.
“Then watch this,” his voice, smooth with a hint of gravel, said.
A ripple seemed to glimmer through the air and in his place stood a lamp stand. Two seconds later, a small recliner appeared, and then the man reappeared.
“Can’t wait to try it out,” Peter murmured under his breath.
“You can fly?” asked the man.
“More or less,” Peter answered. “What is it exactly you do?”
“I like to call myself an eternal shape shifter. But this is my territory, so you and your girl can clear off. There’s too many so called Heroes here already. Blasted evolution making everyone think they're some sort of superhero.”
“I’m not his girl,” Claire said quickly.
Peter smiled at her.
“We’re just off to lunch, mate. But we just moved here, so you’re going to have to deal with some more actual Heroes.”
“So you say,” said the man with a dangerous tone to his voice.
“What’s your name?” Claire asked as Peter gestured to her for them to leave.
He looked at her with a measuring gaze before suddenly laughing.
“Gyroy. If I ever see you again, you can call me Guy. Bye, Princess.”
With that, he shimmered, turned into a bird, and flew away.
“Wow,” Claire said, staring after him.
Peter just chuckled.
ii
“You know he could be anything, right?”
“Stop it, Peter! I’m not looking for him. I’m just watching out for PeaceKeepers.”
“Yeah…right! PeaceKeepers don’t look like everything you’ve been inspecting in the entire alley!”
“Fine, just stop talking about it.”
“I thought I told you to leave.”
Peter and Claire turned to see Guy standing behind them. His hair was black today, but his eyes were still the same blue. He looked about thirty five.
“And I said I wasn’t leaving,” Peter answered casually. “We’re willing to work with you, but the world belongs to everyone and, believe it or not, I’ve done enough for it that I should be able to live wherever I want.”
“Words I hear,” Guy said, moving closer, “proof I don’t see. The situation doesn’t look good for you.”
“What proof would you like?”
Claire held her breath, hoping Peter wouldn’t do anything stupid.
“How about I take you home to meet my mother?”
“Excuse me?”
“My mother. She always likes to meet my friends. Overprotective, you know.”
Guy smiled slowly at Peter’s expression, then winked quickly at Claire.
She resented the presumption and repressed the small lurch her stomach gave.
“Let’s go then,” she said sharply. “Let’s make sure Mommy gives you permission.”
“Sensible girl,” Guy remarked, seemingly unperturbed by her remark.
“Where is it?” Peter asked.
“House near here,” Guy said. “But we’ll be going under my terms. Gotta protect the family.”
“Or we could just go,” Peter said, clasping Claire and touching Guy’s hand.
Guy gasped as he was suddenly in a living room. His own, Claire presumed.
“Even if you could teleport, how did you know where to go?”
“You were thinking it.”
“Mother,” Guy yelled in response.
An elderly woman, who looked too old to be Guy’s mother, came into the room. But, Claire reflected, his age could be anything, so naturally his mother wouldn’t look a proper age for him. Her eyes were soft and kind looking, but her mouth was sharp and her hair iron gray.
“New catch, my dear?” she inquired of her son.
“Screen them, won’t you, Ma?”
“Anything for you.” She turned to her guests. “Won’t you sit down? I’ll get some tea.”
“Sure, I’d love some,” Peter said smoothly, sitting down.
“No, you wouldn’t,” she said, smiling at him. “You don’t like tea. I’ll get you something else, dear.”
“How did she know that?” Claire asked after the woman had left the room.
“Let’s just say she’s got a healthy dose of intuition. Almost super like,” Guy answered. “Sit down, Princess. She knows what you want better than you do. Was hell growing up.”
He winked at her again. Claire sat down so fast Peter stared at her.
“My name is Jaya,” the old woman said as she reentered the room. “My son’s bad manners can be a bit overwhelming, so don’t mind him. Are you here for any reason?”
“We just want to help the world. We’re good at it,” Claire said. “We’re not trying to take over your son’s territory or anything like that.”
“But you’re used to being the Heroes,” Jaya answered. “You should get used to having help and having help as powerful as you are. Powerful enough to be in charge sometimes.”
“I guess.” Peter shrugged. “I’m always on the look for someone to help.”
“So you can watch them or be helped by them?” was Jaya’s next question.
“Either,” was Peter’s short response.
“Don’t pout, dearie,” she said as she leaned forward and patted his hand. She turned to her son. “These people are real. You should keep them close because destiny and age hang around them.”
“Do I have to like them too?” Guy inquired casually.
“Hey!” Claire protested.
“Relax, honey. He likes you or he would have rounded up his thugs to deal with you long before bringing you to me,” Jaya reassured her.
“Oh,” Claire said and sank down into the couch.
She refused to look at Guy even though she could feel his gaze on her.
“So, what’s your power?” he asked after awhile. She met Peter’s eyes, wondering how much to say. “Go all in, by all means. Make it good. Oh, and don’t be afraid to cry, Princess,” Guy urged her.
Claire’s eyes narrowed. Oh, he was going to get the long version now!
iii
2258
“Jaya! Are you home?”
Claire stepped through the doorway, feeling the familiar sensors as they captured her identity. Or what the world thought was her identity anyway. It was amusing to her sometimes how easy it was to fool the world’s top security advances.
“In here, Zreta honey.”
Claire walked into the kitchen to find Jaya on a stepstool getting something from a high cupboard.
“Get down this instant! You know you’re not allowed up there,” she admonished her. “Guy would have a fit.”
“What my son doesn’t know he can’t do anything about,” Jaya answered, but submitted to Claire’s hand helping her down. “What can I do for you, honey?” Jaya asked once she was safe on the floor and getting out the things to make tea for the two of them.
Claire often wondered at how tea never got old in this new world.
“Just tell me what you were trying to get from up there so I can do it for you.”
Jaya was really old now. True she was far more fit for a woman her age than Claire was used to, due to all the medical advancements, but she was pushing a hundred, and should not be on stepstools.
“The spinner. Thank you.” Claire shook her head and climbed the stepstool. “It’s in the back, dearie.”
Claire put her weight on the counter as she leaned in to search the back.
“A ha!” she said in triumph, bringing out the spinner.
“Hey, Princess,” Guy said suddenly from behind her.
Claire shrieked and lost her balance, sending her and the spinner to the ground. She banged her head on the edge of the counter and snapped her wrist as it hit the floor.
“You did that on purpose!” Claire snapped as she put her wrist back in place.
“I didn’t actually,” Guy assured her. “But, all the same, that was hilarious. You do know you can use the hover lifter, right? No need to climb like those monkeys you spin such tales about.”
Claire exchanged a somewhat guilty glance with Jaya.
“You don't need to be so dependent on technology,” she said, rubbing her head.
“There's my ancient Princess talking. Now, you’re sure you don’t need medical assistance of any kind? I could make myself into a med kit for you.”
“Leave the poor child alone,” Jaya chided her son. “Don’t worry about it, honey.”
“I should clean all my blood off the floor,” Claire insisted. “I’m so sorry, Jaya.”
“Never be sorry about an accident. Just be grateful you don’t have to be hurt long.”
“I’ll bear that in mind,” Claire murmured as she glared at Guy and stalked over to find some towels.
“To think I have a real live Princess scrubbing my floors,” Guy said to himself as he took the towels from her and cleaned it up himself.
“Come on in the living room,” Jaya told Claire, leading the way. “I want a real good chat with my favorite girl.”
“Thanks, Jaya.”
Claire felt warmed as she followed her into the other room. Despite Claire’s actually being older, Jaya had provided a place of motherhood in her life which she cherished. Even though Guy was a continual torment, partly because she enjoyed him so much, their house was her favorite place to be these days.
***
Guy finished cleaning up Zreta’s blood and ran the towels through the molecular cleanser. Passing by the hallway he could hear Zreta and his mother talking. It made him smile to hear the two women he honored the most enjoy each other so much. He wasn’t sure if Zreta understood how much he did like her, but he didn’t really think it was necessary to make sure.
He was rough around the edges and his experience in the world and in the Heroes war had given him a slightly cynical view of life, but he lived his life optimistically. He knew his own worth, but it slightly awed him to think about how much older than him she was. He was going on seventy himself, but she could use the word centuries when telling her age.
She was something incredible and not just because of her ability. His mother kept giving him hints to act on their friendship and make it something more. He didn’t like taking other people’s advice, as much as he trusted his mother. He often reflected on the fact that he had all the time in the world since neither of them could die. It made him feel better when he felt bad about the teasing way he treated her. She took it like a mature person, but he just wasn’t sure how else to express his feelings. He felt like an elementary school boy around her.
Zreta finished describing to Jaya about what it was like to live in the 2000s. He smiled again at her enthusiasm and entered the room.
“Ah, the sound of experience on the air,” he said, nonchalantly leaning against the wall. “Hearing you talk about the golden years is like a breath of musty air.”
“And in my day,” Zreta said, ignoring him, “he wouldn’t have been able to get a date unless he paid for it.”
“She wounds me,” Guy said, winking at her before leaving. “I’ve got some Hero work to do if you’re up for it, Princess.”
***
Claire sighed and got up to follow Guy. Dang her curiosity and attraction to the irritating man!
“Will you hold up?” Claire asked in exasperation. “I feel like I’ve been running for hours!”
“It’s actually been five minutes. Guess they didn’t use to teach people how to count.”
“At least they taught us manners.”
“Too true,” he acknowledged, slowing down and stopping so she could rest. “Alas for my insufficiencies- Look out!”
Claire ducked as a PeaceKeeper zoomed at her from the gloom of the alley. The government insisted it was rounding them all up and scrubbing their anti-powers programming from the War but Claire had yet to see it happen.
Guy changed into a concrete wall and the PeaceKeeper crashed into him, exploding into flame.
“Guy!”
Claire scrambled over to the wall, which had a huge dent into it. Slowly, it shimmered back into Guy, though his hair was half brown and half blue and one arm had a tattoo she’d never seen before. He also had feathers on his feet.
“Are you all right? Talk to me! Guy! Say something.”
He chuckled slightly and raised his head and she could see a deep cut running down his face from forehead to jaw.
“We should get that looked at! Can you stand?”
“Relax, Princess. I’m not going anywhere.”
With what looked like a bit of an effort, Guy slowly shook his head and the cut vanished.
Claire gasped.
“You can’t heal,” she said in wonder.
“But I can change myself. I simply became a man without a mortal wound marring his pretty face. We’re more alike than you think, Zreta. I can’t die either.”
“My name is Claire,” she said, unthinking, sliding down to sit next to him.
Tears started to fall down her cheeks and she could barely contain herself.
“Learn something new every day,” he commented casually. “What’s the matter now, Claire?”
“You can’t die!” she gasped. “I’ve been alone for so long. But you can’t die.” She started to laugh while the tears kept falling. “I finally found someone who can’t die and he’s an egotistical jackass. Joke’s on me.”
“You sure you don’t want to live forever with a jackass? I promise that he’s quite handsome, or can be, very witty, and adores you.”
Claire’s sobbing stopped, but she was still out of breath.
“You do?”
“Why else would I say the things I do?”
“You can live forever with me.” Claire said the words slowly, testing out the miracle to see if it was real.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Guy said, putting his arm around her and cupping her chin with his other hand. “We’ll let the world go the way of all the earth and live together forever.”
iv
2261
“This is my fourth wedding day,” Claire said, laying her head on Guy's shoulder.
“You and Karl never got hitched, huh?”
“No, that was the one thing I could never talk him into. Stupid idiot,” she said affectionately.
“Oh, by all means let's talk about all your former husbands on our wedding night,” he told her.
“Zip it,” Claire told him. “I'm not the only one with former spouses.”
“Yeah,” Guy said, his face getting that sad look that it got whenever Meria was mentioned.
Claire felt bad. It had been a long sad time for him and she didn't want to make him feel bad. Not on today, of all days.
“We'll drop it,” she told him. “Today is about us.”
“Let's make it a good one,” he told her. “We're not really getting a real honeymoon.”
“They don't have honeymoons anymore,” Claire told him. “Marriages aren't important enough anymore.”
“Well, this is one thing I think the ancients had it right about,” he said, kissing her neck.
“Watch who you're calling ancient,” she said, squealing when he grew whiskers and tickled her with them.
“You're the most beautiful centuries old princess I've ever met,” he told her and captured her lips with his.
She responded and for a few minutes they lost themselves in each other. Claire gloried in the fact that, barring extreme death, this would never be taken away from her. It was something she didn't like to think about and so she didn't. She had enough in her life without borrowing trouble. She ironically thought that West would be rather proud of her.
But tonight was only for Guy and so she lifted her head and gave him more access to her neck. The man could do quite amazing things with his tongue, probably due to the changeability of it.
She lay in his arms and felt him stroking her hair.
“I want to know you,” she said. “I want all of you.”
“We've the rest of time for that, Princess,” he said.
“No better time to get started,” she told him.
“All right,” he said and shifted her so that she was beside him. “Let me show you as I am.”
“With no enhancements, no subtle changes, no fountain of youth?”
“What's a fountain of youth?”
“Never mind.”
Guy stood up and his form shimmered and changed and Claire waited in fascination. Guy always appeared mostly the same to her. A little older than her, with those bright blue eyes. He had dark brown hair and was just enough taller than her for them to fit together perfectly. His voice was always the same.
The changes now weren't that different. He was stooped more and his hair was completely gray and there were lines on his face. He had a lot of scars and they made her want to cry. But he still had the same eyes.
“Well?”
“You're beautiful,” she said in awe.
“Don't mock me, Princess,” he said, laughing. “I know I'm old and ugly.”
“But you're not,” she said. “I would probably look way worse than that.”
“Oh, I know you would,” he told her, shimmering back into the way he always looked.
She got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around him. They were of a perfect height for their lips to meet and he settled his arms around her, fingers tracing over her bare skin.
“You always showed me how you really looked,” she said, “even before today. The only difference really is age.”
“I knew there was something about you,” he said. “Always.”
“You are such a jerk,” she told him, rubbing her nose against his.
“Only for you,” he told her, lowering her back down on the bed.
v
2307
“You stop that!” Claire slapped Guy’s hand as he attempted to stick his finger in the cookie dough.
“How can I compliment you on its tastiness if I’m not allowed to taste it?”
“You can compliment me when they’re baked.”
Claire got out her wooden spoon and pretended to smack him on the head.
“Shall I turn myself into an oven?”
“No, but a sensitive person would be a good start.”
“She still loves me.” He sighed. “Well, when will they be ready?”
“Are you sure you didn’t change your brain to a five year old's?”
“I don’t know if a five year old could figure that out. I guess you’re stuck with me.”
Guy slung his arm over her shoulders and kissed her forehead, while trying for more dough with his other hand.
“I guess I am,” Claire said, deftly catching his hand.
He smacked a kiss on hers and went to sit down on the other end of the table where he wouldn’t annoy her, except with his comments.
“Anybody home?”
“In here, Pete,” Guy called.
Peter walked into the room.
“New coat?” Claire asked with raised eyebrows.
“I can’t ever tell,” Guy said appraisingly. “He’s always dressed in quite the latest brooding hero fashion. It’s hard to tell when it changes though. I should’ve studied it in school long ago.”
“Would you two like some information and to feed me cookies or shall I just push off then?”
“Hmmm,” Guy and Claire said in unison.
“You make me sick,” said Peter, reaching into the cookie dough.
“Sit over there!” Claire demanded. “I need no more of that, thank you!”
“Fine,” Peter said and sat down next to Guy who pretended to weep for his companion’s banishment.
“What’s the information?” Claire asked, stirring the dough in a long suffering fashion.
She didn't know why she bothered to still make cookies from scratch, but it was the one thing her mother had taught her that she remembered and she was determined to stick it out for at least until they discovered a way to simply think food into existence.
“Got wind of a new company starting up. Think you two lovebirds might want to come out of retirement and squash it quickly?”
“Like we were ever in retirement,” Claire snorted.
“Sorry about that, darling,” Guy told her. “You know you always drag me into these things, so I can’t exactly help it.”
“Whatever.” Claire turned back to Peter. “Sure thing. We’re always ready for Hero work.”
“Great. I’ll come by again tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. Have some cookies before you go.”
Peter sat back down without protest and the three spent time around the table together.
They were some hours and, by the end, Peter had moved to the couch to allow his stomach to digest, Claire had moved onto Guy’s lap, and they were not talking about serious things. Well, Guy apparently thought they were serious.
“But, seriously,” Guy told them, “if we’re going to keep doing this, we need a name.”
“Shut up, love,” Claire told him, leaning in for a kiss.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five: The Way of All the Earth
i
2254
The wind rushed against Claire’s body as she soared through the clouds. It was a feeling that never got old for her and, while she would rather have been flying with someone she’d once flown with so often, flying with Peter was a highlight in her day.
“Shall we find some place to stop for lunch?” Peter asked loudly, over the wind.
“We need to find someone with supreme food scouting powers or something for you to leech from,” Claire said. “It’s hard to find good restaurants here. This area was torn apart after the Heroes war.”
“That's why we're here,” he reminded her. “Don't worry, we’ll find something. If not, we’re not too far from home, or, hey, there’s always teleportation.”
“Our lives are way too easy and yet so complicated,” Claire commented as they touched the ground.
“What the…?” was Peter’s response.
Claire turned to see what he was looking at.
About ten feet away stood a man in the process of an incredible transformation. He was tall and bearded and about seventy years old. But as they watched, Claire’s jaw dropped; for the gray began to vanish and the beard receded into his chin and his posture straightened while wrinkles faded and muscles gained more definition. Before them stood a twenty five year old man in perfect health.
“That’s pretty neat,” Peter said from beside her.
The man turned his head more fully toward them and Claire’s breath caught in her throat as his eyes met hers. They were a piercing blue that seemed to penetrate inside her.
“Then watch this,” his voice, smooth with a hint of gravel, said.
A ripple seemed to glimmer through the air and in his place stood a lamp stand. Two seconds later, a small recliner appeared, and then the man reappeared.
“Can’t wait to try it out,” Peter murmured under his breath.
“You can fly?” asked the man.
“More or less,” Peter answered. “What is it exactly you do?”
“I like to call myself an eternal shape shifter. But this is my territory, so you and your girl can clear off. There’s too many so called Heroes here already. Blasted evolution making everyone think they're some sort of superhero.”
“I’m not his girl,” Claire said quickly.
Peter smiled at her.
“We’re just off to lunch, mate. But we just moved here, so you’re going to have to deal with some more actual Heroes.”
“So you say,” said the man with a dangerous tone to his voice.
“What’s your name?” Claire asked as Peter gestured to her for them to leave.
He looked at her with a measuring gaze before suddenly laughing.
“Gyroy. If I ever see you again, you can call me Guy. Bye, Princess.”
With that, he shimmered, turned into a bird, and flew away.
“Wow,” Claire said, staring after him.
Peter just chuckled.
ii
“You know he could be anything, right?”
“Stop it, Peter! I’m not looking for him. I’m just watching out for PeaceKeepers.”
“Yeah…right! PeaceKeepers don’t look like everything you’ve been inspecting in the entire alley!”
“Fine, just stop talking about it.”
“I thought I told you to leave.”
Peter and Claire turned to see Guy standing behind them. His hair was black today, but his eyes were still the same blue. He looked about thirty five.
“And I said I wasn’t leaving,” Peter answered casually. “We’re willing to work with you, but the world belongs to everyone and, believe it or not, I’ve done enough for it that I should be able to live wherever I want.”
“Words I hear,” Guy said, moving closer, “proof I don’t see. The situation doesn’t look good for you.”
“What proof would you like?”
Claire held her breath, hoping Peter wouldn’t do anything stupid.
“How about I take you home to meet my mother?”
“Excuse me?”
“My mother. She always likes to meet my friends. Overprotective, you know.”
Guy smiled slowly at Peter’s expression, then winked quickly at Claire.
She resented the presumption and repressed the small lurch her stomach gave.
“Let’s go then,” she said sharply. “Let’s make sure Mommy gives you permission.”
“Sensible girl,” Guy remarked, seemingly unperturbed by her remark.
“Where is it?” Peter asked.
“House near here,” Guy said. “But we’ll be going under my terms. Gotta protect the family.”
“Or we could just go,” Peter said, clasping Claire and touching Guy’s hand.
Guy gasped as he was suddenly in a living room. His own, Claire presumed.
“Even if you could teleport, how did you know where to go?”
“You were thinking it.”
“Mother,” Guy yelled in response.
An elderly woman, who looked too old to be Guy’s mother, came into the room. But, Claire reflected, his age could be anything, so naturally his mother wouldn’t look a proper age for him. Her eyes were soft and kind looking, but her mouth was sharp and her hair iron gray.
“New catch, my dear?” she inquired of her son.
“Screen them, won’t you, Ma?”
“Anything for you.” She turned to her guests. “Won’t you sit down? I’ll get some tea.”
“Sure, I’d love some,” Peter said smoothly, sitting down.
“No, you wouldn’t,” she said, smiling at him. “You don’t like tea. I’ll get you something else, dear.”
“How did she know that?” Claire asked after the woman had left the room.
“Let’s just say she’s got a healthy dose of intuition. Almost super like,” Guy answered. “Sit down, Princess. She knows what you want better than you do. Was hell growing up.”
He winked at her again. Claire sat down so fast Peter stared at her.
“My name is Jaya,” the old woman said as she reentered the room. “My son’s bad manners can be a bit overwhelming, so don’t mind him. Are you here for any reason?”
“We just want to help the world. We’re good at it,” Claire said. “We’re not trying to take over your son’s territory or anything like that.”
“But you’re used to being the Heroes,” Jaya answered. “You should get used to having help and having help as powerful as you are. Powerful enough to be in charge sometimes.”
“I guess.” Peter shrugged. “I’m always on the look for someone to help.”
“So you can watch them or be helped by them?” was Jaya’s next question.
“Either,” was Peter’s short response.
“Don’t pout, dearie,” she said as she leaned forward and patted his hand. She turned to her son. “These people are real. You should keep them close because destiny and age hang around them.”
“Do I have to like them too?” Guy inquired casually.
“Hey!” Claire protested.
“Relax, honey. He likes you or he would have rounded up his thugs to deal with you long before bringing you to me,” Jaya reassured her.
“Oh,” Claire said and sank down into the couch.
She refused to look at Guy even though she could feel his gaze on her.
“So, what’s your power?” he asked after awhile. She met Peter’s eyes, wondering how much to say. “Go all in, by all means. Make it good. Oh, and don’t be afraid to cry, Princess,” Guy urged her.
Claire’s eyes narrowed. Oh, he was going to get the long version now!
iii
2258
“Jaya! Are you home?”
Claire stepped through the doorway, feeling the familiar sensors as they captured her identity. Or what the world thought was her identity anyway. It was amusing to her sometimes how easy it was to fool the world’s top security advances.
“In here, Zreta honey.”
Claire walked into the kitchen to find Jaya on a stepstool getting something from a high cupboard.
“Get down this instant! You know you’re not allowed up there,” she admonished her. “Guy would have a fit.”
“What my son doesn’t know he can’t do anything about,” Jaya answered, but submitted to Claire’s hand helping her down. “What can I do for you, honey?” Jaya asked once she was safe on the floor and getting out the things to make tea for the two of them.
Claire often wondered at how tea never got old in this new world.
“Just tell me what you were trying to get from up there so I can do it for you.”
Jaya was really old now. True she was far more fit for a woman her age than Claire was used to, due to all the medical advancements, but she was pushing a hundred, and should not be on stepstools.
“The spinner. Thank you.” Claire shook her head and climbed the stepstool. “It’s in the back, dearie.”
Claire put her weight on the counter as she leaned in to search the back.
“A ha!” she said in triumph, bringing out the spinner.
“Hey, Princess,” Guy said suddenly from behind her.
Claire shrieked and lost her balance, sending her and the spinner to the ground. She banged her head on the edge of the counter and snapped her wrist as it hit the floor.
“You did that on purpose!” Claire snapped as she put her wrist back in place.
“I didn’t actually,” Guy assured her. “But, all the same, that was hilarious. You do know you can use the hover lifter, right? No need to climb like those monkeys you spin such tales about.”
Claire exchanged a somewhat guilty glance with Jaya.
“You don't need to be so dependent on technology,” she said, rubbing her head.
“There's my ancient Princess talking. Now, you’re sure you don’t need medical assistance of any kind? I could make myself into a med kit for you.”
“Leave the poor child alone,” Jaya chided her son. “Don’t worry about it, honey.”
“I should clean all my blood off the floor,” Claire insisted. “I’m so sorry, Jaya.”
“Never be sorry about an accident. Just be grateful you don’t have to be hurt long.”
“I’ll bear that in mind,” Claire murmured as she glared at Guy and stalked over to find some towels.
“To think I have a real live Princess scrubbing my floors,” Guy said to himself as he took the towels from her and cleaned it up himself.
“Come on in the living room,” Jaya told Claire, leading the way. “I want a real good chat with my favorite girl.”
“Thanks, Jaya.”
Claire felt warmed as she followed her into the other room. Despite Claire’s actually being older, Jaya had provided a place of motherhood in her life which she cherished. Even though Guy was a continual torment, partly because she enjoyed him so much, their house was her favorite place to be these days.
***
Guy finished cleaning up Zreta’s blood and ran the towels through the molecular cleanser. Passing by the hallway he could hear Zreta and his mother talking. It made him smile to hear the two women he honored the most enjoy each other so much. He wasn’t sure if Zreta understood how much he did like her, but he didn’t really think it was necessary to make sure.
He was rough around the edges and his experience in the world and in the Heroes war had given him a slightly cynical view of life, but he lived his life optimistically. He knew his own worth, but it slightly awed him to think about how much older than him she was. He was going on seventy himself, but she could use the word centuries when telling her age.
She was something incredible and not just because of her ability. His mother kept giving him hints to act on their friendship and make it something more. He didn’t like taking other people’s advice, as much as he trusted his mother. He often reflected on the fact that he had all the time in the world since neither of them could die. It made him feel better when he felt bad about the teasing way he treated her. She took it like a mature person, but he just wasn’t sure how else to express his feelings. He felt like an elementary school boy around her.
Zreta finished describing to Jaya about what it was like to live in the 2000s. He smiled again at her enthusiasm and entered the room.
“Ah, the sound of experience on the air,” he said, nonchalantly leaning against the wall. “Hearing you talk about the golden years is like a breath of musty air.”
“And in my day,” Zreta said, ignoring him, “he wouldn’t have been able to get a date unless he paid for it.”
“She wounds me,” Guy said, winking at her before leaving. “I’ve got some Hero work to do if you’re up for it, Princess.”
***
Claire sighed and got up to follow Guy. Dang her curiosity and attraction to the irritating man!
“Will you hold up?” Claire asked in exasperation. “I feel like I’ve been running for hours!”
“It’s actually been five minutes. Guess they didn’t use to teach people how to count.”
“At least they taught us manners.”
“Too true,” he acknowledged, slowing down and stopping so she could rest. “Alas for my insufficiencies- Look out!”
Claire ducked as a PeaceKeeper zoomed at her from the gloom of the alley. The government insisted it was rounding them all up and scrubbing their anti-powers programming from the War but Claire had yet to see it happen.
Guy changed into a concrete wall and the PeaceKeeper crashed into him, exploding into flame.
“Guy!”
Claire scrambled over to the wall, which had a huge dent into it. Slowly, it shimmered back into Guy, though his hair was half brown and half blue and one arm had a tattoo she’d never seen before. He also had feathers on his feet.
“Are you all right? Talk to me! Guy! Say something.”
He chuckled slightly and raised his head and she could see a deep cut running down his face from forehead to jaw.
“We should get that looked at! Can you stand?”
“Relax, Princess. I’m not going anywhere.”
With what looked like a bit of an effort, Guy slowly shook his head and the cut vanished.
Claire gasped.
“You can’t heal,” she said in wonder.
“But I can change myself. I simply became a man without a mortal wound marring his pretty face. We’re more alike than you think, Zreta. I can’t die either.”
“My name is Claire,” she said, unthinking, sliding down to sit next to him.
Tears started to fall down her cheeks and she could barely contain herself.
“Learn something new every day,” he commented casually. “What’s the matter now, Claire?”
“You can’t die!” she gasped. “I’ve been alone for so long. But you can’t die.” She started to laugh while the tears kept falling. “I finally found someone who can’t die and he’s an egotistical jackass. Joke’s on me.”
“You sure you don’t want to live forever with a jackass? I promise that he’s quite handsome, or can be, very witty, and adores you.”
Claire’s sobbing stopped, but she was still out of breath.
“You do?”
“Why else would I say the things I do?”
“You can live forever with me.” Claire said the words slowly, testing out the miracle to see if it was real.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Guy said, putting his arm around her and cupping her chin with his other hand. “We’ll let the world go the way of all the earth and live together forever.”
iv
2261
“This is my fourth wedding day,” Claire said, laying her head on Guy's shoulder.
“You and Karl never got hitched, huh?”
“No, that was the one thing I could never talk him into. Stupid idiot,” she said affectionately.
“Oh, by all means let's talk about all your former husbands on our wedding night,” he told her.
“Zip it,” Claire told him. “I'm not the only one with former spouses.”
“Yeah,” Guy said, his face getting that sad look that it got whenever Meria was mentioned.
Claire felt bad. It had been a long sad time for him and she didn't want to make him feel bad. Not on today, of all days.
“We'll drop it,” she told him. “Today is about us.”
“Let's make it a good one,” he told her. “We're not really getting a real honeymoon.”
“They don't have honeymoons anymore,” Claire told him. “Marriages aren't important enough anymore.”
“Well, this is one thing I think the ancients had it right about,” he said, kissing her neck.
“Watch who you're calling ancient,” she said, squealing when he grew whiskers and tickled her with them.
“You're the most beautiful centuries old princess I've ever met,” he told her and captured her lips with his.
She responded and for a few minutes they lost themselves in each other. Claire gloried in the fact that, barring extreme death, this would never be taken away from her. It was something she didn't like to think about and so she didn't. She had enough in her life without borrowing trouble. She ironically thought that West would be rather proud of her.
But tonight was only for Guy and so she lifted her head and gave him more access to her neck. The man could do quite amazing things with his tongue, probably due to the changeability of it.
She lay in his arms and felt him stroking her hair.
“I want to know you,” she said. “I want all of you.”
“We've the rest of time for that, Princess,” he said.
“No better time to get started,” she told him.
“All right,” he said and shifted her so that she was beside him. “Let me show you as I am.”
“With no enhancements, no subtle changes, no fountain of youth?”
“What's a fountain of youth?”
“Never mind.”
Guy stood up and his form shimmered and changed and Claire waited in fascination. Guy always appeared mostly the same to her. A little older than her, with those bright blue eyes. He had dark brown hair and was just enough taller than her for them to fit together perfectly. His voice was always the same.
The changes now weren't that different. He was stooped more and his hair was completely gray and there were lines on his face. He had a lot of scars and they made her want to cry. But he still had the same eyes.
“Well?”
“You're beautiful,” she said in awe.
“Don't mock me, Princess,” he said, laughing. “I know I'm old and ugly.”
“But you're not,” she said. “I would probably look way worse than that.”
“Oh, I know you would,” he told her, shimmering back into the way he always looked.
She got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around him. They were of a perfect height for their lips to meet and he settled his arms around her, fingers tracing over her bare skin.
“You always showed me how you really looked,” she said, “even before today. The only difference really is age.”
“I knew there was something about you,” he said. “Always.”
“You are such a jerk,” she told him, rubbing her nose against his.
“Only for you,” he told her, lowering her back down on the bed.
v
2307
“You stop that!” Claire slapped Guy’s hand as he attempted to stick his finger in the cookie dough.
“How can I compliment you on its tastiness if I’m not allowed to taste it?”
“You can compliment me when they’re baked.”
Claire got out her wooden spoon and pretended to smack him on the head.
“Shall I turn myself into an oven?”
“No, but a sensitive person would be a good start.”
“She still loves me.” He sighed. “Well, when will they be ready?”
“Are you sure you didn’t change your brain to a five year old's?”
“I don’t know if a five year old could figure that out. I guess you’re stuck with me.”
Guy slung his arm over her shoulders and kissed her forehead, while trying for more dough with his other hand.
“I guess I am,” Claire said, deftly catching his hand.
He smacked a kiss on hers and went to sit down on the other end of the table where he wouldn’t annoy her, except with his comments.
“Anybody home?”
“In here, Pete,” Guy called.
Peter walked into the room.
“New coat?” Claire asked with raised eyebrows.
“I can’t ever tell,” Guy said appraisingly. “He’s always dressed in quite the latest brooding hero fashion. It’s hard to tell when it changes though. I should’ve studied it in school long ago.”
“Would you two like some information and to feed me cookies or shall I just push off then?”
“Hmmm,” Guy and Claire said in unison.
“You make me sick,” said Peter, reaching into the cookie dough.
“Sit over there!” Claire demanded. “I need no more of that, thank you!”
“Fine,” Peter said and sat down next to Guy who pretended to weep for his companion’s banishment.
“What’s the information?” Claire asked, stirring the dough in a long suffering fashion.
She didn't know why she bothered to still make cookies from scratch, but it was the one thing her mother had taught her that she remembered and she was determined to stick it out for at least until they discovered a way to simply think food into existence.
“Got wind of a new company starting up. Think you two lovebirds might want to come out of retirement and squash it quickly?”
“Like we were ever in retirement,” Claire snorted.
“Sorry about that, darling,” Guy told her. “You know you always drag me into these things, so I can’t exactly help it.”
“Whatever.” Claire turned back to Peter. “Sure thing. We’re always ready for Hero work.”
“Great. I’ll come by again tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. Have some cookies before you go.”
Peter sat back down without protest and the three spent time around the table together.
They were some hours and, by the end, Peter had moved to the couch to allow his stomach to digest, Claire had moved onto Guy’s lap, and they were not talking about serious things. Well, Guy apparently thought they were serious.
“But, seriously,” Guy told them, “if we’re going to keep doing this, we need a name.”
“Shut up, love,” Claire told him, leaning in for a kiss.
