Stage of Illusions: A Somber Backstage

[x-wolfcub.livejournal.com]

Backstage at the pre-show, Julian and Nick run into each other, and an awkward request is made.



Nicholas Gleason stood backstage in his tattered overcoat, his eyes locked solidly closed. He was always nervous when he was about to shift, but this time he was especially a ball of nerves after yesterday's events. He was sure that no matter how much encouragement he received from Professor Sefton, these nerves were not going to dissipate. The boy heard a sound off in the distance, and quickly shot his eyes up, coming face to face with one of the people he wanted to see the least at that moment.


The feeling was definately mutual as Julian Keller fought back a frown. Turning his attention to the stage, he muttered, "Going to eat any audience members tonight, Gleason?"


Nick kept his eyes closed as he answered, trying to keep his cool as best he could before making his transformation. "Hadn't planned on it. You gonna threaten to shoot any strangers?"

"They don't come much stranger than you, Cubbie," Julian sneered, an air of superiority in his words. In truth, shooting at Nick with the fake rifle was one of the few joys he took from the way the play had turned out.


As Nick opened his eyes, he found Julian standing in front of him. Taking a deep breath in, he decided that it was time to swallow his pride. "As much as I hate to do this, I need to ask you a favor."

Julian blinked, not having expected this at all, "Of course you do," he finally said. "What is it?"


"That woman is still out there, and if I start to lose it again tonight..." Nick took a deep breath in, still not believing that Julian was the person he had to go to about this. "Well, most of the people won't do anything, and I know you don't really have a safety when it comes to me, so I need you to use your Dragon Zord power and blast me if it comes to that."

He'd been fully willing to do that the day before, "Dude, the X-Men are here tonight, you really think that psychopath is going to get back in?"


"It's doubtful." The boy added as he peeked around the curtain, trying to find Professor's calming eyes in the crowd. "But I don't even fully trust myself as it stands." As his eyes closed it was difficult to block out the sights and sounds of his near 'accident' from yesterday.

Part of Julian wanted to tell the wolf-boy to relax, and that everything would be fine. "Gleason," he began, that other part not taking control, "If you lose control again, I'll be more than happy to smack you so hard you shift back."


"Thanks." The half-hearted word was all that the boy could muster out. But slowly the boy take a step back as he began to calm his nerves. "This doesn't mean that we have to hug or go skipping through a group of daisies does it?"

Julian cracked a smile at that, "Bite me, Gleason...on second thought, nevermind."