San Francisco State University, Tuesday evening

[blessed_twice]

Sprawled on his bed and watching TV -- well, the TV was on, but he was flipping through the channels, unable to find anything to hold his interest -- Wyatt had drifted off to sleep. He had been feeling unsettled all day for reasons unknown, though he knew part of the reason had to be his recent experience with the portal. The world he'd found himself in had been a future San Francisco, torn apart by a war that brought him, his potential evil future self, to power. He should have orbed right home, but he was compelled to see what the word was and maybe learn how it came to be. He pretended to be the Wyatt who ruled there as humans and demons alike bowed and scraped to him.

There had been a woman brought before him, hands chained with magical bonds to prevent her from using her powers. He didn't know her name; his demons just referred to her as "the Phoenix," and he wasn't about to blow his cover by asking who she was. He wasn't sure if she was witch or demon, but she stared him in the eye, unflinching, swearing that no matter what he did to her, he wouldn't break her. But he could sense the fear she tried so hard to hide. She knew what power his counterpart had, and it terrified her. It terrified him, too.

He wasn't about to torture her, but if he let her go, it might make his demonic entourage suspicious, so he continued to play his role, engaging her in conversation. This seemed to unnerve her, but it also gave him a few tidbits of information. She was engaged to the Chris of this world and wore his ring on her finger. She'd served him once, but joined with Chris to fight against him. Her biggest concern was not her own life, but that of his brother.

He'd dismissed her, telling his demons to return her to her cell, and he would deal with her later. Then he demanded privacy so he could think. He had to find a way to let the girl go, and maybe get her to bring him to Chris and explain who he was. But all plans were ruined when the portal reappeared and took him home, though he was relieved to be back in his world.

He dreamed of that Wyatt now, of magic and power and how seductive it felt. He'd do good with that power, he swore, but he could feel the darkness chasing him, almost like it was a tangible force.

He woke up drenched his sweat, his heart racing. Glad his roommate wasn't around, he took a few minutes to try to calm down, then grabbed his phone and called Chris. He didn't get an answer, so he left a voicemail, trying hard to sound casual. Then he dialed a second number, really really hoping she picked up.

[For the girlfriend and great slowplay.]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel had been studying. But the ringing phone was a welcome interruption, even more so when she saw who was calling.

"Thank you, you've saved me from falling asleep on my book and drooling on it."

[blessed_twice]

"I'd rather you drool on me," Wyatt teased.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can think of several things I'd rather do to you," Isabel grinned. "Drooling is sloppy."

[blessed_twice]

"Feel free to elaborate," Wyatt encouraged. This phone call was definitely raising his spirits already.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'd love to but I know what would happen." Because it had happened before. "You'll get all hot and bothered, come here to get me, and I'll have to make up yet another story for my roomie about where I've been for a few hours. I think she's starting to think I'm cheating on you with some other guy."

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt fell back against his pillows. "I should just transfer there or something," he said.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Come on, it's only a few days till the weekend," Isabel told him, marking the page in her book and setting it aside. "Maybe Saturday night we can go out to desert for a little stargazing. It's still cool out, so we'll have to snuggle to stay warm."

[blessed_twice]

"Mmmm, I could really use that," Wyatt said. "Just you, me, and the stars."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"One of my favorite places to be."

The conversation was light and casual. She shouldn't ruin it. But she was still worried about how Wyatt was dealing with the events of the previous week.

"Are you doing okay?"

[blessed_twice]

"Yeah, I'm okay," Wyatt said. "I just had a dream about last week. And the weirdest feeling that Chris was in trouble."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Dream? Or nightmare?" Personally Isabel thought either term would be appropriate. "Did you call him? Want me to call Summer or Savannah?"

[blessed_twice]

"I called him and got his voicemail. Left a message. I'm sure he's fine," Wyatt said, deliberately not answering the first question.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure he is too," she replied, recognizing the non-answer for the answer it was.

"That's not who you are. And it's not who you're going to be. I won't let you."

[blessed_twice]

"I know," Wyatt said. "Just being in his world, seeing what he'd done...."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"What he'd done," Isabel said quietly. "Not you. Not in this reality. Here, you're the guy I love. A great big brother. A good friend. That's what you need to remember."

But she couldn't help thinking that maybe it was a good thing that Wyatt had seen that world. That those memories would remind him to be careful about the choices he made.

[blessed_twice]

"I can't help but wonder what went differently in his world," Wyatt sighed. "What happened to make me turn out that way?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"He didn't have me to kick his ass," was her immediate and somewhat flip answer before she grew more serious. "But honestly, we'll probably never know. There's too many variables. Too many wrong choices that were made."

[blessed_twice]

"Yeah, I guess so," Wyatt said. "That Wyatt didn't have you to keep him in line, because he'd never want to disappoint you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You never have," Isabel smiled. "And if you keep being the wonderful, caring guy you are, I don't think you ever will."

For the record, she really wished it was Friday night at this point. Just so they could talk face to face and not over the phone.

[blessed_twice]

"Keep talking like that and you're going to make my ego swell," Wyatt grinned.

He was wishing it was Friday already, too.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Then I'll have to prick it a bit when I kick your butt at Mario Kart." And then make other things swell to make up for it.

[blessed_twice]

She could do that without even trying. "But you are so going down if we break out Wii Bowling," Wyatt said.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"In your dreams big boy."

More then likely her mother would beat them all.

"I wish you were here. I can't wait till next fall when I can get a place of my own."

[blessed_twice]

"Being able to orb to school means I could pretty much live there," Wyatt said enticingly.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Funny how it works out that way." Isabel wasn't complaining.

"Just promise me you won't leave dirty socks on the floor and I'll make sure you've got space in the closet."

[blessed_twice]

"I'd rather sleep in the bed," Wyatt said teasingly. "I'll even put the toilet seat down for that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Now that's going the extra mile. For that you'll get lots of snuggles." And the added benefit that Isabel would be there for any bad dreams.

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt made a contented noise. "I can definitely get used to that," he said.