The Sub-Zero Siren and the King

They stood in the cavernous entrance to the arena, having just given Jason and Sabrina a few moments alone after everything he’d revealed. "Ya o.k?" Kid asked.

Noelle wrapped her arms around Kid, who returned the gesture with a big hug. From against his chest, her voice muffled, she asked, "Can we go home now?"

Kid nodded, and in case she didn't feel the gesture, replied, "Shore."

They flew back to Noelle's apartment, and she let him in silently. "Thankyew."

Noelle hugged him again, almost frantically. "Don't leave me!"

"Huh?"

"I think... I mean... I ..." Noelle shook her head, tears almost falling, unable to say what had her so upset.

Kid looked puzzled. "Hey..." His hand went to her cheek, his finger dabbing at the tear.

Noelle curled up on the couch, and Kid sat next to her, close enough to touch. She started, "I worry..." and fell into silence.

Kid nudged her, "Bout?"

"You. Me. Us. .... Friends."

He looked a bit concerned. "What do ya mean?"

"I don't know... I wish... It's all just..." She gave up again and looked down.

Kid asked, "Ya talkin' 'bout me and Reese? Stuff lahk that?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. And others. It all just seems so much sometimes. Like it's never one thing."

"Well... Ah guess that's life. If it ain't one thing, it's another."

"I guess." Noelle continued to look down, staring at her hands as if they held all the answers. Another tear ran down her face.

"Hey... hey... what's got ya so spooked?"

His voice was gentle, hers very small when she replied. ".... What do you think?"

"The thing with ole Jason?"

Noelle nodded, not even wanting to speak, worried.

"Awww... c'mon darlin'. That's another walk in the park fer us. He knows what he's doin', and he'll be just fine. Ah promise."

Noelle looked up. "Promise?"

Kid nodded. "Ah do." Noelle tried to smile, and he continued, heartened by her response. "That ole boy can outtalk an auctioneer. He'll figger somethin' out. An' if he needs help... he's got plenty of backers."

She sniffled, "'Kay."

Kid took her hand, which felt very small and safe in his.

"You'll watch out for him?"

He nodded with a grin, patting her hand. "'Course. Don't ya worry none."

"If you say so..."

Kid winked. "Ya doubt?"

Noelle uncurled from the couch, and stood up, still holding his hand. "Not any more. Come to bed?"

Kid looked up into her eyes, then stood. "'Course, darlin'. Wherever ya want me."

She led him into her bedroom and draped his gold lame' jacket over a chair. He followed her, unsnapping the neck of his suit, then unzipping the top. There was a soft beep from her comm, and Malcalypse's voice was in her ear.

"Noelle? Still with us?"

"Yeah..." she looked over at Kid getting undressed, hoping not to be called away.

Malcalypse sounded very tired. "Hug him again. We'll talk later, whatever you want, okay?"

"Will do. Take care of Shock, ok?"

Kid Galahad shrugged out of his jacket, hanging it on a chair, watching her.

"Bet yer sweet."

"G'night." Noelle pulled off her boots and turned off her comm, taking it off her wrist, then slipped her shorts down and stepped out of them.

Kid sat on the end of the bed, taking his boots off, then stood to unzip his pants. Noelle reached into her closet and grabbed a threadbare white tank top that Kid could just see read "Gap Classic" and pulled it on, then took off her bra from underneath it, almost shy. He slid his pants off, then folded them over the chair as well. Wearing only a pair of black boxer-briefs, he admired her.

She turned back to him, her hands playing with her hair. "Kid, I know... this is incredibly girly of me..." She sat on the bed, pulled her knees to her.

"What's that, darlin'?"

She looks at him, still shaken. "Just hold me?"

His gaze met hers as he slowly nodded. "'Course, darlin'... anytime... everytime... ya need me." He crawled across the bed and wrapped his arms around her, laying her down gently. Noelle pulled his arms closer around her, his front to her back. Tighter, he molded his body to her, his chin on her shoulders. "Shhh... it's gonna be awright..."

She rested her head against him as her eyes closed. "I know...."

Kid nodded as they lay in the darkness, their hearts beating as one.