Black and White Ch. 04

"But he said he would always stand by me!" Aiden sputtered finally. He felt all whiny and impaired.

Tinka stepped forward and hugged Aiden who stiffly resisted and kept his hands at his sides.

"Why won't you be happy for me?" Aiden had finally asked the question that had been playing in his mind for over 3 days now. Why would his best friend not be happy for his joy?

"I'm sorry Aide." Tinka finally whispered into his ear. "I don't know what this feeling I have is, but I promise I'll try to understand it and get over these differences with my feelings with Will."

Aiden relaxed into the girl's embrace. He hoped that things would be better in the future and that everyone would get rid of their insecurities.

~~~

Aiden sat waiting in the coffee shop he now considered his third home; his first being the frat room and his 'new' second being Will's apartment. But these were the last thoughts in his disconcerted mind. He felt restless and uneasy, unable to understand why things were happening as they were. He had met the greatest guy anyone could have ever known and now other things had placed a leg in his path to happiness, and he had tripped badly over that leg. Why could he not just be happy and stop worrying about things. People would change and adapt automatically, wouldn't they?

"A penny for your thoughts mate!" Aiden looked up, jolted out of his reverie by Scott.

"I don't know anyone who used that line since the 70's," Aiden snorted, trying to make light of his mood.

"Ha ha." Scott said dispassionately as he settled down into the chair beside Aiden. "So here's the PCB layout for the motor circuit, and I think you'll find it easy to understand now."

Aiden took the sheet of paper from Scott's hand and glanced at the circuit. 'Yep, it's a partial circuit' Aiden thought to himself. 'Scott really wants me to understand it in parts before I assemble these components'.

"So why such a glum face?" Scott asked.

Aiden took a deep breath. He had been distressed since the morning, and getting anxious about everything was becoming his second nature. He glanced at Scott who looked so hunky and so sincere. Should he have met Scott first? "Bah! Don't flatter yourself' he rebuked his mind. 'Just because he's bothered about me does not mean he's interested in me, and on top of that he has to be straight'.

"So what's going on in your mind?" Scott asked. White wanted more than anything to enter the boy's mind. This gracious youth who looked so distressed despite him trying to hide it. No soul should be given the right to worry this boy. It would be easy to dive into the boy's mind and soothe it. He would also easily understand what was bothering him. But he had pledged to not infiltrate the boy's thoughts.

"You know when things seem perfect and then something small like a feeling comes along and totally wrecks your mind?" Aiden stated.

"Yeah." Scott nodded. He had no idea what the vague words Aiden used referred to. Patience would get him the answer.

"Well I really really like this person but things seem strewn with uncertainties; all of which are only playing around in my head."

Will nodded once more, waiting for Aiden to continue.

"I mean this person is the most awesome one I've ever met, I can never be luckier than to have... this person."

Will acknowledged Aiden's statement. He could obviously see the usage of 'a person' other than a 'he'. Why did humans try to hide all their feelings?

"And instead of celebrating and reveling the relationship, all I'm doing is worrying about inane things which I don't know a damn about. Why the hell do I have to be so screwed up?"

Aiden stared at Scott waiting for a reply. He had just blurted out nonsensical things to Scott, who probably thought he was nuts by now. Aiden stared at Scott's face while waiting for his reply. The man looked absolute fireworks; the great face structure, the awesomely blue eyes, the golden blonde hair. Why the hell was this guy just an instructor who dealt in electronic circuits? Wasn't that for geeky guys like himself?

"Aiden, I don't fully comprehend your problem," Scott started, "But I can tell you certain things I've learnt. Your worrying incessantly, your being happy, your being sad; all of it is just a state of mind. Whatever happens around you, it's ultimately you who decides how you are going to react, and how happy or unhappy you are going to be."

"Apart from that, it seems you're with an incredible person. A person who would be very easy for you to fall in love with, and yet you are being held back by your own insecurities. If you really like this person in your heart, you should completely surrender, and with a person like you, I'm sure anyone would be more than willing to return the affection."

Aiden stared at Scott with warmth in his eyes. Everything Scott had said somehow applied to him. How could Scott be so wise and affable?

"Besides, I'm sure he's a remarkable person." Scott stated.

Aiden jerked up. "Er, who's remarkable?"

White immediately realized the revelation he had inducted in his speech by using a 'he'. There was no way out of this now.

"The guy you're falling for Aiden, I'm sure he'll be good for you."

Aiden was shocked. Was he that easy to read? It must be all the staring and gazing he had subjected Scott to. 'No wonder he thinks you're gay' he thought to himself. But Scott appeared to be taking it comfortably in stride.

"You don't mind th..."

"Of course I don't mind Aiden," Scott cut him off. "And I also know that any guy would be extremely lucky to have you."

The pair was interrupted by Brian, as Aiden had got to know the young waiter that always served him and had been eyeing him and Will before. Aiden had gotten a tad friendly with the boy.

The young waiter took their orders and stooped down to whisper into Aiden's ears. "How come you get the hottest guys on the planet?"

Aiden smiled at Brian. "And the looks are not even the best part of them you know."

Brian sighed before leaving to get the two their orders. He would never understand Aiden and his 'boyfriends'.

"Ahem!" Scott coughed as Aiden diverted his attention back to his companion.

Aiden smiled goofily at Scott. He realized that Scott was a person he would want by his side forever, even as a friend. And he was sure that nothing would get in his and Will's way now. He was going to pour everything he had in him, into being with Will.

"Thanks Scott. I mean thanks a lot. Your words really make a difference."

"No no, I'm glad if I could be of any help."

The two sat smiling at each other, Aiden happy that he had not only found a great lover but also a great friend and White taking joy in the fact that he could do away with the Alchemists worries by just using his words.

The pair was distracted as someone crept close to White. Aiden looked with a puzzled expression as a timid old lady, totally crouched into herself came up to Scott.

"An angel!" the lady cried as she put both her wrinkled hands on White's cheeks and lightly stroked them.

"Uhh.." White uttered knowing what was happening. This aged human lady could see his true form.

"A beautiful golden angel." The lady reiterated. Aiden reached out his hand to stop the lady, then realized that Scott was not discomfited and the lady looked way too old, with her face skin wrinkled like parchment paper, to be interrupted.

"Why doesn't the angel spread his wings and fly?" the lady asked in a sad manner as she leaned closer and embraced White in her arms.

Aiden watched smiling, finding it amusing that Scott was being compared to an angel. He did not understand the significance of the old lady's words.

~~~

Aiden nervously stopped outside the black glass door and contemplated what he was doing.

"This is it, he told himself. I have to do this." He tried to push the door open but it would not budge. 'So it's really not a shop kind of place anymore' he thought to himself as he knocked. Even the sign outside that read 'Horoscopus - Fortune Telling' was gone, and he was back there though he was not sure what he was doing.

The door swung open as the Japanese girl that had scared Aiden earlier, opened the door, and he once again noticed how pale white her complexion was.

"Oh," She uttered, clearly surprised to see Aiden. "It's you."

"Yeah it's me." Aiden replied, not sure of whether his trip here was a bad idea.

"Listen if you've come to talk about the other day, I'm really sorry but I was an ass that day, I didn't mean to..."

"No, no, it's not a problem. I can understand," Aiden cut her off. Then he swung his hand forward to reveal a bouquet of a dozen white lilies he had been holding behind his back.

"I, err, got some flowers."

The girl stared wide eyed and then looked at the flowers and then back at Aiden's face, speechless. Aiden extended the flowers towards her.

"Thank you." She replied as she took them.

"Just my condolences for your mother; I can fathom what you must be going through now."

The girl and Aiden stared awkwardly at each other for a few moments.

"I'll be going then." Aiden finally stated as he turned to leave.

"Listen," the girl called out. "I don't know what your name is, but this means a lot to me."

"Uh, no big deal. I just felt I owed you at least this much."

"And, uh." The girl hesitated. "Be careful."

Aiden smiled and nodded as he walked away. He had a warm feeling in his heart that told him he had just done a good thing.

~~~

"Yeah I'll be there in 30 minutes!" Aiden yelled into his phone before he disconnected the call and hastily started stripping his clothes. Steve was already at 'Escape' and was demanding Aiden get there fast. Escape was an amusement park, replete with rides and roller coasters and quaint food stalls and games. It had been Steve's idea to go there with Aiden, and with Will. Aiden was excited that Steve was finally going to meet his boyfriend. He quickly ran through the things in his cupboard, unsure of what to wear.

"Dammit, there's nothing to wear!" he cursed. He had been wearing his best clothes everyday, along with some of Steve's and had run out of good habiliments. "Will have to repeat this." He said as he pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. He craned his neck from where he was standing covered by the door of the cupboard as the door swung open.

"Hi Jase." He called out as Jason entered.

"Hi." Jason said barely audibly without glancing at his roommate.

Aiden had been getting the feeling that Jason had somehow come to know about his sexuality since the past few days and was avoiding him since then. Jason would never come to the room when Aiden was there and would evade him in the college corridors. Or it could be just Aiden's overactive imagination. He hoped the latter was true.

"Hey Jason, Me, Steve and Will are going to 'Escape.' You wanna join us?"

"No, I gotta go."

"You could get Aditi along," Aiden advised as he stepped towards his roommate. Aiden had only his underwear on and he noticed Jason stepping backwards as he stepped closer. Being roommates, they had never been modest before.

"NO!" Jason cried out suddenly. "I gotta go." And with that he hastily exited the room with a basketball under his arm which Aiden realized he had come to collect. Aiden stood there dumbfounded.

~~~

Aiden and Steve stood watching as Will took position and pulled his hand backwards, carefully aiming with the red painted tennis ball. With one swift motion he hurled the ball towards the target and smacked it bang in the centre.

"Bull's eye!" he yelled as the stall owner handed him over a pink teddy bear as his prize, glaring at him to give him an idea that this stall was meant for people much younger than him. Will took the proffered soft toy and made his way towards where Aiden and Steve were watching, leaning against a railing.

"Here, this if for you." Will handed over the fluff pink toy to his lover, smiling cheekily.

"What the hell am I gonna do with that?" Aiden asked indignantly as Steve burst out into peals of laughter.

"I dunno." Will replied innocently. "You could decorate your frat room or something with it."

Aiden humphed and pushed the teddy bear back into Will's hands, storming off to the stall where his boyfriend had 'won' him a teddy bear. He handed over a token to the irate vendor and took the 3 balls offered. 2 missed shots later he finally hit the mark and knocked down the target.

"Here! Your prize." The vendor scowled at Aiden as he handed over yet another pink fluffy teddy bear to a winner. The stall was intended for a much younger crowd. Aiden collected his 'hard earned' reward and strode towards his waiting friends purposefully, where Will was trying his best to put on a frown as Steve laughed maniacally.

"Here, this is for you!" Aiden reiterated with triumph on his face.

"And what am I supposed to do with that?"

"I don't know, put it into your car or something; I guess black Lambos and pink teddy bears look good together."

Will was not one to admit defeat. He purposefully walked back up to the game stall and handed over one more token to the stall owner, who was glowering at him with burning eyes this time. Will took the three red tennis balls and assumed his position to aim.

"This is for that one!" he called out to Aiden, pointing to a massive 4 foot tall pink teddy bear with a sign under it stating it as the grand prize. Will would be required to knock down targets on all three shots to win it.

Three glorious throws later Will returned to his mates with a colossal pink bear; Aiden scowling and Steve holding his sides with laughter.

"Well thank you!" Aiden stated angrily as he took the large teddy bear. "This is gonna be my new boy friend!"

"Oh no he's not! I'll whip his ass if he tries to be!"

And with that the trio burst out guffawing like a pack of hyenas, each laughing till their sides hurt. The stall owner was cursing the two pink teddy bear winners as the teddy bears were pushed onto Steve who handed them over to an excited 6 year old girl. The girl screamed with joy as her parents allowed her to accept the pink fluffy bear family.

"So where should we have dinner?" Will asked as the three finally restrained their laughter.

"Oh there's a diner just outside the main entrance where 'lots of grease' comes at no extra price," Steve interjected. "Scott will be joining us there."

Aiden looked questioningly at his roommate. "You called Scott?"

"Yeah Scott, the same Scott who played tennis with you the other day."

"Of course I know Scott!" Aiden replied. "He also happens to be my robotics guide, but when did you meet him?"

"Oh, he plays tennis with me in the mornings, now that you never have time for a game." Steve leaned in and whispered in Aiden's ear, "And he's always asking on and on about you. I think he's in love with you or something."

Will cleared his throat as Steve pulled away from Aiden who stood there with a confused expression on his face. Black could discern what was going on and knew all that had been discussed; he was not at all pleased. He knew of the Alchemist's fidelity but could not contemplate anyone else even touching his lover.

"Ok fine!" Aiden stated. "Let's go there and meet Scott then."

Aiden thought about how this would be the first time the two alpha males, Scott and Will, would be meeting each other; finding it a bit amusing for no particular reason. So Scott would meet his lover finally, and just when he had informed him about Will. This would be an interesting meeting to witness. His thoughts shifted to how Scott learned that he was gay and had been completely supportive; and how contrary it was to Jason's behavior after his roommate probably learned about him. He would have to inform Steve about both these cases later.

A few minutes later the three settled down into the uncomfortable wooden chairs of the diner Steve had mentioned. Aiden glanced at the prices in the menu happy that at least things were affordable here, he had been splurging too much money with Will nowadays and would never let Will pay for him anywhere. His self respect was burning a large hole in his pocket.

Will barely took part in the conversation while they waited for Scott and ordered a few appetizers. He was distressed. He felt restless, saturated with jealousy though Aiden's mind assured him that there was no need to be. Who was this man that could prove a match for the mighty dark angel Arangyunus? He would tear this man apart if he ever lay a finger on his 'Aiden'.

Suddenly Black started feeling uneasy. He was sick with jealousy, he knew that. But there was some sort of other overwhelming feeling that was making him queasy. And it was getting stronger. No, this was not an emotion. It was something else. It was a powerful spirit force that was clashing with his own, and it was coming towards them. Something was drastically wrong.

"Ah there's Scott!" Steve stated as he yelled and waved a hand to direct Scott there.

Black swirled around, partly dazed by the proximity of this oppugning spirit force. And their eyes met.

The two arch rivals Black and White stared at each other, their faces enraged and black as thunder.

--------------------------------

Well hope this episode was enjoyable. I know I'm leaving you at a really steep point (call me a sadist if you want to) but I'll be back after my exam. Don't forget to mail and tell me how you liked or disliked this part.