Z11

Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Story

By Marzena

Plot: Season 2, Episode 45

Chapter 11: Love/Hate

It was getting late, and slowly, darkness was surrounding the mansion. Downstairs, the noise of the television could be heard and in one of the kids' rooms, music was still playing. They've had a pretty fierce battle with Ming's forces today, so the quietness of the evening was all the more enjoyable.

Of course for some people, the constant fighting never ended. And after the discovery of Amy's powers and Jedda being locked up in some creature's hold and tortured with nightmares, a new topic for the constant fighting had arisen.

When Sheila left the upstairs bathroom after changing into some comfy PJ's, Flash opened the door of his bedroom and stepped onto the floor, rolling his eyes when he noticed Sheila. Like her, he was dressed in comfy sweatpants and an old t-shirt.

"Sneaking around again?"

"I was just leaving the bathroom. That hardly counts as sneaking around, don't you think?"

"With you, one can never know. But whatever you say."

He wanted to move past her, but in a swift motion, she blocked his way. Yes, he had all the right to be pissed at her, and even the constant distrust was fully understandable. But she'd chosen a side and she was going to stick with it. He had no right to insult her constantly. And she wouldn't just stand there every time he did so and let it happen. She had more pride than that. Even with what she'd done, she wasn't the boot scraper for his moodiness.

"Do you have to insult me every time you see me?" she asked. She knew she sounded pissed, but she didn't care. "I was leaving the bathroom, for god's sake!"

"And god knows what you did in there", he shot back, trying to get past her, but she wouldn't let him. All the comfy attitude of the evening was gone. Suddenly, she felt ready to settle this argument once and for all.

"You wanna start a fight now? Really?"

"No, you already started it. I'm just tired of constantly having to defend myself when I didn't even do something!"

"Fine. Then let's talk about the stuff you did."

"Going into the traitor-thing again? Really? I know what I did was wrong, but I've chosen a side now – I'm trying to establish something here, as a member of the Defenders of the Earth!"

"First of all, you're never gonna be a member of the Defenders of the Earth, no matter how much you pretend to be. Second, I'm not talking about you infiltrating the team in the name of your piece of a scumbag-father. I'm talking about holding back knowledge, keeping secrets. Again."

Of course. The Amy-thing. How could she have forgotten? But her keeping Amy's secret didn't hurt anyone and she didn't do it for any other purpose than helping Amy. But Flash, being hurt and distrustful, obviously had failed to see that.

"These were not my secrets to tell," she tried to defend herself. "It was Amy's choice. She decided to withhold the information, and she had the right to do so. It was her call. Not mine."

"Those powers could have been useful for us! Since you're trying so hard to establish yourself as a member of the team, you should have seen that."

"I did. But Amy's just a kid. Just because she's got powers, she doesn't have to be a superhero. She's young and she's scared and she has to figure out a lot of things, starting with her relationship with Mandrake. I honestly don't think putting her in the team would help all that. I'd have supported her decision either way, but fact is, she decided not to reveal her powers, and that's that. Would you have gone telling everyone about it if it had been you she'd confided in? If it had been you who'd been asked to keep quiet about it?"

He didn't say anything for a moment, then he sighed. "I guess I wouldn't have," he admitted reluctantly.

"See? But of course, when I do it, there's always a difference!"

"Well, I don't have your past!"

"Not everything I did in that past was a trick or a lie, Flash Gordon!"

There was a moment of silence, a quiet exchange of looks between them. Then he put is guard up again and his blue eyes darkened.

"Sorry. But I can't believe that."

"You mean you won't allow yourself to believe that, don't you?" Sighing, she leaned against the wall, folding her arms. "Believe me, Flash. I get where all the hate is coming from, and I know I deserve it all. But I'm also hoping that one day you will realize that you haven't been played all the time. That there were moments when I was an open book for you to read, when I was just Sheila and everything I said and did was nothing but the truth."

He sighed now, too. "I wish I could believe that."

Their eyes locked again, and she was pretty sure that he was thinking of what had happened the night before as well, reliving every moment in his memories.

When he looked at her again, he read the question in her eyes and slowly shook his head.

"Not a good idea. Not again. In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to stay away from you. Even if what you say is true, then still – it is for the best."

"And since when are you one for sane and sensible decisions, Flash Gordon?" she quietly asked back, standing absolutely still while sending him another challenging look. Yes, she knew this wasn't the best of ideas. But she also knew this was probably the one thing she could do to get back on speaking terms with him. And maybe, once they were involved again on that level, they could work on becoming close again on other levels, too.

"Unfortunately, last night proves you right. But like I said, it doesn't mean anything. I'm not getting involved with you again. It was physical only."

"We can keep it physical only."

"Yeah. Right. Somehow, I can't see that one working."

"Wanna try?"

She knew it was crazy. She knew it was bold. Maybe too bold, maybe too crazy. And yet, she'd never been afraid to go after what she wanted. And if this was the way to get close to Flash Gordon again – for the right reasons this time – well ...

He came closer, until he stood directly in front of her. His blazing blue eyes were only millimeters away from hers. One tiny move and she would feel his lips on hers again. She could already feel his breath. It had never felt so right.

They held each other tightly, deepening a kiss that hadn't started tenderly nor would it turn into that tonight. She was pressed against the wall by him, and while her shoulders started to hurt, she didn't gave a damn. Instead, she gave him her answer by wrapping her legs around him, as well as her arms, and by running her hand through his hair.

"This is a bad, bad idea," he muttered against her ear, his breath very much unevenly right now.

"I know," she whispered back, very much out of breath herself, stroking his muscular back with her other hand now, enjoying the feeling of his lips against her neck.

"We shouldn't ..."

"I know that, too."

And yet, neither of them stopped. And maybe, just maybe, this was a good sign after all. Maybe it would be a start. The start of something new, of something better. This time, built on love and trust, not on lust and lies. Okay, maybe on lust, too. Just a little bit. Love, trust and lust – wasn't that a wonderful combination?

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Article

Author

Chapters

1: Death

April and the other Gordons face a tragedy.

2: Beautiful

Mandrake is reunited with a romantic interest.

3: Peace and Quiet

Flash is thrown into an unexpected struggle.

4: Nightfall

Sheila and Flash continue to bond.