Wrestling With Your Heart
By Luna Wyrd
Author's Note: This
is a huge break from my normal type of story.
Please let me know what you think.
M/M. My response to
David Xanatos checked his reflection one last time in the mirror, and noticed his wife, Fox smirking at him in the reflection.
"I always loved that shirt on you." Fox's seductive voice seemed to purr as she stepped into the bathroom to help him straighten his tie, even though there was nothing wrong with it. "It brings out the blue in your eyes."
David leaned down to kiss Fox tenderly. "I may be out a little late." He noticed her eyes seemed to twinkle in amusement at that comment and gave her a slightly puzzled look that she ignored.
"You have fun." She smiled widely and David just shook his head and started for the door so he wouldn't be late.
When he entered the Library he saw Lex pacing behind the couch. "I am not that late." David grinned when the green gargoyle seemed startled at his entrance.
David and Lex made their way to the elevators, and David noticed Lex seemed nervous, and energetic. "Thank you for taking me. I've always wanted to see one in person." Lex seemed unable to keep his body from shaking with nervous energy. David knew that this was new to the gargoyle.
David had managed to buy out a private area to watch the wrestling match from, so that no one would notice the gargoyle in their midst. He'd heard Lex talking with his rookery brothers about wrestling a lot lately, so when it came time for David to decide on Christmas presents it was easy to know what Lex might want. "No Problem." David smiled at him.
After the long drive in the limo to the stadium, David got out alone and went into the building. Once he smiled and waved at a few of his employees that got tickets with their Christmas bonus, he started his trek up to his private viewing booth. David opened the window near their seats and waited for a moment, before watching Lex climb in. The billionaire CEO was a bit irritated that his guest had to go through such lengths to hide himself, but didn't let any of that irritation show as he led Lex to their seat so they could watch the match.
"Oh…" Lex's amazed stare swept the crowd waiting for the match to begin. "Thank you so much."
"Lex," David felt a bit uncomfortable, but it would never show. He spoke with a hint of a smile on his lips, "You've been working for me for the past two weeks. Your computer skills helped me with projects that I couldn't let my regular employees know about. You deserve this."
The first match started, so they stopped talking to watch. David really didn't care for wrestling. It was far too fake and lacked grace, but when he glanced over at Lex raptly staring at the ring he figured that he could endure one night of this. He spent that time studying the people in the crowd, and watching how they all responded to the faked violence.
The knock on the private booth door startled Lex, so David gave him a reassuring smile before moving to check and make sure it was who he thought it was. "It's a friend." David told Lex as he looked out the curtained window on the door and noticed the light brown hair.
David opened the door and Sean came in. Sean was about four inches shorter than David. He had a slight, but fit frame and wore a dark gray suit. Sean only smiled at Lex politely, without staring at the gargoyle. "Hi."
"Lex this is Sean, Sean, this is Lex." David smirked at the confused look on Lex's face. "Sean owns this stadium now. He helped me arrange this."
Sean smiled at Lex, "Your clan saved my boyfriend in October. I'm glad to have you here, and if you ever want to come back, you just need to call. I'll set it all up."
David noticed Lex's eyes widen a little at the mention of a boyfriend before the gargoyle schooled his features to be polite. As far as David knew this was the first time Lex had ever knowingly met a gay man. He was curious to see what Lex had to say once Sean left.
Sean left to get them some snacks, since David and Lex couldn't really go out and get some themselves. David would be pulled into a conversation with some over-eager employee that wanted to impress him if he stepped out of the room, and he didn't want to leave Lex alone.
"So he's… gay?" Lex didn't sound upset, just really curious.
"Yes, Sean came out while in college. He was my roommate." David answered while sitting back down. He pretended to watch the match, but was really watching Lex out of the corner of his eye. He could see Lex staring at him, with a question on his lips, but the gargoyle just shook his head and turned to watch the large men in spandex wrestle.
David's eyes passed over the crowd again, and they widened when they saw the angry man staring up at him pointing a pistol. "Oh Shit." David managed to say a moment before Lex's body plowed into the side of him, knocking David over in his chair. "Lex?" David carefully rolled over and his heart started to pound in feat when he felt the gargoyle wasn't moving. "Lex are you okay?!"
"
"Someone was shooting at me, and Lex got hit. We need to get him out of here." David crawled over to grab his long coat and wrapped it around Lex's body before picking him up and heading for the door.
"Follow me, there's a back door." Sean was pale but held the door open so David could carry Lex out of the room. As they walked Sean pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Someone on the floor has a gun." David looked at the grim expression on Sean's face. Sean opened another door for David and Lex. David looked down into Lex's face and the fact that Lex wasn't conscious really worried him. Gargoyles were always so strong, but it was still early in the night. They had a long wait for the healing sun.
Owen drove them back to the Eyrie without saying much, and David was grateful. David had laid Lex down on the seat with David's coat underneath him.
David grabbed the limo phone with one hand while he held a towel Sean gave him over the bleeding wound in Lex's chest and dialed. He started to speak before Fox even had a moment to talk. "Fox, Lex was shot. We need the doctor, can you get in touch with her?"
Fox's voice was all business. "She's already here. We'll meet you in the medlab." Her voice softened. "How bad is it?"
David stared at Lex. "He took a bullet aimed at me. That man I fired last week, I had no idea that he'd do this. Lex isn't conscious, but he is breathing."
Once the limo stopped David didn't even wait for Owen, he threw open the door and gathered Lex into his arms before rushing inside.
Fox's hair was a bit messed up and Dr. Stephens was no better, but David paid that no attention as he rushed to put Lex down on the table and addressed the dark haired doctor. "He's been unconscious for over a half hour. I did what I could to keep the bleeding down."
"Okay, you two need to wait outside." Dr. Stephens spoke authoritatively while starting to prepared the anesthetic for the gargoyle. The pale woman looked up at Fox, "Tell the nurse I need her."
"Sure thing Tri." Fox spoke quietly while staring at Lex. David took a deep breath and left. "David, I'm sure he'll be fine. He's got the best Doctor possible." David just nodded distractedly before mentally preparing himself to go upstairs and tell the clan what happened. He didn't even notice the blood on his clothes as he and Fox quietly stepped into the elevator.
"It's like Fate had it in for him. He goes out almost every night to patrol and comes back fine, but I take him out for a fun night, and this happens." David's hands clenched and he gritted his teeth.
David leaned against the wall and watched as Dr. Stephens wheeled the bed out to the courtyard. The sun would be coming up soon, and Lex was still unconscious from the surgery. Fox slide up next to him at his post far away from the rest of the watching and concerned clan. "Tri thinks he was lucky. Nothing vital was touched." Fox spoke softly while resting her hand on David's shoulder. "He'll be weak a few days, but she thinks he should have a full recovery."
"Thanks." David spoke quietly as the sun rose above the horizon, freezing the gargoyles in stone. He reached up and rested his hand over Fox's for a moment before pushing himself off the wall to go inside, away from Detective Maza's cold stare.
David waited beside Dr. Stephens for the sun to go down. She gave him a concerned look. "You don't look like you slept at all."
"I was working on getting that bastard arrested and hiring a very good prosecutor." David said a little coldly as he stared out at the fading sunlight. His voice softened as he turned to look at the twenty something dark haired woman next to him. "I guess it's a good thing you're having an affair with my wife. You were here when he needed you." He felt a bit of satisfaction at Dr. Stephens widening eyes and paling skin. He didn't want the good Doctor to think she was pulling anything over on him.
"I… Mr. Xanatos, I…" The Doctor stammered nervously.
David ignored her and glanced over at Lex. He was still laying on the stretcher. He wasn't conscious to stand when the sun came up, and they didn't know if he'd be well enough to walk tonight. "Just make sure he's alright. There are already far too few gargoyles in this world." David turned to go inside shortly before the clan woke up, leaving the flustered Doctor to do her job.
Dr. Stephens came into the Library to inform the clan, and David that Lex would be weak for a few days, but he was going to recover fully. David noticed the Doctor had a hard time looking him in the eyes, but he'd deal with that problem later.
It took a few hours before Dr. Stephens finally kicked the clan out of Lex's room. David waited until they were gone before going down to the medlab. He ran into the Doctor in the halls.
"Mr. Xanatos, he really does need his rest." Dr. Stephens said while talking to David's collar, rather than his eyes.
When David paid her no attention she spoke again, in a less formal tone. "Keep the visit to less than fifteen minutes. He really does need rest."
Lex look a bit pale, but he smiled when David came into the room. "Well, that night was more exciting than I thought it would be." Lex joked weakly, and David could easily see how tired the gargoyle was.
"Yeah, next time try not to wrestle with bullets." David smiled while sitting down in the chair beside the bed. He stayed and waited for Lex to fall asleep before leaving.
Fox met up with him while he waited for the elevator. "Did you need to scare Tri like that?"
David turned to her and gave her a smirk. "Not my fault your mistress is so jumpy."
Fox smirked back at him and leaned closer to kiss him. When she pulled back her grin was wicked. "You ruined the whole sneaking around behind your back fantasy I had going on. I had to tell Tri that you always knew, and didn't mind. She really thought she was going to lose her job."
David shook his head as they stepped into the elevator. "See, she's just too jumpy. I don't see the attraction. She's pretty, but all stiff and businesslike, almost like Owen."
Fox's slow grin made David feel like taking his wife to bed. "She's completely different in the bedroom… and something has to be said for a doctor's hands."
"If you wanted to play doctor, you could have just told me." David smiled as he let his eyes caress Fox's body.
"Oh, but there are so many other games I like to play with you." Fox took his hand when the elevator door opened and David let her lead him to the bedroom.
The next night the clan left for their patrols like normal, leaving Lex alone. David looked in the security camera in the gargoyle's room and could see the gargoyle was bored.
"Owen, did you purchase that item I asked you too?" David spoke without glancing at his Personal Assistant.
"Yes I did sir. It is in your office." Owen's formal reply earned a small smile from David as he moved to leave.
David walked into Lex's room with the laptop, and could see the gargoyle's eyes widen in appreciation. "I was wondering if you would feel up to doing a little work. Since you are technically on a leave from patrols, I thought you might be available."
"Sure, anything so I don't have to just stare at these walls anymore." Lex held out his hands for the laptop, and David noticed Lex held it like it was the most precious thing in the world.
"Since that last Christmas gift didn't go so well, I bought you this." David said as he moved to sit beside the bed.
Lex's eyes moved away from the computer. "That wasn't your fault. I was having fun." David was surprised when Lex reached over to grab his wrist. "When I get better maybe we could try that again?"
"Ah.. not a problem. I'm sure Sean can arrange for something any day you want to go." David was watching Lex's face, so he noticed the blush that briefly appeared when David mentioned Sean. He just filed that away to puzzle over later and pulled out the files they were going to work with. This was normally work that Owen would do, but Lex was bored and he was more than capable of doing this.
"Why are you taking all those files downstairs?" Fox asked while looking at him clearly puzzled. David looked at the box of files in his arms and then at his wife.
"Lex gets bored and wants to do something useful." Lex had just been taken back to his rooms after spending the day outside in the sun. Dr. Stephens called and told him that Lex seemed to be doing much better, and that she was going to give him the all clear tomorrow night if nothing else went wrong.
"I see." Fox grinned at him and turned to stare at the elevator doors, waiting for them to open.
David was going over a file while Lex did some research on the internet. Lex's voice almost startled him, since they'd been working in silence for a while. "I feel fine. That Doctor is paranoid, making me stay in bed another day."
"I'm sure Dr. Stephens is just doing what she thinks is best." David put his pen in the file and closed it so that he wouldn't lose his place. He could see from the nervous clenching of Lex's hands that the gargoyle had more to say.
Lex's voice was softer, as if afraid they'd be overheard. "I snuck out of bed earlier, just to stretch my legs… I don't know how to tell you this." Lex sighed heavily. "I found Fox kissing the Doctor."
David glanced down at the bed to try and cover up a grin. So this was why Lex had seemed nervous all night. "I know about Fox's extra-marital activities, but thank you for having the decency to tell me."
"You Knew?!" Lex's voice went high in shock.
"We have an arrangement. She's allowed one extra lover, which has to be female. It's our unofficial pre-nuptial agreement." David watched the shock, and was a bit surprised at the outrage on Lex's face.
"You can do better than that! You don't deserve to be treated like that!"
David sighed. "Fox is a wonderful woman, and I have the same agreement."
Lex's eyes turned to him. "You have a lover?"
David's eyes widened at Lex's open curiosity. "No, but I could if I wanted to. I just haven't found anyone interesting enough."
Lex looked lost in thought, and then just changed the subject. "I found it. What else do we need to look up?"
David slowed down as he heard voices in Lex's room. He'd just stepped out for a bathroom break.
"I can't believe you're cheating on him!" Lex sounded angry.
Fox's deep, sultry voice didn't seem affected at all by the accusations. "It's not cheating. David knows what I'm doing. If he wanted to date a man, he's free to do that."
"A… A man?" Lex stammered over those words, and David moved closer to the wall to make sure he stayed out of sight. He wanted to hear what Fox was up to.
"Yes, that was the agreement. We are both bisexual. It's hardly my fault he hasn't found the right male. I'd be more than happy for him if he did."
David watched the door swing open and fell in step beside Fox quickly. "So what game are you playing now?" He asked casually while escorting her to the elevators.
"Well, David you ruined my sneaking around game, so I had to start a new one." Fox smiled wickedly at him. "I'd say I'm winning too. See you later, Tri's taking me out to dinner."
When David came back into the room he noticed that Lex was quieter than he'd been earlier. David also noticed out of the corner of his eye that Lex would stare at him when he thought David couldn't see. "So where were we?"
"I'll see if I can find anymore articles on Cyberbiotics." Lex said quickly and got to work.
The next night Lex was free to move about, but this time it was Goliath that told the gargoyle that he needed one more day off of patrols. David could see the disappointment in Lex's face at that. The billionaire knew that Lex was looking forward to gliding again.
"Lex, I was going to start decorating the great hall for the Christmas party." David said as he came into the library, pretending that he hadn't been using the security camera's to spy on the clan. "Do you want to help me?"
Fox's voice carried in from the hall. "Sure, you get help and I have to do the halls by myself." David could hear the touch of humor in her voice.
David smirked at Lex. "What Tri isn't going to help you? How very unChristmaslike of her." Lex's eyes widened at the teasing tone. David's grin grew a little wider.
Fox's chuckle warmed David's heart. "No, she needed to leave and feed her cat. Sorry excuse that was."
"So, you want to help?" David addressed the bewildered looking Lex again, and the gargoyle nodded slowly that he would. David smiled. "Good."
David stood back and looked at the work they'd done. It looked good, if he did say so himself. They had garland and wreaths strategically placed. Ribbons and faux presents littered the walls. It looked very festive. He shared a pleased smile with Lex, who was also studying their hard work.
"Not bad you two." Fox seemed glide across the floor towards them. "But you forgot the mistletoe." The redhead smirked and held up a box of at least a dozen of those things.
David sighed, "I guess we need to get the ladder back out." When Lex went to get it, David gave his wife a questioning look, but Fox just smirked and left. This was part of the game. He could easily see that.
After they hung up the last piece of mistletoe Lex climbed most of the way down the ladder, until his face was even with David's. "I want to thank you for this." Lex seemed to blush. David arched his eyebrow at that, curious about what the gargoyle was thinking. "I would have gone crazy with boredom if it wasn't for you."
Fox's loud voice startled them both. "I believe Lex is under the mistletoe." David watched Lex's blush increase tenfold before turning to see the mischievous glint in Fox's eyes. She gave David a wicked grin, "David, you're closer. You'll need to take care of it." David turned to see Lex's eyes were as wide as saucers.
"Lex, you don’t have to." David started quietly, but Fox interrupted.
"It's Tradition! You two are the first one's caught, you have to honor tradition!" Fox smirked and walked closer to them.
Lex's blush was so innocent. David turned to let the gargoyle off the hook from Fox's little joke, and was surprised when Lex leaned forward and pecked him on the lips quickly. "There, that's good enough." Lex whispered to him and finished climbing down the ladder. Lex then grabbed the ladder and started off for the supply closet it came from.
As soon as Lex was out of hearing range David turned to Fox, and saw her amused grin. "Not the passion I was after, but a step in the right direction." Fox's amusement at this situation made David a bit intrigued.
"We didn't have any mistletoe."
"I had to go shopping." Fox's grin grew wider, and David had to smile in return.
"So I'll assume the halls aren't done? I win that bet."
Fox stared into his eyes. "I lost that battle, but not the war my love." David watched the gentle sway of her hips as she left him alone in the great hall to finish her own decorating. Oh, he definitely made the right choice marrying her. His grin grew.
David milled about the party slowly nursing his wine. He never drank very much, and never at a gathering. He liked his wits about him. The clan and the mutates were for the most part ignoring him. Maza's family was here, as well as other clan friends.
After wandering around for a little while he decided to slip out for a bit. Fox was having fun chatting with the Doctor and a few other people. He caught her eye for a moment before he left and mouthed silently that he was getting some air.
He stood outside staring out at the city lights, and when he heard a sound behind him, he fully expected it to be Fox. When he turned around he was surprised to see Lex studying him. "Weren't having fun at your own party?" Lex spoke softly while walking out to stare out at the city with him.
"It isn't really my party. I throw it for your clan." David spoke with a more honest tone of voice than he normally used.
They stood in silence for a moment. "Fox sent me out here to see if you were okay." Lex spoke without looking over at David.
"Oh, I'm fine. Just needed some air."
David was surprised when Lex didn't leave. The gargoyle just stood beside him staring out at the city quietly. It was a nice gesture. David felt a small smile tug at his lips.
"I was thinking it would be nice to go back to the stadium next week." Lex spoke suddenly, as if trying to get the words out before he changed his mind.
"Not a problem. I'll call Sean tomorrow."
This time when they got to the stadium, Sean had the halls cleared so that Lex and he could come in the backdoor rather than sneaking Lex in a window. David glanced around the festive private booth and gave Sean a questioning look. His friend just smirked at him and closed the door. It was during a break in the match that David noticed Lex glancing up, so David's eyes traveled to see what it was Lex was looking at. Right above both of their chairs hung a piece of mistletoe.
"It's tradition, right? You're supposed to." Lex's question made David drop his eyes to the gargoyle in surprise. Lex moved in and kissed David tentatively.
Once they broke apart, David decided to push his luck. "You're under it too." He glanced up meaningfully, before moving in to capture Lex's lips in another, more decisive kiss that lingered.
When they left the stadium, after a match that neither paid much attention to, David had to go back to get the coat he'd left behind.
"I'd say that's a check." Fox's amused voice didn't surprise David at all. He turned to pull his wife into a kiss.
"What would a checkmate be?"
"Next week." Fox grinned mischievously before pulling back from him. "You better not let your boyfriend wait too long. I'll see you at home later."