Strange Love 42 Nothing Without You

Naru popped his head out from the bathroom door, toothbrush in mouth. He arched an eyebrow as he looked from his friend to the now wrecked table. He spoke around the toothbrush, "Dude, WTF? Did you just smash my table?!" He turned back into the bathroom, removed the toothbrush, and set it on the counter then walked back into the living room. "I mean I would b.i.t.c.h more about it... but I don't want to be left in a heap beside the d.a.m.n thing..." Naru stopped and leaned against the bar separating the living room from the kitchen and watched in stunned surprise as the strongest most powerful man he had ever known fell to his knees several feet in front of him and let out another soulful whale as tears began to stream down his face.

Naru grabbed two bottles of beer from the counter beside him and stepped carefully around the splintered remains of the table slowing as he neared his friend. He placed a hand on Russ's heaving shoulders. "Dude, you want to talk about it?" He tapped Russ's slumped head with the bottle.

Russ slowly took the bottle, not making eye contact with his friend. He sat back on his feet and popped the cap off and took a large drink. Naru sat on the sofa and popped off the cap of the beer in his hand and took a long drink before letting the bottle dangle between his knees as he twisted the neck of the bottle back and forth waiting on Russ to speak. When Russ didn't, Naru asked, "Is this about that woman?"

Russ shot him an angry glare, "You know her name! Don't say it like that!"

Naru threw his hands up in defense, "Sorry man, I didn't mean it like that. I just mean...." His words died as he saw more tears building behind the angry eyes glaring up at him. "Help me understand, dude. Why..." He couldn't bring himself to ask what he really wanted to know, instead, he asked, "Why HER?"

Russ ran his free hand through his hair as he focused his gaze on the bottle in his other hand. "She's my everything..." He moved his gaze up to Naru's, "There is no one but her."

Naru arched a brow, "You say that awful matter-of-factly for someone who isn't even old enough to buy your own beer." Naru took another long drink. As he continued studying Russ's face.

"Because I am certain of it. There will never be anyone but her." Russ said with a sternness that was hard to argue with.

Naru sighed heavily, "I get that she's beautiful and has a mysterious s.e.xiness about her... but..." he shrugged, "I just don't get it, man." He looked down at his friend. "You haven't been a couple that long, and you guys are... so different..." {I'm probably going to get punched for this but I have to say it.} "Russ... It's obvious she doesn't feel the same... I mean she's known as the ice queen on campus. No one has ever been able to get close to her even as a friend." Naru braced himself for an incoming punch, but to his surprise, Russ only sighed and pushed himself up from the floor.

Russ flopped down on the sofa and stared blankly out past the busted table. A gentle curled his lips as he spoke, "That's not her at all. She's the most caring, loving, considerate person I've ever known. As long as I can remember she's always been nothing but kind and gentle." His eyes glazed over as he continued staring with unseeing eyes, "When my parent's died she was there, she held on and wouldn't let go... Over the past 15 years no matter what she wouldn't let go..." A tear trailed down his cheek. "We, Sh.e.l.ly and I, took her away from the only home she ever knew... all her friends and family... but she has only ever looked at us with the purest of love." He smiled a bittersweet smile as another tear trailed down his face. "I've loved her as long as I can remember... My own parent's faces have begun to fade from my memory, but I can still remember the day we left the island... the tears she tried to hide, the exact color of her dress, the tremble in her hands as she held us tightly on the plane... I want to spend the rest of my life returning that love... being the strong hand that comforts her, that brushes away her tears... to be the one to take away the hurt she is always trying so hard to hide."

Naru's throat tightened with the emotion Russ's words sturred. He was completely undone when glistening blue eyes met his. He quickly turned his head away from Russ's view and took an extra long drink. When he was still unable to say anything Russ continued.

"You could never understand my joy when she admitted to feeling the same about me." His voice brightened as he continued. "There is no amount of wealth that would ever sway me from wanting to be with only her... A crown of gold would never be worth more than plain matching bands around each of our ring fingers."

Naru couldn't help the tears that streamed down his own cheeks as Russ continued.

"I want her to be the mother of my children, the first thing I see every morning, the face I see as I take my very last breath." He clamped his hand over the back of his neck, "...And she felt the same, Naru... But I ruined it. My own jealousy..." anger was heavy in his voice once again, "My own f.u.c.king anger... I f.u.c.ked it up, Naru... and I may lose her to another man... and I'm the one who DROVE her into his arms..." His body shuddered with the vibrations of a s.h.i.+ft.

Naru leaped from the sofa and shot across the room. "Dude, please don't s.h.i.+ft right now! The cat in me couldn't deal with you in such a confined s.p.a.ce, man!"

Russ gripped the sofa arm and fought against the s.h.i.+ft. He gave himself a full-bodied shake then quickly downed the rest of his beer. "Then we better get out of here... cause the way I'm feeling I can't promise you I'll be able to hold it back."

Naru watched his friend with sad but understanding eyes. "Alright, man. You wanna head down to Calypso's? At least there Raven can help if you do lose control."

Russ looked up at his friend and nodded his head, "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'd like to talk to her anyway." Russ pushed himself up and tossed the now empty beer bottle into the garbage can beside the sofa. He slipped his shoes on and reached for his keys. His hand froze inches from the hook they were on. "One of us is going to have to s.h.i.+ft if you want to get to the bar. So, is it going to be me or you?" He grabbed the keys and holding them in the air jingled them. He threw Naru a sly smile over his shoulder.

Naru's eyes lit up with excitement, "Oh h.e.l.l yes!" he yelled as he began stripping clothes off. "I've wanted to drive that car since the night of the fundraiser!" He s.h.i.+fted quickly to and from cat form in order to sober up. As soon as he was fully dressed again Russ tossed him the keys and both boys moved quickly out the door and down the stairs of the apartment.

Russ drowned his troubles in yet another shot as he laughed with his friends Naru and Kyle and the bartender Liam who had joined them once his s.h.i.+ft ended. He busted out laughing as Liam leaned too far back in his chair and fell backward. "How is it possible for a bartender to have such a low alcohol tolerance." Russ chuckled as he watched Liam struggle up for the floor.

Liam's face was flushed from a combination of embarra.s.sment and drunkenness. "I serve the booze not dr-hicup-ink it." His words slurred as he wrestled the chair back to a standing position. "Besides I can't just s.h.i.+ft when I've had too much to drink like you punks!" He pointed a wobbly finger in Russ and Naru's direction.

Naru's threw his hands up in surrender, "What can I say we just have more superior genes, Dude!"

Liam stumbled a bit as he tried to sit back down into the chair. "Super-er-or my a.s.s!" He slurred. His next sentence was cut off however as Naru's mouth dropped open and his eyes focused intensely on the door.

"Oh s.h.i.+t, man!" He kicked Russ hard in the leg. "f.u.c.king Gigi is here!" He turned quickly toward Russ, "You think we can make it out the back door before she sees ya?" But before he or Russ either one could move the werewolf girl standing at the door locked eyes on their table, and it didn't take her long to hone in on Russ.

Naru slid Russ another shot as he took one for himself as well. He quickly threw his back and said as he watched her make her way toward their table, "Well you're f.u.c.ked. Nothing like a crazy b.i.t.c.h to set the mood." Naru threw back another shot before snarling his nose up at Russ and asking, "What in the world ever possessed you to date," He threw his hands up in her direction as she drew closer to their table. "That!"

Liam nearly fell out of his chair again as he tried to turn to see the girl in question. He squinted trying to focus on her. "I may be lil-bit drunk but I don't see what's so wrong about her..." he turned back toward Naru and gave an over-exaggerated shrug. "I'd do'er."

Russ rolled his eyes as he pushed his chair back. "Please, be my guest." He went to stand as the girl in question closed in the last few steps between her and the table. Russ completely ignored her as he said to his friends, "I'm going to p.i.s.s. Be ready to go when I get back we are getting out of here."

Gigi's eyes widened, "Leave?!" She threw herself at him as he stepped away from the table. When his arms instinctively caught her, she pushed her ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s into his chest and threw her arms around his neck. "You can't leave yet! I haven't seen you since before your birthday!"

Russ rolled his eyes as he grabbed hold of her upper arm and tried to push her away from him. "Get off Gigi."

She pursed her lower lip out as she tightened her grip around his neck automatically bringing her body even tighter against his. "But I've missed you so much." She sent him a playfully s.e.xy smile as she wiggled her lush hips against him. "I bet you've missed me too." She purred as she rubbed her body provocatively against him.

Russ tried to take a step back but it was no use, he couldn't get her dislodged from his body. "Gigi, I said get off. I have a girlfriend." He emphasized the word 'girlfriend'.

She sent him another pouty frown as she pressed against him even harder, "But I thought I was your girlfriend?"

He moved his hands from her upper arms to her hands clasped together behind his head. He struggled with her grip as he said, "No Gigi, we f.u.c.ked. That is it, and you know that." As he pried the last of her fingers apart she quickly grabbed hold of the front of his s.h.i.+rt and jerked his upper body down toward her, planting an inescapable kiss directly on his lips.

Silence fell over the room, all eyes turned toward them. The only noise to be heard in the entire room was a horrified gasp from the entrance doors. Naru, Kyle, and Liam all froze in shock as their eyes moved from Russ and Gigi's public display to the entrance. "OH f.u.c.k!!!" All three shouted in unison.