The Misadventures of Jonny Quest

Celestia Villa – Greece

And not once, in four years, had Jonny decided the time was right.

He sighed and looked at the ground. Contacting the others had, especially in the last few months, come up more and more frequently in conversations with Artemis, and Jonny was quickly wearing down under the gentle pressure. In fact, he must have started at least a dozen letters in the last two months alone, only to have his hand start to shake, and have to stop in order to not break down exactly as he had the day that he and Artemis had driven away from the compound.

“I don’t like that look, my love,” Artemis’ voice broke through his thoughts, and Jonny looked at the man, startled. “That is sadness, my dearest Jonathon. Far too deep a sadness for such an occasion as we are celebrating today.”

“I’m sorry, Artemis. I . . . I was just thinking about . . .” Jonny shrugged helplessly, and the older man smiled warmly.

“I know, my love, and its okay, I understand.” Jonny had no doubt that he did, and smiled, though it wavered slightly. “What say I tell my brat of a sister that we will be spending tonight at home?”

“Artemis, are . . . are you sure?” Jonny couldn’t keep the relief from his voice. “I’m sorry to be such a wet blanket,” Jonny looked down at the ground, and Artemis gently placed his hand under Jonny’s chin and tilted his head up.

“You are allowed to be any kind of blanket you want, my Love, as long as it is my blanket.”

Jonny smiled, and he placed his hands on Artemis’ shoulders. They both closed their eyes, and a fraction of a second before their lips met, a camera flash went off. Neither one noticed it as their lips connected in a gentle kiss that slowly deepened until a small moan left Jonny’s mouth, and a tremor passed through his body. With what could only be described as a ’hungry’ grin, Artemis broke away.

“I love that sound,” he said, his voice husky. “And I just want you to know right here and right now, that I intend on making you make that sound for me for a very long time.”

“And I’m letting you know that I intend on making that sound for you for a very long time,” Jonny chuckled, then looked surprised as Artemis pulled a small velvet box wrapped in a red ribbon from his pocket, and held it out.

“What’s this for?” The handsome blond asked, confused, and Artemis’ smile widened.

“You,” he answered, and Jonny shook his head.

“But, it’s your sister’s wedding. I thought you brought that for her,” Jonny shook his head, and Artemis sighed.

“I can give my presents to whomever I want, Jonathon, and what better way to hide the fact that I got a present for you, than by telling you it was for my sister?”

“Okay, but you’re acting a little weird, here, Artemis, and it’s kind of freaking me out,” Jonny frowned.

“Well, okay, then if I must do this all the way, then I guess I must,” he slowly fell to one knee, and opened the box, as Jonny’s mouth fell open. Resting in the box, on a bed of beige velvet, was a gold coin on a gold chain. It was an enamel Yin/Yang symbol, and painted on the black side was a perfect portrait of Jonny, while on the white side, was painted a perfect portrait of Artemis.

“Jonathon T. Quest,” Artemis said, his voice hushed. “It has been my greatest pleasure to spend this part of my life with you, and while I realize it has taken a while to ask, I have decided that I would like to spend the rest of my life with you, and am asking for your hand in marriage.”

“Wha . . . Artemis,” Jonny’s voice was hushed with shock, and he looked around to see if anyone was looking at them. No one was, and he stared back down at Artemis. “I . . . I don’t know what to say. I . . . I mean, are you sure this is what you want? I . . . I mean, after what I did . . .”

“My Dearest Jonathon,” Artemis’ voice was thick with gentle compassion. “I have forgiven and forgotten. I only wish you could forgive and forget. Besides, what you went through more was more than enough revenge, had I actually wanted any to begin with. In fact, what you went through my Dearest, I would have wished on no one, no matter what they had done. So, please, my Love,” Artemis smiled. “Look at the back of the necklace and give me your answer.”

Jonny did as he was bid, and the word written across the back, in white gold on yellow gold was the word ‘forever’.

It only took a moment, and Jonny’s entire face lit up. “Yes, Artemis. Oh yes!” He felt happier at that moment than he could remember feeling in a very long time, and he helped the other man to stand. Artemis pulled the necklace from the box and attached it around Jonny’s neck. The chain was short and the coin rested against the hollow of Jonny’s throat, where it would just be hidden by the collar of his ever present t-shirts, but could be felt every time he bent his head.

“Good,” Artemis grinned and opened the collar of his tuxedo. “Because I had one made for myself. I’d hate to have had to spend all that money for nothing.”

“Well,” Jonny chuckled wryly. “It’s not like I can pay you back since I was cut off from my Dad’s fortune, so I guess I’d better have said ‘yes’,” his words were light, but the painful throb was more than clear, and Artemis gripped his lover’s hand.

“The time for pain is over, Jonathon. As I said the day we left your father’s home, we are together, and perhaps, one day, can start our own family. But,” He dropped his voice, and it was once more husky and seductive. “Come now, my love, I want to hear you make that sound again, but I certainly don’t want there to be an audience.”

They started to leave, but suddenly everyone at the wedding cheered loudly, and they were swept up in a crowd as everyone headed for the front of the villa, where the cars were parked, with Jonny and Artemis’ silver BMW parked directly behind the limousine that would carry the bride and groom away.

“Nuts. I think we missed our chance for a quiet get-a-way,” Jonny laughed, and Artemis grinned back.

“I guess the bride and groom couldn’t wait to get away either,” Artemis laughed, and Jonny shrugged.

“They probably want to make noises too,” Jonny winked. “Just our luck,” he said, and watched as Diana set up a camera beside the limousine.

“Okay, everyone!” She called out, and the crowd quieted, as she gazed apologetically at the official wedding photographer. “I’ve got this baby set on auto for every thirty seconds, and I’m going to want to look at these photos when I get back from my honeymoon, so I expect action, people!”

“You want action?” Her handsome bridegroom laughed as he swept her into his arms, and she squealed. “Then you’ll get it!” The entire crowd whistled and hooted as he all but threw her into the back of the limo, and dove in himself.

True to her word, the camera went off every thirty seconds.

It clicked and caught the bright flash as the car behind the limo exploded into a huge, bright fireball. It snapped the shrapnel that flew everywhere and left virtually no one untouched, including a long slice down Jonny’s cheek from his eye that carved through the middle of his cheek, and then back around to the corner of his mouth, and blood all but exploded from the long cut.

It captured Artemis’ covering of Jonny as a piece of metal sped toward him.

It froze forever the horrible moment the long metal piece pierced Artemis’ back.

It still-framed Jonny’s horrified and anguished expression as he rolled over and saw Artemis’ body on the ground, the large uneven piece of metal sticking out of jagged, ripped flesh.

It snapped Jonny’s scream of disbelief and grief as he threw himself at Artemis and gathered him into his arms.

It clicked as Artemis’ eyes opened, and he gingerly reached up and touched the blood that ran down Jonny’s face.

It caught the exact moment Artemis’ eyes glazed over in death.

And, just before it was knocked to the ground by the panicked crowd of bloody people, it showed Johnny as he held the body of his dead lover tightly against his chest, his head upturned, his mouth open in a horrified scream of loss and grief, all the while blood and tears flowed in rivers down his face.


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