The Case of the Bad First Date

by MewWitch

Rise of the Guardians & Sherlock Fusion Fic

Rating: T

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, lyrics, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The plot is the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended, nor should any be inferred. No profit is being made.

Part 2

"A book is like a magic garden, carried in your pocket." The gangster recited. "An ancient Chinese Proverb, Mr. St. North."

Well this wasn't exactly how Aster had pictured his date ending. He hadn't exactly pictured ending the evening tied up in an old, abandoned-and quite frankly, smelly- tramway tunnel, mistaken for his roommate. He'd certainly hadn't planned on Jack being bound and gagged at his side either.

It was bad enough that the younger man had been caught up in the fight at the circus, but now instead of the simple night out he'd promised his coworker, they'd been kidnapped and their lives were being threatened. Jack was terrified if his shaking was any indication.

Was it wrong of Aster to be worried that Jack'd probably never agree to a second date at a time like this?

Provided that they live long enough for Aster to ask him out again, that is.

Right now though Aster was busy trying to explain that despite all the evidence that General Sunwukong and the Hou Ren had, he was not in fact Nicholas St. North. Not that it seemed to be making a difference. The Chinese Smugglers were set in the belief that they were absolutely right and refused to listen to a word that he said.

Aster briefly wondered if this is what Ombric St. North felt like whenever he tried to speak with his little brother.

"Do you have it?"

'Oh, not this again.'

"Do I have what?"

"The treasure, Mr. St. North."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Despite (or perhaps in spite of) having a gun inches from his face, Aster was serious starting to get annoyed at being asked the same stupid question over and over. He'd made it very clear that he had no clue to this 'treasure's location.

"I do not believe you." Signaling behind him with a quick nod Sunwukong took a step back as his lackeys sprang into motion. Within moment the ancient spear gun (the same spear gun that they had seen in use at the circus earlier) was uncovered and Jack's chain was moved from its spot next to Aster and repositioned right in the line of fire.

"If you wish to save his life you will tell us where the pin is!"

"Pin?! What Pin?" Aster was split between listening to the madman and whispering fevered apologies to Jack who was struggling against his bonds.

"The Jade Hairpin that you and your companion were looking for. We were not able to locate it on either of our smugglers, so you must have gotten to it first!"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you, we haven't found anything!"

"Once again, I find you unconvincing." Sunwukong began to use the same grandstanding voice that had at the show earlier, putting on a performance. "I need a volunteer from the audience! Ah! This young man should do very nicely!"

"No! Don't!"

Jack's eyes widened as the bag of sand was cut and the weight began sinking down towards the spear gun. His struggling increased tenfold.

Ladies and gentleman, we now present for your pleasure, Nicholas St. North's pretty little friend in a death-defying act."

"Please, I don't know where it is! I'm not Nicholas St. North!"

"How many times will try to lie to us?"

"He is not you know. Lying, that is." A new and inappropatly jolly voice suddenly rang out through the tunnel, cutting the building suspense like a knife. "Nicholas St. North is nothing like him."

Sunwukong spun around in shock, simultaneously raising his gun up towards the intruder.

"How would you describe me Bunny? Cunning? Mysterious? Unyielding?"

"Late's a little more like it!" Aster shouted back.

It was too dark to take a clear shot and with the way he kept jumping around through the shadows, the odds of actually hitting Nicholas were ridiculously low. The General had a better chance of the bullet ricocheting and hitting himself. Nicholas told him as much.

Despite the sudden addition of the real Nicholas St. North, and his current work distracting of the criminals, it did not change the fact that the sand was still spilling out of its bag and Jack was still very much in danger. So while his friend and flatmate continued to fight Sunwukong's men, Aster took the opportunity to stand-albeit a bit awkwardly-and began shuffling over towards the cannon.

He ended up falling flat on his face.

Nicholas was currently getting the life choked out of him, so there'd be no hope from him at the moment.

Using the all the adrenalin-fueled energy that he could muster, spurred on by Jack's fearful cries, Aster managed to maneuver himself onto his side and -KICKED- the base of the spear gun.

Later on he'd think about how his last minute redirect had just killed a man, saving both Jack and Nicholas lives, but for now all he could focus on was Jack's face. Aster tried to find something comforting to say as he still lay on the ground, waiting for his turn to be untied.

"Don't worry." Was all he could think of. "Next date won't be like this. Promise."

~*~Fin~*~

A.N.

The End! What did you think? And remember people, I'm always open for suggestions for more of these Fusion Fics!

Notes-instead of general shan and the black lotus, it's the maharaja/monkey king and the monkey men