Sue's Bad Boy 14

By Crystalquirt

Tobue, romance, adventure, violence.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[TD]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"And just how will you make me do anything? Especially let him go!" Kong Li held Tobey more toward Sue just in case she couldn't see him well enough. Sue stood up straighter and answered, "I will fight you. Put Tobey down so he doesn't get in the way!"

While she spoke, she stepped sideways to her bike, still limping a little and never taking her eyes off of Kong Li. She grabbed her favorite tank top and pulled it on over her bathing suit top.

"Are you sure you want to fight me Sue? All alone? You might very well be about to die for him."

"I would gladly die to save him – but I am not planning to die today! - Put him down I said!"

"That is so sweet you don't want my puny son to get hurt in this Sue. Alright, lets do this." Kong Li smiled at Sue with an evil look on his face as a black shadow rose behind him The greasy looking shadow formed into the shape shifter's male humanoid form.

He handed Tobey, still hanging by his tail to the shifter. "Here Shifter, mind this for me would you. If he wakes up before I take care of little Sue Yi, restrain him. I haven't decided whether to keep him around to fulfill the prophesy or rewrite a new prophesy where he doesn't exist at all."

Fear showed on Sue's face more for Tobey than for herself. "What do you mean a prophesy where Tobey doesn't exist? That's not possible – you can't hurt him – at least with Tobey still alive, there is a chance the prophesy will come true. Although Tobey will never join you!" Sue was only trying to make Kong Li realized it would be bad for his plans for Tobey to die.

"I don't need him, he is too weak. Being so concerned with being a 'good boy' in his Nana's eyes makes him weak. He would have been much stronger if he had been raised by me instead of that weak, foolish old woman."

Tobey moaned softly and Sue looked over at him hanging by his tail, now in the shape shifter's grip. Kong Li, thinking she was distracted, charged her with his staff back, ready to swing it at her head. The dragon head figure on the end of the staff cut her cheek as she leaned back to avoid the strike. Blood welled up in the wound right away and she covered the stinging cut with her hand in mid-air as she did a one-handed cartwheel to get away.

The bottom of her shoe connected with Kong Li's jaw and he dropped his staff. He looked off balance for a moment. From the landing after her cartwheel, she leapt forward with both feet first and hit Kong Li in the chest before he could pick up the staff again. He staggered backwards as he reached into his coat.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[TD]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

The concussion from Kong Li's magical herb explosion still made Tobey's ears ring after he woke up. He found himself hanging painfully by his tail. The small movement to see who or what was holding him, made him dizzy. "Ow my tail! I can't believe you're pulling my tail – I think you broke it!"

"Hold still or I will break it off!"

Tobey gritted his teeth and kicked suddenly. Surprised, the shifter let go. Tobey landed in a somersault and tried to run. The shape shifter caught his tail again. Tobey screamed, "That hurts! Let go!"

Laughing at Tobey's struggles, the shifter carried him to hold him over the well. "No! Not in the well!"

The water level in the well was down more than ten feet and it wouldn't be an easy task to climb out. It's also dark and small and Tobey really didn't want to go in again! "You monster! I won't let you put me in the well!"

Tobey swung his fists at the shifter, but shifty just lengthened his arms to hold Tobey farther away. Tobey screamed in frustration and tried to hit above his back where the shifter was holding his tail. He couldn't get a hard enough hit to the tentacle to make the shifter let go and the base of his tail really hurt after being yanked and held up by it for so long. Tears of pain and frustration welled up as Tobey screamed.

With no warning, Tobey's tail vanished and he fell toward the water. At the last second he caught the edge of the well with only his fingertips. The shifter pulled back to hit Tobey's fingers and got a huge surprise when Tobey boosted himself up using only his fingertips and kicking with his legs. Tobey grabbed the end of what the shifter called an arm. In the shifter's surprise, he pulled back, pulling Tobey the rest of the way out of the well. Tobey did a back-flip over the shifter and landed behind him running toward Sue.

Kong Li threw some more of his explosive herbs at Sue, but Tobey got there just in time to knock her down. He covered her head as the herbs exploded over them. Kong Li picked up his staff and turned as the herb dust cleared. Sue and Tobey stood together facing him. Sue ready for a fight, Tobey pulling his pants up and tightening his belt now that his tail was gone.

"Awe, too bad my son. It looks like you lost your tail. You will lose your head next."

Sue and Tobey charged together. Tobey went low with a palm for Kong Li's stomach, Sue went high with a kick aimed at his head. Kong Li blocked Tobey's strike and ducked. Sue went over Kong Li's head as he punched Tobey in the shoulder. Tobey fell back and didn't move right away, but Kong Li had to leave him alone to fend off an attack from Sue as she ran back at him from behind.

"Shifter! I don't have time for this foolishness. Do something about these two!"

Tobey and Sue glanced around quickly, but they couldn't see the shape shifter anyplace. Sue moved close and exchanged a series of blows with Kong Li. Kong Li blocked a punch aimed at his nose with his forearm and with his leg, went after her injured leg again. This time she saw it coming and jumped to avoid him.

Tobey threw a punch, but Kong Li caught it and flipped him over his shoulder. Sue threw a punch of her own. Kong Li knocked her hand away so hard her whole body turned away and he hit her across the back with his staff. Sue stumbled forward against a low stone pillar with a drinking fountain on top. She caught herself with both hands to keep from hitting her face on a sharp edge near where the water comes out.

Tobey recovered, leapt into the air from the side and Kong Li barely blocked his kick. Tobey landed on his feet and kicked again, Kong Li blocked and palmed him in the chest. Tobey heard Sue scream as he fell back rubbing his chest.

Before Sue could push herself off the drinking fountain, tentacles formed near the drain and grabbed both of her wrists. Sue screamed in surprise, and struggled for a moment trying to pull her hands away. Using her head, she realized the shifter was in or wrapped around the drinking fountain.

Sue chanted "Gei Kow No!" to create fire in her palms. It had worked so well before. But this time the shifter was ready. He already had a tentacle against the plate to turn the water on and pressed her hands against the head where the water comes out. Fire never appeared over her palms so she threatened him verbally – her last defense. "Shifty – let me go or I'll . . ."

A humanoid face appeared in the bowl, the drain became a mouth. "Or you'll what?

"Sue!" Tobey turned from Kong Li and ran at Sue. Kong Li threw powder in the air and the blast blew him forward off his feet.

"Tobey!" Sue pulled at the tentacles that held her tight to the drinking fountain and yelled "Gei Kow No - Gei Kow No!" Water still ran over her hands and kept her from creating the flame.

As a result of the explosion, Tobey landed under a picnic table with his ears ringing loudly. "Oh man, how many times can I be blown up in one day?" He gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up.

As the dust settled, Tobey ran to Sue. He heard her chanting "Gei Kow No," and realized what she was trying to do, even though the shifter was keeping her hands wet. When he got close, shifty-drinking fountain, sent out another tentacle and smacked him across his stomach like a whip before it grabbed his ankles and pulled his legs together. When his feet were yanked together and forward, he fell back on his butt. "Ow – my butt! . . . you jerk! - Gei Kow No!"

A small flame popped into existence over Tobey's hand and he leaned forward forward with it, holding the flame against the tentacle wrapped around his legs. The shifter yelled and the tentacle shriveled. Tobey jumped up and ran toward Sue, but Kong Li appeared behind him and with his staff and took his legs out from under him again. The shifter, angry at losing Tobey, made sure he wouldn't lose Sue. Another tentacle formed and went around her waist, holding her close. Not giving up, Sue pulled on her hands with all her might, and still couldn't break the shifter's hold. Water started flowing stronger and the head of the fountain became larger, like a fire hose. The high pressure water hit Sue in the face and she made a gurgling noise like she was fighting to keep her head above water while drowning in the ocean.

"Sue!" Tobey frowned angrily at Kong Li, blocking him from saving Sue. He had Tobey pinned on his back with the staff across his neck. "I will finally be rid of both of you brats and write my own prophesy!" Tobey gritted his teeth and pushed up on the staff trying to get some relief at least.

Sid came around the corner on his bike, across the street and up into the park. His stomach still hurt a little, but he didn't let Nana make him stay home when Sue and Tobey were probably fighting for their lives. Sid got to Sue first, leapt from his bike without stopping, but once he was next to her, he didn't know what to do. He tried covering where the water was coming out, but the water was coming out with such force he couldn't redirect it, but a tiny bit, at least giving Sue a moment to take a deep breath.

Sid didn't realize that the shifter had taken over the drinking fountain, he didn't know what was going on at all and the tentacle that grabbed him around the neck totally surprised him. Sue gurgled, "Sid watch out!" but too late. Sid went to his knees pulling at the tentacle as it choked him.

With a strong push on the staff against his neck, Tobey looked passed Kong Li and saw what was happening to Sue and now to Sid too! He growled angrily and started kicking. Kong Li laughed, ignoring him until Tobey got his knee bent enough to make contact with his ribs. Tobey pushed the villain off and as he got up, chopped Kong Li's arm and made him drop his staff.

With a spin, Tobey elbowed Kong Li in the face and followed it by a kick to his chest. Kong Li fell back and looked up to find a picnic table coming down at him. Tobey turned the picnic table upside down on Kong Li and jumped up and down on it twice before running to Sid and Sue. This time, before he ever got close, he shouted "Gei Kow No!" and with all his anger and fear aimed his palms and a strong flame at the shifter. When his flame hit the water spray, steam rose. He focused on the tentacle around Sid's neck first and when Sid was released he went to his hands and knees unable to do anything but cough.

Tobey aimed his flame at the tentacles holding Sue's wrists, but there was too much water pouring out too close by. He also didn't want to take a chance on burning her hands so he aimed at the base of the drinking fountain, the rocks spewed steam like a geyser as Tobey concentrated and made the flame even hotter. A sound like burning jet fuel made Tobey feel even more powerful. He grinned maniacally as the rocks and mortar near the bottom of the drinking fountain were red hot and the shape shifter recoiled. Sue's hands were released and the water stopped flowing.

It was the shifter's turn to scream and shrivel down to a puddle. The puddle oozed down into the grass and disappeared completely. The last of the water had pushed Sue away and she landed on her back coughing. Tobey ran to her and helped her turn onto her side. Sid saw Kong Li was still under the picnic table and came over to sit next to Tobey to check on Sue. He covered his stomach with both hands as wave after wave of nausea assaulted his stomach.

"Sid you don't look so good! You should be home resting!"

"No way! I'm sorry I couldn't help - I didn't know Shifty could do 'drinking fountain' and control the water like that! Thanks for saving both of us Tobey."

"Its fine Sid, it was a surprise to us too. I'm glad you showed up, but I'm worried about you!" Tobey was worried about Sue too; she was still coughing and hadn't even tried to get up yet, "Sue?" She nodded, and squeezed Tobey's hand, meaning she was okay, but couldn't stop coughing long enough to say anything.

"Stay with her Sid!" Tobey ran behind the well and grabbed the bag with the cookbook inside. Before he could get back to the siblings with it, Kong Li roared and threw the picnic table off. Tobey tossed the cookbook to Sid and yelled, "Get the cookbook and Sue out of here!"

Sid put the bag down by Sue and stood up to face Kong Li with Tobey. Even though the pains in his stomach kept him from standing up straight he lowered into his fighting stance. Tobey moved to stand in front of Sid. "Sid No - stay back – get Sue out of here, you're in no shape to fight!"

"You're not in much better shape than I am – there's no way I'm leaving you here alone Tobey."

"I have to do this alone - please get Sue and the cookbook out of here." He spoke quietly but Kong Li still heard him.

"No body is leaving. Tobey, I will either get rid of you now, or you can join me. One last chance."

"You won't have to get rid of me! I will kill myself before I will join you! Without me the prophesy can't come true . . . right? You will never take over Chinatown and with me gone, you will have to give up - Sue, Sid and Nana won't have to fight anymore!"

"Tobey, you're kidding right?" Sid whispered.

"No Tobey." Sue whispered. Her chest ached from coughing and nearly drowning in the water spout but she forced herself to stand with the boys.

"Makes no difference to me either way Tobey. You weren't listening. I will write my own prophesy – one where my success is not dependent on you or anyone else."

"That's not possible, you can't write your own prophesy! The best you can hope for is a prediction – and you will be wrong!" Tobey charged Kong Li, determined to end the war right then. Tobey's hands and feet flew at Kong Li so fast he couldn't even see where the next hit was coming from. Kong Li was driven back. Sid smiled at Tobey's skill and seeing Tobey seemed to be holding his own, held onto Sue to keep her on her feet while he picked up the bag with the cookbook inside.

Kong Li saw the siblings with the cookbook and yelled. "You will not leave with the cookbook!" He leapt up into a back-flip to avoid Tobey's last kick. When he landed he ran toward Sue and Sid.

Tobey landed in front of him, blocking his way. "Give it up Kong Li!"

"My son, I am tired of being disappointed by you! I brought you into this world, I will take you out of it!"

"Not before I save them and defeat you! I might not make it – but I will take you with me!" Tobey ran at Kong Li and threw a punch, but Kong Li caught it, before Kong Li could flip him, Tobey threw himself backwards and kicked Kong Li in the knee. Kong Li landed on Tobey in a most undignified way. Sue and Sid made it to their bikes but stopped to make sure Tobey was going to get out of the mess he was still in.

"Oh man, Sid, you don't think Tobey's really planning to die to avoid the prophesy do you?"

"No way. He can't – he has to know his death won't stop Kong Li."

Tobey screamed in frustration as he pushed Kong Li off and got up to run. Kong Li caught his leg and he fell again. Tobey kicked with his free leg knocked the staff from Kong Li's hand again. Kong Li let go of his leg to get his staff back. Tobey got up and ran at Sue and Sid screaming "San-Lu-Le – go – go – ride! San-Lu-Le!"

Sue pushed off first, Sid right behind her with the bag over his shoulder. Tobey jumped from a distance, landed next to his bike, but before he could stand it up and get on, Kong Li sent another cloud of explosive magical herbs at him. Tobey covered his head and rolled under a bench. Sid fell off his bike and Sue turned around to help. Before the dust settled Tobey rolled back to his feet and charged Kong Li again. With no martial arts skill – just pure determination, Tobey tackled him. They fell back next to the well again. Tobey reached into Kong Li's cape and his hand went right into the pouch with the cayenne pepper exploding herb mixture.

"No! You don't know what you're doing!" Kong Li yelled at him. The red powder was all over Kong Li's side and cape when Tobey stepped back with a big handful of the magic herbs. Kong Li stood up, his mouth hanging open as he looked at the red powder that covered him.

"Tobey! Put that down, open your hand slowly – or we will both blow up!" Tobey grinned maniacally and tackled Kong Li again, leading with the fist that held the powder. Sue and Sid turned with expressions of horror on their faces as the powder exploded between Tobey and Kong Li. The whole bag of herbs exploded all at once and shook the ground under their feet. Even the roof over the well collapsed and the siblings couldn't see Tobey or Kong Li. Limping and holding onto each other, they made their way through the red dust cloud toward the well.

"Tobey!" they both called over and over, but there was no answer.

"Tobey! . . . Oh Sid, you don't think . . . "

"No way – keep looking for him!"

They couldn't see much of anything in the red cloud at first, but they found the well with the roof sitting lopsided across the top. All four heavy wooden poles snapped in half. Sue and Sid pulled and pushed boards and chunks of the carved roof away from the well. Tobey or Kong Li weren't anywhere around the well.

"Oh no! Maybe he fell in!" Sue and Sid looked worriedly at each other and both grabbed the edge of the roof to lift it up. It was really heavy and they barely moved it at all. Sue got under it, intending to pick the edge of it up across her shoulders, but once under it, saw the bricks lining the well had been broken, and only Tobey's fingertips were visible holding onto the edge!

"Sid! Tobey's down here holding on! - help me!" She crawled in farther and looked down. Sid crawled under the roof with her and she lie on her stomach so she could reach down. She found Tobey's upper arm and grabbed it tightly. He held onto her arm in return. Sid grabbed his other arm. It was so dark they could barely even see their friend's white bangs. With a huge splash under Tobey's feet, Kong Li shot from beneath and grabbed onto Tobey's legs.

The extra weight pulled Tobey's arms away from Sue and Sid. "Tobey! What's going on!" Sid cried. They were holding onto his wrists but he was still slipping. "It's Kong Li! Just let go guys! You'll be pulled down too! Tobey was kicking and trying to swing Kong Li into the wall to make him let go.

"No Tobey – we can't let go – keep trying to kick him off!"

Tobey made the decision for Sid and Sue. He twisted his wrists out of their grip and fell with Kong Li into the water. "Tobey!" he heard Sue scream as he went under.

"We need more room to climb down and pull him out. Sid pushed up with the edge of the roof across his shoulders and grunted loudly. The roof shifted and dropped off the back side of the well, Sid continued to push until it was up even higher. Sue used one of the broken posts to brace the roof so it would stay up and Sid could let go.

In the water, Kong Li pulled Tobey down to face him. He grabbed Tobey's shoulder's and shoved him against the wall. He even pushed with his feet so he could smash Tobey harder. Tobey thought he was trying to crush him, the pain in his shoulder threatened to make him pass out. He used his arms together in an arc and broke the hold Kong Li had on him. He followed through with a downward stroke to propel himself up toward the surface. He felt his foot connect with some part of Kong Li as he swam up. Tobey hoped it was Kong Li's head he kicked.

He got to the surface and took a quick breath before he looked back under the water's surface trying to see Kong Li. Sue dived in after Tobey, while Sid waited to pull them up. He got Sue's jeans off her bike and held the bottom of one pant-leg while the other reached almost down to the surface.

Tobey pressed back against the wall as Sue dived in. She quickly righted herself in the water and surfaced. "Tobey!"

"I'm okay Sue, mostly." Tobey shut his eyes, so he wouldn't have to see the dark, small space he was in.

"Where's Kong Li?"

"I don't know, I broke the hold he had on me underwater and when I got to the surface I couldn't see him anywhere." Tobey put his head back to smooth his hair back in the water. When he peeked at Sue, his hands smoothing his hair, Sue grabbed him around the chest with both arms and hugged him tightly. Tobey lowered his arms around hers and hugged her, kicking with their feet so they wouldn't sink. Sue's pants-leg appeared right in front of his face.

"Climb up you two. One at a time please- and I will try not to barf on you."

"Gee thanks Sid, I appreciate it. Come on Sue, you go up first."

"But," she started to argue, he put the pant-leg in her hand. "Okay."

Sid pulled Sue up and helped her over the the broken edge of the well. Then he dangled the pants back down and Tobey grabbed on. Sue helped Sid pull Tobey up. When he was up high enough they grabbed onto his arms and pulled him up the rest of the way. Sue and Sid lie back away from the well, and pulled Tobey up between them. He lie on his stomach, panting and coughing.

"Hey guys, what happened to Kong Li?" Sid rolled facing them and propped his head up on his elbow. In between coughs, Tobey managed, "I don't know Sid, he was just gone after I broke the grip he had on me. I am so bad, my badness completely scared Kong Li away!"

"Yeah Tobey, I'm sure that's it, you are one bad boy! We're all in trouble if you ever turn evil."

Sue interrupted, "Tobey and I were down to the bottom of that well, there was no place large enough for a human to get out from the bottom. Even as fish Tobey and I barely made it."

Tobey still coughed violently, Sue rolled onto her side; she and Sid patted Tobey's back wishing they could help him stop coughing.

Tobey choked out, "Kong Li tried to drown me!" he pushed himself up as far as his hands and knees and coughed really hard twice more.

Sue sat up with him rubbing his back and leaned down to watch his face. "Speaking of Kong Li trying to kill you, that was some speech you made about being willing to die with him - Tobey, you scared me!"

"I was just throwing him for a loop until you guys could get out of here with the cookbook." Tobey sat up. The front of his shirt was sliced open horizontally and a red welt had raised across his stomach. "Tobey, what happened there?" Sue sounded worried all over again.

"Shifty whipped me with a tentacle. You should have left so you'd have been safe."

"We would never leave you to fight alone Tobey, we have to stick together . . .urp." Sid covered his mouth and rolled away from them quickly. On his hands and knees he barfed a large amount of green slime.

"Ewe, Sid!"

"Sorry guys, I hope that's the last of the Lusè Shèn Guàiwu spell we ever see."

Sue got up and helped Sid up. They went a few feet away, behind the well to the creek. Sid rinsed his mouth and washed his face in the cold water. When they got back to Tobey, he was trying to get up. He looked very weak and Sue grabbed his arm to steady him. He grabbed his butt with both hands and groaned.

"Tobey, what's wrong?"

"My butt still hurts really bad where he pulled my tail – I think he broke it!"

"But Tobey, your tail is gone."

"Gone or not, it still hurts – I think he broke my butt."

Sid ruffled Tobey's hair and laughed softly. Sue and Sid each grabbed one of Tobey's arms and walked him over to his bike.

"Wait guys, where are my pants?" Sue asked, her bathing suit and favorite shirt wet, she was getting a little cold.

"Uh Oh, I must have dropped them into the well."

"Sid!" She whined.

"I'll dive back in and get your pants Sue."

"Tobey – no you won't! I don't think I could pull you up again."

Tobey rode his bike, standing up to pedal to keep his butt off the seat all the way back to Wu's Garden.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[TD]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

The three kids went single file down the stairs to the store room. Nana was still lying on the cot asleep. Tobey observed, "Nana still looks cute when she's asleep."

"Shhhhh," Sue cautioned.

Sid sat down on the blankets that he had been lying on while he was sick. He took the cookbook out of the bag and looked at it. They all three smiled when they saw the cookbook only got a little damp on one edge. It was still intact and readable! Sid motioned silently for Sue and Tobey to go. He would sit with Nana until she woke up. With his legs crossed in front of him, he sat up straight in meditation posture to wait for her to awaken.

Sue and Tobey left silently. Once out in the hall Sue whispered. "Go upstairs Tobey. Get a shower and I'll put bandages on your boo boos."

"Alright Sue . . . thanks." Tobey was grinning from ear to ear. "Will you bandage my broken butt too?"

"Um no, but the next time I kick your butt, I will kiss it and make it all better!"

"Woohoo!"

"Shhhhh! You'll wake Nana!" Sue held Tobey's hand as they climbed the stairs and on their way by the kitchen, Barney saw Sue and ran over.

"Hey Sue! . . . Oh, um . . . Hey Tobey. Are you all better now? Your tail's gone I see."

"Yeah Barney, I'm all better now."

"Good you were a pretty scary alien dude. Sue, can I talk to you, in private?"

"Sure I guess, I'll be right up Tobey."

Barney put his arm across Sue's shoulders and guided her a short distance away near the cash register, not really caring if Tobey heard. Tobey didn't go upstairs without Sue. He frowned and waited in the hallway where they left him, but he could still see and hear them.

"Sue, how is your leg? Do you need me to put another bandage on your wound?"

"Actually, I don't think I will be needing to wear a bandage anymore."

"Wow, it couldn't have healed that fast could it? You had a bad wound."

"It's not completely healed, but I want to leave the bandage off for a while to be sure it is good and dry. Nana is taking a nap, when she wakes up she can check it and let me know if she wants me to bandage it."

Barney really wasn't listening to what Sue said. "You have really pretty legs Sue. You look great in your red bathing suit. How come I've never seen you wear it before?

"Tobey and I went swimming, um . . . they had a free swim day at the pool."

"Neat Sue, wish you would have told me, maybe dad would have let me go . . . I was just thinking, you like me huh?"

"Of course like you Barney."

Tobey could be heard growling. "Sue, come on -" he whined.

"I'll be up in a minute."

"But the shower is waiting. . ." he meant he was waiting.

Barney answered, "Whats the matter, Tobey? You two aren't planning to shower together are you?"

"No!"

"No way! But we've had a hard day, Sue you need to get some rest."

"Go on Tobey. I will be up before you get done in the shower."

Tobey grumbled and went up the stairs. Just out of sight he stopped and listened for what Barney had to say.

"Now, Sue, I know you've been flirting with me for a long time. Would you like to go out with me?"

"Sorry Barney, I guess it's too late, I'm kinda seeing someone."

"No way – Who? Does he have these?" Barney flexed his muscles for her.

"His muscles are fine. I gotta go." Sue turned to leave and upstairs, Tobey grinned.

But Barney stopped her, "Wait Sue! Who is he? Is it that guy Will, in your history class?"

"No, it isn't Will, its Tobey!"

"Tobey! Haha, No Way! - but Sue, he's months younger than you, and such a shrimp – and he never baths!"

"He does so bathe, he just teases about not bathing to be funny and he isn't a shrimp! Tobey is cool and kind and awesome."

Sue turned and ran up the stairs. She almost ran into Tobey. He grabbed her and hugged her. "Darn that Barney! Who does he think he is saying those bad things about me?"

"Don't worry Tob, I know none of it is true."

"Thanks for what you said."

"I meant every word."

"I think you're pretty awesome too."

"Thanks," Sue pulled away from him but still held onto both of his hands. "Tell you what. I will go get us something to eat and meet you in your room after you shower."

"I don't want you going back down there with Barney."

"Oh Tobey don't worry, Barney lost his chance at me! And I am so happy he did loose his chance – otherwise I might have never realized how wonderful you are!"

Tobey smiled and watched her go. When she was gone, he kicked up his heels and ran to grab clean clothes to wear after his shower.

Sue had a picnic spread out on a blanket in the middle of the boy's room floor when Tobey got out of the shower. His hair was still wet, combed back and he wore a clean white tank top and gray shorts. He sat down with her on the blanket. "Eat slow Tob, I'm gonna run get a shower, I'll be right back and eat with you."

In the store room, Nana woke up and found Sid sleeping on the blankets. She felt his forehead and watched him breathe. "Sid, I'm so happy you made it back." she whispered and reached over him to get the cookbook. "I will go check on Sue and Tobey in a few minutes, they probably went up to their rooms to sleep. No doubt they decided Sid would stay here and watch over me. Such sweet kids."

When Sue came back from her shower, Tobey had finished off the rest of the food she had brought up. Wearing her nightgown and robe, she sat down on the blanket teasing him. "Wow, guess you were hungry, Tob. Where did you put all of it? Do you have a hollow leg?"

"Nope, its all right here." He leaned back and patted the bulge in his usually flat stomach. "I think I will put on a few pounds and start lifting weights."

"Awe, but then you won't be you – you are perfect the way you are."

"Thanks Sue, but are you sure you wouldn't want me bulked up a little?"

"No way, you are fine, you are a great fighter, strong when Mr. Wu isn't looking, You are my 'bad' boy!"

Tobey looked down at the blanket. "I still worry that I might really be 'bad' what if I take after Kong Li?"

"Tobey, I thought you were okay with this, why are you doubting yourself again?"

"I don't know Sue, sometimes I scare myself. I felt all weird and good at the same time when I beat on Kong Li, and while I was making the fire – well . . . afterward it was a little scary. Learning magic, being as powerful as Kong Li someday, sounds good."

"Will learning magic and being powerful make you evil?"

"I don't know."

"Nana is very powerful. Do you think she worries about being evil?"

"No, but then Kong Li is not her father. He was good once – Nana thought of him as a good friend. I am kind now, but what if . . ."

Sue found his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Tobey, you will always be who you are. You will make good decisions to benefit yourself and others around you. You could never put yourself first and become so greedy as Kong Li. You-are-not-bad. You may very well 'rule' the world one day, but you won't get there by hurting others. You are still my 'bad' boy! All evil will fear you!"

"I am pretty bad . . . um . . .meaning good right?"

"Right Tobey." Sue leaned forward and he did the same. Their lips met for a long, passionate kiss. "See, I'm sure Kong Li isn't that good a kisser! You are already better than your father."

Tobey blushed. "Wow Sue, you can sure lay the praise on thick."

"You deserve to hear it and I mean every word. Now lie back on the blanket. I brought Nana's first aid kit, I want to see the cut on your stomach first."

"Its not really a cut, more of a welt."

"What ever . . . it was bleeding we have to make sure it is clean and covered." Blushing, Tobey raised his shirt and lie back.

Sue made a face when she saw it. "Ow – Tobey that looks like it hurts!"

"It stings a little."

"I will try to be gentle."

Tobey never said a word or reacted as she put antibiotic ointment across his stomach and covered it with doubled gauze and tape. "Where else."

"I hurt all over. I don't think anything else bled, not recently."

"Your shoulder where the snake bit you looks much better, but you move like it still hurts."

"It probably wouldn't hurt anymore if Kong Li would stop hitting me there."

"Very true. You have my orders to rest and take it easy until you heal up this time." Sue checked his arms and legs and higher under his shirt.

"You have a lot of bruises . . . roll over."

Tobey obeyed, pretended he was a puppy, panting and barking softly. "Good boy," Sue played along. She raised his shirt and checked the backs of his legs. Sue rocked to the side and got her legs under her like she was getting up. Tobey started to roll over, but she pressed gently on his shoulder and held him down. "Stay there."

"Okay - are you going to bandage my butt?"

"No, still not doing that. Why don't you ask Barney to do it? He knows how to put on a good bandage."

Tobey growled. Sue smiled mischievously. She rose up a little more so she could reach Tobey's shoulder's and started rubbing his back. He tensed up at first. Sue had never touched him like this. As she kneaded his muscles, very gently over the bruises, Tobey started to relax. "Oh Sue, thanks, but I don't deserve this."

"An-jing, you deserve more pleasure than I can give you in a lifetime."

Tobey stayed quiet as instructed and in only minutes he felt like a puddle of warm pudding. She worked down to the waistband in his shorts and back up again. Then she lie next to him on her stomach. He opened one eye and looked at her. "Thanks Sue, that felt great."

"Your welcome."

"Want me to do you?"

"You better rephrase that."

"Do you want me to rub your back?" it was Tobey's turn to grin mischievously.

"No, not now, I have another idea."

Sue got up and went to her room. In a couple of minutes she came back carrying her CD player. It was already playing soft music. She sat the CD player down and closed the door. Tobey noticed she had also put her black Capri pants and her pink leather halter top on. Her hair was down around her shoulders and she had a little eye makeup on too. The choker he made for her was around her neck. Tobey sat up.

"Wow Sue you look great! What's going on?"

"Get up Tob."

"Why?"

"I want to dance with you."

"Thanks, but I am too sore to dance. I don't think we need anymore exercise right now."

"Not that kind of dancing. Listen to the music . . . Slow dance."

"Oh, that I think I can manage."

Tobey stood up and together they pulled the blanket to the side. Sue stood waiting for Tobey, he paused to look at her again. "You are beautiful."

"And you are one handsome, bad boy – with luscious hair."

"I know," Tobey laughed softly and put his hands on her sides at the waist. Sue put her hands on his shoulders and they started swaying gently to the music. Sue smiled at him and pulled him closer almost right away. He looked a little nervous, but didn't argue. She put her head on his shoulder with her arms under his and around his back. Tobey kissed her head and put one hand up to stroke her hair while they rocked gently back and fourth, barely moving at all. Soon Sue's hand found it's way to his left butt cheek, she held him softly, but firmly so she didn't hurt him in case he really was still sore from having his tail pulled. He blushed and smiled. He kept shifting his weight back and forth to the music.

After he had his chance to do it on his own, and didn't. Sue moved his hand herself from her waist, to her butt. It was good she couldn't see his face, because he had the goofiest grin ever. His stomach got butterflies. He left his hand where she put it, but it was 'dead hand'. He was afraid to move it in case she wouldn't like it. She knew he was suffering, she could even smell his fear. After a minute or two she pulled away just enough to look into his eyes and he took the opportunity to put his hand back up to her waist.

"I love you Tobey." she whispered.

"I love you too Sue." he blushed. His voice sounding shaky.

"You better never leave me, or I will kick your ass."

Tobey laughed softly. "Promise you will kick my ass if I ever do anything mean or bad to anyone, ever."

"I promise."

"And if you kick my ass, will you kiss it and make it all better like you promised?"

"Yes Tobey,"

"Then it is almost worth it. It would be mean if I put ants in Barney's bed right?"

"A little bad, but it doesn't qualify for an ass kicking if I decide to help you do it."

Tobey's stomach fluttered as he tried not to laugh out loud. He changed the subject, "Your pink top looks really good, still."

"Thanks Tobey,"

"I feel terrible I lost my leather pants. I guess Kong Li still has them."

"Probably, but at least he can't wear them."

"Yeah right, but Sue, your top still smells funny . . . like snake poop."

"Shut up and kiss me."

Tobey was happy to obey. After their kiss, they held each other close and started swaying again. Nana tapped on the boy's door and got no answer, she thought Tobey might already be asleep, but still wanted to check on him. She cracked the door and peeked in. Sue and Tobey were still slow dancing with soft music and dim lights. Nana smiled and went back downstairs to see if Sid had any wounds that needed tending to.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[TD]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

END