too bad the media end up making things drag out longer. as anyone could have prodicted, loki was a showman and knew how to get people's attention. his attack did get its desired affect. like in the hotel room, the area outside the hotel and around it became a madhouse. most people panicked and the media was soon alerted to the events happening. of course, it soon wore off like it did in the hotel room, but the media was still there when max and elias came out the front door of the hotel, which was where the anomaly was centured and right where loki wanted then all to be. the media swarmed on to them within seconds. the had a lot of questions for the former and current king. " whats going on?, what up with the fire and ice?, why is elias in his underwear?" luckily, the police arrived and soon had them on their way to the hospital and promised the media that a press conference would be held when things had calmed down. it had been two weeks since and now was the time for explanations. max knew he owed the people an explanation, but was still worried about elias. after they where discharged from the hospital, he didn't speck to him or even look at him. he was ashamed of what he had done and couldn't face him. he spent most of his time in his room, drowing in his own shame. max knocked on his door, hopeing for a response. "come in."came a groan from the other side. max opened the door and hear several bottles fall and clang against the floor. the room was covered in them along with several ashtrays. max found his son on the balcony,wearing a dressing gown and smoking a cigar, but put it out the second he senced his dad was behind him. "oh, dad it you." said elias, his voice a raw and sore. "elias, it almost time for the press conference." max said, not caring about it, but had to bring it up. he was about to leave elias to get ready when elias spoke. " dad, before you go, can i talk to you about something?" max was glad his son wanted to talk, but knew it must be something important if it couldn't wait until later. "of course son, what is it?" said max, waiting for elias to talk. elias came into the room and sat down on the bed, he knew he had to talk to his dad about it now, but he was scared of what his reaction, but there last time they talk one on one had been positive one, so he hope this would be too. "well it about what happened. well i want to get this stright, i was not involved with loki plan. i had no idea what he was doing, nor did i help him in any way, hell, i never talked about anything going on in the council, well i did talk to geoffrey, but nothing too important." said elias calmly. "i know that son, you told me that when you woke up and your about to say the same thing to the press, so is that what you really wanted to tell me?" "no it is not, i want tell you why i was there in the first place, you see me and geoffrey where,where.." elias started to say when he also started to shake as well. "where what son?" asked max inocently. "we where having sex. me and geoffrey where having sex because we love each other." said elias so quickly, he didn't even fell the the shock in the air. he he looked at his father. he was just messing with his finger and looking at the ground. "dad, are you ok?" asked elias, wondering what was to happen next. " what about hershey, his wife?" asked max, quietly. "we started to go out after she died, but geoffrey still loves her." "so he what then?" " i think he's bi, well that what he say." " so that makes you..." said max, stoping his messing. "gay. i'm gay dad." the silence came back, killing off the little noise that had been in the room. "your gay?" max said, as if he didn't hear him. "yeah." "so what happened between you and sally.." "listen, i know what happened and i can't change it. i honestly can't even figure out why i did it. lust, mental problems, sexual confusion or just pride. it could be one or all of them. i don't care. it my fault she gone. all my god dam fault." elias said, tears streaming down his face as he covered it with his hands. max just watched his cry, still thinking over everything he just said. he then felt something running down his cheek. elias stopped sobbing when a louder sob drowned out his own. he peeled his hands from his face to see his dad, someone who elias had always seen as a stern and strong man,crying, tears castcading down his face nonstop. "dad?" sniffled elias. max outstreched his hands, anguish covering his entire face. elias huged his father, salty drops soaking their sholderblades. "oh elias, it not your fault. it mine." "no dad-" "no but about it! it my fault you where sent away and you ran away and where corupted by that fiend loki. but the thing i blame myself for the most is what happened with your sister. i knew there was something wrong, but i though it was normal. you where young and had founed a family, who cared and love you. i wish i could have help you through the fallout, but you ran away. but i want you to know i forgive you. i forgive you for the rape of you sister and this mess." said max, trying to control his emotions. they both stayed there, simply holding each othere in forgiveness and love between a father and son. they broke the bond of love when they realised that the conference was going to start soon. they stood in the room, a clam feeling flowing around them as all the pain and anger was removed by their love. "so, i have to go get ready for the confress." said max as he opened the door. "dad before you go, does this mean..." elias said nervously. " son, i sent you away once to protect you. i then lost you. i spent years dealing with the consequences. then one day you came home, i was so happy you where alive. then you ran away due to a shameful act. i felt the same as before, but more raw and sore. then you came home again and i promised to myself that i would never let any harm come to you again. now, you have been broken and scarred and i have falled my vow. but i know that you are ready to forgive me for this and i am ready to accept it and you, no matter what you do and have done, who you love or what you are, gay or not, all that matters to me is that your my son and i will love allways." said max, teary eyed as he closed the door, as was elias also. he stood there for a few seconds, stunned and overjoyed by his father's words. "wow, and i thought he was old fashioned. maybe dad's more open minded that i thought..." elias said to himself as he got dressed. he was soon ready except for one important item. "now where did i put it?, of course!" said elias. he turned towards a large oak wardrobe in the corner of the room. he opened the heavy doors and there on the floor was his crown, a family heirloom past down generation to generation, father to son. the only reason he put it in the wardrobe was incase he damaged it while he was loathing himself. he pick it up and rubed away some dust and stopped when it started to gleam. as he was closing the wardrobe, he stopped as he saw what was also in it. it was his card suit. it was one of the few things he had managed to sneak out of the hotel room before the authoritys sealed it off. he took it out and rubed his hand against the soft leather. he smile as memories of geoffrey flooded his mind. how he was kind to him, how he always change his own plans if something happened and how once he came to the castle just to see how he was doing after a heated hearing with the council. he remembered every detail, from his olive green combat suit to his teal neckerchief. he brought the suit to his face and inhaled. his nostrils where flooded by his musk and his own, it was sweeter than the most finest perfume. elias felt like he was going to cry. he missed him so much. " oh geoffrey, i miss you so much, i wish i could see you one last time." said elias sadly. a knock at the door pulled him back to the present. "yes, who is it?" "sorry to disturb your sir, but i was sent to escort you to the conference. may i come in?" "of course, come in." said elias. he didn't bother to see who it was as he was busy looking at his suit. " is something the matter,sir?" asked the guard. "oh nothing, just reflecting." said elias. "on what, sir?, if you don't mind my asking." elias was unsure if he wanted to talk to a stranger about his lover, but maybe talking it out with someone might help him get over the past. " well, you see i meet someone a not long ago. he was having a bad time. his wife had died, so he was in a awful state. i help him get over his loss and we started to bond. i told him secrets about me that i never shared with anyone. pretty soon, our friendship grew into something much more. we fell in love with each other. we where happy. then he left. i was so lonely after he left, but i got over it, but..." but what?" "well i still miss him. i miss his smile, his soft fur, the way he made me laugh, but what i miss most about him is the way he kisses,it was like a pillow made of fluffy clouds. alas, i can never see him again or feel his touch, or at least one last kiss..." said elias sadly, feeling like he was going to cry. "well it happens to be your lucky day." said the guard behind elias,as smoke started to drift from him to in front of elias. "what are you..." said elias, before suddenly,out of the blue, smoke rose up in front of him and grabed him. it pushed him on to the floor and floated above him. elias had no idea what was happening, but he had an feeling he had seen this before. "now then ..." the smoke said, now inches from his face. elias had no idea what was going to happen, so to rob his attacker the joy of seeing the fear in his eyes, he closed then tight,knowing the dark was the last thing he was going to see. a few seconds pasted the he felt something agains his lips. it was odd, it didn't feel cold or metallic taste of a gun or knife. it was warm and soft. he also realised that something was also trying to force it way pass his lips. he let in pass and realised it was a tongue. "what the hell?" thought elias, "what is going on? well, only one way to find out." he slowly opened his eyes, almost shuting the again due to brightness of the lights, but when the got use to it, he saw his attacker's face. "no way..." elias said, losing his breath. "yes way luv, yes way." said geoffrey st john, smiling at him. he then offered his hand and helped elias stand up. elias stood there, shocked and trying to tell if the person in from of him was real or an illusion. "oh god,oh god,oh god." elias said, hyperventiating his lungs to bursting point. "wow luv, calm down for a second." said geoffrey, slightly laughing at his lovers over the top reaction. "but how? why? when?" mumbled elias. " sit down for a sec and i'll tell you." said geoffrey, sitting on the bed and patting the space next to him. elias did as he was told and sat down on the bed. " well as you, i went with my master to our headquaters. it pretty cool. it has everything you could ever want or need. well almost everything. i spent most of my time there doing training and othere "jobs" for him. i think he saw something wrong with me because he called me into his office two days ago. he noticed how i was not focused on anything. i told him how i missed you. after i was done giving my reason, he got up and walked to the window. he stood there, just looking out of it. he then said that it just happened that there was a canndate he wanted me to pick up in the area and that i could take all the time needed to find him." geoffrey said, his hand starting to rub elias inner thigh. " well sounds like you better find him first before you get sidetracked." said elias, placing his hand on top of geoffreys. " well it just happens that the recruit is nearby." said geoffrey calmly, his hand moving away and going into his pocket. "who is it? come on you can tell me." said elias, wondering who his love was looking for. " well, if i tell you, you have to keep it to yourself, ok?" "of course, now tell me." " it quiet simple luv..." said geoffrey as he final removed his hand from his pocket. in it was two small boxes. he open both of them and showed them to elias. elias eyes bulged when he contents. inside the boxes where two rings, one black, one white, the faces of comedy and tragedy gleaming at him. "its you." "m-m-m-m-me?" elias stuttered. "yes" "why?" " because i elected you for a project my master is working on." "what is it?" " i don't know all of the details, but i know it codenamed heretic and has something to do with the manipulation and generation of light and darkness." " it sounds dangerous." " well, if something go wrong, i'll be by your side." "ok, but if i do go with you what will happen here? will anyone notice my absence? what about the press conference? what about my dad?" said elias, his most important concern. he knew his dad was a strong man, but under that layer was a frail old man who was scared of being left on his own, especially due to elias being the only one left to look after him. " i understand that you care about your dad, but don't worry about it. theres someone i want you to meet." geoffrey said as he went to the door and called out into the hallway. " you can come in now, sir." he the stepped back from the door way as the person came into the room. he was of the same race as loki and was wearing a mask, but it was grey in colour and was blank, now now marking to show where the persons mouth or eyes where. it creeped elias out. " who is this guy geoffrey?" asked elias. " i am the one who is everyone and nobody, we are the good and the bad. i am randomness. we are anonymous." answered the stranger bluntly. both of then stared at him, now beyond freaked out. " ok, so how are you going to help us?" " simple mr acorn, i can create a perfect duplicate of you. it will know what you know, look like you, act like you and think like you. basically it is a another version of you." anonymous said as if he explained this every day. " so your going to make a copy of me to stay here while i go with you?" "yes" elias remained quiet for a few minutes, think about this plan. "so it that simple?" " well, there is one small hitch." "what is it?" asked elias, dead serious. " you see, once you leave this reality, you can never come back due to your copy replacing you in this world's fabric of existence." said anonymous, no hint of care in his flat voice. " so, if i go with you i'll never get to see my dad again?" elias said, hollow as a cave. "yes." the word echoed in elias head for almost eternity. could i do it, leave behind my life here to go take part in some project run by a nut? it was just like before, a mess that had him leaving his father on his own and himself as well. he was lost in deep thought when he felt someone squeeze his hand. he snapped out of his thought to see his boyfriend's gentile smile and soft blue eyes looking at him, clearly ready to support him, what ever answer he gave. elias then realised some thing. he wasn't alone. he had a kind, suportive boyfriend who had been by his side since he came out and had now, had gone to the trouble of traveling to another world and back, after asking his definitely insane master for a job for him, despite it possibly being some sort of half- baked experament with him as the lab rat, but it still showed how far geoffrey was willing to go to make this relationship work " and i need to do my part as well." thought elias to himself. he the realised that he had been quiet for some time, which was noticed by geoffrey. " elias, are you ok ?" asked the skunk. " oh, sorry, i just go lost in my head." he said, not wanting to worry him. " well, what is you decision?" asked anonymous suddenly, very blunt and to the point. " yes, i have." "well?" " im not going with you." geoffrey gasped, shocked by elias choice. " are you certain?" was all anonymous said. " yes, im not going with you..." said elias, then he pointed stright at geoffrey. " im going with him." "what? me?" geoffrey said, shocked and stunned. "well, what other reason would i have?" said elias, a devilish smile on his face. geoffrey lunged at him, tears streaming down his face. " oh elias!" he said happily. they stayed hughing each other until a small " ahem" got there attention. " that is your final decision? " asked anonymous once again. elias stood up, geoffrey clinging to his side. " yes" was all he said, but the sound of his stubborn tone and his petrifying stare made it sure that he was not going to change his mind anytime soon. " alright then." was all anonymous said, which caused both elias and geoffrey to fall to the floor, shocked by his lack of care or even rage. " really? that all you can say?" they both yelled at him after they got back up. " what can i say? not much shocks me." he said as he placed his hand on the door knob. " so, are your ready to go?" " well yes, but theres something i want to do real quickly if thats ok?" said elias, picking up his crown. " of course, he's just down the hall, asleep." anonymous said as he opened the door, which elias raced out of, followed by geoffrey. elias raced down the corridor, as fast as he could go. he stopped when he was at the end, out of breath, he looked up to see the person he was looking for. "dad" he was asleep, his head resting on his shoulder. it made him look a tiny bit cute, in a humorous way. he walked up to him, the crown heavy in his hand. " hi pop." he said. he started to shake. " dad, listen, i can't make the press meeting. i'm going away for a while, but don't worry, i'll be back, but could you mind this for me until i come back, could you?" he said as he place the crown on his lap. he was about to leave, when suddenly his dad grabed his hand. he started to panic in his head. " please don't wake up." elias said to himself several times. then he felt the grip loosen. he pulled his hand way, ready to go back, when he hear a small murmur. "ok, love you son." max said in his sleep. elias stood there for a few seconds, before he heard someone gasp "elias!" geoffrey said as he turned around the corner. he stopped to catch his breath and looked up. elias was standing there next to his old man. he then look at him and started to walk towards him, very slowly. as he got closer, geoffrey noticed that he was trying to cover his eyes. he then fell on his knees and then to then ground. geoffrey ran up to him, seeing now that he was crying his eyes out. " i can't, i just can't do it..." he said elias, tears steaming down his distraught face. geoffrey helped him up and then griped him by his shoulders. " elias, listen to me. i know you you feel depressed leaving your dad, i went through the same thing when my dad and hershey died. but i had loki by my side the whole time and i was glad for that. but you had to face lossing your sister by yourself. now your leaving your dad again, but this time someone is there to look after him and you have someone to help you through it as well. me." he then slowly leaned in and kissed him. elias stopped crying and was lost in the romantic embrase. they stayed that way until a voice echoed in the quiet hallway. " i see your done with your goodbyes." anonymous said, standing a few feet behind them. " well, yes." " good." he then walked to a nearby door and opened it. a glowing light was emerging from the doorway. " the portal is ready." he said, one arm streched out to the portal. elias and geoffrey walked up to the portal. elias was a bit nervous, was this it? was he real going to go to a new world? he looked over his shoulder at his dad. " something wrong, luv?" asked geoffrey, noticeing him looking back. elias looked at him, a light smile on his face. "no, not with you around." he said, taking his hand amd walking into the light with him. anonymous was about to step through when a beeping noise came from his person. he put his hand into a random pocket and pulled out a small hand-held communicator, a mix of a mobile phone and a walkie-talkie, designed to receive and transmit signals over short and long range areas. he placed it next to his ear. "hello?, yes it me,sir. yes, he's on his way with geoffrey. of course, i will have the replacement ready in a few moments, before max awakens. but what i don't understand is why you want me to replace him. the normal procedure is to reset the reality, then remove any trace of the subjects existance. what, that is happening? then you lied to him. well, what is to be expected of the insane master of blasphemy corpe?" he said as he steped into the portal. " you will be done, master loki, project heretic is completed."