+ WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

Homework. Lex was nauseous at the thought of staring at books filled with words. Well, he was nauseous everything he did today. His first bout of chemo had happened yesterday, and it was just as bad, if not worse, than he remembered. He swore he could still feel the fluids dripping through his veins, and just the thought made him have to stop walking, close his eyes, and inhale through his nose. Out his mouth. In, out, in, out, gag, in, out. Slower, more controlled, he breathed deeply and evenly.

His skin had already lost some of its ruddy health, and if you had known him, you would be able to tell that he was hurting badly. Those who didn’t would just suspect that he was tired, or that he had missed a meal. But those who were close to him could see the purple bruises beneath his eyes, feel the coldness of his usually warm skin, and see the pain that it took for him to walk normally. It was good that this homework wasn’t due for a few weeks, because it would take him that long to read the material. His brain felt sluggish, and his body wasn’t doing much better. The urge to sleep off his discomfort was so attractive, that as soon as he was in the library, Lex almost turned right back around and out.

The sight of the shelves filled with novels, and magazines, and books on subjects that were usually under his thumb, blurred slightly as he hobbled to the search computer. He needed books on the history of some civilizations. Mostly civilizations in Africa. Call him egotistical, but he had never bothered much to think about the history of other nations. Once his great empire fell, he lost interest in history up until the 16th century.

Part of him had to wrestle with the want to look up information on a certain inventor, from a certain time, with a name that rhymed with Romas Pedison. The woozy thoughts made the poor world conqueror smile an intoxicated smile, and he blinked lazily before typing in a few key words about the African civilizations he needed. It was nice to think about his boyfriend. Boyfriend. The word was still so strange to him, and it made him feel giddy and nauseous to think that he had one. He, the captain of the basketball team, reincarnate of the world’s greatest conqueror, strong, charismatic, and logical, had broken two of his rules in one go.

Number one was never to let pleasure get in the way of business. They hadn’t really gotten around to the pleasure part, Lex blushed a bit at the thought and his face took on a splotchy sickly red tint, but this would definitely affect their work together in the RSOR, being that they both were on the Leader’s Panel. It was bad politics, and bad battle strategy to let leaders commingle their interests. But soldiers were a different story completely. Alexander the Great was famous for using this fact to his advantage. He remembered his past life very clearly, and one of his greatest and most revered battalions came readily to his mind. Three hundred gay or bisexual men, all with their own lovers battling beside them. Who better to fight for the safety of their loved ones, when they were not feet apart, fighting also? It was one of his better or worst ideas. There was never a more ferocious battalion in his time. But there had never been so much resentment, so much sadness. And he, being a bisexual man, could feel their pain better than any other.

Number two was to never let weakness show to those who respect you. Skylar had respected Lex, and they had worked together well, arguing different angles and figuring out new things and new ideas. But now the older boy knew too much. Two secrets that could destroy Lex’s reputation as the strong and determined leader he was. One secret was a shared one, and that was that they were now locking lips more than a couple in a cheesy vampire movie. Well, when Lex wasn’t vomiting up his guts. That was secret number two. It was a dangerous secret, because it was one that soon everyone would know, but hopefully no one would acknowledge. Hopefully it would hang on the delicate edge of being in control, and rock uneasily back and forth without tipping any which way.

Lex took note of a few books that looked promising. The thuds of his heavy feet against the carpet were dull and sleepy as he shlupped over to the section that he needed to search through. When he looked at the shelves and decided that this would be no easy task, he sighed in frustration and walked back to the end of the aisle, intending to put his bag on a table.

Then he noticed a member of the RSOR sitting at a table, staring at a book about Egypt. No wonder, it was Ramsey, the Pharaoh. Lex searched his fuzzy memory and remembered that his name in this life was Oz. That was the extent that Lex knew about the younger guy. That and the fact that the kid was after his job. It was well known that Oz really wanted to be on the LP, and would do anything to get on it.

“Hey,” Lex yawned, and he covered his mouth with his hand. “You’re Oz. Right? Sup?”

The world conqueror was as wary as he could be while totally doped up. But it was also really tough to distrust someone who was so gosh-darn charming. The smooth voice coming from the young Pharaoh washed over Lex like silk, and he felt distinctly like he had just sank into a warm bath. Feeling suddenly a bit too comfortable, he sat down at the table with the younger boy, and leaned back, allowing his muscles to pop and unclench.

“Yea,” he agreed, as Oz told him his full name. He searched his fuzzy brain. That sounded awfully familiar, and he felt bad for not remembering it before. But before he got too concerned, a slightly loopy smile wove its way onto his face in reply to Oz’s grin. Something about him was so charming, that it was tough to remember that Lex shouldn’t trust him as far as he could throw him. Lex’s consciousness urged him to remember that Oz gave that smile when he was angry, or upset, or planning something. Lex had seen it enough times during RSOR meetings to know that a smile didn’t have to mean happiness or anything positive.

Then Oz said something again, and Lex squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to listen. It was like listening under water or through syrup. Everything was fuzzy and murky and muddy and impossible. What made it all the more embarrassing was that the Pharaoh was asking about his health.

“No,” Lex muttered, shaking his head. “I gotta get some work done sometime.” He needed to stay on track. Getting behind in school was not an option. Not with his boyfriend being a genius. He couldn’t and wouldn’t handle the shame of failing school while his Skylar was smart enough to be in Cal-Tech by now. And then Oz had to insult him. It wasn’t on purpose he was sure. Or maybe it was. But it wasn’t favorable, what ever the intentions were. The world conqueror’s eyes narrowed and he folded his arms over his chest. His ego was flexing and shouting to yell at the kid. But they were in a library. And he was too weak to beat up anyone.

He was most certainly not bedraggled. Well, okay maybe he was. But it shouldn’t be that obvious that he was sick. Or was it? He was suddenly very self-conscious, and he curled in on himself. And it was made both worse and better by Oz turning his full attention to him. The sound of the book snapping shut was explosive in Lex’s ears, and he winced slightly before sighing.

”Anything I can do to help out at least…” Lex didn’t know whether he should be thankful or concerned, and he decided he was a bit of both. He smiled uneasily and pried his arms apart, putting both hands on the table top and inhaling deeply.

“I’m just so run down. I haven’t felt like this for years…” It was difficult to describe what he was feeling without saying leukemia or chemotherapy. It was like playing Taboo, which Lex was never good at anyways. He watched the Pharaoh closely for his reaction to what he was saying, hoping that there would be no spark of recognition and understanding in the charming face. He wanted the younger guy to stay in the dark on this subject. To feel concern, and admire his strength, but to think that it was just something small. Like mono. Oh how Lex would have loved to only have mono. It would have been so nice.

But he didn’t. He had cancer. And now to put the icing on the lie, Lex would tell a cute little ending that would help push the conversation away.

“It’s alright,” Lex quipped. “I’m talking some medication and it’s really helping. I’ll be okay soon.”