Author: Sally Wiget (wishfulthinker on scifi.com bboards)

E-mail Address: mwiget@knox.edu

He sucked in a deep breath…

and blew.

He laughed as the bubbles streamed out of the little wand and flung themselves out, away from him, drifting to the ground and popping. They were rainbow-colored in the bright sunlight.

It was really quite a good bottle of bubbles-the bubbles were big and plentiful coming out of the wand, spreading out everywhere, an amazing amount. They were so free and so many, like a herd of bubbles being shepherded out of the wand. The tiny bottle seemed endless, full of bubbles and simple pleasure.

He laughed again, uncontrollably, unable to stop the laugh bubbling out of him, as he watched the little spheres of rainbow-reflecting light floating away on the wind and gently falling to disappear on the grass with an unheard pop.

Utterly delightful.

"Fawkes, what the hell are you doing?"

Darien quickly crammed the wand back in the bottle and stuffed the bottle into his black leather coat pocket. He turned around to face Hobbes as nonchalantly as he could, desperately hoping his face wasn't turning red. "Why, nothing Hobbes."

Hobbes looked up at him for a long, considering moment, the look on his face unreadable. Darien blinked down at him innocently, his hands in his coat pockets, the one in the right hand pocket clutching the tiny bottle of bubbles.

"Did you need something?" Darien finally asked, unable to bear his partner's gaze anymore.

Hobbes shook his head, one corner of his mouth twitching suspiciously. "No, Fawkes. Nothing." He turned around and went back into the building.

Darien blew out a gusty breath in relief, looked around sneakily to check no one was watching, and took out his bottle of bubbles again.

He blew and laughed and watched the bubbles fly away.

Hobbes laughed his head off inside.