Double-Edged Legends II

Chapter Two: Reintroduction

The next morning David woke up from one of his dreams yet again. It seemed to him that these nightmares would be with him for the rest of his life, but hopefully he would be able to at least lessen their frequency if… no, when he learned control. ‘I don’t have any room for doubt if I want to stay with my family,’ thought David, ‘I must have faith.’

It was pretty early in the morning, but he didn’t dare go back to sleep, not that he really could already being up. So he put his shirt back on and went to the living room after making Sabrina’s bed. David saw that he was the only one who was awake at the moment.

‘Damn I’m hungry.’ A good filling breakfast is what David had been looking forward to more than anything, next to meet Launa again of course. However, she still hadn’t gone out to get groceries yet, so there still wasn’t much to eat, and most of what there was to eat were things he had no idea how to prepare, being away from civilization for the past eight years. Then, he noticed something he was very familiar with: eggs and ham. Not wasting any time, David found a frying pan a fork and hurried to prepare his meal. He couldn’t believe how good it tasted, especially the ham. It was like the Kobe steak he had last night, except for the fact it was pork. When David had finished his first serving he really wanted more, but decided not to so as to avoid hogging amazing food that wasn’t his.

As he was putting the dishes away, David noticed his reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall and saw just how bad he looked. His hair was all clumped together and greasier than his breakfast, not to mention the case of dandruff he had developed on his journey over seas, his breath smelled horrible, and his beard made him look like a bum. Deciding that this was no way for him to make a good impression and thank his hosts for their hospitality, David went to the guest bathroom, which he was luckily able to enter without disturbing Sabrina.

While David was improving upon his personal hygiene, Sabrina was getting out of bed yawning and groaning having just recovered from a massive hangover. She shifted back to her human form; she was just a little over six feet and had a decent tan as well as an amazing muscular build in addition to a very well shaped CC sized bust, bringing her to weight around two hundred and fifty pounds. Her hair was long and black with some streaks of white and her eyes were a soft teal.

Having entered her room to get dressed into her day clothes, Sabrina noticed a long coat lying on the floor. Puzzled, Sabrina decided to hang it on a chair until she found out whom it belonged to, assuming the owner was someone from the party a couple nights ago. “Eating time.”

Heading for the refrigerator, she saw that someone had already eaten breakfast. ‘I had no idea Azrealle was back,’ she thought to herself. Opening the icebox, she saw that someone had eaten some of her expensive salt-cured ham, which costs a hundred and sixty dollars per pound, or twenty-one hundred for a leg. “Who the hell…” one could easily tell that she was a little unhappy. Before she could go on a monologuing rant she could hear the sink running in the guest bathroom. “Oooo, you’re so gonna get it.” She ran to the door expecting to find Launa, meaning it was safe to assume that Sabrina was immensely surprised when she opened the door to see a young man in her bathrobe and using her personal razor to shave his face; she also saw that the last of her shampoo had been used up.

“What the hell are you doing wearing my robe!?”

“Oh,” said David, with an embarrassed smile, “this is yours? I’m so sorry, I honestly had no idea.”

“Well, do you have any idea how pissed I am right now, because if you do then I recommend getting the hell out of it before I murder you.”

“Uhh, I’m honestly flattered that you want me to strip down for you, but I can’t do that without some form of payment.”

“What the…” Sabrina’s face was turning red and the vein on her forehead looked as if it was about to burst, “oh, I’ll pay alright, for your medical bill once I’m through with you. So, would you please tell me your name so I can make the check out to you?”

“I’m David.”

“Do you have a last name?”

“Yes.” David went back to shaving.

“Well…?”

“What?” David was having a lot of fun teasing Sabrina. Maybe he could have some good fun while he was here after all.

“What’s you god damn last name?”

“Oh, if you wanted to know you should have asked. It’s Hemming.” Sabrina’s expression went strait from anger to astonishment. Never would she have guessed that this guy standing before her was the same person that Launa has been talking about all of these years. She always imagined him a little different, a little bit taller, muscular, a little shier and different in other ways that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “My guess is that you’re Azrealle. Not that the nature of Launa and Sabrina upsets me in any way, but it’s good to know that I’m gonna be staying here with at least one person who isn’t twice my height and has biceps the size of my torso.”

“Actually, I’m Sabrina.”

“Yeah, right. Sabrina is a large, hulking, and if I may be so bold, busty werewolf.”

“That’s only true when I’m in my wolven form. By definition, werewolves have human forms.”

“Well, I honestly wouldn’t know having never seen one before last night.” David takes a good pause. “I know that you’re having trouble taking your eyes off of me even when I’m in your robe and using your razor, but this bathroom is occupied.”

“I’m not having trouble with anything. Just hurry up and get outta my damn robe.” Still a little annoyed, Sabrina backed out of the bathroom while closing the door behind her and went to the kitchen to eat the rest of the ham. Launa was also up eating a large breakfast. “How come you didn’t tell me that your friend, David Hemming, was going to be stopping by for a visit?”

“I honestly had no idea that he would be.” Launa put her dishes away. “He just dropped in last night and is going to be staying here for about a week or so. David came all the way from his cabin, which he’s been living in for the past eight years without ever even visiting civilization, and by stowing away on a ship for a month. He’s been through a lot just to get here, so please make him feel at home; I’m basically the only friend he’s got.”

“Wow, that’s one hell of a résumé. By the way, you never told me David was such a cute guy.”

“Don’t get any ideas, Sabrina,” Launa gave her the evil eye, “he’s a very special guy and I don’t want you doing anything that’ll make him uncomfortable.”

Sabrina looked back in the direction of the guest bathroom. ‘Oh, it’s way to late for not getting any ideas.’

About five minutes later, David put his Native American style clothing back on and hung up Sabrina’s robe before exiting the bathroom. “Hey there, Launa. How did you sleep?”

“Pretty well,” Launa gave him a good morning hug; only she didn’t crush him this time, “how about you? I think I remember hearing some noises last night... as if someone was having a bad dream. Was that you?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t anything that prevented me from sleeping well.”

“Are you sure? You sounded like you were having a really bad one.”

“It’s nothing, really. Sabrina’s bed was surprisingly comfortable. So much better than what I’ve got to sleep in back at the cabin.”

“Hey, David,” said Sabrina, holding up the coat she found earlier, “would this happen to be yours?”

“Thanks, Azrealle,” said David as he put it on, “I forgot where I put this.”

“I told you, my name is Sabrina.”

“Sure, whatever. If you really want me to believe you, then why don’t you just prove it?”

“Fine, you want proof, I’ll give you proof.” David rolled his eyes, but then he noticed Sabrina getting taller and stretching out her clothes. Her eyes changed to a steel gray, and her hair was now a very light gray along with the coat of fur that had developed all over her body. It didn’t take David long to realize that this was, in fact, Sabrina. The tail that had grown out was long and bushy with a white tip at the end. However, the two dead giveaways that this was the beast David saw passed out on the guest bed were her now bulging muscles and giant heaving breasts, which were as he assumed even larger than Launa’s. At first David was absolutely stunned by Sabrina’s new appearance; his eyes occasionally, but unintentionally, traveled a little further south of her eyes than they should have gone. Surprisingly yet, Sabrina had managed not to rip any of her clothing. “Who do you think I am now, David?”

“I, uuh,” David felt as if he was a little boy again when he saw Launa ride into Churchill on her monster of a motorcycle, “you’re… you’re, could you please repeat the question?”

“I asked you who you think I am now.” David felt like such a blabbering idiot; he couldn’t remember the name. He looked to Launa, who was standing behind Sabrina. She circled her hands around her lips and mouthed the name he was looking for.

“Sabrina, you’re Sabrina the party animal.” As soon as the last word had escaped through David’s teeth he turned bright red and cupped both of his hands over his mouth. Sabrina let out a small laugh, finding David’s reaction priceless.

“Come on Sabrina,” Launa put a hand on her roommate’s shoulder, “you’ve had enough fun with him.” Sabrina changed back to her human form as she went to change into some clothes that weren’t completely stretched out, managing to brush her shrinking tail along David in a little less than pure manor.

Launa turned to face David. “You look a lot better after your little clean up. I especially like how you’ve reduced your homeless beard down to a small soul patch.”

“Oh, is that what they call this,” asked David as he ran one of his fingers over his new style of facial hair, “Well thanks, I feel better. I haven’t taken a shower in years… not to say that I haven’t bathed since I left the orphanage. There’s a warm spring near my cabin that makes for a good hot bath. You should come by some time in the future so we can go for a dip together; Sabrina and Azrealle could come, too.”

“Haha, you just wanna see us in our bathing suits.” She gave David an innocent wink, which he just shrugged off being used to Launa’s teasing by now, at least most of it. As he moved, Launa took special notice to his attire. “David, do you have anything else to wear other than those Native American clothes?”

“No. Is that a problem?”

“Yes it’s a problem. You’ll stick out like a sore thumb in those things. That’s it; we’re going clothes shopping today. I’m not gonna let one of my best buds walk around Amsterdam dressed like something out of a western film.”

“But… I don’t have any money.”

“David, look around you, do you really think that money is by any means one of my concerns? There’s no way I’m gonna let you walk around with me in those garments.”

“Is she gonna be coming with us?” David pointed towards Sabrina’s room.

“Nope, she needs to stay and clean up the rest of the apartment. Besides, it goes without saying that I can’t spend any quality time with you if she comes along.” He didn’t want to say it out loud, but David was glad that Sabrina wasn’t coming, and for multiple reasons.

The two headed out after Launa finished getting ready for the day and put up her appearance field. David heard a few people talking as they walked by. “Launa, I know it’s not a problem that can’t be solved by some translation on your end, but…” Before he could finish, Launa licked her fingers and shoved them into his ears.

“Is that better,” asked Launa, “tell me if you can understand what I’m saying.”

“Of course I can understand what you’re saying,” said David as he wiped the saliva out of his ears, “you are speaking perfect English.”

“Actually, David, I’m speaking perfect Dutch.” He then noticed that Launa’s lips didn’t match the words that were coming out of her mouth, but only for a while. “And so are you.” David said good morning to a couple who walked by, they replied in kind, but this time their lips matched their words.

“How did you do that?”

“Oh, I just cast a spell on your head that allows you to understand and speak Dutch, that’s all.”

“That’s one magical wet willie.”

“To be honest, licking my finger wasn’t part of the spell.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“Just for the hell of it… and to see you squirm like a little girl.” Launa let out a small chuckle, to which David responded by trying to jump up and do the same, but only to fail and have himself knocked back down without Launa even noticing. “What are you doing on the ground?”

“Nothing,” David brushed himself off as he got back up, “let’s just get this over with, shall we… and I don’t squirm, let alone like a girl.”

During their walk around town, David was taking in everything he could, having not been able to focus on anything other than finding Launa for the past week. Unable to believe what he had been missing that civilization had to offer, Launa would have to catch his attention now and again by calling his name and whistling like he was a dog off his leash. At one point David almost wondered into the red light district, but not before Launa quickly redirected his full attention, believing that her innocent friend wasn’t quite ready that that part of the city.

“Here we are,” said Launa, they were standing outside what seemed to be a nice and expensive clothes store, “let’s get to work.” After she took out her large shopping bag, Launa began to fill it up with a bunch of clothes and accessories, stopping once in a while to hold something against David to try and picture how he would look in it. She was grabbing all kinds of clothes: expensive, cheap, vivid, mellow, classy, casual, etc. When the bag was full, Launa directed David to get into a changing booth while she throws different sets of clothing over the door. Although David was a little hesitant to come out and show Launa how he looked the first few times, he eventually got into it and would take poses every time he opened the door. His favorite get up was this jazzy set of clothing with an elaborate tie and a fedora hat.

Having tried out every single article in the bag, the two of them moved over to the shoe section. David got just a few pairs: some sneakers, dress shoes, flip flops, and for when he gets back home a pair of high quality hiking boots. Finally finished after a couple of hours of hardcore shopping, Launa went to the cash register to buy everything, while David waited near the door and played around with his fedora.

“Hey, Launa,” said David as she was approaching with a bunch of shopping bags in her hands, “thank you, I really appreciate this.”

“Not at all, hon,” she handed him a couple bags as they headed out the door, “it’s the lest I could do to…” as they walked along the curb, a guy on a motorcycle drove into a huge puddle of water next to David, leaving him and his brand new clothes completely soaked.

“What the crap,” spat David, turning in the direction that the jerk drove off and yelling obscenities, “If I just wore my older clothes…” Launa laid a hand on David, and before he knew it he and his clothes were dry as a bone.

“Let’s go David,” she said, “I know the perfect place to go chill.”

“And where would that be?” David was still a little peeved.

“You’ll see.” And soon enough, they were standing outside a gym. It didn’t surprise David that Launa, being the mountain of muscle that she is, would consider this a place to chill. On their way through the doors, David noticed something familiar about this gym; it was the one that the owner kicked him out off a few days ago.

“Hey, I can’t go in there,” exclaimed David, “this is that gym owned by that guy I told you about… you know, the one who said I’m no longer welcome here after asking him where you lived.”

“What? Well then, we’re just gonna have a talk with this guy and see if we can’t change his mind.” Launa walked up to the front desk with David standing next to her so the owner could see him. “Excuse me my good sir.”

The man lifted his head from his computer, “Launa, what’s going on sweet cheeks?”

“Nothing much, Rolo. Just coming for my usual workout,” she leaned forward to give him a kiss, David could tell that the two were in a relationship, “and to properly introduced to a good friend of mine.” David lifted up his fedora so Rolo could see his face, which he recognized immediately, even after David had changed into completely different attire and shaved his beard down to a soul patch.

“What are you doing here,” demanded Rolo, “I thought I made it clear I didn’t want to see you in my gym again.”

“Just what did I do that was so horrible to deserve such treatment,” David was getting a little defensive, “tell me, and I’ll apologize.”

“Yes darling,” said Launa, crossing her arms, “what did he do?”

“He asked for your address.”

“That’s it,” Launa wasn’t pleased with her boyfriend’s reasoning for kicking David out of his humble gym, and in turn forcing him to wonder the streets for a few days that could have been spent with one another “he asks for directions and you give him the boot? How unreasonable can you be?”

“Yeah, but I thought he was like that guy from a few years back.”

“So what if he was? Don’t you remember how Fredrick turned out despite what we assumed?”

“But…”

“No ‘buts’,” Launa held up a finger, “now apologize to David for treating him the way you did.”

“David,” Rolo was unexpectedly calm and relaxed, “you mean David Hemming?” Launa nodded her head. He looked over David for a while. “You’re telling me that this little guy here is the David Hemming?”

“Excuse me,” David interrupted, “I’m no little guy, thank you very much. And what do you mean by the David Hemming?”

“Dude, anybody who knows Launa here well enough knows well enough about you,” Rolo was suddenly treating David like they were good pals, “If you had just told me your name, then I would have personally escorted you to Launa’s apartment.”

“Well,” mumbled David, “you should have at least asked before making such a serious judgment call.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. How about I make it up to you, free membership for a week, I’ll even throw it a couple warm towels and some ice cold water.”

“There’s the big softie I know and love.” Launa gave Rolo another kiss and then led David to the men’s locker room handing him some workout clothes and the pair of sneakers she bought at the store a while ago. “Go ahead and put these on. I’ll meet you in the weights room.”

David undressed and hung his jazzy outfit up and removed the key from the lock. The shirt that Launa had given him said “PROPERTY OF ALCATRAZ” with what seemed to be a couple of stamps reading “REJECTED” and “TOO CUTE”. It made him laugh a little; he knew that Wyanet and the others back home would get a kick out of it, well… after he took a while to explain what Alcatraz was in the first place.

Wanting to get back to having some fun, David finished getting ready and headed for his little rendezvous with Launa in the weights room. Noticing that she wasn’t there yet, it seemed like a good idea to test out his strength while he waited. He sat down at a bench press and started at fifty pounds, which was way too easy, so he brought it up to hundred. It was a little harder, but not nearly enough to get a real workout. David kept on raising it until if felt like he was really pushing himself.

“What exactly are you trying to do, David?” Launa walked in as David was adding on some more weights. He looked at the numbers on the weights and realized he had put on a total of over five hundred pounds, five hundred pounds that he was about to begin lifting himself. If Launa had seen him benching that much, then she would’ve definitely found out that he was a werewolf or at least no longer human.

“I was just setting it up for you,” David was so sure Launa wasn’t going to buy it, “I mean it’s not like I could lift it.”

“Hahaha,” Launa gave out a short but loud laugh, “I appreciate the effort, David, but I can set up my own weights.” She went over to a different bench press that had a bunch of osmium-based weights stacked next to it. The total weight of the blocks placed on the barbell was nearly two hundred tons, and she still managed to lift the bar as if the osmium weights were made out of jugs of equal size filled with water. Every muscle looked as if it were going to burst out of her skin. Launa did what seemed like a few hundred reps, but instead of taking a break she simply moved to the next workout machine. Each one was left being set at the maximum load. It didn’t take long for David to feel out of place, so he went to go get some of that free ice-cold water that Rolo promised he would provide. David found four large water jugs and filled them up with purified water and fresh ice. Although he knew he could carry them on his own no problem, it seemed wiser to place them on a dolly cart in order to not draw any unwanted attention.

On his way back, David accidentally bumped into a very large man for which he apologized and moved on. However, the giant of a person wasn’t so forgiving.

“Hey,” the man exclaimed, “watch where the hell you’re going, water boy.”

“I said I was sorry, alright,” David kept a half smile, “it won’t happen again.” Having turned in the man’s direction, David recognized him as the one who harassed him last night.

“Wait a second,” it became apparent that the guy recognized David as well, he began to approach David in a less than friendly way, “you’re that bum from last night.” Despite his fear, David kept his cool.

“Yes, my name is David,” he offered out his hand for a shake, “what’s yours, friend?”

“Joel,” he slapped David’s hand away, “and I’m not your friend, punk. What the hell’s a bum like you doing working for Rolo?”

“I’m not working for anyone, just grabbing some water for a friend and myself. Would you like some, you look kinda thirsty if you don’t mind me saying so myself.”

“Where’s your furry friend?” Joel completely ignored David’s generous offer.

“She’s off in the weights room.”

“Perfect.” Joel picked up one of the jugs opened the top and poured gallons of freezing cold water on David. “Now that that nosey bitch isn’t here, what are you gonna do about it?” Oh how David wanted to teach this jerk a lesson, but he felt it was best to listen to his own philosophy and let it go. Joel, on the other hand, wouldn't let him. He went on to shoving David around and egging him on while raising his voice. “Ain’t so tough now without her to watch your back, are you?”

“Hey,” yelled a man standing down the hallway, it was Rolo, “what’s going on here?” Rolo could see Joel holding David by his collar. “Let him go, Joel.”

“Hehe, sure thing, boss,” Joel put David down, “just initiating our new friend into the gym here.”

“He doesn’t need an initiation, especially being good friends with one of our best customers. Now get back to work before I fire your ass.” Joel did as he was told. Rolo walked up to David with a look of apology on his face, but before he could say anything David held up his hand, silencing him.

“I think I’ll call it a day, Rolo,” David wiped off what water he could from his face, “Please tell Launa I’ll see her back at the apartment; I don’t want her to miss out on her exercise because she felt sorry for me.” Feeling defeated, David went to the locker room to get his things and head back to his temporary home.

David was still fairly wet by the time he got there. As he headed for the guest closet he saw someone sitting in a chair reading a book, and it wasn’t Sabrina, but someone else. She was slim and slightly fit, had a bust line that was fairly modest. Her blue eyes shined through the small amount of long, flowing tan hair that hung in her face as she looked down at her reading material.

“Hello,” she said as David walked in, “and who might you be?”

“I’m David, David Hemming.” Like everyone else who David introduced himself to that day, with the exception of Joel, this woman looked over him for a good while.

“You’re David,” she didn’t seem to quite believe him, “I always pictured you just a little different.”

“What kind of different?”

“Well, just a little taller, more muscular… like Sabrina. I’m Azrealle by the way, but you can call me Azzy.”

“Azzy, it’s nice to finally meet the last of Launa’s roommates.” He held out his hand for Azrealle to shake, which she gladly accepted contrary to Joel from earlier. Her hands were quite warm from holding her book for so long; David could tell he was going to get along with everyone in this apartment just fine.

“What happened to you? Why are you wet? I don’t recall there being any rain today.”

“Oh, just a little accident at the gym.”

“Like hell it was.” Launa said as she came in through the door looking less than pleased. “Why didn’t you tell me after that jerk harassed you again? I could’ve easily taken care of him for you.”

“I already told you,” explained David, “there’s no point in fighting over such trivial things, because…”

“Because someone always gets hurt for no reason. Yeah, I know. It still would make me feel better if you’d just let me put him in his place.”

“Sorry, Launa,” said David, “I just… don’t like confrontations. By the way, what exactly have you been telling people about me, that I’m some kind of Olympian body builder?”

“Well,” Launa shrugged her shoulders, “maybe I bent the truth once in a while.” Launa could see that David was concerned about something. “Is something the matter?”

David looked back and forward between Launa and Azrealle with a big smile on his face. “No, everything is just fine.”