Ricochet

by Xanthe Walter

"Big? That's a really crappy insult, Lake. What happened to you? You used to come out with such good ones. Maybe the spankings have addled your brain. Who knew you kept it in your ass?"

"You know me. I am, and always will be, an idiot." Rick gave a wry little grin. "No. That's kind of the point. You aren't," Matt said quietly. "That's what you want people to believe, but you don't fool me anymore, Rick." "I'm not sure I ever did."

"Weird, huh?" Rick scuffed his foot on the ground. "Not really. The fans know what they see. They aren't stupid - unlike some of the actors," Matt said darkly.

Oo eat him up Matty

"Ouch." Matt put a hand on his arm. "Rick, that has to hurt." "I guess I'm used to him hurting me." Rick shrugged. "Because it doesn't. Not really. I don't feel anything."

"I said, leave it," Rule repeated firmly. "This is a new start for you, Matt - you don't want any baggage from the past dragging you down."

He doesn't need a new life!!

"You warned him?" Matt glanced at him sharply, and Rick saw the fire was back in his eyes. He hadn't realized it'd been missing for the past few weeks, until he saw it return. "You warned him away from me, Sebastian?" "I merely had a conversation with him in which I pointed out that you needed to be left alone to get on with your new life unhindered by -" "The baggage of the past?" Matt raised an eyebrow. "Is that what my life is to you, Sebastian? All just baggage for you to jettison, the way you got rid of my bag earlier?"

Yes! Get his ass!!

"Sarah is temple-born?" Matt leaned forward. He was always interested when he heard of another temple-born child.

Are you fucking stupid?