Dedicated to: My sister, Rogue; and for Tippie Canoe (I still miss you and always will. Rest in peace.)
Fandoms: Sons of Thunder; Spider-Man (Mary Jane Watson)
Rating: R for violence and sexual content
Genre: Romance
Couples: Carlos/Trina; Trent/MJ
Spoilers: The author's "A Vampire's Embrace"
Summary: Continuing the Twins of Thunder AU began in "A Vampire's Embrace", Trina drags Trent and Carlos out on Friday night, but does she have a surprise up her sleeve? Will their fun be shattered by a group of vicious party crashers?
Disclaimer: Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, and Peter "Spiderman" Parker are © & TM Marvel comics and are used without permission. Trina Malloy and Markus are © & TM Tippie Canoe and Kitka and may not be used without permission. Trent Malloy, Carlos Sandoval, Alex Kahell, Ranger Cordell Walker, Ranger Trivette, Tommy Malloy, CD's Bar & Grill, and the Sons of Thunder are all © & TM their respective owners and are used without permission. Everything else is © & TM the author, Kitka. I make absolutely no profit whatsoever off of this story.
 
 

        "Are you sure?" the female voice questioned over the phone. "You can't find anything else on her? No speeding fines? No late library books? Nothing?"
        "I've checked through all my resources; she's as clean as a whistle. The worst thing I can find on her is the divorce, and that was just irreconcilable differences with her husband. To all appearances, he was out all night every night, and she just had enough of it. Can you really blame her for that?"
        "Of course not," the other female immediately answered. "We all know how men can be." A heavy sigh followed her statement.
        "Look, Trina, I know you're just protective of Trent, but she really looks like she'd be good for him."
        "She seemed that way, too, but I had to make sure my gut instinct was right. This isn't just a life-or-death situation, after all."
        "I know," the other woman said gently. "I know you just want to make sure he doesn't get his heart broke."
        "Yeah," Trina's voice affirmed softly. "Well, thanks, Alex."
        "Any time, Trina."
        There was a click on both lines as they hung from one another, and Trina sighed again as she rested her chin on her steepled fingers. Perhaps Trent's time had finally come. If he didn't act soon, she would have to.
        The beautiful blonde's thoughts were interrupted as a knock came on her door. "Five minutes," came the warning, and Trina hurried to finish her preparation for her photo shoot, knowing her brother's lovelife would just have to wait a little while longer.
 

        "I'm telling you, man, you should call her," Carlos insisted for the hundredth time that morning. He looked up as Trina approached their table. Even while his dark eyes watched her every move, enjoying the way her tight, black jeans hugged her legs and her silk blouse slid across her bosom as she walked, her long legs stretching out before her and moving both naturally and seductively one hip at a time, towards them, the Mexican called desperately out to the blonde, "Trina, tell him he should call her!"
        "I've been telling him that every day and night since the Halloween dance," she replied, "and it hasn't done any good yet. What's his excuse this time?"
        "Same ol', same ol'," Carlos replied with a shake of his head.
        As she arrived, Carlos moved over enough so that she could take the seat across from her twin. "Trent," she told him, her eyes locking with his, "how many times do I have to tell you? She's crazy about you. She'd jump at the chance."
        "I don't want to bother her," Trent mumbled softly. He looked away from her as he picked up a plate. He put it down before his sister as he said, "Here. I went ahead and ordered for you like you asked."
        "Thanks," she replied, "but don't change the subject. You wouldn't be bothering her by asking for a second date. What in the world makes you think you would be?" Trina plucked at a piece of barbecue with her fork before slipping it into her mouth and chewing quietly, her eyes never leaving her brother's as she did so.
        "I . . . Hum . . . I . . ." The poor man stumbled over his words as he tried to find the right words to tell his two best friends why he lacked the courage to do something as simple as call up such a beautiful woman and request a second date with her. "Look," he finally said, "I barely managed to ask her for one date, and as wonderful as that dance was, it didn't make it any easier to ask her for a second one."
        "But you already asked her out once, and she said yes. How hard can it be to muster up the guts to ask her out again?" Carlos spoke up from where he had been busily eating, his dark eyes darting back and forth between the twins. "I mean, if she had said no like Trina kept doing before you finally talked some sense into her . . . "
        Both blondes looked at him in surprise, their eyes wide. "Don't look so surprised," he told them, grinning widely as his eyes sparkled and causing Trina's breath to catch in her throat at the handsome sight. "I've been knowing you two my entire life. There was no way that Trina finally decided to admit her true feelings to me without your help, Trent, and for that and everything else you've done over the years, I'm eternally grateful. I wouldn't steer you wrong, and neither would your sister."
        "Look, guys," Trent said, forcing Trina's blue eyes to tear away from Carlos and return to him, "I appreciate what you're both trying to do. I really do, but I'm just not ready yet."
        "Trent, it's been two weeks," Trina observed. "If you're not ready by now, when will you be ready?"
        The blonde man fell silent as his eyes again returned to his food. "I don't know," he finally spoke meekly, "but I've got a class I've got to get to." Before either of his dearest friends could speak again, Trent jumped to his feet, grabbed his plate and drink, and headed for the door.
        "Trenton Malloy!" Trina called after him, her blue eyes flashing in frustration, but he did not turn back around. She jumped to her feet but hesitated when she felt a gentle hand on hers. Her head turned, and her eyes looked straight down into Carlos'.
        "Give him some time to cool off, Trina," he spoke softly. "We both know running after him and arguing with him when he's got his mind made up won't do any good."
        She sighed softly as she sank back into her seat. "You're right," she admitted. "I just wish that Virgin Boy would get himself together and call her. Then again, I'm kind of surprised she hasn't called him yet."
        "Not all women have as much courage as you do, Trina," Carlos told her with a grin. "There are still those who wait for the guy to call them."
        Trina inclined her head into a thoughtful nod. "You're right, of course, Carlos, and she must be one of them. I just wish there was something we could do to help them."
        "I know. So do I," Carlos agreed. He sighed softly before adding, "But what more can we do except to keep trying to talk him into it?"
        Although her mind was already recalling the plan she had decided upon the previous night, Trina nonetheless nodded again. They ate in silence, just enjoying one another's company, until time for her to return to the studio drew close. "Walk me out?" she finally asked him.
        "I hate to see you go," Carlos admitted, but then grinned as he continued, "but I always love to have a beautiful woman on my arm."
        She chuckled softly, her blue eyes dancing as she rose and began to clean up. Their hands softly together a couple of times as they picked up their mess, sending electric sparks through both each time their skin touched. Trina balanced their trash in one hand and slipped her left arm into Carlos' right arm as they walked together toward the door. She threw away their trash, and his left hand opened the door for them to go through.
        As they walked, side by side, out into the chilly November air, Trina drew closer to Carlos. Her head rested on his shoulder as her right hand moved over to rest on the crook of his arm as well. She enjoyed the soft leather of his jacket moving against her cheek as they walked together through the parking lot. Her eyes drifted shut as she inhaled his delicious, manly scent while her feet continued to move over the familiar pavement of CD's Bar & Grill.
        A smile brightened his face as Carlos looked down at the woman snuggled to his side. Although neither commented on it, he knew she was not truly as tired as she pretended to be and realized that she only wanted to be as close to him as possible. No other realization save her requited love for him could have warmed his heart so much. He had loved her for as long as he could remember, and he had never felt more alive than when she was with him, even if it was merely doing simple things like taking her to her car.
        They arrived at her car far too soon for both, and Trina reluctantly released Carlos. "So are you ready for this afternoon's bust?" she asked him calmly as she unlocked her door.
        "We're as prepared as we can be," he admitted, knowing it did absolutely no good to exaggerate to her for she could see right through his charade. "How about your commercial?"
        "It's going to be a breeze," she replied confidently. Her hand touched her door handle, but she hesitated for a second before opening the door and then turning back to face him. "Carlos?" she spoke his name softly.
        "Yeah, Trina?" he asked.
        "Be careful."
        "Who? Me?" he asked with a charming grin, soft laughter dancing in his brown eyes. "You're worrying about me, now?"
        "Carlos," she admitted gently, "just because I have faith in you and know that you two can take down anything you go up against doesn't mean I don't still worry."
        "You don't need to," he told her, walking closer to her. He closed the distance between them, and his hand reached down to softly caress her cheek. Their eyes met and locked as his head lowered toward hers. "Do you really think I'd try anything stupid when I've finally got you waiting for me?" he whispered against her lips, his eyes searching hers while also adding reassurance to his question.
        Her lips opened to answer him just as his lips touched down upon hers. Their kiss began gently, but as their tongues dipped into one another's mouths, their passion also deepened. His hands cupped and softly caressed both sides of her beautiful face. Her hands crept in between the open sides of his jacket and caressed his muscular chest through his shirt. Their tongues quarreled gently as they sought deeper pleasures in each other's delicious mouths. Even as her fingers were tempted to begin unbuttoning his buttons, his fingers ran up into the golden strands of her long hair. No words needed to be spoken as they leaned closer into their loving embrace.
        Their lips only parted when they could no longer deny their lungs' demands for oxygen, and even then, they gazed adoringly into one another's eyes. "I'd better get going," she whispered reluctantly.
        He once more caressed her face as he promised her softy, "I'll see you this evening."
        As her cheek pressed gently into his palm, she nodded. She then reluctantly forced her melted legs to move as she turned from him to slip into her car. He watched as she closed her door, buckled her seatbelt, cranked her engine, and checked her mirror. Their eyes met one last time for that day as she pulled out, and no words could have so accurately voiced the depth of the feelings that swelled within their hearts for each other.

        "This is Mary Jane Watson. If this is a telemarketer, please hang up now and don't waste either of your time. If this is Peter, can't you figure it out yet? I don't want to talk to you! However, if this is Trent Malloy, what took you so long?! Whoever you are, just leave your message, name, and number, and I'll get back to you when I can if I want to."
        Trina grinned as she listened to the answering machine on the other end of the phone, and as the machine beeped in her ear, she began to talk, "MJ, this is Trina, Trent's sister. I'm sorry he hasn't called you yet, but my brother can be really shy. He really wants to see you again, but he just doesn't have the guts to do this himself. If you want to see him, show up at The Mesa tonight at seven thirty."
        Trina hung up the phone just as another knock came at her closed door and an anxious voice announced, "Miss Malloy, it's only three minutes till . . . " The girl was still talking when Trina breezed through the door and headed without pause for the fake bedroom where her commercial would be shooting.

        As the sun's final rays vanished, Trina stepped out of her car. Her blue eyes cast quickly around, and she smiled as she noted both Trent's and Carlos' vehicles. She turned and headed quickly up the steps to her home. When she opened the door, however, she frowned slightly at the sight of Carlos stretched out on the couch, his head resting on his arms and his feet kicked up on the other arm of the couch, and Trent reclining in the Lazy Boy. "Both of you, up now," she commanded. "You're taking me out."
        Both men simultaneously opened one eye and peered at the woman they both loved most in the world. "We just got home," Trent complained.
        "Don't give me that, Malloy. It's Friday night, and the three of us are going out."
        "But, Trina," Carlos piped up, "I've been up since . . . "
        Trina's gaze turned to settle on Carlos as she knew he'd be the easiest to deal with, and once she had him, Trent would undoubtedly follow suit. "Don't tell me you're too tired because you've been up since six, Carlos. I've been up since before dawn even thought about trying to get up, and besides, since when are you too tired to put your arms around me?"
        That simple question had Carlos instantly rolling to his feet. "You didn't tell me I got to put my arms around you. Where are we going?"
        "The Mesa."
        "That new club in town?"
        "Yeah. I've heard it's pretty hot."
        Carlos grinned at her. "Not as hot as you, pretty lady," he said with a playful wink to which Trent moaned softly in slight annoyance.
        "Go shower, change your clothes, and be back here by seven." Carlos was only slightly surprised at the firmness of her tone as she turned away from him to begin work on her brother. He ducked out the door, closing it behind him as he headed with a renewed spring in his step to his vehicle.
        "Trent?" Trina called her brother's name.
        Trent's eyes opened to look up at his sister. "Trina, I know you mean well, but I've been up since five thirty this morning and haven't stopped moving except for lunch until we got back no more than a half hour ago." He paused as he studied the determined glare in her blue eyes, and then he sighed and shook his head. "There's no changing your mind tonight, is there?"
        "Nope," she told him. "Now get up, shower, change, and get ready. We roll at seven." With that, she headed out of the living room and towards one of the two bathrooms. She knew Trent was tired now, but she also knew that he'd get his second wind the very second he set eyes on Mary Jane. For a brief moment, she wondered if the redhead would show, but then she thought of her brother and what a sweet gentleman he was and realized that the other woman would have to be crazy, a Lesbian, or both to not show up, given that she got the message in time. Trina smiled at the assuring thought as she closed the door and began to undress.

        "Are we ready to go?" Carlos asked as he returned at one minute to seven, opening the door and strolling in without ever knocking. He was not surprised to find Trent in completely black attire, but he was surprised as well as disappointed that Trina was not there.
        Just as his best friend opened his mouth to ask about his sister's where abouts, Trent answered the unspoken question, "She's probably still lacing up her boots."
        The blonde Texan had no sooner gotten the words out of his mouth than Trina appeared in the doorway, and Carlos' knees nearly buckled at the gorgeous sight. The short, red dress tightly hugged her every curve, and even despite her black leather coat, the tops of her luscious breasts still peeked out of her dress' scooped top. Her long legs seemed to stretch forever before finally ending in her black boots, and her blonde hair fell in waves of a golden waterfall behind her back.
        Even as Carlos' eyes roamed her body, Trina's blue eyes slowly traveled up his body. She stifled the moan that rose in the back of her throat at the way his black jeans seemed nearly to be painted onto his body, causing her hands to ache to caress his sword through the tight fabric. His black T-shirt seemed almost as tight; indeed, it may well have been as the powerful, green dragon that circled his torso could have distracted her enough not to realize just how tight his shirt truly was. From the silver tip on the end of his black boots to the fading color around the cuffs of his black leather jacket, Trina did not miss a single detail of Carlos' outfit as her eyes slowly traveled up his body until finally locking with his eyes.
        Even as she felt herself falling into the chocolate depths of Carlos' eyes, Trina grinned at his stunned expression. Her blue eyes sparkled. "Like what you see, handsome?" she nearly purred to him, holding back from arching sensually against the doorway for her beloved brother's sake.
        "Stunning," Carlos breathed. "You know, Trina, you always take my breath away, but in that little, red dress . . . " He could find no words to describe the animalistic rise it brought from him and so allowed his lustful moan to finish his thought.
        "Which," Trent spoke up, bringing both their attentions' to him, "is precisely why I wish you wouldn't wear clothes like that, Trina."
        "You know, bro," Trina spoke with an impish grin, her blue eyes dancing, "one would have thought you'd be used to feminine fashion after the past twelve years." Carlos and Trina chuckled softly at Trina's comment, and despite himself, Trent couldn't help joining the laughter as he rose to join his best friends. The trio then started outside.
 

        As they walked into the club, Trina's blue eyes instantly began to scan the other patrons. Carlos noticed but said nothing. Trent's mouth opened, and he began to speak when he stopped abruptly, staring at the same figure that his twin sister had just spotted. Seeing the shocked expression on his best friend's face, Carlos followed Trent's gaze and grinned knowingly at the figure he spotted.
        The very second he had walked through the door, her green eyes had lit up, and her beautiful smile had spread quickly from one ear to her other ear. As her eyes had examined his sexy body, her jaw had nearly dropped. She had thought he could get no more sexier since the last time she had seen him, but she had been wrong. She didn't know if it was the way his black jeans and shirt clung to his muscular body, if it was the way the strobe lights played over his blonde hair and handsome face, or if it was the way his baby blue eyes lit up when he spotted her, but Mary Jane Watson did know that she had never witnessed any image more wonderful. The rest of the world ceased to exist for her as their eyes locked, and she began to move toward him.
        Of all the things he had expected to find at a night club, Trent had never once thought that he might find her again, and he had been completely lost in her beauty the very second he had spotted her. She leaned against the bar, her long, red hair tumbling down her back and around her shoulders in fiery waves of silk. Ruffles flowed over and down the V-neck of her white blouse, but despite himself, Trent found his hands aching to caress her full bosom. A tight, black skirt hugged her hips. It reached her knees, and her long legs continued from there until her feet which wore black high heels. His blue eyes traveled slowly down and then back up her luscious body, and he blushed slightly as he found her looking straight at him. Despite his embarrassment, he found he could not tear his eyes away from hers, and without a word to Carlos and Trina, he started toward her.
        "It's wonderful to see you again, Trent, but why the heck didn't you call me?" MJ demanded as they reached one another.
        Trent's head instantly hung, and a sheepish, embarrassed look clouded his handsome features. "I didn't know if you wanted me to," he mumbled guiltily.
        Mary Jane was barely able to hear him over the music, but her anger and frustration at the Texan could not withstand the shy and embarrassed look on his face nor the guilt in his sexy voice. "Of course I wanted you to call me!" she exclaimed though her accusing voice was gentled considerably.
        "I'm sorry," he told her sincerely, his blue eyes slowly daring to lift up to once more meet her emerald eyes.
        "I know," she admitted with a smile. "So am I. I could've called, but when you didn't call me, I was afraid that maybe you just didn't have as good a time as I did."
        "Impossible!" Trent exclaimed. "That was the best night of my life!" The words had tumbled from his mouth before he could stop them, and now it was too late to take them back. However, as her face lit up into a brilliant smile that completely stole his breath away, Trent realized he didn't want to. He then bowed before her, offering his hand as he did so. "Care to dance?" he asked, looking hopefully up at her.
        "I'd love to!" she accepted eagerly, her hand sliding into his in a perfect fit.
        Under the silent supervision of his best friends, Trent turned and began to lead Mary Jane out onto the dance floor. "It's about time," Carlos said, his dark eyes dancing joyfully, just as a new beat began to pound away into a fresh song.
        "Come on, handsome," Trina told him, her hand clasping his as she pulled him out onto the dance floor before he could finish the thought she knew he had been thinking.

        As the dance moved into a slower-paced, romantic song, the men pulled their women closer to them. Carlos' and Trina's hands entwined as his free hand cupped the small of her back. Their bodies slid so heatedly against one another that both secretly wished that there was no clothing barrier between them. Their cheeks pressed softly together as they whirled across the dance floor.
        "You did it, didn't you?" Carlos' quiet voice asked.
        Trina's head pulled just far enough away from him so that she could face him again. "Did what?" she asked with a perfect mask of innocence that he saw right through.
        "You called Mary Jane and told her to meet Trent here, didn't you?"
        "Sort of," Trina admitted in a hushed whisper, her blue eyes sparklingly mischievously. "I left the message on her answering machine."
        "No wonder you were so insistent on us coming here tonight."
        "Oh, you think that's why, do you?" she demanded with a teasing smile. "Can't a girl just have a night off with her man's arms wrapped around her?" she questioned him.
        "Of course she can," he affirmed, returning her smile, as he brushed his lips softly across hers. As they then continued dancing, Trina's eyes sought out her brother so that she could check on his progress with MJ.

        The feeling of having her in his arms again thrilled him so much that Trent was certain he must be dancing on clouds. Her luscious body slid enticingly against his, and he tried to ignore the animal instincts that rose in him at the feeling of their bodies so close together. She deserved much more than an animal, and it was still far too early for such naughty thoughts.
        As they continued to sweep across the dance floor, Trent's face pressed gently into Mary Jane's silky hair. His eyes drifted shut as he inhaled her sweet aroma. He wondered how he had been so lucky as to show up at a night club on the same night that she happened to be there. He had no ideal, but he'd have to thank Trina later.
        Trent's blue eyes snapped open at that thought. Trina. Of course. Both Carlos and she had been determined to persuade him to call MJ ever since their first date, but no matter what they had tried, he had steadfastly refused to pick up the phone. As much as he loved his sister, Trina had never been known for her patience; indeed, she was even more impatient than he tended to be. It was so obvious! Why hadn't he seen it before?
        Trent's blue eyes scanned the dance floor for some sign of his sister. Their eyes met, and he gazed questioningly at her. Before she could react, however, a thundering roar broke out over the music. Everybody's heads snapped up in alarm. "Come on!" Trent urgently called to Mary Jane as he started to pull her towards the other side of the dance floor. Even the Malloy's had barely had enough time to begin to draw near each other when the gang began to race into the club, crashing through windows and doors as their bikes leapt into the room . . .