“And because you have special power, I became the one you created.” He didn’t sound like that was a good thing. Bing was a hot werewolf running around saving the world, and suddenly he had issues?
“I did not Frankenstein you.” Walter leaned forward, matching Bing’s expression if not his height. “I don’t know how you became Red Wolf, but it’s not because I forced it on you. I didn’t make you.” He straightened off the bed, coming nose to nose with Bing. “You chose the role. You chose to embody Red Wolf.”
Bing took a step backward, and his eyes took on a slightly haunted look. “I did. And then a magic spell triggered what you laid in to begin with, and here I am.”
Walter wondered if that could actually be true. Sure, he’d known that what he’d written was good. The fans had told him that. They’d adored Red Wolf almost as much as he adored the man behind the character. “Okay, so your origin story is complicated. What does that have to do with everything else?”
Bing spread his hands wide. “Don’t you get it? You’re the one with the magic power. The magic that everyone wants.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Sand wants you to create Monkey.”
“She created Monkey and put him in me.”
“What ifyouare the one who created Monkey? She made you focus on Monkey every morning and night. You dedicated yourself and the movie to him. I bet she told you stories about him every moment she could.”
“When I was a kid, yes.” Walter allowed a wistful smile. “I loved Monkey’s adventures. And she….” He looked down at his hands. “I guess she made them real for me.”
“She made Sand real. But she needed you to be Monkey.”
“So she got me to pray to that egg, and bam, the thing showed up in me. So what? It’s gone now. I got rid of it.”
“I’m saying thatyou’rethe one with the power! You. Whatever you write, you make happen in the real world.”
Walter folded his arms across his chest. “That is such bullshit. Even if I have some great special ability, it takes time. You said it takes magic and lots of fans pouring all their energy into you.”
Bing nodded. “And we have that right now. There is tons of magic leftover from Lake Wacka Wacka.”
“And fans?”
“All you need is Gator. He’s been using the lake’s magic to amplify his role as an influencer.” Bing winced. “He wanted to talk to you. I, um, stopped him from getting to you.”
It took a moment for Walter to translate the words into what had actually happened. “You took the interview with him instead of letting him talk to me.”
“Sand said he was a demon. I wasn’t letting him near you until I knew the truth.”
“That doesn’t matter. Bing, you’re the special one. You’re the one the camera loves. Of course he wanted to interview you.”
Bing stepped forward, his expression serious. “What if we’rebothspecial? You’re a magical Creator who can bring whatever you write to life. Literally.”
Was that even possible? It was so hard for Walter to believe. “And you’re a magical werewolf with hypnotism powers.”
“That you created.”
“I— This is too weird.”
Bing touched his face. “Why are you fighting this? Why don’t you believe it?”
“Because if I could manifest whatever I wanted, things would be different.”
Bing’s brows rose. “Like what?”
Like you would love me. It was the one thing he’d wanted from the very beginning.
Bing kissed him. The move was smooth, the press of mouth and tongue against his, and Walter melted at the contact. He wanted this. He wanted Bing. But just when they were pressed full-body together, Bing pulled back.
“And yes, I do love you.”
