He was feeling sick lately. He needed to get out of Vegas. The cigarette between his lips wasn't much of a help these days. It was agitating the itch that he couldn't scratch. There was a world out there that he needed to see. He needed to get out there, but there were thousands and thousands of destinations. Right now, he only had eyes for one. His left eyebrow twitched; he raised his right hand to cover over his lips. The cigarette stuck out between his fingers. The lenses of his sunglasses glinted as a low flying plane passed in front of the sun. Smoke billowed out of his mouth as he pulled the cigarette away. Another person walked up behind him, arms crossed over her stomach.

"What's eatin' you, kid?" Sis asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Dane turned his body slightly, looking towards his sister. "Nothing." He turned away again. "Just thinking about getting out of here."

"Where ya goin'?"

"Houston, maybe."

"Ah, going to see those chucklenuts we call family?"

Dane sucked in a deep breath; the burning feel of smoke rushed into his body. He turned away from her and leaned against the chair again.

"Yeah... Maybe."

She let out a sigh and shook her head. Pushing away from the door, she dropped her arms as she walked back into the house.

"Well, no need to tell me. Get your shit packed."

Dane smirked a little, drawing the cigarette back up. "What, kicking me out already, Sis?"

She looked over her shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. "I want you outta here by sundown tomorrow, ya hear?"

He couldn't see the smile, but he could hear it in her voice. A small noise escape him—satisfaction maybe. He took a long drag and then flicked the useless nub over the balcony. He didn't fret; it was going to fall on concrete anyway. If it fell in the rare patch of grass, he still wouldn't worry. Whatever, let it burn.

He had a suitcase and a carry-on filled with, well, stuff. He wasn't sure where he was going or why he needed four bags to get there. He flew all the way on Dumbfuck Airlines and made it to Texas barely alive. That was the last time he flew coach on a last-minute flight. He looked up to the sky as he stood outside at the passenger pick up. It was nice out. Thin clouds obscured the blue sky and floated about lazily. He let out a small "Hm" and looked down as a car pulled up slowly in front of him. A girl crossed his path and ran excitedly towards the car. She flung open the back door, threw her things inside, and slammed it closed before she repeated the process with the front passenger seat. He raised a brow as he watched the girl throw herself into the car. Her laughter rang in his ears until the car door slammed closed. Another scoff and he looked away, tilting his head up to see if there was a spot for him to smoke. A car horn blared. He raised his gaze up and looked towards the rude offender. Both brows lifted at the same time. Dave was sitting in the passenger window, his legs still inside the car. Bro had his upper body leaned out the driver's window. Dane stood right where he was.

"I know he sees us," Bro stated to his younger brother, staring at the other Strider male.

"Of course he does, the dickweed," Dave muttered, picking up and dropping his feet lazily on the passenger seat.

Bro and Dave raised their hands and cupped them over their mouth.

"Daney-baby!" they shouted as loudly as possible.

A few people turned towards their raised voices. Dane groaned and lowered his head, shaking it side to side. He muttered, "Fucking stupid" to himself as he grabbed his bags. He made his way over towards the stylish but dirty Mazda. Dave smirked and pat-slapped his twin in the shoulder. Dane sneered, and Bro opened up the trunk. Dane threw his things inside and closed it. He walked to the driver passenger side and got in. Dave slid back into the car. Bro sat up into a correct driving position. He started the car, and off they went.

"So what're you doin' in Texas, bro?" Dave asked, twisting around to look at the other Strider.

"Just trying to get away, you know." Dane quirked a brow and looked to the front passenger. "What of it?"

"Nothin'."

Dane looked away, turning his gaze to the outside, and sat in silence. Dave watched him for a little longer before he unbuckled his seatbelt. He climbed over the armrest and began to make his awkward crawl to the back seat.

"Dave, you little shit. Sit the fuck down when we're driving," Bro protested.

"One: fuck off," Dave groaned as he made his way beside his brother. "Two: you're driving, not the both of us."

With a final grunt, he plunked down beside his twin and stared at him. Dane turned his head and stared back at his other half.

"What?" he asked.

"You're being really weird."

"Says the asshole moving around in a moving car."

"That's not weird; that's reckless. Get your facts straight'."

"Put your seat belt on."

"Nah. I'm a rebel. Fuck the police."

"Put on your seat belt, jackass," Bro called from the front.

"Hey, stay out our conversation, dude."

Dane stared at his younger brother and then let out a sigh.

"I'll tell you when we get home," he grumbled.

"Sure, you will," Dave stated, tone dripping with sarcasm and disbelief, "but I'll just give you some 'friendly reminders' just in case you 'forget'."

"Wow, talk about no faith in a guy."

Dave smirked and scooted over into the passenger seat, buckling up his seat belt. The trip would have been filled with silence until Bro remembered he had an FM transmitter for his radio. He plugged the end of the device into the cigarette lighter and changed the FM radio to an empty station. He rolled down all four windows, causing the younger two to look up.

"Dude, what the fuck?" they asked simultaneously.

A chuckle. "Nothin'."

The next thing to fill the air was the word "ass" repeated over and over again at different octaves. Dane quirked up his brow, having never this song before. Dave groaned, having heard this song too many times before. Bro let out a low laugh as he sped down the I-45 towards Houston.

"I'm taking away your fucking iPod; you know that right?" Dave threatened as they all trudged up the stairs of the complex.

"Who're you talking to? Did you forget that I'm the adult here?" Bro replied smugly.

Dave let out a snort and muttered something under his breath. Dane caught it but merely chuckled. Bro ignored them and unlocked the front door.

"I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back in two or three hours. You two know where everything is."

"Yeah," came the disinterested reply as the twins walked into the dimly light apartment.

"And Dane, keep him out of trouble."

"You got it." Dane raised a hand, making an 'OK' sign. Dave sneered at him.

"Oh shut up," Dave breathed, jumping over the couch to lie down.

Bro shook his head and closed the door. The lock clicked, and everything fell silent.

"So you gonna tell me now?" Dave asked, hands folded over his stomach.

Dane smoothed a hand down the front of his stomach. After a beat, he let out a deep sigh and raked his fingers through his hair.

"Shit, I need a smoke."

Dave turned awkwardly and looked up to his brother. "Dude, you alright?"

"Yeah," Dane reassured, taking a cigarette from the inside pocket of his jacket and lighting it. "Just let me get this started before..."

"Yeah." Dave nodded his head, understanding that his brother needed the break without really fully understanding the 'healing properties' of his habit.

"Thanks." And to himself, Dane thought, 'Sweet kid.' He'd have to call his brother that later. It would probably bother him.

Dane walked to the recliner and essentially dropped his weight down into the seat. He lit the cigarette and took in a deep breath. Relief guised as nicotine rushed into his body and caused him to relax. Dave stared up at the ceiling wondering what could be so important or stressful. He had gotten used to the fact that his brother was a smoker, but when it had turned into the situation of every time they were on Skype Dane was smoking, Dave was curious. Was everything okay with him and Sis?

"Dave."

Dave turned onto his stomach and looked towards the other male. "Yeah?"

"Have you ever thought about what it would be like to take flesh with steel? About..." He paused and looked out the window. He moved his hand idly in circles. The cigarette smoke made tiny incomplete shapes with the motion. "About the beauty of murder—homicide? The exhilaration of using our speed and talent to equalize the planet?"

Dave was legitimately shocked. "No! Dude. What?" He sat up, brows furrowed. "The fuck are you going on about?"

"Bummer." Dane brought the cigarette to his mouth. It sat comfortably in the crook of his index and middle fingers. "I was hoping you'd join me."

"In what?" He swallowed thickly, not really wanting to hear the answer.

Dane pulled the cigarette away and blew out a thicket of smoke. He tapped the cigarette and ashes lazily fell to the ground.

"In a little experiment."