author's note
warning: mild swearing
The sun had barely cleared the tops of the one-level shacks that lined the road. New Saratoga had extreme wealth, yet just across town was one of the poorest places in the state of New New York. A sliver of yellow light splashed across the dirt road, only to be blocked by Myles' hulking form. After he softly closed the door, he began the mile-long trek to the city bus stop, which he would ride for the remaining nine miles to school.
The city bus began sharply at six o'clock, then every half-hour on the dot. Myles always tried to take the six thirty bus even though his classes didn't begin until eight o'clock. For all the glitz and glamor around the school building, he knew the beauty of that particular neighborhood was more prominent when no one was around. Leaving early got him out of his chaotic house as well.
After getting off the bus, Myles wandered across the square. From previous encounters, he knew to avoid the darker alleyways and stick to the center of roads. While the school building was well-protected, the area around it held the headquarters of many gangs. A few had tried to jump him before, but he always fought them off. Most of his 19 years had been spent fighting, some physical and some mental. That made him tough, and occasionally too rough as well.
As he meandered down the street that surrounded the school, he listened to the various apartments waking up. When he passed a particularly dirty entrance, he heard a woman scream "Kyle McCabe! You lazy good-for-nothing ass! Get the hell out of this house!". Myles paused for a moment, then heard a screech from the same building. Shortly, Kyle ran out the door, stopping short as he noticed Myles.
"H-hi," he stammered.
"What is going on in that house, man?" Myles queried softly.
Kyle gestured for them to walk far from the apartment before saying softly "That was Mother McCabe."
"If that was your momma, why was she yellin' an' screamin' at you," stated Myles bluntly.
"She's not my momma. She's a bitch foster mother."
"Do you… wanna talk about it?"
"No. Not now anyway. But Myles, can I show you something?"
"Yeah."
Kyle shifted his feet nervously, then said slowly "So you know how I'm into the A-Team?"
"Yeah man, it's all you ever talk about you crazy fool."
Cracking a small smile, Kyle continued. "Well, they're real. They're inside my projector."
Myles looked at him, not sure whether to call him a 'crazy fool' again, or to smack the fool across the face. Realizing how insane he seemed, Kyle pulled the projector from his pocket and turned it on.
"Hey Murdock, come 'ere," he called.
Murdock came into view, and Myles gasped.
"Hiya Kyle! What's crackle-acking?"
"Good lord, he's speakin' to us!" Myles was shocked, he had never imagined that insane and nerdy Kyle wasn't just hallucinating.
Kyle and Murdock just grinned and chuckled, they had become used to being the crazy ones, and it was nice to be proven sane. Face's voice rang from behind Murdock, saying "Hey Kyle, nice to hear you again."
"You too, Face," Kyle responded, "Wanna come over and meet my f-friend Myles?"
Myles looked sharply at Kyle, who gave him a weak grin.
Face walked into view of the projector, shortly followed by Hannibal.
"Where's B.A.?" Kyle asked.
"I'm comin' as fast as I can, sucka." B.A.'s voice came from a different room, and Kyle and Murdock burst into fits of laughter.
"Why does this B.A. sound like me?" Myles asked, shaking slightly.
At that, Murdock immediately sobered up and said seriously "I believe that you folk are the reincarnated versions of us."
At that, five pairs of eyes snapped to Murdock.
"Y-you do?" stammered Kyle.
"Yes, I do. Think about it, you're like me, your pal here sounds like B.A., from what you've told us the other two line up with Face and Hannibal."
Kyle thought about this for a moment, then introduced Myles to everyone. B.A. and Myles quickly became accustomed to each other, and began a lengthy discussion about vans. Hannibal shook his head and walked out of view of the projector. Face followed, clapping Murdock on the shoulder as he left.
Gesturing for Kyle to come closer, Murdock whispered "Sorry if that 'un startled you."
"Oh it's fine, I'd love to be the reincarnation of you!" answered Kyle enthusiastically.
"Alrighty mister reincarnation, have you checked the time lately? Don't you have school now?"
Laughing, Kyle returned with "Oi, you're supposed to be the past me, not my mum!"