Chrome in the Morning Light
Abby Ebon
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Disclaimer; I do not own Minutemen; more to the point I do not own Charlie, Zeke, or even Virgil...or any continuation of said Disney movie…-hopes for continuation TV series-
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Waking up to someone pounding on your door on a Monday morning is never a good sign. Zeke cursed, mostly because he thought he might be late for school and "his" girls were going to be pissed and ranting at him until the school was in sight and they knew for-sure that they weren't going to be late.
Things had been a lot simpler when it'd only been him and his motorcycle. He struggled to hop into his jeans – grabbing a t-shirt on top of the dirty laundry basket he might have worn it on Friday – and if he was truthful - Thursday, but who really gave a crap what he wore more then once, it still smelled Okay-ish.
He opened to the door to suits – two of them, both so over muscled he couldn't see past them. He felt suddenly very exposed and vulnerable, something unpleasant twisted in his stomach.
"Get your shoes on son; we've got some questions for you." Zeke glared at him eye-to-eye. Like hell he was going anywhere – Zeke's lip curled, sneering at the two men. It was a act, he backed up – the suits staying where they were, his shoes were beside the door – and so was the phone.
"I'm not going any where with the likes of you – old man - until I see some ID." Zeke told them, trying very hard not to look toward the pantry door where a metal bat lay propped up against the wall. He wasn't too keen on them calling him "son" either. Gave him mental images of a too small jail cell, and a cell mate that was far too interested in his ass then he was rightly comfortable with.
"Federal Bureau of Investigation, Agent Wilson and Agent Smithson, you turned 18 this year, did you not Zeke?" Zeke grunted keeping them in sight as he bent to put one shoe on, it was too early to reach for the phone or the bat.
"Yeah, what's it to you?" Zeke asked, knowing what it meant – it meant they could throw him in a jail cell for a night and all his uncle could do was pace and fret the night away. It didn't matter that he wasn't out of school – that he didn't even shave – the Feds considered him a adult, and could charge him as such.
"We'd rather not involve your…guardian in this investigation; understand that if you do not cooperate then we will see that things are very…uncomfortable for you." It was a threat, plain in simple – and that twisting thing in Zeke's gut grew cold as he realized he was a little less then a nobody to them; in the big picture, he didn't even warrant a second glance – they could say what they liked, and no one would question it.
"I get the picture." Zeke told them, pulling on a second shoe, grabbling his jacket – and letting them take him. Being on the run from the law was a lot more fun when the feds didn't know who they were looking for, Zeke thought with a wary sort of grimace.
That day, Zeke wasn't the only one to be taken in by the FBI – Charlie came in shortly after him – and Virgil the last of the trio. They didn't know about Jeanette – they had no reason to, she had never hung out with them – she was not a misfit, nor was she a popular.
She was the oddball rich girl, and if that was what was protecting her – Zeke was grateful, for she wasn't a less then nobody – her parents were rich, and if they listened to her – heard out his uncle, Charlie's mom, and Virgil's own parents – well, maybe, just maybe they could get out of this and tell their side of it.
Zeke felt a lump form in the back of his throat as the FBI pointed out the NASA connection, the hacker having used one of their school computers. Charlie was wrecked with guilt – and Zeke wished he knew what had happened to cause the younger boy such distress.
His mother had to know what was happening – it was the only reason Charlie would confess almost instantly like he very nearly did. Virgil was a much better liar – managing to look half honest – Zeke was no good at it. Simply because he relied on intimidation to get his point across – there was no way in hell that on top of everything else – he was going to harass some suits.
Zeke felt it was all too good to be true when they were let free – his pulse beat so rapidly he was surprised no one else heard – his chest felt tight as he followed Charlie and Virgil into the daylight.
They were really free? – or was this merely some master tactic by the FBI? Zeke breathed in deep, and found he didn't really give a damn what it was. He wasn't one to kick a gift horse in the mouth. It was then that, of course, Charlie and Virgil started to argue.
"Charlie's right, going to parties hanging with the populars." Getting fed up with their bickering, Zeke had stuck up for Charlie, who gave him a grateful look. Virgil caught it, and looked to Zeke, frowning slightly. Virgil had always counted on Zeke's support – to find it lacking disturbed him.
"Hey, if I remember correctly you benefited from this too." Virgil accused softly, as if that alone would change Zeke's mind on whose side he should be on.
"How So?" Zeke asked softly, eyes narrowed on the blond before him. He tried not to be distracted by Virgil's looks – Virgil was pretty, but that didn't make him always right.
"We gave you a life. Before us you were this big guy everyone was afraid of." Virgil exclaimed softly, Zeke stilled – hurt – the way Virgil said it, it was as if the blond was dismissing their friendship as a charity case.
"You better shut up, Virgil." Zeke had never been so angry; he wanted to hurt something – to bleed it – but he didn't want Virgil to be hurt. Something dark passed over his features and Virgil all but jerked away.
"See?" Virgil pushed weakly, glancing to Charlie for support. But Charlie had seen the way Virgil's words had hurt Zeke, despite Virgil being obvious to it – Charlie wasn't.
"You're being mean, Virgil." Charlie accursed, sounding like the boy he was. Virgil was fed up with it – both of them had seemed to turn on him – he'd had enough of defending himself and accusing others, instead he pushed – and instead of giving way to him – they stood firm.
"Charlie, why don't you go home to your computer and your cat?" Virgil was clearly annoyed and he knew the moment he said it – he shouldn't have – but he couldn't help himself at the moment. It was all so unfair.
"I…I will. Good luck on your new life a popular person." Charlie wasn't crying, but he sounded like he wanted to. He turned then and left Zeke and Virgil, running away. He knew though, that if Virgil was given time to cool off, he'd apologize, and maybe things would be okay between the three of them again.
"I'm out of here too, I'm better off on my own, I always have been." Zeke told Virgil then, seeing the friendship he had formed with the two boys shattered and unable to sit by and do nothing. He wanted to run too – so fast and far, maybe he could escape the pain of being friendless once again.
Virgil watched in frustrated indecision as the two walked away from him – he needed time to cool off, he knew that – but this, this felt all too much like a end to something he couldn't – or didn't want to - define.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
After school – which was very awkward as Zeke and Charlie avoided even a glimpse of him – Virgil found himself at home, considering calling them – considering an apology. Hanging with Derek and Stephanie just wasn't the same as hanging with Zeke and Charlie. The years had done more then part them socially; they were like different people – not at all like the people he had known growing up.
Just when he was about to press speed dial – it rung, confused – for Zeke would never call him if he was upset, and Charlie wasn't about to make the first move when they'd had a argument…he was surprised to see "Derek" blinking on the caller ID. Feeling a bit numb – as only Stephanie bothered to call him – he answered.
Derek wanted to meet – and it was about Stephanie. Virgil had a feeling he knew what the question would be – to turn back time, to change things so Derek and she were back together again. And even though Stephanie had asked him to the dance "as friends", he could tell she was upset – and he didn't want that. Even though it would change her breaking up with Derek - and might change who she would become – was it so bad to want her to be happy?
Even if it meant she and Virgil could never be? Undecided, Virgil went to meet Derek, and plotted with him, all to bring about a thing he didn't really want – but would do – if only to see his friends happy.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Made uneasy by the FBI, and his mothers promise for grounding if anything came of it – Charlie ran a simulation that very day – a simulation compiling all the assorted time travel jumps.
That afternoon ( he was embarrassed to admit that he'd stayed up till 3AM and his mother had called the school claiming a Sick Day) he was woken up by an overly-cheerful Jeanette, it was Tuesday – and prom, and his mom likely thought it would be cute if she went with her son. Charlie, despite being disoriented by being called bird-nick-names, went directly to his blaring computer.
Jeanette's words that the simulation did not look "good" did nothing to properly sum up an End-of-World simulation, one that Charlie had not dared to linger on until that moment. In his rising panic, he managed to very calmly ask Jeanette if she had a ride – her driver was in fact still waiting outside, his request to go to where he remembered the FBI building to be was met with a blank look, but was unquestioned – though obeyed.
By the time they got there, Charlie knew he had worked himself into a near frenzy – though it really couldn't be helped. Somehow though, the FBI convinced him he needed to tell Zeke and Virgil of the development – his and Jeanette's assurances that they never jumped without all three of them went ignored. Charlie, for once, would find himself grateful he had listened to "authority" – for he knew there would only be one place Zeke (as he did have two girls to take to prom) and Virgil would be.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Zeke had never really liked socializing – in fact, he almost didn't go together – only his girls convinced him it might give him a chance to see Virgil. To perhaps reconnect, they saw how wrecked he was over his friendship with Charlie and Virgil shattering. They perhaps realized what Virgil really meant to him – if they did, or didn't, they had not voiced it.
Though Zeke thought even a social blind-as-a-bat freshmen would know he was-not-pleased at all to see Virgil show up with Stephanie's arm tucked in his. They danced – and Zeke curled his lip, glaring at the wall – it was like fate was fucking taunting him – pushing him, just to see how much he could take.
They were even named Queen and King of the prom for damnations sake – as if it was some sign from God the two were fated to be together (which he knew was a utterly ridiculous romantic ideal). Well, screw God and fate, Zeke thought with a bitter taste in his mouth, I'll get through this…and probably roar into hell riding his motorcycle, for he fully intended to go for a careless ride, even if it was off road, away from town, and would worry his girls.
"Zeke," one of his girls said so softly, that even though she sat beside him, he nearly didn't hear her, "I think your friend is going to be in trouble..." He looked to her, then to his other girl, who nodded towards Virgil, Virgil who was alone at the punch table, likely getting something for Stephanie.
Was the popular too good to get her own drink? Zeke curled his lip, just looking at her – it was careless behavior like that, the "gallant" gesture (and sometimes it was just that a guy needed a break from the hormones the girl's presence sent buzzing through him like a hornets nest) but sometimes, well sometimes it wasn't- if it wasn't someone like Virgil getting her a drink, it might be some slime of their dance partner that led a girl to being drugged, raped – or worse.
Zeke's attention narrowed to Virgil in the next moment, as Derek had approached him, intent clear on his features. They spoke in hushed, hurried whispers – Zeke felt his fingers curl, the slime of a popular was likely the one responsible for ruining his friendship with Virgil and Charlie.
Derek was pushing Virgil to the exit – and Zeke stood involuntarily – his girls looking to him worriedly. The jocks had noticed what was happening between Derek and Virgil, only, instead of worried – they were itching to see a fight, or help Derek out in one. It was a unfair advantage, Zeke and Virgil against Derek and the jocks – but it was one Zeke was itching for, for boiling just under the surface was his sorrow and rage at loosing a friendship that meant more to him then he was willing to say.
His girls gave him looks of worry, but they understood – it seemed that most of their peers went with him – and the vice principal – followed Virgil and Derek out. Very faintly, he thought he heard Charlie call for Virgil, but ignored it in favor of the danger he thought Derek posed to Virgil.
He arrived with most of the prom goes at his back, though Zeke was careful to keep Virgil and the jocks in sight. He almost wished he had his bat, but it would be far more satisfying to bloody his hands. Zeke's thoughts of savagery went out the window when the vice principal made an appearance, and Charlie managed to fight his way though the crowd to yell about "time instability" and "black holes". Then the FBI, CIA and Bureau of Weights and Measures appeared out of the crowd of prom dresses and suits.
Zeke would never remember exactly what it was that caught their attention – it wasn't a noise, not precisely – it wasn't a feeling of impending doom – no; it was as if the calm night had turned into a storm. Zeke had a feeling that whatever Charlie had been trying to warn them of – it was too late – whatever it was that involved temporal distortion and black holes was happening…under the football field – where their time machine was.
Someone had called in even more FBI lackeys, who kept the fascinated students at bay – Zeke only hoped there were no side effects – like remembering double time lines or something. Once the football field was secure, there was a mad dash to room 77. Then there was an argument if students should go – or shouldn't go – back in time to save the world, seeing as they were the only ones to know the jumps intimately, there wasn't really a choice.
Then Virgil volunteered to go, and Charlie rushed to partner himself with the elder boy. Zeke's lips twitched when he heard Charlie's response to Virgil claiming he had "helped" build the time machine.
"They'll need me, Sir, and my hook." Zeke chimed in, said hook being coiled against his shoulder, Virgil rolled his eyes – but grinned all the same, glad to have Zeke at his side and watching his back. Charlie was near beaming, he was so pleased to have them back to being friends.
They endured the awkwardness of suiting up with Feds watching – there was a mutter of "the men in white", and some snickers – but in the end they were the Minutemen, silent heroes of the uncool – and about to save the world from a black hole. It was a big leap, but it felt great to walk down the hall, standing tall and proud – like astronauts. Zeke only winked at his girls, who giggled, nervous – but proud and delighted to have "their" Zeke back to normal and out of his depression.
Charlie was kissed rather enthusiastically by a grinning Jeanette; she'd apparently gotten tired of waiting for Charlie to make the first move. It resulted in a frozen Charlie, which was picked up and flung over the shoulder of Zeke. After three steps, he started to squirm – and Zeke let him down chuckling.
Then he caught sight of Virgil, pulled aside by Stephanie – Zeke watched from afar, biting his tongue, Charlie looked worriedly up at him, but said nothing. It looked as if they were going to kiss – but Derek interrupted, and Zeke had never been so happy to see the jerk of a popular. Zeke and Charlie swept in then, guiding Virgil away from them, and if Zeke glared over his shoulder at them in a more then deadly way, well – neither of them said anything.
Facing down the football field, the ground sinking and swirling beneath them – Zeke had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time they kissed the girls goodbye, he clung to it – hoped for a happy ending. Very faintly, above the chants of "Minutemen" he heard Virgil's remark "at least they got the name right".
Then, they jumped – throwing their lives and fates into the swirling darkness.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Note; yes, yes, I know I ended it at a cliffhanger – I do apologize darlings, but review – I might surprise you. The "Minutemen" has been written into a book – www . betterworld . com /Minutemen – id – 1423114051 . aspx? afid11; remember to take the spaces out, or Google "Disney Minutemen book"; also be on the lookout for the movie – should be coming out soon. I haven't seen any new Minutemen slash stories, so hopefully that'll change soon! Next chapter is the last, I think.