Theanimedude: I'm back. Miss me?

Nick: Kind of.

Fang: Nope.

Theanimedude: Oh, I can feel the love tonight. Anywho, Dak and Cato are here, but they actually aren't allowed in here after Dak's first time in here. He blew up my house.

(Explosion)

Nick: Aaand he's trying to again. I'll just give the disclaimer. Theanimedude owns Sara and I. He also owns Camo and Espio, as well as the new villain here, to be named later. The original ideas for characters Cato, Kimmy and Kiki were supplied by Pennycat11. The following is a fan-based parody. Maximum Ride and all its respecting characters and titles belong to James Patterson. Please support the official release.

Theanimedude: Okay, so my choice in music has been heavily biased towards the songs that I believe are the greatest mothertruckers on the planet. So, music requests are being accepted. Encouraged, even. Tell me if you want it to be a casual situation, Nick playing it, or a battle, whatever.

By the way, I have plans for Darcy and Eyes Open for the future. Don't worry, the fan character, as well as the song, are both coming eventually. Next chappie, mah readahs!

Nick the Eraser 2 chapter 9

"Good one," Total said, and I rolled my eyes, looking over to see Gazzy making an innocent face. Except he wasn't. He was about to go for a dive bomb into Anne's pond. I looked down at the little Scottie from my branch, and he glanced up at me questioningly before walking away to sit in the shade.

"Hey Angel," I whispered, sliding down the tree. "Can Total… um… talk?"

"Yup," Angel said, wringing out her hair as she trudged out of the pond. "Don't tell him I said this, but he's really not that interesting." I laughed nervously, and I'm sure if I'd been in one of those cheesy animes I'd of had an oversized bead of sweat on my face.

Wonder if anybody knew before me, I thought to myself. Why do I feel like I'm the last one to learn everything? Whatever, guess I'll go find Nick, see if he knew anything.

I walked past the pond, dodging the water that splashed out as Gazzy once again almost landed on Nudge after a thirty foot plummet. I had to walk by Camo and Espio, both holding the same book, their eyes moving in synchronization, kind of freaky. They glanced up from their book, looking over to me, and offered me a nod of acknowledgement. I nodded back, turning away and running. Not much scares me, but those guys freaked me OUT.

Anyways, I walked around for a bit, looking for my self-proclaimed brother. Come to think about it, if we were siblings, wouldn't we argue a lot more? It didn't really matter, though. Nick was sweet, I'd give him that, and he obviously wasn't still going for the boyfriend title. Why was that? Was I not good enough for him?

These thoughts made me think about myself. What was I like? I was wearing ripped, grubby jeans and a red t-shirt that didn't even match them. Brown eyes, blond, brown streaked hair. Kind of tall for my age. Athletic? Nah. I'm only constantly in fights for my life. Sarcasm- is that a good trait? Maybe to a point-

Why do you care, Maximum?

Ugh, voice, butt out.

I'll put my butt where I like, thank you. And why do you care what Nicholas thinks?

I-I don't! I'm just-

Stuttering even in your thought. First sign of a lie. You forget, Max. I can see everything. Every thought, everything, everybody, every detail of your life and body.

Creeper.

I am not a-

Just leave me alone, voice. Don't impart any pearls of wisdom. I don't need any crazy riddles.

The voice was silent after that. Thank god. Imagine if I had two voices in my head.

OW!

Well, crap. Guess who's gone insane?

Wait, that's just Nick, I thought to myself. Wait- what's he "owing" for?

I ran behind the barn to see Nick and Fang, locked in combat and at each other's throats.

Should I intervene? Probably. Will I? Nah. I'll just watch two hot guys fight. …Wait, what?

"Actually let me get a hit in?" Fang asked, breathing rapidly as he zipped towards Nick. "You must be tiring out."

"Yeah, well," Nick said, dodging Fang and watching him crash into the back of the barn. "I'm not exactly leaping for joy that I'm in a fight after last night." Okay, they seemed pretty conversational to be fighting.

"Yeah, yeah," Fang grumbled, peeling himself from the wall and aiming a right hook at Nick's face. "The Merciless, right? Takes control when you get angry or when you let it in. I don't want you doing to me what you did to Cato."

"Whoa!" Nick jumped back, dodging Fang once more before snapping a side kick at him, horribly executed, in my opinion. "I wouldn't do that." Fang's recoil wasn't much, but he stopped dead in his tracks after the kick.

"Seriously, Matthew, what's up?" Fang asked, standing upright and coming out of his fighting stance. He was using the name that Nick chose for himself. "That kick was just… weak. I've been going all out and you're giving me that halfhearted crap. At least act tougher."

"I don't want to hurt you," Nick said with a sigh, going over to Fang's side and leaning back against the barn wall. "You know I would."

"And?" Fang asked him plainly. "So what? I won't tell Max on you if that's what you're worried about."

"Nah, I just don't feel like giving it a chance, you know? I mean, I've already killed a guy. I'm not gonna kill my brother too."

"Brother, eh?" Fang asked, his trademark smirk coming on. "What about Jeff?"

"Who is trying to work in peace!" a muffled voice came from inside the barn. "Every time you talk, the bomb wires cross on me. Either shut up or blow up, because this thing is taking all of us with it if you don't quiet down. That goes for you too, Max."

"Does it now?" I asked, walking around the corner I'd stationed myself behind. "That bomb of yours better be for the erasers."

"For all you know, it's going in your closet tonight, sis," Nick said, looking over to me with a grin. "'Oh, I think I'll wear my BOOM pants today.' Wouldn't that be a riot."

"Ha ha," I said convincingly. "So funny. What are you guys doing?"

"Sparring, nosy," Fang told me, pushing off the barn wall. "He was losing."

"I am letting you win so that I don't have to pay for a tombstone," Nick told him with a frown.

"Why don't you give me a turn, Matt?" I asked, grinning as I cracked my knuckles. "I'd love to spar with you."

"I don't know, Max," Nick said, looking a little weary. "Nick is one thing, I mean after all, he is… Nick. You… I just don't want to fight."

"Tell ya what," I said to him with a smirk. "Spar with me, and spar good, I'll buy you some hot dogs and maybe a cookie. Don't, and I'll know that your avian genes are from a chicken."

"Alright," Nick said reluctantly. "But I want you to fight as though you want to kill, okay? Otherwise, I might just end up killing you."

"Yeah?" I asked, trying to keep excitement out of my voice. Call me crazy, but I wanted a fight, and Nick was an awesome fighter. Guess that's another part of my feminine charms. "Well, let's go."

Fang sighed, shaking his head as he walked off. "You girls have fun. I'll go find another butt to kick."

Nick's fist was against mine, and I felt a little blown back by his strength, but held my ground. I pushed him back with all my strength, and he leaned backwards just far enough for e to let go and punch his gut. I worried that I'd gone too far when he bent down and cursed, but my worries were forgotten when from his crouching position he spun the side of his fist into my lower back. He was holding back, though. I could feel it.

"C'mon, Nick," I growled, masking my pain with a grin. "Try harder."

"No," he said, before standing up and giving me a reverse roundhouse kick to the right side. "I'm staying this low."

"I think we could go higher," I said shakily, fighting the urge to fall down and hyperventilate. I spread my wings, jumping up and using his face as a launch pad before flapping and rising into the sky. He followed me, and caught my hand when I faltered in the air.

"Are you okay?" he asked me, his icy white wings flapping in unison with mine. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kicked so hard-"

I squeezed down on his hand and pulled him towards me, giving him a ball kick to the stomach, never letting go of his hand. He tried to fly away, but I pulled him again, this time using my other foot to kick his chest.

We could read each other's minds, I realized then. I could see if he was planning something.

No! No way!

KID, SHE'LL KILL YOU! The voice made me jump, loosening my holdon Nick.

No she won't! She's my sister! Nick argued with it, jerking his hand free and backpedaling away from me through the air.

Okay, what was that? I thought to myself. Voice, was it you?

No, it wasn't, the voice said, sounding genuinely puzzled. I've never heard that voice before.

"Nick?" I asked, alarmed. "Who are you talking to?"

"Voice," he told me, rubbing his chest slowly and zipping up his jacket. I hadn't hit him there that hard. "Why?"

"Nick, that wasn't the voice. That was something… evil. What was it?"

SHE CALLS ME, YOUR FRIEND, EVIL. DO YOU BELIEVE HER? YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS. PRETTY SOON SHE'LL BETRAY YOU JUST LIKE BEFORE!

Nick flew over to me, and I barely had time to block his outstretched leg.

Okay, for one thing-Merciless. Name implies evil. Second of all-

He brought his other leg towards my stomach, a little quicker than I expected. "Uh, Nick-"

-Never once has she betrayed me, okay? Just a little dispute. Nothing more. It's been solved.

His fist came at my face from the side so fast, I never noticed I'd let go of him. The attack knocked me off guard, and brought a good deal of pain to me left cheek. "Nick, hey-"

And do you think for a second I'd hurt her on purpose? Then you're crazy!

"Nick, I-" he punched me again, this time in the back. When did he get behind me? I was starting to get scared. And he was really starting to hurt me. His eyes were showing some crimson around the edges. I was worried.

And lastly, you-

He kicked my back. "Hey, I-"

-are-

He hammer punched the back of my head. "Ow! Nick, stop-"

-not-

He tackled me from behind, making me start to fall from the sky. "Ouch! Ah, Nick!"

-my-

He flew under me, landing on top of the barn, right where I was falling. "Nick! Stop!"

-friend!

His punch hit my stomach like a sledgehammer, winding me and making me cough up blood. And I'll admit it- it also brought some tears to my face. I let them stay there, deciding that Nick needed some sense beaten into him.

I fell limply off of Nick's arm, landing unsteadily on my feet before slugging Nick across the face. He. Didn't. Even. Flinch. He just stared at me, the crimson around his eyes fading slowly. He stared, stunned, for a couple seconds before he grabbed me. I struggled, but I realized he was holding me loosely. He wanted me there, but he wasn't going to attack me.

"I-I'm sorry Max," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I wasn't trying to hurt you, I just… I'm sorry."

"It's fine," I told him, letting him hug me again. "It doesn't hurt." Was this from a brother or a guy who liked me, I wondered. And, okay, I lied. It kind of hurt a LOT. But I wasn't going to admit that, give him the smug satisfaction.

"I'm not aiming for satisfaction here," he told me, looking me in the eye. "I want to make sure you're alright. And if you're hurt, then it's my fault."

"I'm fine, Matt, really," I told him, shaking my head with a little laugh. He cared too much about me.

"No, you aren't," Nick insisted. "I can feel it, Max. I might've broken something. Here, let me see."

"Let you see what?" I asked him, and froze when I felt an icy cold hand on my stomach. I tried to jerk away, but he was holding me tightly.

"What the heck are you doing?" I asked, starting to panic. He promised once to never try anything.

"Making it better," he said in a hushed tone, closing his sapphire eyes and pushing in on my belly, making me gasp with pain. He wasn't doing anything but making it worse!

All of a sudden, the coldness on his hands became soothing warmth. I felt a little dizzy before he let go of me and I stepped back, stunned. It didn't hurt anymore.

"What did you just do?" I asked him as his hand went to his chest, right above his heart.

"Made it better," he told me, smiling slightly before a sorrowful emotion came over him. "I'm sorry, Max. Just because I can heal it doesn't mean I didn't do it in the first place. I'm such a jerk."

"No you're not," I told him reassuringly. "But what about that voice in your head? It drove you to do that. You didn't do it on purpose."

"I-I don't really know," he told me. "It says its name is The Merciless, and I think it's the same thing as my little murderous outbreaks… only smarter. Like the instinct evolved into an intelligent life or something."

"Is this going to be a problem?" I asked him, my mind still half on the fact that he was able to heal people now.

"What do you think?" Nick snorted, shaking his head. "Anytime I start fighting it makes me fight harder than I have to. I could wind up killing you."

"Can Sara suppress it still?" I asked him, noticing that his hand was never leaving his chest. "She used to all the time."

"Not since I let it in," Nick said, looking at the ground- which was the roof of the barn. Haha, up for them is down for us.

"What do you mean, 'let it in?'" I asked, making air quotes with my fingers.

"Last night, I left the house," he told me, making my interest flare. "Cato was here. And before you ask- yes, he's alive. So he was killing me, hardly doing anything and killing me. I thought if I didn't kill him he'd kill you, so I let it in when it offered a way to stop him from killing you. And now… I thought I was in control, but now, I guess not."

"Well, we just have to make sure you don't fight with us, just who we're fighting," I told him. "You're wild, but you aren't a loose cannon. We'll give you your space and you can open up a can of insane butt-kicking on everybody in front of you. Now," I paused, looking at his chest. "What did I do that made it hurt so badly?"

"Nothing," he told me, taking his hand off his chest with a grin. "Feigning weakness."

"I don't think so," I told him, walking up to him and using my no-nonsense voice and pose, with my hands on my hips. He sighed, unzipping his coat and showing me his bloodstained shirt underneath. It had spread over his whole upper body on the front of his shirt.

"I think I reopened the stitches again," he told me with a sheepish grin.

"Ugh," I groaned, shaking my head. "Can you heal yourself?"

"… You know," he said after a short pause. "That thought never occurred to me. I'll try." He put his hand inside of his shirt, wincing as he pushed in on his chest over his heart.

"Just barely," he told me. "I ran out of juice, I guess."

"Alright, I think we've sparred enough today," I told him, dusting my hands off. "Wanna go inside?"

"Is that an order?" he asked me, raising his eyebrows.

"I said so, didn't I?" I asked with a snort.

"Well, no," he said in a 'duh' tone of voice. "You never order me to do anything. You've always only asked."

"Well, um, come inside with me," I told him, feeling a little guilty. The fact that he noticed that must've meant that he already felt like we were excluding him. I didn't mean to make him feel like that. He nodded before jumping backwards off the barn, making me gasp. He landed smoothly on the ground in front of the barn doors, smirking up at me before turning to walk casually to Anne's house. He'd known I'd be worried if he did that!

So. He was getting braver. Hm. He was probably trying to get attention so that he wouldn't feel excluded. I'd have to make sure to include him more in what we were doing.

Hopefully he wouldn't decide to leave again.