Title: World Gone to the Wolves

Summary/A.N.: I am figuring out the logistics of Chris Perry being helped in past by a 'good' version of Wyatt.

So far, I think that it will begin with Christopher Halliwell almost dying (killed by his past life the way Phoebe was nearly killed by hers). Wyatt goes into the past and warns Chris Perry that the mission/Gideon will kill him. Then Wyatt realizes how lonely Chris P. is in the past and decides to stick around. Thus the 'brothers?' begin an awkward and emotionally challenging adventure.

There are many ideas I am toying with: I want the family to recognize Wyatt/Wesley first, cue jealousy from Chris. I want Chris to have a new power that he has absolutely no handle on, to the point where he must take potions to control/suppress his emotions (I'm thinking nature based magic: weather, earthquakes, etc. The kind of power that could cause dire consequences if a suspicious Leo uses magic to counteract the emotion-controlling potion). I want Chris and Wyatt to kidnap Little Wy at some point, resulting in Leo attacking Chris and Chris stating, "You are seriously the world's worst pacifist."

I have so many more ideas, but I'd appreciate any input on that ^ before my head explodes.

Meanwhile, here are some snippets that my brain cooked up.

Chris and Wyatt.

They fit together, mostly.

They are like old puzzle pieces, designed and destined to be either at each other's sides. But the cardboard is worn. Different pasts and experiences make it so the interlocking parts don't, can't, attach perfectly. They still form a picture, but the lines are blurred and the colors don't match just right.

Inferiority Complex

Chris always needs to prove himself. To his family, to the world, to him. He has to prove that he is not just a pathetic reflection of his brother's magnificence. He is not as strong, so he must be smarter. He is not as charismatic, so he must be more manipulative. The Powers That Be have not gifted him with as many powers, so he must be cleverer with the ones he has.

He pushes himself to the point of burnout. Deep down he knows, despite all of his efforts, he will never be good enough.

Wyatt is used to feeling needed. He spent his life being the older brother, being the one who barged in and tried to fix things. Even though he didn't always manage to make the bad better, he knew that his efforts were appreciated. But that had been with a different version of Chris.

This Chris has a hard time accepting help, especially from Wyatt. Constant fighting and repeated betrayals took their toll on his ability to trust. Years of loneliness impressed on him the need for self-sufficiency. Honed survival instincts force him to search for ulterior motives when Wyatt paces into the room and, without even knowing what is going on, offers, "Can I help?"

The younger brother continues stirring and his gaze rises from the steaming cauldron. His eyes flick up to Wyatt, then to the herbs scattered across the table, and then to the stack of notebook paper off to one side. A frown plays on his lips and he shakes his head, tension makes his shoulders twitch. "I've got this."

Before, Wyatt would have disregarded the words as pride. He would have started sorting the spell ingredients. Or he would have read through the spells scrawled across the leaflets of paper and teased about Chris's idea of rhythms. But this is a different version of Chris.

It takes a great deal of willpower for the older brother to settle in the nearby chair. He doesn't like it when he's not needed, but he understands that Chris needs him to back off sometimes.

There are many differences between the Chris that grew up in a world where the Twice Blessed was a tyrant and the one that had a functional family. Even so, Wyatt sometimes has trouble separating them in his mind.

Chris –both incarnations- cooks when he is stressed.

The brothers have taken over a rundown apartment. The building itself is condemned but won't be torn down yet because the paperwork got lost, in other words, misplaced by magic means. There is no electricity but the kitchen is equipped with a gas stove.

Wyatt orbs into the room. "You know that the oatmeal was here before we moved in?"

One shoulder rises in a shrug and a frown creases the shallow wrinkle between his eyebrows. The kitchen isn't stocked so there isn't much for him to work with. "Did they vanquish the Streip?"

"Have you seriously spent the entire day worried about that?" Wyatt asks and with a flick of his wrist he orbs one of the newly baked cookies to his waiting palm. It's more of a biscuit than a cookie, since they have no sugar. "Of course they didn't. The aunts had dates and mom is contacting specialists because she thinks I don't interact enough. Not me, me. Little Wy." He clarifies, takes a bite of the biscuit, and then speaks around the mouthful. "Where are you going?"

Chris stalks to the adjacent room where their magic supplies are spread in a manner that is vaguely organized. "To vanquish the Streip."

"Dude," The older brother chokes on some crumbs. Chris made it edible but not even he can get the perfect texture when he is missing half the ingredients. "You know that it will take the power of three."

"I made potions." The vials are the only things in the room that are arranged, sorted by potency in an almost obsessive fashion. He hands Wyatt a crumpled, folded bit of paper and says, "This spell should work."

Wyatt knows exactly how difficult Chris can be when he is that determined. It is a family trait after all. The older brother argues anyways. "Or you could chill. Seriously, the Streip is a powerful demon, but he's not after little me."

"We don't know that."

"You have no evidence that he's a threat."

The petulant scowl makes Chris look painfully young. "So what?" He snarls and moves to gather up his vials.

"So, just wait, Chrissie." Wyatt reaches out a hand, power curling at his fingertips. It is a simply jab with telekinesis, meant to spin his brother around. He had done it all the time, before, as a playful way to make Chris listen when he was being stubborn.

The response is not playful.

For months later the Wyatt-shaped hole in the wall would serve as a reminder that he needs to differentiate between the two incarnations of his brother.

Leo is doing this to protect his family from whatever threat the young men pose. The Elder knows they are more than they say. For one: they're not true whitelighters. For two: the 'brothers' hardly know each other. Yeah, he knows they're up to something and he is going to prove it. That conviction does not prevent him from feeling guilty, voyeuristic, when he orbs in during the middle of personal debates and overhears certain things.

There is no wind in the underworld. The air is stuffy and still, words don't travel far.

"I am not bisexual." Every line of Chris's figure screams defensiveness. Torchlight flickers across his face, deepening lines and making him appear far older.

Wesley raises open hands, placating or surrendering. "There's nothing wrong with being bi."

Arms cross and eyes squint at the older brother. "I didn't say that there was anything wrong with it, I'm just not." Chris says. His voice is even but there is a sharp tone hidden in there, one that Leo hears all the way from the other side of the tunnel.

Wesley nods, posture open as he accepts Chris's assertion. There was a crinkle at the corner of his eyes and a smile playing across his lips. Unlike the onlooker, he hasn't realized that his younger brother isn't going respond well to teasing on this subject. "Okay."

Chris mimics the nod, but his expression remains closed, and he takes a few steps into the tunnels. Shoes scuff across the loose dirt on the floor and send a wave of red dust through the air. Then he pauses, turns, and demands. "What did you mean by that anyways?"

The older brother seems surprised by the faint trace of anger in Chris's question. "I didn't mean anything."

"Then why did you bring it up?"

"It's just conversation." Wesley shrugs helplessly. "And it's now over. You're not bi, you've never slept with a guy, never been interested in any guy." He starts walking away, and then turns back because Chris isn't following.

"Well, I have…you know. With a guy." The younger brother says, "but it wasn't anything." He scowls and fidgets. "I needed information on Tanix demons."

"You traded sex for information?!" Wesley blurts out. There is a mixture of emotions twisting across his face. Horror, outrage, and guilt are just the ones that Leo readily recognizes. The older brother stares at Chris, sees the dark eyes and the defensive posture, and rewords whatever he was going to say. The chuckle sounds hollow, humor offered as a salve. "At least it wasn't for money." He pales when his younger brother doesn't respond. "Oh god, please tell me you haven't-."

Silence stretches between them. There is no movement save for Chris's hands as his fingers rip at the hem of his sleeve, Leo doesn't think the young man is aware of the motion.

"Chris…"

"Five seconds ago, you told me not to tell you." Chris snaps and stalks away with Wesley hurrying at his heel. The Elder lingers behind, silent and introspective, waiting until the footsteps fade before he orbs home.

End Note: First off, I don't see Chris Perry as bisexual. But on the other hand, there is very little he wouldn't do to complete his mission. I am toying with the idea of making Christopher Halliwell bi in the "World Gone to the Wolves" fic. If I do, then it won't be a big part of the story, just an extra bit of drama that Chris Perry and Wesley have to deal with (*Wesley is the 'good' older version of Wyatt that joins Chris Perry in the past. He can't use the name Wyatt because Piper and co. might catch a hint for once in their lives*).

I would love to hear any opinions on this.

Coming Next

Title: Wavelengths

Words: I'll aim for 1,000.

Summary: Cole is alright with his new form of existence because he can still see his love, Phoebe, even if she can't see him. Cole is alright, that is, until he realizes that the Charmed Ones new whitelighter can see him.

A.N.: Does anyone know of any fics/crossovers where Chris is not related to the Charmed Ones? I like the idea of him being a part of some other powerful line and having different reasons for saving Wyatt. I even have a story rattling around in my brain that has Chris as the grandson, or great grandson, of Fitzpatrick McCorrigan (high fives anyone who recognizes that name).