Author

Author's Note: Well. Thank you for the reviews. As of such, I felt compelled to write chapter 2, so someone would know "what was going on". Basically, he went to sleep, and woke up in the future or something. Okay? Um... I also decided to have, from chapter 2 onwards, first-person-view from Butch. Yeah. Unless, of course, there's a scene elsewhere not involving him.

Maybe I'm Twisted, 2
by "Twisted" Rey

Chapter 2 - More Discoveries (Parts I and II)
Part I

At least tell me what you think of him.

I don't think much of him yet. I know he is confused, though. Very confused.

I know that, too. But is this their future? This corrupt world?

What it will be unless he changes.

Changes what?

Himself.

I quite easily found a small, but neat, 'dining' room next to the kitchen. My kitchen, I reminded himself, and unless my wife turns up, it's my house, too.

I was still very confused by what was happening, and as I sipped his orange juice, I tried to control the part of his mind that made him want to twitch at every sound, and attack anything that moved. There is a logical cause for all this. If only I could find it... Even looking down at myself sent a chill up my spine. I was tall. This definitely wasn't what I usually wore, a football jersey... cargo pants? But thank God they were in green and black, at least.

As I shoved the chair back and stood up, intending to return the plate, the fork and knife, and the glass to the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Great, they're here already, I thought, and - was I really walking? - left my junk in the sink before moving to find the door and answer it.

I opened the door, and somehow managed to stop my mouth dropping open at the sight of my brother. Much taller, as well, but shorter than me, with that same baseball cap on backwards, in a red shirt and tan pants. However, I was unable to control my reaction at the sight of Bubbles.

"Tall and willowy," like Brick had described. A blonde beauty. She was slender but not emaciated, golden locks tumbling down her shoulders. She wore a shawl around her neck, a tight blue number and girly shoes. It took me a while to remember the name "platform shoes". She carried a small handbag.

"Yo brotha," Brick said, offering a grin. Bubbles, beside him, smiled brightly, leaning forward to kiss my cheek as means of a greeting. I blushed, just barely, somehow managing to keep my composure.

"Hi, Butchie!" She giggled. "Long time no see!" Brick slowly, protectively, slid an arm around her waist, and I definitely noticed. My own brother was warning me off! A flare of anger rose in my throat - how dare he claim Bubbles as his own - but I managed to swallow it, and stepped aside to allow them both inside.

Minutes later, we were seated in my living room, around a coffee table. I had only just noticed my house was tastefully decorated, and everything matched. Not only that, everything was clean. I wondered if I had really changed that much over the years... Brick and Bubbles together on one couch, I on the other one facing them, leaning forward. I felt mildly self-conscious, and even... lonely. Jealous. New emotions which I couldn't identify with at the time.

Though I had trouble tearing my eyes away from Bubbles, I tried his best to make conversation. "So, Brick, my man. What's up in your house?" It was strange to think - to know I wasn't attracted to Bubbles like I would have been to any nameless face that had a figure like hers. Looking at her, it was what I felt. Attraction, but not lust. And now my brother, my very own brother, had put a seal on her and claimed her as his own. It troubled me deeply, but I focused his attention on the exchange.

"Nothin' much, just little Bubbles here," He laughed, kissing her cheek affectionately. I swallowed, with a forced grin.

"Yeah, well. It's not a very good time for me," I lied through my teeth. "I woke up this morning wondering, Who am I? Where am I? so you'll understand if I'm a little out of it." I searched my memory, and was definitely quite amazed to find I had two memories - one of going to sleep in the Professor's house after being beaten up between Brick and Buttercup, and one of going shopping yesterday for food in the supermarket. I knew what I had to do, and left the talking up to the memories of my current .. universe.

"Robin called just now," I said, while dredging up whatever I could recall of this person named Robin. Robin's my partner? Partner? No, not that kind of partner. You're an undercover, remember? She's your partner. Pretty useful one, too. "Said something about going after the Smiths this one time."

Bubbles gasped, putting a hand over her mouth, horrified. "You mean... that... that horrible gang!"

I felt my face set in a grim expression, and my tone grew dark. "Yeah, although they're more of a ring of crooks than anything else. Some steal, some deal drugs, some are..." I paused. "Contract killers." Bubbles looked all the more appalled, and held Brick's arm tightly.

"Oh, dear! I hope you'll be alright, Butch..." Bubbles said worriedly. Brick gave her a lopsided smile as she rested her head on his shoulder. Something in me twitched in a pang of envy, but once again, I swallowed it down.

"Yeah. Yeah, I will," I said, after a moment's worth of composing myself. "Anyway, what brings you by here?" I asked. "Just a social visit? Or is it something more urgent than that?" The way I spoke almost frightened the child in myself, the child that had to deal with "grown-up" things now. My tone was authoritative, my chin held high, my eyes narrowed defiantly in a look I had developed over the years.

"Actually, we were on our way to a movie," Brick said, holding Bubbles closer. "But when she heard you were in town, she wanted to stop by and visit. Just see how you were."

"Yeah," Bubbles piped up cheerily. My heart melted, but I kept my thoughts to myself, and my expression straight.

"I see," I said, raising my hands to crack my knuckles. I was itching to leave the house already, just fly over the town and see what was going on. Keen for action, really. Brick grinned, noticing the telltale signs that his brother wanted everyone to shut up and start fighting.

"Well, we won't impose on you any longer," he said, glancing at his wristwatch. "The movie starts in a while, and we want to get there on time. It's nice seeing you again, brotha," He added, standing and holding out his free hand to me.

I shook his hand courteously, and gave Bubbles a quick hug. "It was nice to see you both too, Brick, and Bubbles. I looked down into her eyes sincerely. For a moment I could've sworn she shivered under my forceful gaze. But even if she did, she quickly collected herself, and joined Brick at the door. After a few more goodbyes, they were off down the street in his car.

I moved from his front door to the kitchen phone, picking it up and dialing - from memory - the phone number of this Robin person. Things were getting stranger by the minute, but I understood some of it now. And maybe, just maybe, talking to this partner of mine would help clarify a few more things as well. As I dialed, the only clear thought, the only thought that made sense in my head was, When I've figured all this out, I've got to get home and fix it all. This future's out of whack...

Part II

Riiiing. Ring riiiiing.

"Hello?"

"Hey... is Robin home?" For some reason, I felt very self-conscious of my own strange, deep voice, of my slow breathing. I cleared my throat, steadying myself.

"Yes, this is she. Hello, Butch. I expect you've called to learn more about the job we're going for?" Now that I thought about it, this Robin's voice had a very smug tone to it. A tone that made her sound smart-alecky little-sisterish and sexy at the same time. I frowned, eventually regaining my voice.

"Uh. Yeah. The.. um..."

"The Smiths." She supplied. I unconsciously nodded, switching the phone to my other ear. "The job's tomorrow, actually. Jon - you know Jon - will be the money man. I trust you know how to inspect them drugs, so we don't need anyone else for that. Pete's introducing us before the final buy; he'll be briefing us, too."

"Yeah," I said, a little weakly.

"Yeah," She mocked. "Yeeeeah, bay-bee."

"You shut up," I snapped at her. Robin just laughed mildly.

"Well, get your cover ready. The usual?"

The usual? I searched his memory hard. Boyfriend/girlfriend roles. "Ahh, yeah. Sure, whatever you say."

"You sound out of it, Butch. You sure you're up to this?" Her voice just had that tinge of concern that would've made me curious if I hadn't been concentrating on coming up with a good excuse.

"Yeah, I'm good. Not enough sleep, I guess." Yeah, great reason.

A cough on the other end. "If you say so. 'eve, Butch." Click.

I frowned again as I hung up, lifting a hand to scratch my chin. So this is my life, huh? This is me twenty years ahead... I could get used to this.

Was it really the right choice to pick him?

They all have to play their parts sooner or later.

But him? Now?

He has to change. He will. I know it.

Rey: Well, there you go, short and sweet. Anyway, it's been quite uneventful so far (besides the fact that Butch went to sleep and woke up in the future). Mm... But there's a reason why it's labeled under Action/Adventure (next chapter) and Romance (the chapter after that, I think). Well, hang in there. And... and... um... review! Yes...