TITLE: "Adventures in Clubbing"

AUTHOR: Doctor Strangelove (strangelove317@hotmail.com)
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: Um, I don't know. No particular spoilers. Visser Three is still Visser Three.
FEEDBACK: I'd love it.
DISCLAIMER: K. A. Applegate owns the Animorphs.

"Adventures in Clubbing"

Written by: Doctor Strangelove

My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. I have a very strong suspicion that I am a moron.

You see Marco, the human youth who I thought I had a crush on but I'm pretty sure it's more than that, well he told me he loved me. I, of course, "freaked out" and ran off. Now I had all sorts of reasons like my Andalite home world and their prejudices and why am I tell you this? You already read about that. It'd get boring if I recapped the whole story each time I told you more. Much like television shows do every week.

Anyway, you most likely only want to hear what's happened since then, right? Right. Well after that fateful night, I spent some time by myself. Well, not really by myself, just away from the Animorphs. I spent a lot of time at the mall. I have discovered that Cinnabons are excellent at making me forget about my pain. As are nachos, popcorn, chocolate, sugar, Skittles, chocolate, ice cream, tacos, shrimp-fried rice, chocolate, sushi, cigarette butts, chocolate, and just about any other food you could name. Yes, food is good. The food court might be the finest invention the humans ever created. Next to television, obviously.

Well, the nice security guards at the food court eventually got tired of me and kicked me out. I may or may not have been taking sweets from infants.

So, after that I rooted around in the dumpsters. It worked pretty well for a while, I found a hamburger that only had one bite in it. But then a strange smelling man chased me away and kept yelling that he had to make waffles for his "Jesus bag".

After that, I headed to Waffle House. And then McDonald's. And then Blimpie, Chick-Fil-A, Sonic's, Bamboo Garden, Burger King, Dairy Queen, the 7-Eleven, the Sharing's club, Ruby Tuesday's, Applebees, Pizza Hut, Doublemeat Palace, Subway, Domino's, Papa John's, Taco Bell, the dumpster outside of Taco Bell, KFC, and the movie theater. Long story short, those places really like it when you have money.

So then I headed back to my scoop and ate all of the food I had stored there. I am now down to half a package of onion rings. And a couple of chicken wings I saved from the Sharing's club.

Now that my gluttonous rampage has slowed down I've had time to think and learn. Don't mix soda and Pop Rocks. That's about all I've learned.

I really think I made a mistake with Marco. I know that a relationship with a male human would have a few small problems, to say the least. But so what? I mean, who cares if my peoples get upset. I wouldn't be dating them. I'd be dating Marco. If he makes me happy, then who do they think they are to tell me it's not right. If you love someone, shouldn't you be with them?

That's a nice little sentiment, isn't it? I wish I had the balls to actually do that.

But I don't. Yet. So for now, I'll just stuff my face and wallow in self-pity. Sounds like a plan.

Hey, buddy. I looked up from the television set to see Tobias flying overhead. He quickly landed next to me and morphed to human. "What's up, Ax?"

I stared at him for a moment. He seemed downright... well, giddy. "Not a lot. I'm just snacking and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

"Cool," Tobias reached over a grabbed a chicken wing. "What's going on?"

"It's the episode where they go to their prom. Buffy fights the hellhounds and gets the Class Protector award. And Angel breaks up with her in a sewer because he can't be with her for his own selfish reasons." I scoffed under my breath. "Idiot."

Tobias shrugged, "I don't know if I would call them selfish. I mean, he did it so she could have an easier life."

"But he loves her. More than anything. If those two love each other, they should stay together. Love isn't easy. And besides, did her life really get easier when he left?"

"I guess so. You know, when I watch this show I see my friends as the characters sometimes."

"What?"

"Well, look how similar Rachel and Buffy are? Pretty similar."

"I see."

"And I see myself as Angel." I glared at my shorm and raised an eyebrow. "Well, we're both quiet and kinda broody. Okay, maybe I'm just full of myself."

"Perhaps. But I think I understand what you mean."

"Yeah. So, what do you think?"

"Of what?"

"Who do you see people as? For instance, oh say, Marco?"

I thought about it. "Oz."

"Oz? Really? I guess they've got the height. But I see Marco as more of a Xander."

"Yes, but Oz is so much more..." I paused. I couldn't really think of why Oz came to mind. Besides the height.

"Cooler? Funnier? Sexier?" I glared at him again. "Sorry.

"So, speaking of Marco, have you talked to him lately?"

I groaned, Tobias knew of my feelings of Marco, but he didn't know what had happened between us. He didn't know had confessed his love to me and I didn't plan on telling Tobias about it. "Perhaps."

"Really? You two, you know, talk about anything interesting?"

Then it hit me. The questions, the tone of voice, the giddiness. Tobias knew. He knew that Marco had come to talk to me. But how?

Of course! He told Marco how I felt. He must've. He was trying to set us up. But then, that means... "You don't know."

"Know what?"

"You told Marco how I felt about him?"

Tobias blushed and looked down at the ground sheepishly, "Yeah. Well, you see, Ax-man, you were taking so long. I know he feels the same way about you. But that was a few days ago, so I figured you two must've talked by now. Have you two... talked?"

I nodded grimly.

"Well, what did he say?"

There was no use lying. "He said he loved me."

Tobias nearly jumped up, "Ax, that's great! Now you two can go and be togeth-"

"I ran away."

Tobias's cheerful demeanor instantly faded. "What?" He asked, his voice cracking.

"I ran away." I repeated. "I told him that everything was too much for me. So I ran away. Marco told me he loved me and I left him."

Tobias's jaw was on the ground. Figuratively. He struggled for words. "Oh." He finally managed.

I picked up the last onion ring and shoved it in my mouth. "I was wrong."

Tobias looked more baffled than ever. "Huh?"

"What I did. I was wrong. I did the wrong thing. I should've stayed."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. But it's too late for that now."

Tobias put his hand on my shoulder, "Hey, buddy, it's neve-"

I didn't hear the rest.

Before me I saw some horrible figure. He was big and muscular, his four arms were well tanned and covered in spikes. His mouth was filled with fangs and three large horns were protruding from his forehead. His eyes were white. No pupil, no iris, just white. He stared at me and smiled. one of his fist shot forward.

I screamed out in pain. Pain is an understatement. I felt like someone had skinned me alive and set me fire. The beast's fist punched clear through my stomach and came back coated in hot, sticky blood.

I fell to the ground clutching my middle region. I tried screaming but no sound came out. I tried to hold the blood in, but I knew it would do no good. Deep down I knew.

I was dying.

To reviewers: Hey, I just noticed that "Adventures In Clubbing" had just become my longest fic ever! Yeah, take that "Reprise"!
Jinako-chan: I like Jason too. And no, Esthrill's master is not Crayak. The One? Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Although this chapter might give you some hints. I think I'm gonna wait and finish off "Adventures in Clubbing" before posting "I Am Jake". Because that ones is a lot shorter (like six chapters), and if I keep writing, updates will be quicker. And the last four chapters of "I Am Jake" tie in with this so you might have to wait weeks for a new chapter. No, I think finishing this first is the best idea. And as long as slash comes eventually I'll be happy. Just tell me this, will it happen in Chronicle One, or will I have to wait till a whole new fic?
Lisa-Ann: Yeah, things are starting to get weird. It'll all be explained. Soon. Well, maybe not soon, but eventually.
Aaren: Hmm, Cuban American mother, eh? Maybe. *thinks* Nah, maybe not. I work on longer chapters but I just have nothing to say. So instead you get a lot of short chapters.
Myself: My 100th review! YAY! *dances around* Ahem, anyway. The chicken wings are fun. I'm now on a mission to include them in every chapter.