Title: The Way of the Road
Title Explanation: Most of the characters you will meet are vagabonds, as will become obvious in coming chapters. Distant, coming chapters. The title will become even more appropriate even later.
Warnings: Slash, cursing (maybe- definatly in later chapters, but I'm not sure I used any in this one), eventual drunkeness, and supernatural killings.
Rating: PG-13, or R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the cast of Even Stevens, or several other characters who belong to themselves.
A/N: My first Even Stevens fanfic, and probobly my last. If any of my friends found out about they'd laugh me into oblivion, then shoot me for forsaking those I'm sworn to adore.
Chapter One: Meeting Roxie
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Louis said, glancing around, nervously.
Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn't have said anything, however unerved he might have been by the situation at hand. He would have waited for Twitty to say something.
But, these weren't ordinary circumstances. (They never were, when it came to the people he was unknowingly associated with, but understanding, and explanations were to come later.) They were in a- well- bar, which seemed to be populated completely by people with unnaturally colored hair, dressed in black pants, black boots, and t-shirts endorsing the same two bands, and single solo artist. And, while there was a more or less equal number of males and females, there was clearly only the barest minoritys of heterosexual couples among them. Of course, there were alot of people who didn't seem to be in any sort of couple at all, but it was kind of disconcerting to see so many gay couples so openly together.
Twitty didn't answer. He didn't seem especially uncomfortable, either. He was very activly looking for someone. After a moment, he looked at Louis, in vaugh confusion, and said, "Did you say something?"
Louis sighed. He didn't bother repeating himself. Twitty was clearly in one of those moods, agein. They had once been rather rare, but they were becoming more, and more common. He was about to say he was leaving, when Twitty grabbed his arm, and began dragging him over to where two girls were slow dancing to music only they could hear.
He poked the one with mud green hair, and said, "Sinead, where's Roxie? I need to introduce Louis to her."
Sinead pulled back from the other girl, but kept one arm firmly around her waist, and looked at Louis appraising. It was dark, so he couldn't tell what color her eyes were, but they unnerved him, anyway.
The other girl, with hair so black and free of shine it hurt to look at, looked a bit sulky, and kicked Twitty lightly.
"I think she's calling Murray." Sinead finnaly said. "Don't kick, Rings." she said to the other girl, squeezing her gently, before continuing. "But Kaio's over at the bar with Greg."
"Did Leah go with her?" Twitty asked. Louis suddenly became aware he hadn't released his wrist, though only becouse his grip became painfully tight, with his words.
"No." Rings said. "Her Majesty didn't want any distractions."
"Ringo!" Twitty said, grinning suddenly, his grip on Louis loosening, though remaining to firm to allow him an escape. "You know the only Majesty is Murray himself!"
"Don't let Kaio hear you say that." Sinead said, smirking.
"Magic's one thing." a man with wavy dark blue hair, and sparkling grey eyes said, stepping up to them. "It has it's place in the hearts of us all. But music is what we live for. Aside from eachother. Kaio knows that."
"What the hell're you doing here, Sammy-boy?" Sinead said, her arm tightening around Ringos waist.
"Did you get probation, Sam?" Twitty asked, curiously. "I didn't know you were up for it."
"I wasn't." Sam answered. "Until the real reason I'm here put in a good word, or two. I'm not going to steal Ringo, okay? I gotta go. I see him."
Sam hurried off, in the direction of a man with spikey hair to yellow to be real.
Ringo smiled at Sinead, who grinned back. Sinead began to say something to her, but Twitty dragged Louis away before he could hear it.
"Who are all these people?" Louis asked.
"That was Ringo, and Sinead." Twitty answered. "They're Inners. Don't ask, you'll find out everything soon enough, assuming Roxie likes you."
"Who's Roxie?"
"We have a don't ask, don't tell, don't die policy here. Outsiders don't ask, members don't tell, and no one gets killed."
"What??"
"Shut up, please."
Louis did shut up, then, and, quite suddenly, found himself jammed in what looked like he imagined the confessional booth at a Catholic church to be. It was very small, and his back was pressed up ageinst Twitty in a manner that probobly should have been alot more uncomfortable then it was.
A moment later, he felt Twitty moving, and then they fell backwards. Someone caught Twitty, but Louis tumbled to the ground.
He looked around, and saw a girl with forest green hair gently placing Twitty back on his feet. Twitty smiled breifly at her, then moved around in front of Louis. He gently placed his hands under his arms, and lifted him a bit too abrubtly. Louis didn't get his balance quickly enough, and fell forward, into Twittys arms. Twitty didn't move to release him, so Louis hastily stepped back.
Twitty and the girl, Roxie, in all likelihood, exchanged an unreadable glance.
"Well?" Roxie said. "What've you got for me, today, Twitty?"
"This is Louis." he answered. "I told you about him, remember?"
"At great length." Roxie said, smiling. "Many, many times."
Twitty glared at her, then widened his eyes breifly. Her grin widened, and she changed the subject. "Did you look at that website?"
"I haven't needed it yet."
"I'll let you get away lies, for now."
Twitty rolled his eyes. "Years, Roxie, years. I've told you that, too."
"Many, many times, at great length. Generally when properly sloshed."
"Shut up. What do you think?"
"Any other options?"
"Shut up. Will you?"
"Do you want me to?"
"More then anything."
"It'll only work if it's meant, you know. Otherwise... Well, you know the consequ-ences as well as I do. The only one who knows them better would be Greg."
"Don't talk about that. I was there, remember. I don't like thinking about it."
Louis suddenly became aware the tone of the conversation had shifted somewhere along the way, and they now sounded much more like business associates then friends making fun of one-another as a way of putting off a conversation they really didn't want to have.
"I'm sorry." She sounded genuinely apologetic. "But you have to realize what a risk you're taking, here."
"I know. Will you?" Twitty said, agein.
Roxie sighed deeply, then her face hardened. She drew herself up to her full height, and spread her feet. She crossed her arms over her chest, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she finnaly said, "Only if you're look me in the eye and tell me what you want from me."
Twitty closed his eyes, and look a deep breath. His eyes opened, and he stared straight into the unreadable lavender depths that awaited his gaze.
"I want you to initiate Louis." he said, firmly.
"Why?" she asked.
"Becouse I know it's true. I also know that, if I'm wrong- which I'm not- I'd be better off with him gone, so I'd be free to find my truth elsewhere."
For a long moment, she studied him. Then, she turned, and caught Louis' eye, startling him. Then, she turned, and looked out a window Louis hadn't noticed before. "Okay." she said. "I think you're right. You have my permission. Change, and the initiation will be the same time it always is."
"When's that?" Twitty asked. Louis got the feeling it was for his benefit.
Roxie looked at him, giving a fanged, rather cat-like grin, and said, "When you least expect it."
~
When Louis and Twitty got out onto the street, several hours had passed, rather then the forty-odd minutes it had felt like. Twitty didn't seem to notice, but it unerved Louis even more.
Twitty stayed in the doorway of the bar, as Louis walked to the middle of the walk way, then turned to look at him.
"Don't tell anyone about this." he said. "If anyone asks when I'm not around, just give some generic party description. Go home, now. It's almost midnight."
Louis blinked at him. "What about you?" he asked.
"I'm staying here a while longer." he answered. "There's some things I need to attend to. Oh, and good luck."
Twitty turned, and walked back into the bar.
Louis stared after him for a long moment. Then, he stepped forward, and pulled on the door. It was locked.
He just stood there for another long moment, then checked his watch, and was startled to see that Twitty have been right. It was eleven-fifty-three. He was supposed to be home by midnight.
Louis turned in the direction of his house, and ran all the way home.
To Be Continued
End A/N: Anybody like this at all? Anyone?
Title Explanation: Most of the characters you will meet are vagabonds, as will become obvious in coming chapters. Distant, coming chapters. The title will become even more appropriate even later.
Warnings: Slash, cursing (maybe- definatly in later chapters, but I'm not sure I used any in this one), eventual drunkeness, and supernatural killings.
Rating: PG-13, or R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the cast of Even Stevens, or several other characters who belong to themselves.
A/N: My first Even Stevens fanfic, and probobly my last. If any of my friends found out about they'd laugh me into oblivion, then shoot me for forsaking those I'm sworn to adore.
Chapter One: Meeting Roxie
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Louis said, glancing around, nervously.
Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn't have said anything, however unerved he might have been by the situation at hand. He would have waited for Twitty to say something.
But, these weren't ordinary circumstances. (They never were, when it came to the people he was unknowingly associated with, but understanding, and explanations were to come later.) They were in a- well- bar, which seemed to be populated completely by people with unnaturally colored hair, dressed in black pants, black boots, and t-shirts endorsing the same two bands, and single solo artist. And, while there was a more or less equal number of males and females, there was clearly only the barest minoritys of heterosexual couples among them. Of course, there were alot of people who didn't seem to be in any sort of couple at all, but it was kind of disconcerting to see so many gay couples so openly together.
Twitty didn't answer. He didn't seem especially uncomfortable, either. He was very activly looking for someone. After a moment, he looked at Louis, in vaugh confusion, and said, "Did you say something?"
Louis sighed. He didn't bother repeating himself. Twitty was clearly in one of those moods, agein. They had once been rather rare, but they were becoming more, and more common. He was about to say he was leaving, when Twitty grabbed his arm, and began dragging him over to where two girls were slow dancing to music only they could hear.
He poked the one with mud green hair, and said, "Sinead, where's Roxie? I need to introduce Louis to her."
Sinead pulled back from the other girl, but kept one arm firmly around her waist, and looked at Louis appraising. It was dark, so he couldn't tell what color her eyes were, but they unnerved him, anyway.
The other girl, with hair so black and free of shine it hurt to look at, looked a bit sulky, and kicked Twitty lightly.
"I think she's calling Murray." Sinead finnaly said. "Don't kick, Rings." she said to the other girl, squeezing her gently, before continuing. "But Kaio's over at the bar with Greg."
"Did Leah go with her?" Twitty asked. Louis suddenly became aware he hadn't released his wrist, though only becouse his grip became painfully tight, with his words.
"No." Rings said. "Her Majesty didn't want any distractions."
"Ringo!" Twitty said, grinning suddenly, his grip on Louis loosening, though remaining to firm to allow him an escape. "You know the only Majesty is Murray himself!"
"Don't let Kaio hear you say that." Sinead said, smirking.
"Magic's one thing." a man with wavy dark blue hair, and sparkling grey eyes said, stepping up to them. "It has it's place in the hearts of us all. But music is what we live for. Aside from eachother. Kaio knows that."
"What the hell're you doing here, Sammy-boy?" Sinead said, her arm tightening around Ringos waist.
"Did you get probation, Sam?" Twitty asked, curiously. "I didn't know you were up for it."
"I wasn't." Sam answered. "Until the real reason I'm here put in a good word, or two. I'm not going to steal Ringo, okay? I gotta go. I see him."
Sam hurried off, in the direction of a man with spikey hair to yellow to be real.
Ringo smiled at Sinead, who grinned back. Sinead began to say something to her, but Twitty dragged Louis away before he could hear it.
"Who are all these people?" Louis asked.
"That was Ringo, and Sinead." Twitty answered. "They're Inners. Don't ask, you'll find out everything soon enough, assuming Roxie likes you."
"Who's Roxie?"
"We have a don't ask, don't tell, don't die policy here. Outsiders don't ask, members don't tell, and no one gets killed."
"What??"
"Shut up, please."
Louis did shut up, then, and, quite suddenly, found himself jammed in what looked like he imagined the confessional booth at a Catholic church to be. It was very small, and his back was pressed up ageinst Twitty in a manner that probobly should have been alot more uncomfortable then it was.
A moment later, he felt Twitty moving, and then they fell backwards. Someone caught Twitty, but Louis tumbled to the ground.
He looked around, and saw a girl with forest green hair gently placing Twitty back on his feet. Twitty smiled breifly at her, then moved around in front of Louis. He gently placed his hands under his arms, and lifted him a bit too abrubtly. Louis didn't get his balance quickly enough, and fell forward, into Twittys arms. Twitty didn't move to release him, so Louis hastily stepped back.
Twitty and the girl, Roxie, in all likelihood, exchanged an unreadable glance.
"Well?" Roxie said. "What've you got for me, today, Twitty?"
"This is Louis." he answered. "I told you about him, remember?"
"At great length." Roxie said, smiling. "Many, many times."
Twitty glared at her, then widened his eyes breifly. Her grin widened, and she changed the subject. "Did you look at that website?"
"I haven't needed it yet."
"I'll let you get away lies, for now."
Twitty rolled his eyes. "Years, Roxie, years. I've told you that, too."
"Many, many times, at great length. Generally when properly sloshed."
"Shut up. What do you think?"
"Any other options?"
"Shut up. Will you?"
"Do you want me to?"
"More then anything."
"It'll only work if it's meant, you know. Otherwise... Well, you know the consequ-ences as well as I do. The only one who knows them better would be Greg."
"Don't talk about that. I was there, remember. I don't like thinking about it."
Louis suddenly became aware the tone of the conversation had shifted somewhere along the way, and they now sounded much more like business associates then friends making fun of one-another as a way of putting off a conversation they really didn't want to have.
"I'm sorry." She sounded genuinely apologetic. "But you have to realize what a risk you're taking, here."
"I know. Will you?" Twitty said, agein.
Roxie sighed deeply, then her face hardened. She drew herself up to her full height, and spread her feet. She crossed her arms over her chest, and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she finnaly said, "Only if you're look me in the eye and tell me what you want from me."
Twitty closed his eyes, and look a deep breath. His eyes opened, and he stared straight into the unreadable lavender depths that awaited his gaze.
"I want you to initiate Louis." he said, firmly.
"Why?" she asked.
"Becouse I know it's true. I also know that, if I'm wrong- which I'm not- I'd be better off with him gone, so I'd be free to find my truth elsewhere."
For a long moment, she studied him. Then, she turned, and caught Louis' eye, startling him. Then, she turned, and looked out a window Louis hadn't noticed before. "Okay." she said. "I think you're right. You have my permission. Change, and the initiation will be the same time it always is."
"When's that?" Twitty asked. Louis got the feeling it was for his benefit.
Roxie looked at him, giving a fanged, rather cat-like grin, and said, "When you least expect it."
~
When Louis and Twitty got out onto the street, several hours had passed, rather then the forty-odd minutes it had felt like. Twitty didn't seem to notice, but it unerved Louis even more.
Twitty stayed in the doorway of the bar, as Louis walked to the middle of the walk way, then turned to look at him.
"Don't tell anyone about this." he said. "If anyone asks when I'm not around, just give some generic party description. Go home, now. It's almost midnight."
Louis blinked at him. "What about you?" he asked.
"I'm staying here a while longer." he answered. "There's some things I need to attend to. Oh, and good luck."
Twitty turned, and walked back into the bar.
Louis stared after him for a long moment. Then, he stepped forward, and pulled on the door. It was locked.
He just stood there for another long moment, then checked his watch, and was startled to see that Twitty have been right. It was eleven-fifty-three. He was supposed to be home by midnight.
Louis turned in the direction of his house, and ran all the way home.
To Be Continued
End A/N: Anybody like this at all? Anyone?