Blister in the Sun

When I'm out walking

I strut my stuff yeah

I'm so strung out

I'm high as a kite

I just might stop to check you out

let me go on

like I blister in the sun

let me go on

"Frank!"

"Yo, Jesse!"

The brothers grasped hands and embraced. Born in the same state, the same town, same hospital, one room away from each other, a few seconds apart. They were alike in every respect, from their dyed hair to their aligned opinions to their tattooed wrists. But in truth, they weren't brothers at all. However, they never let the little details get in the way. That was work of the smaller, more tedious man. Their only job was to lead, arrange meetings, and make sure everyone came out with their head still intact with their neck.

"You get the message?" Jesse asked, clapping his brother on the back, and leading the way down a cobblestone street.

"I always do, and I sent out for the others."

"Oh? When are they due to arrive?" Jesse asked, looking out for the gang. Frank and Jesse had created a pack back in their early school days, and quickly recruited Bonnie and Clyde. Later, they adopted Billy as a younger brother, and fairly recently Bob and Charlie had joined. Before they knew it, they were well known for their Robin Hood antics, and often called the James Gang. They were outlaws, but they were well-driven outlaws by a powerful force called determination. They were determined to make a change, however small, though they aimed for the larger, and they were determined to come out on top of things. And when you got down to it, they were really just good-hearted individuals only looking out for the better of society.

Frank looked around as well. "Any moment now, I should think."

A lean, but built man Apparated on the spot. "Frank, Jesse," he greeted. He clasped each of their hands casually, and leaned against a wall. Cupping his hands near his lips, he lit a cigarette, and inhaling, he shook the match out.

"How's life been, Billy?" Frank struck up.

He smirked, shaking his head a bit. Billy was a simple kid, just graduated from Hogwarts. He was only seventeen, but had been in the gang for a number of years. And despite his age, he was a very talented boy. He had a family, somewhere, but they never had the time to get to know him. Lazy in affairs that didn't appeal to him, he never convinced them to give some up. "Life's been great." He folded his arms behind his head. "So… What's this about?"

"You'll hear when everyone's here," Jesse replied.

"Everyone?" Billy's eyebrows rose. "We're waiting on Bonnie and Clyde, then?"

Jesse didn't bother to answer as two distinct figures were making their way towards them. The cigarette dropped from Billy's lips. He propelled himself from the wall.

"Who called on the Ford brothers?" he asked in disbelief.

"I did," Frank answered, which held the same as 'We did.' in the Gang.

"Bob, Charlie," Jesse greeted, stepping forward. "Glad you could make it."

Unlike Frank and Jesse, Bob and Charlie really were brothers. The Ford Brothers, as they were often called, were the newest members of the James Gang, and were often despised by Billy the Kid. Charlie was the eldest and Bob the youngest, if there was a sister mixed somewhere in there the Gang never knew, nor did they care to ask. The Ford Brothers were bullies, who never quite got the hang of properly applied justice. Charlie was a thinker and a pusher; Bob was a twisted-minded fool, who envied Jesse for his leadership and Clyde for his fiancée.

They shared mirrored grins. Charlie arched an eyebrow. "Who invited the Kid?"

Bob, the smaller of the two, smirked wickedly.

Billy attempted to leap forward, but Frank thrust his arm across the boy's chest. Jesse was often the cool-speaker while Frank reinforced discipline and obedience.

The tension was broke by the calm ring of a woman's voice. "Gentlemen," she smiled, "You called?" She wore a thick-strapped and short-skirted Muggle dress made from crimson red leather with a low-neckline. She shifted on one of her five-inch high, spiked heels, and the dress made a rubbery squeak.

Jesse stepped forward. "So glad you could make it, Bonnie--Clyde."

Clyde touched the tip of his hat and made a vague wave. His choice of clothing was less shocking, but all the more classic. Like his match, he wore Muggle clothes. His black shoes reflected the light of a thousand candles, and his black, silver-pinstriped suit creased miraculously. Everything was perfect down to the red carnation pressed inside his pocket, and the silk stripe circling his hat. Under it all, he wore a shirt the same shade of red as Bonnie's dress, but certainly not the same material.

Bonnie and Clyde had been together for as long as anyone could remember, but their never-ending engagement had never succeeded in leading to marriage. It never mattered, to them marriage was sprinkled with jealousy and deceit while engagement was sparkled with love and affection. If they could act like young, engaged lovers for all eternity, they were perfectly content.

Charlie lifted a tin box from his pocket. He opened it and pulled shreds of chewing tobacco from it.

Another stretched squeak indicated Bonnie shifting feet. Despite her appearance of a young, ravenous hooker, Bonnie was quite the lady. However, like an unmarried woman, she felt no shame in showing off her more attractive pieces; just so long as wandering eyes didn't waver too high, or too low in other cases. Also, like a strong-minded woman, she didn't allow any man to touch her… unless, of course, the hands belonged to her beloved Clyde.

The awkward silence was overcome by Frank. "I assume you all received word of Black's alleged escape and capture?"

"And re-escape," Bonnie backed up dryly.

"Yes," Jesse took over. "And as suspected, a team has been set out to recapture him."

Bob brightened. A large task for a short, filthy man like himself. Though short, he always took his height to advantage. After all, he stood at Bonnie's shoulder, and when she wore those heels… well, let's just say his view was very much to his liking.

Billy scowled, and had to look away.

"I wasn't talking about us," Frank responded, frowning at Bob. Speaking as one, Frank and Jesse generally used the singular noun; because when speaking of one brother you might as well be speaking of the other, as they were identical in every way imaginable, despite their appearances. It also made things less confusing, while making things extremely confusing for damn near everyone else. It never phased the Gang much anymore; they were rather used to it.

"We're," and 'we're' meant the Gang, We was never used in accordance to Jesse and Frank alone, "Only here to protect." Jesse rose his hands to his hips.

"Black was lonely and powerless, but now that he's returned to an old friend…" Frank's sympathetic façade quickly shot ice-cold bullets at each of them. "This is the man who escaped from Azkaban--a jail overrun by Dementors--" and here Bob shivered "--And I do not want any of you to fight him, let alone devise plans to catch him."

"He is a ruthless murderer-" Jesse said.

"-and we've dealt with that type before-" Frank said.

"-but we've never dealt with his type before."

"What I'm saying," concluded Frank, "Is that I want you to be careful out there." And 'you' meant each of them.

"And if you decide to break any of my set rules, then you will have me to answer to," Jesse continued.

"Do you understand me?" Frank finished.

The Gang nodded in unison, either in agreement to everything that was said or simply in amazement of their perfectly aligned thoughts. One would swear they were twin brothers, identical thought patterns, and identical habits, lost at birth. But this of course was a joke, as Frank was a 6'2" black man and Jesse a pale white man standing at 5'7".

They even had identical stares. Those squinty stares that say, 'Are you listening?' and then the unsquinting of the eyes, and raising of the eyebrows and chin, which said, 'Yeah, you better.' Nobody fooled around with the James Brothers.

Billy wondered why. He often did. They were full-grown men with Dennis Rodman hair coloring and occasional mohawks with gutter punk attire. What wasn't to fool around with? It had to be the stare… what else was there?

"Alright," Bob began slowly, each word an inner battle, "If we're not tracking down Black… Then who are we protecting?"

Frank smiled pleasantly. Billy grinned; it was one of those life-shattering delightful smiles that said, 'I know you're an idiot, so I'm going to break this down into little words so your feeble mind can understand it.' Billy knew; it was the smile Frank reserved for Bob alone.

Jesse whipped out a picture. "This is who we'll be protecting."

Frank tapped the picture, "A looker, ain't she?"

~+~+~+~

"… and, if you'll excuse the Muggle metaphor, the ball's in our court."

Two round gray eyes tilted up to look at Lupin, an odd but appealing flower, and she tossed thick locks of blond hair over her shoulder. She dropped her eyes again. "This is a poorly devised plan."

"Oh? I'm sorry I can't agree with you."

Gale planted her face between her leveled palms and sighed. "This is pointless."

He stood in front of the large window, daring for an unseen assassin to shoot at him. His lips drooped at the corners. "Why I listen to you…" he muttered, passing a hand over his forehead, and gracefully taking a seat.

"You're not that much older than me, you know," she snapped.

"No, but I have fourteen more years of time and experience to my name."

"Oh, because you can really learn a lot when you're one," she retorted nastily.

And he realized why he never bothered with natural blondes. His mouth dropped open a bit, and he stared at her. He just shook his head, feeling it pointless to dignify her comeback with a reply. She was a lost cause.

"You have a few well-made points," she began brightly, thinking she won, "But your ideas are weak and won't get us any closer to the goal."

He rose his shiny-new penny-eyes to her. "Our goal?" he echoed. "There is no 'Our goal.'"

"Well, sure there is… You want to get Vala and I want to get back at Vala," she replied delicately.

"That would be your goal and my goal, they are two separate things."

"Not really… You see, you need me to keep Saxon preoccupied and I need you to get Vala out of the house."

"See, that would be our plan," he replied, his eyes drifting to the window. "Not our goal."

"Well then," she pouted. "We both have to get her out of the house."

"For entirely different reasons."

"But we need each other to do that."

"Wait, what did you say about preoccupying Saxon?" he asked, bringing his eyes back to her.

"I can preoccupy him while you sneak Vala out of the house." She bounced a little.

"And how do you plan to do that?"

An evil grin crossed her lips, and it suddenly struck him that she was a true Solitaire. She thrust her chest slightly forward, and moved provocatively. "Because no true man can resist me."

~+~+~+~

"Her name is Vevila Amoureux, and she is the wife of Saxon Malfoy," Jesse introduced.

"Isn't he the son of Ares Malfoy?" Bonnie asked mildly.

"Yes," Frank affirmed.

She smiled haphazardly. "He is very sexy."

"I'm glad you think so," said Jesse, "Because we may need you to lure him away, if it ever comes to that."

She brushed a hand across Clyde's shoulder and frowned. "I said Malfoy Senior was sexy, the Junior is just a boy."

"Yes, the boy is about five years older than you," Frank grinned.

She puckered her lips and stuck out her tongue at him.

"Now you know Clyde gets restless when you make seductive passes at me," Frank jested.

She breathed a laugh and turned her head to look at Clyde. He smiled slightly and she kissed him on the cheek.

"Uh… Who are we protecting her from again?" Bob asked carefully.

Jesse sighed; Bob never had a very good memory. "From Sirius Black."

"Oh," he nodded, "Okay."

Billy lit another cigarette, and tipped his cowboy hat down. He hadn't said a word since the meeting started. He leaned further against the wall, stooping a bit.

Charlie spit out the rest of his chewing tobacco, and pulled some new shreds from his tin box.

Bonnie shifted on the other heeled foot as she flirted with her long-time fiancé.

Bob rubbed his hands together, and Frank sighed.

"Are there any more questions?" he asked.

"Yes," Bonnie prompted, "How is her relationship with Saxon?"

Frank exchanged a glance with Jesse. Frank shook his head, and Jesse answered, "From my understanding, not very well."

"Do they have any kids?" she continued. They all knew the deal, if there were kids involved the Gang would have to count her out. She didn't mess with marriages were children were present. After all, she didn't want some young know-it-all coming after her in a couple years time seeking revenge for the damnation of their parent's marriage. No sir, she lived a good life and she intended on keeping it that way.

"No," Frank answered. "I know it's almost Malfoy tradition to have a first-born son, but from my understand they haven't even got a girl."

"Even better," she said, looking at Clyde. "That means the boy hasn't got anything my Clyde here can't offer," she grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Which means there's no temptation to leave him." Emitting a short laugh she locked lips with her lover.

Jesse rolled his eyes. Billy clucked his tongue.

"So uh, who's our employer?" Bob asked in a slightly higher octave than usual.

Bonnie giggled, moving her hips from side to side and letting Clyde lower his hands to the small of her back.

"Me," said Jesse, straightening up. Frank smirked.

"Then um… Who's your employer?" he tried.

"You know I can't tell you that," replied Frank.

"Yes, um, of course," Bob agreed, nodding like a bobble head doll.

Charlie spit black. Billy glared.

Jesse clapped his hands; Bonnie and Clyde resumed their previous position of standing side by side, Bonnie inching down her skirt in squeaky jerks. "Can I count on all of you?"

"I'm in," Bonnie said, swaying her shoulders and ribcage.

Clyde tipped his hat, an indication that he was in as well.

"Yeah," said Charlie, spitting again.

"Me too," chimed Bob.

Jesse and Frank swung their heads in the Kid's direction. "You in, Billy?" Frank asked. "You know I can always use you."

Billy flicked his cigarette, and rose his shoulders while sliding his hands into his hip pockets. He was another to favor Muggle clothes, generally donning a stereotypical cowboy hat and garments. He wore boots with spurs, and blue jeans with a loose collared shirt. All he was missing was the horse and the ridiculous leather leggings real cowboys wear.

Actually, the only two who really wore the traditional Wizarding garb were Bob and Charlie. Occasionally, if the mood suit it, Jesse and Frank did, but for the most part they sported clothes one might wear to a rock concert.

"Yeah, I'm in," he said, shaking his head, and looking away. He couldn't stand to stare at Charlie and his black spit or short Bob with his wringing hands.

"Then it's settled, knew I could count on you," Jesse closed.

"Now get out of my sight," Frank said, waving a hand. "I'm sick of lookin' at you."

Clyde grinned, and swinging an arm around Bonnie's hips, they began to walk away. Passing Billy, the two men tipped their hats at each other, and the couple walked off into the night.

Charlie smacked his hand across the back of Bob's head, and they walked off in the other direction. Joking and laughing, they disappeared under the slanting glow of the street lamps.

Billy lifted himself from the wall. Frank opened his arms in a welcoming gesture. "What's on your mind, Kid?"

"Care for another game of basketball? Frank here says he'll ownzor against us. Twenty bucks says he can't," Jesse smirked, clapping Billy on the back.

"You two can't lie, right?" Billy asked, looking at the two like one might look at their older brothers while asking a serious question about sex.

"Now I wouldn't go as far as saying we can't," said Jesse. Now that the meeting was over, they fell back to the traditional uses of We and I.

"That's right, we just choose not to."

"Okay," Billy said, nodding knowingly. "Then I don't suppose you could tell me who we're really protecting Miss. Amoureux from, could you?"

The Brothers stopped.

Billy grinned. "Honestly you didn't think I couldn't work it out? I know Black's innocent. And Dumbledore's behind all this, isn't he?"

"What makes you think that?" asked Jesse testingly.

"Because it's old Albus' style. Always trying to protect the innocent and such, only looking out for the right of things," said Billy. "He's kinda like us…" he reflected for a moment. "Only not as young and not as willing to get his hands dirty."

"Right…" said Frank. "And who do you think we're protecting her from?"

He shrugged. "Got me. Maybe ole Lupin? It's traditional Malfoy style to use our friends against us."

"Now how do you know about Lupin?" asked Frank casually.

"I do my research."

Jesse patted his back. "Just keep thinking that, brother… it's the least complicated way of explaining matters."

Billy nodded, but then frowned. "And speaking of Malfoys using our friends against us… I don't trust those Ford Brothers."

Frank rolled his eyes, nodding. "Yes, we know, we know."

"I'm serious! They're dangerous and they're liars. I don't trust them anymore than I can throw them!"

"Little old Bob being dangerous?" said Jesse.

"And Charlie may be sarcastic, but a liar?" said Frank.

"Still…"

"You just go on along now," said Jesse.

"Yeah, take a walk or somethin'," suggested Frank.

Billy fumed, and changed into an American foxhound. He growled and turned to trot off.

Frank's lips curled into a smile. "He was right about Dumbledore, you know."

"Yeah, and about Lupin."

They turned away from the changed Billy, and paroled down the street.

"I don't know 'bout trustin' the Fords as far as I can throw 'em," said Jesse.

"Yeah," reflected Frank. "I can throw 'em at least twelve feet."

(A/N: I've been a little distressed over reading HP5, but no worries… I will finish this fan fiction and don't you go along thinking the end will be as predictable.)