Marko: Reborn

Disclaimer: I don't own The Lost Boys.

Author's Note: First off thank you to everyone that reviewed, followed, and favorited this so far! Now I need to apologize for leaving you all hanging, sorry for taking so long to update… I really did plan to have at least three more chapters up after the last one to space out a Christmas themed one as I didn't want it back to back with the Halloween one. That said this one isn't Christmassy (that's not a word is it?) but I did add in a bit of them talking about past Christmases to make up for it, maybe further down the line I'll get in a Christmas flashback if you guys really want one. Who knows anyway enjoy the chapter and have a wonderful holiday everyone!

Beta'd by the wonderful exaigon, thank again!

Chapter 7: Random Encounters

Marko's hand was moving across the page working on a now familiar drawing, a project that had been in the works for months now, so it hardly acquired his mind's focus. Which was good considering his mind was busy going over the previous night.

Mostly his own actions.

Because instead of dealing with the potential future threat to his once-brothers, the guys he spent more time with than anyone, his current family included… instead he trailed after his tw-Michael.

He followed him around all night to make sure he was safe. Not that he would have been able to do anything had Michael pissed off David now that the teenager thought about it… Kinda made his actions even more pointless.

He was too attached. If it came between choosing one family over the other Marko knew who he wanted to say he'd choose but that didn't make it true. Hell, he didn't know who he'd pick if push came to shove and that made him pissed off.

No one in his current family was vampire material. It didn't matter what Max said or if David thought that Michael was a killer deep down inside. Marko had lived with his brother long enough to know him better than David ever had or would.

So, no, Michael was no killer. A romantic oversized teddy bear would be most accurate.

Could he leave behind his human family to become a vampire? Of course. But could he let himself stand by while they suffered morality complexes during the half-vampire stage or even died? Unfortunately, he probably couldn't.

Damn them all, he mentally cursed.

His hand moved harshly with his thoughts and the result made him curse aloud before setting out to correct his mistake.

Marko wasn't cut out for all this heavy thinking and plotting stuff; that was more David's groove. He just wanted to be a vampire again and have fun. If only his family didn't complicate matters so much.

He might be able to keep his family from making contact with Max and the boys if they hadn't already but would that mean that he would have to give up on becoming a vampire? Was he willing to do that? No, he wasn't that selfless to give that up for their safety. But could he have it both ways?

Not likely.

He flipped the page deciding that he'd had enough of staring at that overly dramatic panel. It was time to move on… to the next scene. Shaking his head from those thoughts because he was in no way considering 'moving on' with his human life.

Though it was a possibility just not one he wanted to entertain.

If Max's infatuation was taken out of the equation then David would be the one who really decided on who was welcome amongst his boys. Sure he'd take into consideration the other's thoughts, but final decision would be his.

And Marko had no idea what his human self did before to get David's approval other than have a shit human life which was the only known requirement. Only Michael ever broke that rule. So that meant that it wasn't set in stone, right? Or was it just Michael that changed the rules… or perhaps it was Max?

Marko didn't remember if he had been privy to David's thoughts on Michael and how much it was influenced if at all by Max. The memory could have faded within his human mind like he suspected many others had, or never resurfaced in this life, or maybe he had tuned out the thoughts as they were probably boring ones.

Why was nothing ever simple?

"What'cha drawing?" Sam asked making himself comfortable next to Marko. The older boy instantly turned and closed his sketchpad all the while inwardly scolding himself for being so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed the younger boy. Speaking of simple...

"What do you want?" Marko asked hiding his relief at having his thoughts interrupted. It was a legitimate question. His little brother never really sought him out without wanting something.

"You know if Mom's getting sentimental enough to drag out old photos, she's not going to stop with those," Sam said conversationally. He must be beyond bored to be bothering his least favorite brother the blonde mused. Though it wasn't like Michael was around for him to bug.

"Yeah more embarrassing ones are sure to come," Marko agreed and turned to angle himself in away that he could open back up the sketchpad without Sam seeing its contents.

"What do you wanna bet the Christmas ones come out next?" Sam asked not hiding his curiosity for what Marko just went back to drawing. The older one stretched out his foot to keep the younger boy at bay.

Sam huffed and rolled his eyes at the action and instead continued talking, "I'm sure you can't wait until the Santa Clause pictures are pulled out."

Marko grimaced while focusing on the sketch. Sam laughed upon seeing his expression around the sketchpad.

"You never did take any good Christmas pictures with Santa, did you?"

It wasn't a question, not really, considering that Sam knew the answer.

Because, of course, he didn't. Even as a toddler he didn't want some fat, old, human in a costume holding him in his lap. Every year he struggled until his mother finally got the hint and stopped making him do it. It took way too long for her to wise up in his opinion. Though, if he'd known making Santa nearly drop Michael as the twins sat on one knee each would have gotten him away from such a thing sooner he would have done it before he was four.

Marko didn't voice any of this though, instead answering with, "Santa isn't real or have you forgotten?"

Sam snorted, "How could I? You made sure both me and Mike knew he was a hoax and you were really mean about it too."

He pouted.

Marko smirked at the memory of ruining the two's belief in the mystical magical fat man. It was a good memory. Any time he could disillusion or make them cry growing up usually was.

"You deserved that lump of coal mom gave you for that one." Sam told him.

"I did." Marko laughed because that had actually been quite amusing as was his mom's expression when he acted completely excited about his gift and then proceeded to get not only himself filthy with it but everything else as well.

Perfect payback for returning the gifts he knew she had bought for him. Lucy wasn't very good at hiding presents so he always found them before hand, not that he let her know about it. The once-vampire always liked spoiling surprises better than being surprised anyway.

But he digressed, Lucy had really thought that lump of coal would make him believe in Santa but all it did was ruin most of her Christmas decoration. Not a bad thing given most of it was old as dirt and they got newer decorations for the following year.

Really, they all should have been thankful for that.

Marko frowned and glanced down at his drawing, he was doing it again… thinking fondly of his human memories. Of this lifetime's memories. How the hell was he supposed to show he had what it took to be a Lost Boy if they pulled this shit from his mind?

Last time had been easy, his human life had in short… sucked and he was exactly the kind of person David and Dwayne would accept as one of them back then, was he now? He didn't know. As if hiding his memories of his other life wasn't enough of a challenge he had to suddenly go and get all sentimental. They'd smell that a mile away.

His younger brother seemed to notice the mood change, so he decided to do his brotherly duties and take his mind off of whatever it was by changing the subject. "Grandpa's weird," Sam huffed crossing his arms.

Marko looked up from his pad once more, grateful to be pulled from his thoughts.

"You've only just noticed this?"

"Well no but… listen to this! He said he'd take me to town and I even got into that sweet ride of his too..." Sam trailed off as if recalling the car before snapping out of it. "You won't believe what happened next!" He exclaimed loudly.

"I'm sure you'll tell me," Marko said dully.

Sam ignored his response and did indeed tell him.

"He started it up and then said something about letting it warm up while we sat for a minute unmoving and then…" He pauses dramatically before continuing, "he turned it off and got out of the car!" Sam threw his hands up in the air, "Said that was the closest he likes to get to town, isn't that totally bizarre?"

"Not as much as your use of the word 'totally'." Marko stated only to be met with a face full of pillow as a result.

"Jerk! Where's Mike? He'd understand my pain!?" Sam wailed like the drama queen he was before getting kicked off the couch with Marko's foot in response to the pillow attack. "Ow, you're the worst." Sam glared up from the floor.

Marko smiled, "I try."

Sam didn't think his brother was joking.

Then once again his expression shifted towards what Sam can only describe as brooding, but his voice is not without snark, "Mikey's on a date."

"Already? Man, he works fast." Sam stood up and the eyed his brother before opening his mouth, but the older boy shakes his head, "Whatever it is the answers no."

"Oh, come on at least let me ask first before you shoot me down!" Sam whined.

"Next time maybe, if I remember I'll do that." That said Marko stood up with sketchpad in hand and made to leave. He needed a better distraction.

"Wait, are you really gonna sit around at grandpa's all day? I mean you've got a bike. You could go into town…" Sam's voice trailed off, hopeful.

Perhaps he should but would familiar sights really keep his mind off of things? Not likely.

"I could… but I wouldn't take you with me."

"What, why not?" Once more his little brother whined.

"What could you possibly want to do in town? Look at things you can't buy? Walk the beach? Fail at suffering?" It might have been mean but his mood was failing and, well, he had to take it out on someone and it wasn't as if he was being untruthful.

Sam glowered, "Don't be an ass."

"The novelty would wear off in an hour and then you'd be bugging me for a ride back." Sam went to protest but got cut off, "Don't even, I know you."

Too well… he would never make it as a vampire.

"Yeah, well, isn't that better than sitting around all day doing nothing?" Sam asked stubbornly.

Marko turned to look and him and simply answered, "I wasn't, maybe you should pick up a hobby Sam."

Sam puffed out his cheeks like a chipmunk, "I can't draw, and Mike would kill me if I tried to weight train with his weights again." True but it would be hilarious he doesn't say it though as Marko does have a filter when he really applies himself.

"Then find something you're good at besides being annoying and reading comics." Was Sam good at anything else the now-human wondered after the words left his mouth.

"Or I could just go read my new comic," Sam replied as if a lightbulb turned on inside of his head.

That startled Marko, "You mean you haven't already?"

Sam shrugged, "…I don't like horror but it's better than nothing and it's free."

Maybe there was still a way to keep vampires from invading Sam's mind if not his life.

Marko looked down at his sketchpad, "…I wasn't going to do this until it was finished but what the hell it's nearly there."

He tossed the sketchpad at the other boy who fumbled to catch it.

"Wha-?"

Marko snickered behind his hand at his younger brother's clumsiness before speaking, "Open it."

Sam does and his expression changed from mildly annoyed to silent shock and finally to pure joy.

"This, this is-"

"Super Sam… yeah," Marko lamented quietly and Sam squealed not unlike a piglet the once-vampire's mind helpfully supplied.

"I can't believe it! Oh wow. Is this his origin story?" Sam was flipping through it a max speed but also being strangely careful with it. Marko's nod to the question went unseen by the other teen.

"Thanks so much! Look," Sam flipped the sketchpad over to show him a random page, "you even got his power set right! Wow, does this mean you actually listen to me when I was telling you about it?" Sam asked in wonder.

"Kinda hard not too when you wouldn't shut up."

Also filing it away for potential bribe material was also a factor but it worked as a distraction too.

Still Marko could hardly forget the day Sam decided to create a superhero in his own image; Super Sam. He spent months trying to get Marko to make him his own personal comic book and was shot down every time.

Sam didn't give up though. He'd always throw in remarks about a Super Sam comic every few months or so. That didn't wear down Marko, even years after the fact, but when he had the spare time the older boy figured it would be good to have it finished and on hand if the time ever came where he could use it. It seemed to work if the way he was suddenly gushing over it was any indication.

"Yeah well Merry Christmas and Happy birthday brat."

He wasn't just saying that either. The teenager figured he'd filled his present quota for the younger boy for the year with this gift even if it was meant to be a distraction. It's not like the other boy knew that anyway.

Sam didn't seem to hear him as he was engrossed in the homemade comic about his super self. This gave Marko the perfect chance to sneak away unnoticed and remove a certain comic from his brother's bedroom.

Upon opening the door to the younger teen's bedroom, he was greeted with a dead animal courteous of his dear grandfather.

"Okay even if I was still dead that would be freaky," he mumbled to himself before looking around. Good no Nanook in sight. The dog would probably try to maul him over a comic book if it belonged to Sam.

The next thing to catch his eye aside from that was a poster that briefly made him question his asexual little brother's sexuality because no fourteen-year-old who never showed any interest in girls should have a guy posing like that pinned up to their door.

Not going there. He shook his head and pretended to believe the brat was asexual once more as he searched the surprisingly messy room for the comic. They only just got here and already the room looked like his hamper was hit by a tornado.

After a few pieces of clothes were thrown aside, not into the hamper where they belong because Marko's not his little brother's fricking maid, he found what he was looking for.

'Vampires Everywhere' stared up at him from half under a pair of pants. He easily picked it up and examined the cover for the second time. It wasn't scary looking at all from the cover, but his curiosity was peaked to see just how accurate this could be.

However, opening it up and reading it in Sam's room was just asking to get caught so the blonde rolled it up stuffed it on the inside of his jacket's pocket and left the room. He highly doubted Sam would notice the difference in where his clothes landed during his search.

Going back downstairs he saw Sam still seated on the couch with his new comic in hand, so he calmly walked right past him and out the front door. Outside, his grandpa looked up from whatever project he was working on to stare as Marko grabbed his bike and headed off; no words said.

Sometimes, he thinks the old man knows that he's not really his grandson but of course that would be ridiculous.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

The ride into town didn't bring back as many memories as he feared it would. Whether because the memories weren't as sharp or because it was daytime and he was riding his bike solo he wasn't sure, but either way getting out if only just for a short ride was a good call.

It certainly improved his mood. That is until he found a bench to sit down on and read the 'Vampires Everywhere' comic. It was unfortunately quite accurate. Not the garlic bit but on things that really counted… Just how many people did those comic book geeks give this out to he wondered as he noticed the phone number written on the back.

It was distressing to think that said geeks killed him once upon a time. It was just depressing.

While flipping back over the pages he suddenly felt eyes on him and looked up to see the last two people he wanted to right now.

The Frog brothers.

And the stupid idiots were approaching him.

Calm down. Killing them in broad daylight with so many witnesses was a bad idea he repeated mentally while trying to do breathing exercises. Well, they worked for his mom…

"Where'd you get that?" The bandana brother asked motioning to the comic and eying him with suspicion.

Marko tried to keep how much he wanted to kill them off of his face and out of his voice as he replied, "Oh this?" He held up the book, "Just something some jerks gave to scare my little brother last night."

The way they stepped back a bit Marko thought he might not have succeeded in his attempt, but he could hardly bring himself to care all that much. He wanted to scare them. They were just lucky that he hadn't started trying to… yet.

"Y-You should give it back to him. It's an important comic book," the second brother spoke up from behind his brother.

"That's right it could very well save your brother's life!" The first frog said. It occurred to him that he didn't know either brother's name but, then again, he didn't care to.

"It might even save yours too!" The second one added.

Marko stood up from the bench and they tensed but he didn't move towards them. "And how is it that some poorly illustrated horror comic with an overly generic plot is going to save anyone's live?" He asked with a smile.

"Because it's not generic! It's real all of it!"

Marko couldn't help but laugh at that, but the laughter quickly died, and he looked at their stubborn glares.

"You're laughing now but you won't be when you come face to face with the undead!"

He smirked. Maybe not in this lifetime but he had indeed laughed in the face of the undead. Of course, it had helped that he had been one of them at the time. They were right about not laughing when in the presence of vampires.

"So instead of trying to give my baby brother nightmares you were actually trying to convince him that vampires are real? Well he is gullible enough but I'd rather he didn't get involved with the local crazies-" Taking a step forward into their personal space he grinned widely showing his teeth, "I don't think your minds can comprehend hints so I'll state this bluntly."

He took a deep breath and grabbed the front of the bandana boy's shirt and pulled him down to his level so they were face to face, "Stay away from my brother and keep all your psychobabble vampire nonsense to yourselves or you won't have to worry about vampires coming after you because I'll beat them to it."

That said he let go and stepped back and sat back down on the bench and proceeded to look completely calm and engrossed with people watching.

The two brothers hobbled away and he briefly heard one of them say to 'let the vampires eat him, it'd be no loss,' as they looked over their shoulders and all but ran away like the cowards they were. How they ever thought they could stand up to and face down vampires when they were scared of him, he had no idea.

Though to be fair, despite his size, he could pull off being a pretty badass human when he wanted to.

After a few more minutes he got back up and walked over to a nearby garbage bin before tearing the comic to pieces and dropping it's leftovers into the trash.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Shortly after Marko disposed of the comic, he found his brother's bike nearby. Looking around didn't reveal Michael but it was already the afternoon, so the date should be over.

Leaning against the bike he decided to wait for a bit to see if Michael would show up, hopefully Star free. About half an hour later when the younger twin was about ready to give up and head back by himself his brother appeared.

And he was alone.

It took the brooding dark haired teenager a moment to notice his sibling sitting atop his bike and his frown deepened, "Get off."

Marko smirked and hopped off. Neither of them liked when the other messed with their bikes but that wasn't what the older boy was clearly upset about. The once-vampire felt his spirits raise at the mere idea that him and Star didn't hit it off.

"So how was your date?" He asked from behind his hand only to be glared at in response.

"That bad huh? Oh well, there's plenty of other pretty fish out there. No need to mope about it."

Michael sighed and shoved his brother away from his bike to get on it ready to call it a day and go home to brood.

The blonde twin was the opposite though due to his happier mood. "Really just gonna go home with your tail tucked between your legs?"

Dark eyes found his, "I'm not-"

"It looks that way to me. Come on. Let's go grab a bite to eat. Get your mind off of it, maybe find another pretty girl." He glared. "Or not."

He stepped in front of the bike just as Michael started it.

"Sorry didn't mean to offend your fragile feelings." He shuddered at the word causing Michael to sigh in exasperation, "You suck at apologies."

"I know," Marko told him completely unapologetic. "Still, what would you rather do? Go back to grandpa's house with at least two noisy annoying people who won't leave you alone and would try to make you feel better or hang out at a bugger joint with me, your awesome twin who won't bring up your horrible dating record."

Michael revved his bike.

"Haha very funny. Come on. Pity parties are no fun, not like me."

Sighing again he turned off his bike. "Fine but only because my highly antisocial brother wants to be sociable for once in his life and who am I to discourage that."

"I'm not antisocial. I just don't like most people." At least not anymore. He used to say he loved people, well he loved eating them. But it was really all the same thing back then.

"Is that your way of admitting you like me?" Michael joked, and Marko faked an aghast look.

"How can you even joke about such things? Why, I never in all my anti-people years… thought that might be the problem. Are we sure you're a person?" He pulled on an unruly dark curl. "Maybe you're some form of plant life. Just look at your hair!"

Michael attempted to grab him in response to give him a noogie and mess up his hair. Marko wasn't Sam though, and expertly dodged the attack. The two continued to mess around as they walked the boardwalk looking for someplace that sold fast-food.

Half an hour later they were munching on their respective burgers and fries and talking about whatever came to mind when someone walked in causing Michael to pause and his twin to follow his gaze.

He felt like bashing his head in, no hers would be better he thought with annoyance, as he watched Star walk up to the front counter with some guy's arm wrapped around her.

Marko turned back towards the dark-haired twin and stubbornly moved from his seat to sit in the one that would block his view of her. "Stop it, she's obviously not worth it."

His older brother nodded but stopped eating, just poking at his fries half-heartedly, having lost his appetite.

Marko grabbed a handful of said fries and ate them hoping to get a complaint. Michael said nothing prompting him to instead flick his own fries at the other teenager. This at least seemed to get his attention, but he just scowled and told him to, "Knock it off."

"Only if you do it first," Marko chided him, flicking another fry and drinking his soda.

The other twin was unamused but quickly forgot that when Marko stood up taking the disposable plastic lid off of his drink and downing the rest of the drink before proceeding to pour the ice down the back of his brother's shirt while pretending to be heading for the trashcan.

Michael jumped with a shout, "Son of a-"

Marko cut in, "That's your mother too you know!"

Laughing, he turned and bolted, knowing his twin would follow.

And he did.

Neither saw Star's expression or cared what it was as they fled the fast food diner. It didn't even occur to Marko that the sun had set already as he dodged through the crowd cackling, with his brother trailing behind him spouting threats of bodily harm all the while.

The lack of sunlight only became apparent when he ran head first into someone he finally stopped thinking about for a few hours.

Paul.

And he wasn't alone. David and Dwayne were right there beside him.

Well shit, he thought looking up from Paul's chest into his amused face. And, of course, Michael, in all his grace, made things go from bad to awkward when he failed to stop himself from running into Marko's back.

Review, maybe?