Marko: Reborn

Disclaimer: I don't own The Lost Boys.

Author's Note: Wow it's been over a year since my last update on this story, I'm very sorry about that. Thank you everyone who's reviewed, favorited, and followed. I hope those still interested in this story after so long enjoy this chapter! And I also, apologize in advance if my writing's gotten rusty.

Thank you to everyone who messaged me about a certain fan continuation by another author on this site. I became aware of that fic a while ago and once the author of it contacted me I gave my permission for them to continue writing it.

If anyone wants to do something like a that or a spin-off based in any of my stories' worlds I would ask that you ask me first. I will likely say yes to such a thing since we are all fans here and it is flattering. That said I've not read it nor do I plan to while this story is still ongoing as I don't want to have anything from that story influence my own even subconsciously.

This chapter is unbeta'd.

Chapter 9: Michael's Investigation

"Marko… What's going on? Who are they?"

Well shit, now what? Marko thought to himself because really how does he answer that? Who are they? Did he even really know the answer?

It used to be simple. They were his brothers, his family, his pack.

But that's not who they were now and that thought stung. It was a important factor in why he just had his 'being human's not so bad' inner monologue not twenty minutes earlier, isn't it?

"Marko?" Michael questions again confused and frustrated.

The blond can relate to those emotions it's nearly his constant state lately.

It was obvious what he should do, he should lie.

Marko was a good liar when he needed to be or hell even when he just wanted to be. Despite what Michael thought on the matter, he could hide his tells and much better than he used to.

But coming up with something that Michael would believe on the fly? He was good at weaving stories on the spot but right now he was just tired of it all.

If he was anything less than perfectly convincing Mike wouldn't buy it. His brother wasn't dumb after all. So then the next obvious thing was the truth but that's not something he'll buy either it's too crazy too Sam's comic books-ish.

That thought gave him a mental pause. It was actually pretty perfect.

"Okay, you got me." Marko threw his hands up nonchalantly, "I'll tell you my deep dark secret."

Michael didn't look amused, "Mark-"

"How should I put it? Well, I guess the short of it is I'm reliving my life and I met those dudes in my previous one." Not completely accurate but more so than he ever thought he'd admit to anyone let alone Michael. It was a weight off his chest, one without any of the pesky consequences.

Michael's frown grew, "Be serious."

"Oh I am." He told the other flippantly.

Marko didn't know if it was the tone in which they were delivered or the words themselves but it only served to do exactly one thing; piss Michael off.

"I'd sooner believe in psychics and the tooth fairy." He sneered.

Seeing how tense his twin had become made the once-vampire's eyes drift to the pad in his brother's tight grip. He was not happy with how the paper was being crinkled which might have made him extra sarcastic when he didn't plan to be.

"I've never met the tooth fairy, but I'm up for knocking out a tooth or five for you if you want to try."

Michael looked like he might take him up on that only clearly planning a reverse scenario. Instead the teen looked down at the sketchpad before tossing it on the couch behind him with a huff. Being none too gently in the process Marko noted and glared, "You're really not gonna tell me are you." Michael demanded.

His now free fists clench in irritation as if still itching to throw a punch. It wasn't as common for them to do so in anger anymore but Mike hated being lied to or made fun of.

He thought that Marko was doing both.

"Already did. It's not my fault you don't believe me." Marko's eye's scan the mess Michael made of his things on the floor and debates leaving them as they are. Lucy wouldn't like it but at the moment he didn't care. They could all shove it where the sun doesn't shine, he was done with this with them for the time being.

Michael steps up into his personal space in a way that might intimidate most but it had never affected the smaller twin. However, it did it's purpose by gaining back Marko's full attention, "Fine, don't tell me but I will figure this out."

He let a lot of things go over the years but not this time, Michael didn't know why but this seemed too important to ignore.

"You do that," Marko mocked before shoving past him to the couch, he carelessly picks up the sketchbook that caused this mess before plopping down onto the sofa and leafing through it for a second.

"Just do it somewhere else, I'm taking a nap now." That said Marko snaps the pad shut and drops the already rumpled sketchbook on the floor, laying back throwing his arm over his eyes.

It was a clear dismissal.

Michael takes a few steps towards the couch and his twin doesn't react, his eyes land on the bandage on his brother's hand making his frown deepen.

Since arriving here there's been something off about the other. In fact, Marko never seems to be himself whenever they visit here. Not that they did so often.

Michael might not act like it but he's more aware of his twin than the blond gives him credit for.

Marko doesn't move his arm but can feel his stare, "Gonna watch me sleep now?"

Sighing, he decides to leave his irritated twin alone; For now.

As he goes to leave he catches sight of the discarded sketchbook, then glances at his brother's still form. He's not asleep yet but he doesn't seem to be paying Michael much attention either.

In a split second decision he picks up the book then having come this far grabs another sketchpad nearby. The teenager knows it holds even more drawings of the mysterious bikers.

If he's going to investigate who they are and why Marko's been drawing them for as long as he has then having the pictures with him couldn't hurt.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Michael didn't really know where to start figuring this out, it was a mystery and he was no detective.

Heck the teenager wasn't even a fan of those kinds of films though he had seen his fair share working at a theater. It didn't mean he was ever any good at putting the clues together and solving it before the climax or even the end in most cases.

The only person in his family who even seem to enjoy the genre was his mom, besides those romance novels she owned a few mystery 'who-done-it' type books.

Not that he thought telling her that Marko had been drawing pictures of bikers they only just met for years now would go over well. It sounded so outlandish and well sci-fi. Just like that bullshit he was trying to sell him about… what time travel? That's basically what it was right? Reincarnation?

Yeah his knowledge of that was even less than time travel at least he had seen Back to the Future.

A good movie for sure but it was completely out there. No sane person would believe it. Michael wasn't kidding when he told his brother he'd sooner believe he was a psychic. And as those weren't real; or at least, he was like ninety eight percent sure they weren't and that was close enough.

So where did that leave him?

All he really could do was show these pictures to his family and see if they knew anything. If all else fails maybe he'll just track down those guys from the night before and see what they had to say.

What in the world would he say in that case? Better to think on that when it actually matters but one thing was for sure he might not want to show them the warped versions Marko drew. Not surprising given how he turns everything into some kind of gothic-horror version of the original.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Michael finds his grandfather first.

He's sitting in the kitchen nursing a root beer and some Oreos. While he seriously doubts the old man will have any insight into this the dark-haired teen had to start somewhere and since the old man's here might as well check his grandpa off the list.

List? Michael realized he had in fact, made a list. Wow he was really getting into this whole detective thing.

"Hey grandpa," He says conversationally as the boy pulls out a seat to join him. The old man gives his grandson a suspicious look, "I'm not sharing, you know the house rules," he bites into an Oreo as if to prove a point.

"Um yeah, actually I want to ask… or well show you something if you got a minute?"

Not waiting for his response he places one of the sketchpads on the top of the table and flips through it quickly finding one of the faces from the previous night.

He lands first on one of the penciled pictures as very few are colored. Still, it was obvious to him which one it was from the shaded in hair; the only brunette of the group.

"So um, do you recognize this guy?" Michael pushed the pad over into his grandfather's space, the old man squints at it.

"No," He munches on another Oreo, "Who is he some kind of big time movie star or something?"

Michael watches as his grandpa rinses the cookie down with his root beer.

"No, he's just some guy we ran into last night," He flips the page and lands on the teenager sporting the mullet, "He was with this one, does he look familiar?"

The dark-haired teen was beginning to think he was wasting his time.

Grandpa frowned and took another swig of his root beer before answering, "Why would I know about some hooligan bikers in town?"

"Okay thanks, I just figured I ask- wait I never said they were bikers." He stared hard at the old man, "You didn't?" He asked with a scratch of his chin, "Well they look the type." He grumbled.

Michael looked at him in disbelief, "You've seen them before haven't you?"

The elder man huffed, "Better question, is why ya' drawing them?" The teenager knew he was avoiding the question but also knew a lost cause when he saw one. The older man had a familiar look in his eyes that told the boy he wouldn't be moved.

"I didn't, these are Marko's drawings." Grandpa's eyes narrow.

"Hmm…" He raised his root beer to his lips and laid a hand on the page making Michael wince at the Oreo residue it left behind. Marko would kill him for letting that happen.

After a minute he flips the page, the boy watches his face as he goes through it a few more times. Nothing changes at first he seems to be just paging through it. Then a few turns later he freezes.

His face looks ashen and eerily focused on what's on the page. At the same time he looks... clam? Except Michael would say he looked like he saw a ghost.

Unable to determine anything else from his expression Michael looked down at the drawing that caused it. It was the long-haired one that he'd mentally dubbed as the 'hyena' due to his laughing fit.

Only it wasn't one of the normal ones, it was one of the twisted versions. His facial bones distorted or maybe just highly prominent with creepy eyes and bloody fangs to boot. It's not in color but it's obvious enough that the stuff on the fangs and near his mouth is blood. It's made creepier by the fact he's smiling.

The boy never really paid them that much attention; he was more focused on the regular ones. But all of them had this theme added to them in at least one picture.

Michael wonders why vampires for all of them though.

It can't be a lack of creativity.

Marko drew plenty of other people as creatures in the past, him as a ghoul, their mom as a monstrous mermaid -he hadn't even known mermaids could be scary- and he even drew Sam into a werewolf themed after Nanook once. Sam both thought it awesome and weird which was a step up from their mom's reaction.

But all of the guys from last night were vampires.

What did it mean? Did it mean anything? From his grandfather's reaction it seemed like it but for the life of him Michael just couldn't understand what.

A hand closed the sketchbook blocking the picture from his view and drawing Michael from his thoughts.

His grandfather's expression was grim.

"Grandpa?"

"I knew from the first time that your mother visited with the two of you that something wasn't right with that boy."

Michael blanched, "What?"

The old man stood up and looked toward the kitchen window as if it held the answer he was searching for; then he thinks back to a moment long since passed.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

He had be excited to see his daughter when she called him with the news of their visit.

The last time he had seen her the young woman had barely been pregnant and now his grandsons were toddlers.

Seeing them for the first time in something other than pictures was something the old man had looked forward to.

But after a week he knew in his very bones that something was wrong with one of them.

He just wasn't right.

So he did what any good grandfather would, he checked him for any obvious signs. He ruled out demon possession, a changeling, and everything else under the sun before too long.

None of the tests he tried came back positive.

The aging man should have been glad of that fact but it was actually more worrisome. Because the man knew that there were many things in this world that he didn't yet know of and how did he protect his family from the unknown?

It wasn't paranoia, he'd wished that it was more than once but he had learned to trust his instincts. That meant he'd keep a close eye on the younger twin throughout his visit. He noticed more and more concerning things because of it, they were subtle enough he supposed for a stranger or someone not looking.

But his daughter had been around the boy his whole life.

And she didn't seem to notice his peculiarities; blinded by motherly love he suspected.

So it was up to him to figure out what the boy was and to do that he kept a close eye on him. Watching and waiting. Eventually things would reveal themselves, in time everything always did.

It was well past lunch one afternoon when Lucy found herself scouring her childhood home for her son who had once again wandered away.

"Dad have you seen Marko?" Lucy asked as she entered the kitchen. Her father merely shifted his head towards the window he was staring out of.

"Outside?" She approached and saw her perpetually angry little boy. Since coming here Marko seemed to get an attitude more so even than back home, really her twins were so different from one another.

She watched out the window as he toddled around the house, "That little escape artist, how does he keep getting out there?"

"He's casing the place." Her dad stated as his eyes followed the boy.

"Dad, he's three." Lucy huffed a laugh at the mere suggestion, her father doesn't pay her words any mind and continues his observation, "He's circling the house like a predator would, searching for weaknesses."

Lucy shook her head at her father's paranoia, "He's a curious toddler; exploring like boys his age tend to do."

"His eyes don't look like any toddler's I've ever seen." As if Marko heard his words the boy lifted his head to the window and locked eyes with him, they held gazes.

The old man realized he was being challenged.

"Dad, how much have had?" Lucy asked in a resigned fashion, "Not a damn one."

Lucy doesn't say anything but he can tell she doesn't believe him.

Then plastering a smile on her face she waved to her son outside. The toddler caught her movement and broke the gaze with him to respond with a wave of his own.

Then he glanced at his grandpa and gave a bright toothy smile as if to appear like the innocent toddler his mother claimed him to be.

He was clearly mocking him.

"He's being cheeky." The young mother said to herself with a chuckle. Finding it cute no doubt but her dad could sense the darkness in that grin.

He doesn't say so knowing she'd not believe him so instead he makes a 'hmm' sound and looks away. Away from the boy masquerading as his grandson, "I'm too sober for this."

Lucy's head snapped back to him, "Dad!"

Not wanting to hear it he leaves the kitchen with a, "I'm going on a beer run."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Grandpa?" Michael asked again, pulling the elder man from his memories, "What do you mean by that?"

Knowing that his grandson wouldn't understand anymore than his daughter would he doesn't explain his previous words.

Instead he leaves him with a warning, "Your brother is going down a dark path; you shouldn't follow." He was certain the young man on his couch was already firmly on that path and had been since the day he was born.

"What?" Michael felt like a parrot.

Grandpa sighed then faced his confused grandson, "I'm going for an Oreo run."

Michael blinked and sat there dumbfounded as the old man walked away leaving him more lost than when he first started his investigation.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

After stewing in his confusing thoughts and his grandfather's cryptic words he decided that he needed to talk to someone who wouldn't give him a headache.

Sam seemed like the logical solution.

Michael didn't bother knocking and just pushed open the bedroom door leading to his youngest brother's bedroom.

Nanook lifted his head up off of the bed for a moment before deeming him to be not worth the effort and laid it back down, "Hey Mike, what up?" Sam called from his bed without taking his eyes away from a very familiar looking sketchpad in his lap. All of Marko's artbooks had a similar style to them so there was no mistaking it for a school notepad even if Sam was inclined to actually use them.

"What are you looking at?" Michael asked wearily. He hoped this would be the easy conversation he'd anticipated it would be but the presence of that sketchbook had him thinking that might not be the case.

Sam grinned finally lifting his head up, "It's the Super Sam comic I've been asking Marko to make for me." He turned it around for Michael to see the pages, in the panels there was a cartoon-like character that vaguely resembled Sam, "Oh… that's cool?"

He nodded excitedly, not noticing his brother's lack of enthusiasm, "Yeah it's awesome, so what'd you want anyways?" Despite asking, he turned his focus back on his new customized comic.

"Right, actually I wanted to ask you about some drawings Marko did." Michael said as he approached Sam's unkempt bed.

Once there he sits next to Nanook much to the dog's displeasure as he moves to get comfortable again placing him closer to Sam instead of Mike.

The younger boy looked up curiously as Michael opened the single pad he took from the kitchen having decided to just take the one with the most drawings of the trio. It was just easier to carry one of them even if this one was the older of the two. Plus it meant less things of Marko's he'd get damaged.

He easily flipped to the page with one of the three guys to show his brother, "Have you seen Marko drawing this person before?"

Sam looked at the long-haired man in the drawing and shook his head, "Nah, Marko's drawings are usually more morbid but that realistic portrait thing is cool too he should do it more."

Michael nodded absent mindedly before showing him the man with the mullet, "What about this one?"

Sam petted Nanook's head with his free hand as he took a look, "Nope what's this about Mike? So what if he makes more normal art, it's hardly a crime in fact it'd probably make mom happy."

He briefly thought about showing him the vampire versions and then decided not to; it wouldn't cause the same reaction as he grandfather of that Mike was sure.

"...Yeah, I just thought I'd ask."

Sam looked at him confused, "Whatever man, you better put that back before Marko notices you know how he is about his things."

Yeah he knew, his twin had a possessive streak that was only barely tempered by having to share things with Michael. However, there was a clear line between what was theirs and what was Marko's; he'd found that out when they were kids. He even has the bite scar on his ankle to show for his troubles.

"I'll do that."

And Michael meant it but just not right now, he'd return it when he wrapped up his investigation.

He stands up, deciding to forgo showing the last of the trio since his younger brother obviously doesn't have anything useful to tell him on the subject.

As he goes to leave Sam calls out, "Hey if Marko's doing more people and less creepy stuff think he'll make me a sequel? Oh and a cover this one still needs a sick cover!"

Michael shook his head, "Don't push it, I still can't believe he made it for you let alone just gave it to you outta the blue."

Sam shrugged, "Must've caught him in a good mood."

That gave the older twin a pause because it was ridiculous. Marko didn't just give things for nothing in exchange his brain wasn't wired like that.

So why did Marko give that to him? Okay, it's not unthinkable that Marko would make something for Sam if it were his birthday or Christmas but to give him a gift for no reason?

That just wasn't something Marko did. There had to be an ulterior motive at play.

"Really Sam, you know Marko's not that nice. So what'd you do to get him to make that?" He had more pressing matters but he had to admit if he didn't find out Marko's motive for this one it'd bug him.

"Nothing!" Seeing Michael's disbelief the other boy grumbled, "I guess it could've been so I'd stop bugging him to take me into town." Sam shrugged uncaringly it got him his comic that's what mattered.

Michael frowned, could that really be it?

Sam bugged Marko all the time… but maybe he just wasn't in the mood?

There was no way to know for sure and asking Marko right now wasn't gonna accomplish anything so it was best to go back to his initial investigation. Even if it seemed to more impossible of the two.

"If you say so, by the way have you seen mom lately?" He asked hoping she wasn't out looking for a job at the moment.

"She was out on the patio reading a little while ago." Sam said.

Michael nodded his acknowledgement and left the room; the other teen is too absorbed in his comic to care.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Michael found his mother right where Sam said she would be, obviously she was decompressing with a good novel as she tended to do.

"Hey mom," He greeted causing her to look up and smile, "Hi Michael, do you need something?"

"Actually I wanted to ask you about your opinion on some pictures if you got a minute." He took a seat opposite her, she carefully closed her book with her signature flower patterned bookmark in place-it was designed and made by Marko-to give him her full attention.

"What pictures?" She inquired.

Michael for a third time showed the pictures of the trio from the night before, again forgoing the vampiric versions at least for the moment.

"Oh well, these are certainly not Marko's usual drawings are they?" She asked with a small frown that creased her forehead.

It was her worried expression.

So much for her being happy at Marko drawing 'normal' things as Sam had said.

"Uh so, you haven't seen him draw these people before?" He asked, causing her to lift her eyes to his, "No, why is this becoming a common thing?"

If by common that meant it's been going on for years then, yes.

He doesn't say that instead he takes hold of the sketchpad from her and finds the vampire version of the fair-haired one with the long hair.

"Okay what about now?" Lucy's expression doesn't change much, nothing like his grandfather's reaction, "Now that looks like something I may have seen him draw a time or two but you know how he is."

Michael nodded, "Have you seen this exact person drawn this way though?"

Lucy looked harder before her eyes met Michael's, "I can't say they really all blend together over the years… Michael what's this about?"

"...It's probably nothing." He said closing the book, maybe he really was looking for something that wasn't there? It could all be a coincidence or maybe those bikers got their style from some popular tv personalities? Marko could've gotten his design ideas from something from MTV too.

It certainly was the more rational explanation. But that didn't make it the correct one.

Michael could remember seeing him draw these people for years and fairly often when he thought about it, he just never questioned it. Why would he? Art wasn't his thing.

They had shared a bedroom until recently so seeing Marko's art around just became normal. As did seeing an updated version of an old picture, he liked to change things or improve them so he redrew them at times.

So was he misremembering? Maybe these drawings weren't as old as he thought and the ones from his childhood could be different people who as his mom said blend together. But from his quick search he'd found so many drawings of these three, they couldn't all be recent even if he stayed up all night.

What was he missing?

Michael snapped out of his thoughts with the touch of his mother's hand on his, "It's okay I've noticed as well and I worry about him too."

"Um, what?" The teenager hoped things weren't about to get confusing like with his grandfather. The boy really didn't think that he could handle any more vague mystery words at the moment.

"Even before your father said anything… I guess I've always kind of suspected," Her hand pats his comfortingly, "call it a mother's intuition."

Michael was lost, "Suspected what mom?"

She sighed, "You became interested in dating but Marko…" She trailed off only to quickly find the words again, "and then he didn't want his hair cut. He'd been fighting me on that since he was a little boy."

That was true but what did Marko's hair have to do with anything Michael wondered.

"And the clothes... most boys don't customize their outfits so much; it could be his artist side shining through? Not that there's anything wrong with caring about your appearance or well I'm just saying," She paused to gather her words once more, "Even before you showed the drawings of these young men... I'd noticed how his more-let's say human drawings tended to be mostly um... male?"

Michael's eyes got wider and wider as his mother kept going and his brain caught up, "I know it must be hard on you and I know Marko probably doesn't talk about it-" Michael jerked his hand out from under hers, "Wait," and stood up.

"Hold up, just wait… are we talking about um… Marko's… uh being ga-hmm..." His jaw snapped shut and he eyed his surroundings frantically while his hands ran through his hair nervously.

"Oh Michael… no one is here but us." She tells him standing up to comfort the panicky teen, "I know it's hard but we should be able to talk about this."

"Marko's not… he isn't." This is not the conversation he wanted to have, he wants to figure out what is up with those drawings and those bikers not talk about…

"Well, until he says so himself I won't say that he is for certain but Michael if he ever talks to you about this try to stay calm. He is your brother and there's nothing... wrong about how he feels."

Michael sighed, yes this is the conversation he's having right now.

"He already has… kinda." He mumbled the last bit, "He has?" Her surprise wasn't all that surprising to the dark-haired boy, "That's good, yes he should feel like he can talk about it with his family." It's obvious to Michael she's not including their father in that statement.

Could this have been what grandpa was hinting at? A dark path he shouldn't follow? Of course he wouldn't he wasn't... like that. And it kinda made sense he was old man so it wasn't very likely he'd be okay if Marko was... that way.

Lucy looked like she wanted to ask what he said to him but at the same time the woman respected Marko's privacy.

The oldest Emerson teen thought that was unnecessary given how Marko talked about his… attraction? Could it be called that?

"It's not like we really talked I mean I asked and he said something like 'It doesn't matter."

Lucy looked affronted, "Of course it does." Michael shrugged, "I don't think he meant it that way… it was weird I mean he said he was and that he wasn't and then that it didn't matter… I don't even know if he knows."

His mother seemed to consider this before nodding like it all suddenly cleared up for her, "I see, thank you Michael. I've been wanting to find the right way to talk to him about this for a while."

What did she see and why didn't he see it? Nothing made sense anymore and it was giving him a headache.

"When he wakes up I'll be sure to talk to him about it this time." Lucy tells him as she squeezes his arm in thanks.

Well, that's a conversation he wants to be as far away from as possible in fact, so is this one so he excused himself and quickly retreated to safer ground.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Safer ground turned out to be outside, the teenager needed the air and the best way he knew to get that was to take a drive.

The ride on his bike gave him plenty of that much needed air but not the peace Michael had hoped to find.

That's why he found himself walking the boardwalk looking for three faces he was frankly sick of looking at today. How Marko could draw them so much and not get tried of them was beyond him.

The bigger question that plagued him though was why was he still hung up on this?

Michael knew he should just let it go.

So why couldn't he?

After a frustrating hour of wandering aimlessly he was really tired of all this already but just as he made up his mind to return home the dark-haired teen saw a face he hadn't been looking for.

Star.

And she was yet again on the arm of another guy, this one and the last looked similar enough and after leaning back and watching their interactions he understood.

She had a type.

Star liked bad boys.

And one's that didn't treat her all that well from the looks of it but she'd just smile and laugh it off as he watched.

During their date Michael had been a gentleman.

Polite and respectful.

Nice, and a girl like Star didn't want to date nice guys.

Marry one day maybe but date? Obviously not.

With a wistful sigh he turned to leave as he had planned to only to have her voice stop him, "Michael," He had already turned and his back was to her, had he not frozen up perhaps he could have pretended to have not heard her call.

But he had so reluctantly he half turned, to his dismay she was approaching him. Fortunately not with her new guy as he was just standing there having a cigarette looking like he could care less that she was approaching him.

"Michael, I'm glad I ran into you." Her tone made him almost believe her.

That makes one of us.

He raised an eyebrow and wondered if there was anything he could say that wouldn't come off as rude, though she might actually like it if he were.

"Look I just wanted to apologize for um well, ditching you that day." She tucked some of her hair behind her ear and smiled up at him, "I could have gone about that better." Her expression was sincerely regretful looking.

"Okay… apology accepted." He said as sincerely as he could in response, probably not as good as hers but he wasn't the best liar.

Can I go now? Is what he wanted to say next but once again he held back. His manners to ingrained into his being to do much else.

"Oh, that's a relief. I had hoped we could be friends." Star twisted her hands together in a nervous manner.

Was her offer for real or was she just a good actor? Before he would've said the former but after Star left him after 'going to powder her nose' and he found her hanging off another guy; she seemed less sweet and innocent now.

Not that he would mind if she wasn't either of those but the girl could've been upfront about things and ended their date in a much more amenable way.

"Sure… friends sound good." He agreed not really expecting to see her again, "Shake on it?" Star held out her delicate hand as a peace offering; he accepted it mainly to humor her.

Her current guy called out to her and they drop hands, "Well, I should go," He nodded, "It was great seeing you again." She tells him, Michael is about to say a standard 'you too' or something along those lines when a thought occurs to him.

"Actually do you have a second?" She paused and looked over at her 'boyfriend' before holding up a hand, "For you I have a whole minute." Star smiled cutely, he gave a passable grin back and reached into his jacket to the sketchpad all the while trying not to imagine how angry Marko is gonna be for the condition he's returning it in.

"I was curious if you recognize any of these guys," Right away he showed her the mullet-haired individual, "Yes, I've seen him around here a few times." Her eyes roam the page before adding, "That's a very good likeness from what I can tell."

When her eyes meet his there's a question in them and the earlier conversation with his mother makes him nervous and quick to say, "I didn't draw it."

"Oh, who did?" Her curiosity and his uneasiness make the lie come out before he even stopped to think about it, "My sister."

"Huh, I remember you mentioned you brothers but you didn't tell me about your talented sister." He wondered if she saw through his lie and he suddenly understood the phrase sweating bullets.

"Not much to tell," The boyfriend called out again impatiently this time, "I doubt that, but I really should go now."

"Yeah… but um where does this guy hang out do you know?" Star's lips quirked upward, "For your sister?" Without waiting for an answer the girl added, "All around the boardwalk and the beaches. I've never seen them in the same place but they're always out at night so if you want to find them look after the sun sets."

"Night owls then?" That actually seemed to fit them.

"Practically vampires from what the rumor mill says." Star flipped her hair and he asked, "Rumor mill?" Before she can say any more her boyfriend is there grabbing her arm and pulling her away with a glare in his direction.

A clear 'she's mine' in the look alone.

"Sorry, see you around Michael!" She called back before quickly attempting to sooth her boyfriend's ruffled feathers.

Normally he wouldn't stand for seeing someone treat a lady like that but from what he'd seen earlier she seemed to like being manhandled if all the giggling was any indication.

What she saw in mister personality he didn't know or care to anymore.

Rolling back up the sketchpad he tucked it back into his jacket and sat on a nearby bench to think.

Michael had at least gotten an idea of when he could find the bikers if not where.

Sighing the dark-haired boy wondered again if he should just let it all go, it was honestly more trouble than it was worth.

What was he going to find out by showing them the pictures his brother drew of them? They would likely think him and probably Marko were weridos, maybe stalkers with how accurate the drawings seemed to be. The teen hadn't gotten that good of a look at them the night before, had it not been for the sketches in his jacket he could have just as easily walked by them again and not noticed.

Okay that was a bit of an exaggeration, he would notice them. But afterward he would pass by them without another thought just like everyone else seemed to do.

If he went home now and forgot about all this then he may be able to avoid the awkward encounter and smooth things over with Marko, but if he went through with this and actually found them tonight?

Marko would be livid if he found out.

Not only that but if he found out Michael had panicked and called him a girl because he was worried that he's drawings might make others think he was gay…

Michael should just pick out a headstone because Marko would kill him for one of those things and he did both. Well, he hadn't yet showed the drawings to the bikers… but he'd come this far.

Why not at least see if he could find them tonight?

If not maybe that would be a sign to drop it.

Not that Michael believed in things like divine intervention or fate, shit happens or it doesn't.

That simple.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Marko woke up with a crick in his neck but at least he felt more rested and ready to deal with Michael and his inquiries. Part of him is kicking himself for telling Michael the truth even if he knows the other boy wouldn't buy it.

After a quick look it seemed his twin wasn't anywhere to be seen. Well, never let it be said that the once-vampire didn't procrastinate whenever able.

Marko was cleaning up and putting away the that Michael had carelessly pulled out of his boxes and left scattered when his mother entered the room. He glanced up briefly to see her with a cup of tea in hand and a determined expression on her face, great she wanted to talk. He could easily avoid it like he had been since their fall out over her husband but as petty as the now-human could be even he was getting bored with it.

"Marko, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

The blond didn't stop his task, "Tell away."

The boy heard her sigh, "I'd really appreciate it if you gave me your full attention."

Marko paused and frowned, he had hoped she would say her peace and then leave him be. That it would be that simple to clear the air between the two of them.

However, this was either a conversation about feelings or he'd done something wrong. The ex-vampire wasn't in the mood for either but plopped down on the couch to get it over with.

Like ripping off a bandage.

"Okay you have my full attention."

She smiled taking a seat beside him before taking a small sip of her tea, she only drinks it to calm her nerves. Meaning Lucy's nervous about something; so feelings it is. His least favorite part of humanity. What made him think staying human was a positive thing?

The nap had been sorely needed, Marko hated being human and he couldn't afford to forget that again. Even if it was more bearable this time around, it didn't make it something he wanted to keep.

"Marko, I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything." Her words are spoken sincerely as she looked at him imploringly.

Oh, she wants a confession.

For the life of him he can't think what he's done that needed admitting to.

After a beat passes he just shrugged "Yeah, I know." Well, kinda. This is really something that applies more to her other sons. He doesn't want to argue or guilt trip her though so he doesn't add that.

Her eyes dim a bit with his words though and he can't shake the feeling that he disappointed her, it's annoying. Marko shouldn't care if he's a disappointment, it's not like she hasn't disappointed him on more than one occasion.

She takes a slow sip of tea, swallows, then takes a deep breath.

"I had a talk with Michael earlier and well, he let me know of how… conflicted you are about something."

Marko had no idea what she was going on about, what had that idiot said to her?

Of course, it was Michael's fault it's always him.

"I don't know what he said but I'm not conflicted about anything." He denied.

Lucy smiled warmly, "It's okay to not have all the answers right away."

"What are you talking about?" Marko asked with barely concealed annoyance.

"I guess I'll just come out and say it… Marko it's okay if you're different. I love you; I'll always love you." She pats his knee and Marko nearly has a miniature crisis in his head before realizing she can't possibly be talking about what really makes him different from his family.

"Mom, I still don't know what all this different and mushy love stuff you're going on about is… not that I don't appreciate it." He tacked on the last bit as an afterthought to not hurt her feelings.

Taking another deep breath Lucy says, "I'm saying it's okay if you're... gay."

"Huh?" Marko blinked.

He stared at her open expression for a beat and then it finally clicked.

The teen laughed.

"Marko?" Her tone was worried and he didn't blame her as his eyes had tears leaking from in them. He was laughing so much he might bust a gut.

It'd been a long time since he was caught so off guard and well, all this stress about him being gay? It was funny.

"Marko!?" She nearly dropped her tea when he lost his balance and fell off the couch which made him laugh all the more.

Lucy looked on not knowing what to do in the situation, her son seemed have fallen into hysterics.

Thankfully before she could get her wits about her and do something like get him some 'help' he calmed down and was reduced to taking in deep calming breaths himself while sprawled out on the floor.

"M-Marko?" Lucy questioned warily as if her words would set off another fit.

"S-sorry," Marko breathed out once he was able, "I just w-wasn't expecting… that."

"I see," she didn't but was grateful that her son had calmed down.

They sit in silence while he catches his breath a bit more all the while thinking that laughing like this as a vampire didn't have the drawback of having to do so.

Lucy sipped on her tea during this time with slightly unsteady hands.

"So… Michael told you I was gay huh?" He finally asked not bothering to get up from the floor.

"No… I had already thought you might be even before he showed me the pictures of those young men." She explained not wanting him to blame Michael for the sensitive topic they were discussing.

"Huh? So what my clothes, hair, or was it your ex-husband that-" He shot upright, "What pictures?"

"Oh the drawings of those young men with the very interesting hairstyles. But no it wasn't any one thing that-" He cut her off, "Michael showed you those, why?"

What was that idiot twin of his up to? And why involve their mother in it?

"He's worried about you… I know it's not going to be easy for you with people like your father out there but-" Marko tuned out the rest not caring, instead he stood up and left the room uncaring of how that would seem to Lucy.

His search of the house was more thorough this time but there was no trace of the other teenager.

"Marko?" Lucy had caught him coming down the stairs looking on in concern, "Where's Michael?" He asked not having the time or patience to baby her.

"He went into town earlier today. If you want to talk to him I'm sure he'll be back in time for dinner." Lucy's words are understanding, she must think he wanted to have a heart to heart about the wonders of being gay or some other nonsense with Michael.

"Did you say dinner, I'm starving!" Sam said bouncing down the stairs with Nanook at his heels.

Marko moved just enough so the energetic teen didn't run into his back but his mind was on what Michael had said before.

"Fine, don't tell me but I will figure this out."

There was a background conversation between his mom and Sam but he didn't hear it, might as well have been white noise.

"...I will figure this out."

What had he meant by that, there was nothing to find out. The only one who could answer any of his questions about those drawings was him.

There was no one else he could ask.

But he had.

He'd asked mom.

Who else did he ask… who else would he ask?

"Sam," he interrupted, "did Michael ask you about any of my drawings today?"

Ignoring his mother's questioning gaze he gave his attention to his younger brother, "Yeah, some drawings of some guys then I showed him Super Sam. And we both agree you should make a cover and a sequel oh, and the last page you didn't-"

Marko hurried away and was out the door barely catching his mom's question of 'where are you going?'

The blond was mounting his bike when his mom came running out after him; unfortunately for her he was already on the road before he'd noticed her. And once he did he didn't acknowledge her.

Marko's mind was racing.

Was Michael dumb enough to track them down to question them about his drawings?

Unfortunately he was.

It could be played off. It was weird for sure and could hurt his chances of being anything more than a meal but only if they only saw their human facades. But if Michael showed them one of the drawings depicting their true faces?

He was as good as dead.

They both were.

"Damnit Michael!" His curse lost to the wind as he sped to the boardwalk hoping to arrive in time.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Michael almost couldn't believe his eyes, he found them and shortly after the sun went down too.

Hardly any wait in that regard.

It was almost anticlimactic but he wouldn't look a gift-horse in the mouth or whatever that saying was.

Still, as he followed the group through the crowds grateful they weren't riding their bikes instead Michael wondered how he was supposed to approach them.

He'd had all day to think about this but mostly he just kept second guessing and wondering 'what now?' Then winging it. It had worked so far for the most part.

But at the same time what had he really learned from it?

Nothing coherent or related to what he was actually investigating, why did he think confronting these guys would change that.

In fact, he was probably just gonna embarrass himself. Though after his conversation with his mother hours earlier he doesn't think anything could be as uncomfortable.

Michael quickly realized he not only lost himself when his mind wondered away but also lost sight of the bikers. A quick scan of the crowd lead him to believe he missed whatever chance he had until a hand on his shoulder caused him to jerk only the grip tightened and pulled him back out of the crowd and into a secluded corner a few feet back.

The dark-haired teen spins around to see the mullet-haired man whose face he was sure he was close to memorizing by now, "Did I scare you?" He asked with a slight tilt of his lips, "Um, more like startled." Michael admitted sheepishly.

The hand is still on his shoulder as Michael's maneuvered easily further away from the people on the boardwalk. The teen can tell that it's a good spot to see the passing people but unless they look for it it's at just the right or wrong angle for them to see into it.

It was a prefect place to commit a crime without notice Michael noted.

"Well, perhaps you should be more aware of your surroundings." His suggestion hinted at something and instantly the boy knew that the bleach-blond before him was aware he'd been following them for the last several minutes.

"Yeah… I'll work on that." The grip on his shoulder tightened a bit before it fell off, "Good, can't be too careful especially around these parts… people tend to go missing."

Was he warning Michael or threatening him? It sounded like it could be either, how did he pull that off?

Michael tried for a nonchalant in response, "I've noticed the posters," but he's unsure how well he pulled it off.

The other two were watching from deeper in the shadows. They have yet to say anything, but just from this short interaction Michael is sure that the mullet-haired one must be the leader of their little gang.

"So, since you were following us you must want something, what is it?" The leader asked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

It makes him recall earlier that day with Star and her 'bad boy' boyfriend.

This guy was Star's type.

Michael had no idea why he was thinking that right now.

The bleach-blond put the cigarette to his mouth and held his hand out in a way that clearly said he expected one of those two behind him to hand him something.

The dark-haired biker obliged by pulling out a lighter and tossing it at the other with amazing accuracy. What was even more impressive was that the leader caught it without turning to look. His hand flipped the lighter around in-between his gloved fingers before he used it light the cigarette still perched between his lips.

After he takes a long drag and blows it back out the leader raises an eyebrow, "Well, I'm waiting."

This was a stupid idea but he's too stubborn to back down now.

Even if he can practically taste the danger in the air.

It rightly tastes like cigarette smoke.

"Right, so this is gonna sound weird…" He trailed off second guessing himself once again, "Go on." The young man before him waved his hand making the smoke spread into his space, he barely stopped himself from waving it away.

That would be rude and Michael had better survival instincts than to insult the biker in front of him.

Deciding to bite the bullet and stop second guessing himself because that's not him, it's really not. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the rolled up sketchpad.

"These were drawn by my brother… the one I was with last night." He unrolled the pad and extended it to the blond in front of him. Said blond stares at it curiously before grabbing it and flipping it open all in one fell swoop.

"Hmm," His eyes dance around the page, "he's a good artist but is there a point to this?"

Michael almost smacked himself remembering the other picture near the start, birds, cemeteries and whatever else… he'd spent so much time focusing on their pictures that he forgot about any others.

"There is… you see there's pictures of the three of you in there." Yes, Michael that cleared things up he chastised himself.

The young man looked up and he let out a little amused chuckle, "Oh, really?"

"Is there one of me, can I see?" The one he'd dubbed 'hyena' asked moving in closer throwing an arm around his mullet-haired leader as he did, even the quiet one seemed curious as he moves closer to take a look.

The bleach-blond leafed through the pages with more care than Michael would think the leather-looking gloves would allow for.

"I'm not really explaining this very well… those drawings weren't made after he met you."

The young man stopped mid-turn intrigued and waited for Michael's next words, "He drew them before… I know that's crazy sounding but I remember seeing these before we moved here."

He turned the page once more and stopped looking at it, "Oh, man I'm hot!" The hyena man whistled while checking out the page that Michael supposed had his likeness. He decides against saying anything about the hyena's vain commentary.

"And just what does your brother say about these?" The leader asked curiously as he turned the page ignoring the other's whine to 'go back to him.'

"First he told me that I was wrong, that they're new. But even if I did remember wrong he's got more pictures of the three of you that aren't in that book. There's no way he made them all in one night."

He was just waiting for them to laugh and call him crazy now, just saying it out loud made him realize how farfetched his story was.

Their leader looked up from the page again, "And what did he say when you told him that?"

Michael shrugged, "He made up something outlandish to get me to back off."

If they didn't think him crazy yet then spouting off Marko's story would surely change their minds.

"And so you tracked us down to do what?" He asked as his fingers turned the page again and froze.

His expression darkened and the others soon had a similar look.

"What was this outlandish story?" The previously silent dark-haired man asked seeing as the other two had suddenly become deadly quiet.

Michael didn't know what they were so upset about so despite his instincts telling him to move away not towards he did the opposite.

Once close enough to peer down at the drawing he saw, it was the leader looking like a monster. Damn, he should've removed that. It's not the first time Marko's drawings offended someone and probably wouldn't be the last.

"Oh, sorry about that Marko tends to draw a lot of dark stuff like that…" They didn't look appeased so he tried again, "...I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it."

"I'm sure." The leader seemed to find his voice and smiled darkly, "Now as Dwayne asked before what was this story he told you that you dismissed?"

"Um, nothing really." He took a step back suddenly feeling like there was a chill in the air.

The leader's smile widened, "Indulge us, you've come this far."

"That's true..." Michael said and steeled himself to answer the young man. He was overreacting nothing was wrong and there was nothing left to lose.

"I think it was something about being reborn? Meeting you three in another life... total sci-fi bullshit obviously." Michael told them, suddenly sounding less sure of his words as the atmosphere got denser.

"You should try to be more open minded," The leader snapped the book shut and handed it to the one he called Dwayne who took it without question, "after all," his face shifted, "he did draw us with amazing accuracy."

Michael's eyes widened as he took in the horrifying sight of the blond leader's face.

It was as if Marko's drawing had come to life in before him.

Michael tried to scream, speaking, anything but was unable.

Backing away didn't work either, his legs wouldn't work.

Pain erupted behind his eyes.

Then everything went dark.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Dwayne sighed, "You shouldn't have hit him so hard Paul... he's bleeding."

Paul shrugged, "He'll live," he looked to the other blond, "Unless you don't want him to I'm always up for a midnight snack."

He crouched down beside the unconscious teen on the ground and ran a hand through his hair in a gentle fashion before pulling back and raising his bloodstained glove to his lips for a taste.

"David?" Dwayne questioned, "No, not yet." He stands and motions for Paul to grab the teen.

"Now what?" Paul asked as he threw the unconscious human over his shoulder.

"Now," David paused his face returning to his human mask, "we wait and see if his brother comes to us."

"Do you really think he knows us? Like are other lives really real?" Paul curiously tilted his head.

Dwayne looked mildly intrigued with the idea and David could already see the pile of books that would be accumulating in the cave on the subject.

"I suppose we'll find out when we meet him again." David tells them off-handedly.

Paul trailed after the two through the back alleyways, there was a reason they selected the spot they had. It was an easy area to get rid of bodies or just bring them along in this case, "Okay, where do we wait?"

"Where else?" David looked at the two, "If he knows us enough to have our faces memorized then he should know where to find us, shouldn't he?"

Paul shrugged nearly dropping the human he forgot he was carrying in the process and Dwayne agreed.

"Then let's go home."

Author's Note: Grandpa Emerson's flashback was in his head; he didn't tell Michael any of that in case it was unclear.

Also, the whole dancing around Marko's sexuality and anything gay related including the word well it is the 80s. And the dad was bigoted asshole and they did grow up under his roof so I'm sure they heard things from him if not from idiots in the general public. All things considered Mike and Lucy are handling it pretty well not that Marko's even confirmed if he's gay or not but his non-answers pretty much confirm it to them poor Marko good thing he doesn't care what conclusions they arrive at.

Also, if you're wondering why he's beating around the bush, cause he's Paul-sexual ;)