InvisiBilly paused at the normie household. His backpack heavy with Jackson's stolen chemicals.
It occurred to him briefly that he was doing a lot for his new friend.
Jackson owed him a lot.
He glanced for any security measures the house might have, and put his ear to the door listening for any sounds from within.
He wished Scarah was with him. She could scan the whole house and let him know if he was being detected.
He slid the key, Jackson had given him, into the locks, being scareful to unlock them as quietly as possible. Trying to lift the door a little as he opened to prevent any creaking.
Pausing as he closed it.
But the house remained quiet.
All he could hear was his own heartbeat pounding from the break in. And luckily no unwarned dogs came to bark at him.
Downstairs was dark, and he crept around only as much as he needed to. Checking the couch for anyone who may have carelessly fallen asleep downstairs. But just a large camping-type backpack, and a man's jacket rested in the living room.
There was a slight smokey smell in the house as if someone had burnt dinner earlier, but it had dissipated by now.
InvisiBilly crept up the stairs, pausing anytime he heard the faintest of creaks before skipping the steps that did. Pausing at the dark hallway, wishing he could see better in the dark. Stopping as he realized something else.
He didn't know which room was Jackson's. He should have asked. Well or Jackson should have given him a map or something.
He was an only child though right? Couldn't be too hard…
Based on the layout there was a room that felt more separate, so probably the master.
The hallway had a few more doors, one that was partially open, and he could tell was the bathroom. He popped open a closet before landing on the remaining door. A dark room and the slight smell of a teenager's body spray or something of that ilk. This had to be it.
He slid in silently.
At least it shouldn't be occupied… as he flicked on his phone light.
He could see Jackson's messy desk. Holt's guitar in the corner of the room. Some graded homework, clothes, and sticky-notes piled on top of each other in different handwriting.
He set down the backpack unzipping it to reveal all the liquids they'd stolen. He didn't feel the need to be as quiet now that he was in an empty room and he was fairly certain Jackson's mom was asleep.
Glancing at the desk thinking about where to set the chemicals down.
It'd have to be somewhere his mom wouldn't immediately notice if she walked in.
He moved his phone light to Jackson's bed to see if the underside was already overstuffed with teenage clutter.
But heard a vocalization, and shuffle of sheets.
InvisiBilly's heart nearly stopped as his phone light swept onto a normie-ish colored arm, leading to a red headed adult man in Jackson's bed. He fumbled to flick it off, crouching and rezipping the backpack to rehide it's invisible contents.
There was more shuffling of sheets as the person woke up. InvisiBilly backed himself into a wall, mentally cursing as his shoe rustled some paper on the ground. He lifted his foot and tried his best to push himself into a clearer nook that wouldn't reveal his invisible presence.
Hearing the person on the bed stretch, and shuffle.
Hopes of him staying asleep dashed as he heard and faintly saw him sit up. A light appeared on the nightstand. The man checking the time on his phone. He squinted into the darkness as if something had woken him up.
Like for example: the loud sound of a backpack zipper, a boy clomping around the room, a phone flashlight or paper rustling!
InvisiBilly sweat, thinking over his list of ways he hadn't been cautious enough.
But then with a fwoosh the room was bathed in orange-yellow light of fire.
The man that InvisiBilly had thought was normie, now had glowing white eyes, and his hair had turned into flame that lit up the room. What he thought was normie-white skin was tinged more yellow in the light, and pointed ears came into view with the new light source.
He looked a lot like Heath, with stubble, and different features. And well… older.
Fire elemental.
The glowing eyes squinted looking at the room. Looking directly through InvisiBilly. Then put his feet on the ground and slid out of bed. Leaving the room and taking the light with him.
InvisiBilly heard a door open and close down the hall. And heart racing realized he should probably get out of there now.
Unzipping the backpack quickly and shoving all the chemicals upright under Jackson's bed.
Just the brief presence of fire had warmed Jackson's bedside, and InvisiBilly was realizing he should have asked Jackson a few more questions about his family life.
InvisiBilly took hearing a toilet flush as his cue to get out of there. Rezipping his much lighter backpack now, and creeping down the hallway. Barely making it to the stairs as the man, still lit up, came out of the hall bathroom and went back to Jackson's room.
He waited on the stairwell just a couple minutes longer. Until his legs couldn't stand to keep him there anymore. Half hopping down the stairs to not risk any creaks.
He twisted the inside lock and got out of that house as fast as he could. Doing his best to muffle every door he closed.
His heart was racing so he jogged down the street. Letting his nervous energy out as he glanced back at the human household so quaintly contrasted to Dracula's mansion nearby.
Holt woke up in what he recognized as Heath's hall bathroom.
He sat up to a piece of paper on his chest.
He squinted at it, taking off Jackson's annoying glasses for a second. On the note was an explanation from his mild mannered nerd form. Something about getting the rest of what they needed... something something chemicals... How he just needed time to make it… something something about destroying the note when he was done reading it etc.
Why wasn't Jackson taking over his morning then?
He looked at the room for clues. Jackson's book bag was beside him looking like he'd been cleaning it out. But Holt could put two and two together. Looked like a mad scramble to find a nonexistant iCoffin charger, checking his phone to see a black screen.
Just ran out of batteries he guessed. That explained the rushed handwriting near the end of his note.
He stood up to check himself in the mirror, smirking at some writing on Jackson's face.
So the guys had decided to get some creepover pranks in at his expense, huh?
Well two could play at that game.
Creeping back into Heath's room he held a popcorn sized bowl of ice, and looked at the three mansters snoozing.
He wasn't sure who did the deed to his own mug but it was customary to do something back right?
Besides. He thought.
As he took out scissors and got to work on Clawd's hair.
Werewolf hair grows back super fast right?
When Holt was satisfied it looked like a lawnmower had attacked his friend he moved on to Deuce.
The gorgon slept with a face mask on and all the snakes seemed to be drooped asleep too.
Holt took out a marker about to doodle on him when he considered.
No way would he stone him before Cleo's party.
Then again…
He got closer and heard hissing, the snakes sensing his presence and beginning to move.
Did Deuce's hair have venom?
He capped the marker deciding not to test that.
Picking up his bowl of ice he popped into the bathroom to dump it on Gil, and then scoop up water in the same bowl.
Walking back to his cousin sound asleep in his own bed. He rested the unbalanced water atop a pillow and waited for Heath's weight to shift it onto his face.
Going back to his own sleeping area and covering himself in blankets he waited for the chaos to reign.
Heath was first.
He heard the splash of the unbalanced bowl sliding onto Heath, and a shout of distress. Then the hiss of steam as Heath flamed up in surprise but couldn't get the fire going.
"Hey!" He shouted, waking the room "Who!? What?"
Clawd sat up awake, confused as hair fell onto his chest and lap and stuck to his mouth as he opened it to say something equally offended.
Deuce felt around for his shades, as they heard a curse from the bathroom, and the splash of Gil hopping out of the tub. Coming into the room wrapped in a towel shivering.
"W-who put ICE in my water!" he screeched looking at everyone else.
To him, Heath all wet, 'Jackson' with his face drawn on, Clawd with a new haircut, and Deuce seemingly unfazed.
Holt jumped in trying to join the group. Pointing at his hand.
"Hey! Yeah! Who drew a dick on me?"
Heath continued to fizzle, "There's more on your face…" he snerked.
Holt knew that already but pretended to check his reflection in his blank phone.
Clawd looked at everyone.
"Hey!" he looked at the unafflicted teen "Deuce is the only one not-pranked!"
"Huh?" Deuce looked at everyone, then himself "That checks out. In my experience though. No one ever tries to prank me."
He put his fingers to his sunglasses for emphasis.
He shrugged "Besides, if I wanted to prank you guys I'd probably just, I don't know, stone your socks or something."
Holt smiled and pointed at Deuce "No way dude! It was totally you!"
"Ugh my bed is all wet now!" Heath whined.
"What else is new?" Clawd snorted. Then got up to check his hair in the bathroom, pushing past a shivering Gil who was at least slightly glad the Burn's kept their house so warm.
Going to put his day clothes back on at the very least.
The arguing and accusations continued on and off until Heath's mom opened the door smiling.
"I made pancakes!" she sang, then paused seeing them all in their various states of distress "Wow geez, what happened to you guys?"
All was forgiven and forgotten over breakfast. Clawd confirmed that his hair did grow back pretty fast but he'd probably even it out for the party.
Heath was ok once he stole his towel back from Gil.
Deuce continued to maintain his innocence. And all five boys stuffed their faces full of slightly burnt pancakes and bacon.
Although Clawd almost knocked over the table when the doorbell rang.
Holt's aunt went to answer while the others held Clawd back from running to the door, ears erect and looking anxious.
Holt was still getting used to being able to hear subtle things. And the murmur of a new voice at the door sounded familiar. He was still caught off guard when a yellowish man followed his aunt back to the kitchen, stealing bacon off of his plate.
He looked up and almost choked.
"Dad!"
"Uncle Kelvin!" Heath grinned, standing up to give him a flaming hug, and excitedly ask how he was doing.
Jackson and Holt's father looked at the other boys curiously. He himself was an almost normie-passing fire elemental. Red hair, sharp ears, just like Heath. But his eyes were a darker yellow, almost brown if you were mistaking him for human.
"I just came to pick Jackson up" he stated, ruffling Holt's hair "He wasn't answering his phone."
"It's dead" Holt shrugged.
Deuce gave a little wave "Nice to meet you Mr. …" he looked at Holt then back to his dad "...Jekyll?"
Holt's dad gave a quick sharp laugh "Ah not quite."
"Mr. Burns" Clawd nodded guessing.
He laughed more at that "Oh man and have Hot-Bun's name?" he jabbed a thumb in the direction of Heath's father who was just now walking in for breakfast.
Who grunted in response, not looking pleased that his brother-in-law was here suddenly.
"...Hyde?" Gil squinted trying to figure it out too.
Jackson's dad just raised an eyebrow at that and cleared his throat giving a sarcastic bow.
"Degree, actually. Kelvin Degree. But you can just call me Mr. Jackson's dad. Or Mr. Kelvin. Or Mr. Degree."
Heath's dad mumbled something that Holt swore was along the lines of:
"Or just deadbeat"
Until his wife elbowed him.
The boys looked as if they wanted to say something more, but didn't out of politeness. So Holt confirmed it for them.
"They're not married." He said flatly as if it was boring every day news.
"Oh." Clawd looked at his friends "Cool?"
A slight awkwardness ensued, before Dad put his hand on Holt's shoulder.
"Again I'm just here to take Jackson home. I noticed his car was at the house, and I happened to be in town. Thought I might as well swing by. See Celsius and her Hot-Buns over here!"
Heath's dad grunted again, taking his coffee and leaving the room.
Holt grinned and went to grab his stuff. Scarfing breakfast down as his dad caught up with his sister.
Holt pushed the remaining food to his werewolf friend.
"What? Really?" Clawd asked happily taking the rest of his plate "Alright!"
"He noticed you begging…" Gil mumbled with a smirk and raised eyebrow. But Clawd didn't seem to take any offense.
"Just gotta…" Holt's dad was halfway into the passenger seat of his car "Move some stuff…" he grunted.
Pushing fast food bags, receipts, and a clutter of junk into the equally messy back seat.
Holt's feet crunched on some empty soda bottles, as he crammed his bag in the remaining space and closed the door.
Habitually his hand went to the radio as his dad started up the car. But he remembered and pulled it back. Annoyed again that he was in this situation still.
Especially on a dad visit too, he would prefer to be able to enjoy this time a little.
"So Jackson!" His dad began as they pulled out of his cousin's driveway "How's uh… school!"
Holt's brain thought of their week, but he didn't think he would answer honestly anyway.
"It's cool." he brushed off giving his dad a thumbs up. Not that Dad noticed as his father's eyes were more focused on the road.
He glanced at his dad. A little pinker than Heath. Beside the pointed ears, he looked human.
With Holt in this body they looked like a normal father and son pair in here.
Holt smirked a little. He hadn't realized his dad would be in town, but knew how it usually went.
"How'd mom react to you visiting?"
"Ah! You know her" he waved it off "I gave her a heads up. I think she missed me."
"It's cool dad" Holt laughed a little "I actually missed you."
He pushed his seat back a tad and kicked his feet up on the dash.
"Thanks kiddo" his dad raised an eyebrow but said nothing of his mannerisms. He tapped on the steering wheel "So I was wondering if you wanted to maybe catch a movie with me tonight or something. Whaddaya say?"
"That sounds fangtastic actually but…" Holt frowned "Um. I actually have a gig tonight. So I can't."
"Oh well, I wouldn't want to get in the way of Holt's work."
"Er yeah it's actually kind of a big one too so…" He felt a tad guilty. It wasn't every day his dad was staying with them. "Will you be here next weekend?"
"Oh I'm not sure." he smiled "I can try though! Slightly depends on your mom…"
There was a pause before his dad cleared his throat.
"How is Holt anyway?"
Holt snorted "Haha uh… terrific. I mean I assume. It's not like I pay any attention to him. Or listen to him. In fact I almost missed this gig, but luckily we have a planner and junk so it worked out."
"Oh uhm, maybe you should listen to him more.. then?" his dad sounded confused like his son was maybe being sarcastic but he couldn't tell. He felt like he was missing a joke somewhere.
"Oh no I'm much too busy with my own life." Holt rolled his eyes, then picked up on how uncomfortable his dad seemed "Haha. I mean. Kidding dad. He's cool. We're… cool. Depends on how you look at it I guess."
Holt tried to change the subject
"Creepover was fun?"
It seemed to work.
"Yeah one of the reasons I'm so glad you moved here was that you could see Heath more often." His dad noted, glancing at his surroundings then squinting at Holt.
Yeah right. Holt wondered if it had been his mom's decision to keep his side-of-life from his cousin until recently. Apparently Jackson had gotten to know about his monster family since childhood…
He noticed his dad was pulling up to a gas station about halfway home.
"Hey kiddo, could you grab my wallet I think it slid under your seat."
Holt pulled his legs back down to do as asked, but hesitated for a second as he couldn't feel a wallet past the car trash. How would it even slide under here with all this junk in the way… unless…
He realized too late what a trap it was as his dad guiltily turned on the radio.
"You ok there bud?" Jackson's dad asked him as he was suddenly in a car.
His dad's car.
Tense and sitting up with eyes wide from the sudden transformation.
"O-oh! Dad!" Jackson looked around "Where are… what are we doing? I didn't know you were in town. Er- uh, hi!"
His dad was pulling to a temporary parking space, some rock station on the radio now. Jackson got a hair ruffle and was tossed a lighter. For a minute he assumed it came from the gas station they were apparently at, but he had an odd feeling that wasn't true.
He flicked it on and off out of habit.
Except it wasn't a habit.
Jackson often found lighters in his room; it made him paranoid that his other half was smoking or something. But he never hacked up a lung or seemed to have nicotine cravings so assumed he had dodged that bullet for now.
He looked at his dad as he began to pull back onto the road.
Was this where Holt kept getting lighters from?
That wasn't super fair. At least Holt could burn things sometimes, Jackson was the one that needed the most help flame-elemental-wise. Guess his dad did just see him as a normie after all.
"Yeah it wasn't super planned. You know how our side of the family is more spontaneous than your mom or Jackson."
Jackson wrestled with the thought that either half of him had 'sides of the family'. But his genetics had sort of split down the middle he guessed.
Huh, and his dad felt like he was speaking to the monster side.
It had its perks so far.
He flicked the lighter on again, poking at it with a finger to test how flame resistant he was.
"So Jackson tells me you have a gig tonight. So I was wondering if you'd be down for a movie or something tomorrow."
"Oh tomorrow?" Jackson mentally flipped through his schedule "I'm busy. I'm sorry dad."
"With what?"
"Oh I have…" Jackson looked out the window "A … date…?"
"What!?" As they pulled to a stop sign his dad gave him a friendly punch to the shoulder "Aw that's my boy! Who's the lucky ghoul? Do I know her?"
"Why would you know her?"
"You've told me about some of your friends." he pointed out a recognisable house "Like the uh werewolf girl. Let's see the sea monster one…"
They turned onto their own street seeing Dracula's mansion looming across from their house
"Dracula's daughter."
"None of them" Jackson coughed feeling warm again, he flicked the lighter nervously a few more times "Um but she is dead. Or uh, undead. Revived… She's uh… I like her a lot. She was one of the ones that helped me figure out about Holt- I mean Jackson. I mean us. Haha y'know?"
They pulled into their driveway but didn't get out or turn off the car, taking a moment.
"Well I guess at some point I knew I'd have to give you advice about girls." His dad stretched looking confident.
Jackson glanced at his mom's car, and then the door to their house thinking of his mom inside.
"Are you sure?"
"Pshh, your mom likes me. Or we wouldn't have had you after all."
Jackson thought about his parents' usual interactions. And smirked.
"Are you sure?"
"Heeey. That's no fair." he looked as if he was reminscincing "Obviously, at least PART of her likes me. She let me raise you after all."
"I think she just needed a babysitter."
"Well it worked. She couldn't keep me from you two anyway." His dad said "Speaking of this uh dead ghoul. She helped you figure out your double-life, so I'm assuming she's ok with … the both of you?"
Jackson's cheeks felt hot, but they were lucky regarding Frankie.
"Yeah we both like her actually…" he smiled "And I think she likes both of us the same way. Which is a relief."
He popped his collar trying his best Holt-ism, clearing his voice and trying to project more.
"I mean- I mean. Obviously I'm the favorite, but she seems to like the uh. The nerd! Too. Or something."
He gave an awkward smile.
His dad shook his head smiling.
"Oh yes. I'm sure of it." He retorted sarcastically "But don't get greedy."
"What do you mean?"
"If you sabotage Jackson, you're just setting yourself up for failure." he tried to add in a fatherly advice way.
"Heh, any other wise old sayings?"
"About women?" He looked at the door to their house too "Hm. Never give up. She'll wear down eventually. Don't call her fat, even if she is. If she's stronger than you, don't try to fight her… Oh and never tell the truth. Unless the truth is the best truth there is."
"That feels like… bad advice."
"No really trust me on this one. Well I mean tell the truth about how you feel, but things you do, money you make, places you go, hobbies, etc. It's like a game. And it's all about image when you're first asking a girl out. You gotta think about what they're thinking first. Tell them what they want to hear most of all. You got me?"
Jackson gave a weak smile and nodded.
"Great. Now let's go see if we can scrub that marker off you before your mom sees you."