Who I am…

Chapter 11

By: teal-lover

Summary: How Chris learned the cunning and duplicitous behavior we saw for over a year. Alternates between the past, unchanged future, and the changed future.

AN: Background in previous story is that something terrible happened to Chris and changed the way he saw things and learned to survive. This is the prequel/sequel to "Do You Really Want to Know", but can stand alone. Spoilers for all of season 6.

Rating: PG-13, T

Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed or any of the characters or get any money from writing this fiction.

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Bianca dumped the taller boy onto the floor after she tackled his legs. She tossed her hair out of her face angrily, and stalked over to plant her foot in his chest. "Damn it, Chris! How many times do I have to keep telling you to keep your guard up? If an opponent is shorter than you, you have to watch for openings in their space!"

Chris grimaced at the now familiar argument as he laid back on the mat. "I'm six foot three! How am I supposed to block an attack from that low to the ground?"

She dug her heel in a little harder making him squirm as he reached up to try and pry her off. "You should have used that height to bend over me and make sure that I landed on the bottom."

He narrowed his eyes and grabbed her calf suddenly, twisting to pull her down and slammed her body to the mat beside him. He reveled in the surprised grunt she made as she hit the floor and he rolled over and pinned her. "How's that?" he asked smugly, his face a few inches from hers.

"Good. Now watch for sharp objects," she grinned and materialized an athame up to his throat. "In a fight, never get close enough to an opponent so that they can surprise you with anything. You take them down, and you end it right then and there. You may not get another chance."

His rolled off her and grumbled, "I'm never gonna' get this."

"Come on Chris. Go easier on yourself. This is all still pretty new."

He stood and helped her to her feet, huffing loudly.

"Don't worry about it," she told him confidently. "The fact that you took me down at all is a testament to how far you've come. Btu I saw you hesitate when I came at you, and I know why you did it."

He was about to protest when she continued, "You're still stuck in the belief that you shouldn't hit a woman. But what did I teach you in our very first lesson?"

His hand immediately went to his side in a subconscious memory of the very painful blow she delivered him. In fact, he still got a twinge every now and then, even months later. "Don't hesitate to hit her because she sure won't hesitate to hit me."

"Exactly. I think that's enough of that for today. I want to take you somewhere."

She shimmered them both out, soon to land in a darkened tunnel when he asked, "Where are we?"

"Some old friends of my family's. She and her father are witches—or at least they used to be before they started selling their potions to the highest bidder. They are neutral and don't get in involved in anyone's disputes."

"Why don't we just shimmer there?"

"They won't allow anyone to transport near their cave anymore. They nearly got involved in an Underworld war about a decade or so ago when they still allowed it. Since then, you have to go on foot. It also prevents the temptation of a double cross."

They walked for at least a mile underground and Chris noticed that the tunnel seemed to get progressively darker and steeper the further along they got. "They sure like their privacy."

Bianca smiled as Chris's eyebrows lifted in surprise as he watched a leprechaun trudge up the steep hill and pass them. He was soon followed by a darklighter who merely glared at the young witch/whitelighter.

Chris nudged her worriedly.

"Don't worry, Chris. This tunnel is also a sanctuary because of their clientele. No one is allowed to fight or attack anyone else down here."

"Well what's to stop them if they decide to break that rule?" he asked while his eyes fell on the departing form.

"They physically can't. It's one of their best potions among others. It's also why no method of transportation other than foot will work. Even all electronic devices are deactivated around here. Look at your watch."

Chris was surprised to find that it had indeed stopped working as she indicated. That made him feel a little safer. "So why are we going there?"

"Well, not that I don't think you have a nice smile, but for the next two months, I want you to forget how to do it. It will help train you out of it. The best way to do that is one of their potions." She grinned widely, watching his blush at her compliment turn to a look a look of strong curiosity.

"How is a potion going to help?"

"You'll see. Besides, I want to get another one while you're there. It will turn your orbs black."

Chris stopped abruptly, anger darkening his features at her suggestion. "You never said anything about becoming a darklighter!" He refused to walk any further until she explained.

She sighed loudly, "And I haven't said anything about it now either. Mainly because you won't be one! The potion is only meant to be "magical make-up". It will mask the signature whitelighter in you, but it won't change who you are, therefore, allowing your orbs to turn black. That's why it can't make you shimmer, or blink, or teleport."

"Oh. Won't Wyatt have a problem with that since his are still blue?"

She shook her head confidently, "No. I told him about it. He actually thought it would be a good thing. It will help sell the idea that you're under his control and can be turned."

Chris actually thought that this was one of the better ideas she had had since she agreed to help him. During the past several months, he had traveled with Wyatt to the Underworld while he conducted business on many occasions. And it still hadn't failed to make him uneasy with so many eyes following him as if he were a rack of lamb.

Maybe that was part of the problem. They thought he was an easy kill, but wouldn't dare come near him in the elder witch's presence. He joked irritably that he had become Wyatt's lapdog, but the ever-present fear had made him stick to his brother closer than if he had been wearing an actual collar and leash. If they thought he had turned, maybe they would avoid him just as they stayed away from the Twice-Blessed Witch.

Another question dawned on him and he asked hesitantly. "How long will it last?"

She gulped and strode forward as if she hadn't heard his question. Suddenly realizing that he wasn't following, she turned reluctantly and answered. "Its permanent."

"What! No way in hell am I going to be or even look like one of Wyatt's lackys for the rest of my life."

"Don't worry. It may be in your blood, but you can learn to control it. You'll be able to turn it off and on at will. I've heard it's no more difficult than picking and choosing which powers you want to use at any given moment. Now let's go."

He followed slower this time, glaring at the back of her head until they reached the witch's layer.

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Less than an hour later, Chris tried to frown at the second bitter tasting potion that was offered to him. He started to panic as the muscles in his face didn't seem to want to cooperate. "I can'…fil…ma…faz"

The short, Asian man shot him a toothless grin before laughing wickedly. Soon, the old man doubled over roaring with laughter.

Bianca attempted a sympathetic look, but the expression failed miserably behind her own amusement while Chris kept slapping at his face to try and wake it up. He would have panicked if his face would have allow it.

"Daddy, stop that!"

Chris turned his whole body to face the newcomer. A slightly taller woman admonished her father before walking to Chris and placing a comforting hand on his back. "Don't worry. The numbness will wear off within the hour. The potion has to figure out which facial nerves to affect before it can specifically target the ones that make you smile. Then you'll be able to feel your face again. But you still won't be able to smile—at least for the next two months."

He seemed to relax a bit, then stiffened his shoulders again and tried to ask another question. "Wha…bout…eat?"

"You'll be fine. The potion will only act as an anesthetic when you try to smile. Which should be in about 45 minutes. You'll be scowling before you know it."

Bianca smirked at her long time friend, "I have a feeling he already is."

"I'm Karen, by the way," the stranger offered her hand in greeting to the young man. "And you've met my father. No one even calls him by his name anymore—he's just called the Potions Master. Don't mind him, or Bianca. They both have a wicked sense of humor that I usually just ignore."

Bianca crossed her arms and shrugged, the edges of a smile creeping up onto her face.

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An hour later, Chris could finally form the words that he had been dying to say to the Phoenix since he drank the potion. "You're gonna' pay for that."

Her brown eyes twinkled with amusement as she nodded with an appreciative glance. She leaned in and whispered so that only he could hear her. "I'm sure I will, but not until you learn to kick my ass. But in the mean time, it's good to see that scowl firmly in place. You look—intimidating."

She pulled him over to a mirror and stood beside him. "Straighten your shoulders," she ordered and began pushing and pulling at him until he stood at his full height.

Even he was impressed. He didn't think he had ever looked that hard and menacing.

"Now say it again."

He did and glared as she snickered. "Ok. We just have to work on your tone."

"What do you mean?"

"Well when you said, 'You're gonna' pay for that!', I could still hear the teasing in your voice. Either that, or somebody's been watching too many of those old Dirty Harry movies."

He looked mildly offended, "Hey those are classics."

She threw her hands up in surrender, "I know. My mom and I used to love them. It was one of the only times we did anything together besides kill," she said sadly, then shrugged as if it didn't bother her as much as obviously did. Her features hardened once again and she spun around quickly, thanking her friend and her father for their help. "Let's go Chris."

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They stood outside of the cave a short time later. "Are you ready?"

He paused for a moment before answering. For the first time in months, he began to feel different. He wasn't quite as afraid or nervous. He felt Powerful. Deadly.

With a rush of excitement, and cold, deadened features—he almost couldn't wait to see his brother. Henodded simply as she shimmered out, his black orbs trailing behind her.

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Wyatt was waiting for them when they arrived. He took in his brother's appearance with an appreciative nod. Even if he wasn't quite ready yet, at least he looked fit to rule by his side. Whatever Bianca had done for him had worked well. Christopher exuded a confidence that would well suit the brother of a king. Perhaps it was time to step up his plans.

"Well done, Bianca," then added as an afterthought, "Christopher."

He walked around the younger man and appraised his appearance again. "Chris, I will grant you your powers back. But if you even think of using them against me, I will strip them permanently. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly," he growled back, earning an amused glance from the blonde.

Wyatt again whispered a spell in his brother's ear, only this time, returning that which he took months prior. Chris swayed on his feet briefly as the intense power of the Warren line again coursed through his veins, filling him with a sudden liquid fire that he hadn't known existed to begin with. It was almost intoxicating and he breathed in deeply wondering why he hadn't noticed it before.

Wyatt smirked, answering the unspoken question in a hushed whisper as if he had read his mind. "It's because you've been without it for so long. You've never felt it before because you were born with it. The power of the Warren line is one of the most intense in existence. But I assure you, there's so much more where that came from."

The taller man backed away slowly, enjoying the feeling of watching the stubborn brunette become even the slightest bit unraveled. He could see even the briefest flash of desire for power in those blue-green eyes. He hoped it would sink in but only time would tell.

He turned and held his hand out, materializing a small slip of paper in his palm. "Bianca. I have another assignment for you."

She glanced at the brunette worriedly for a moment. She knew what happened the last time he sent her away. "Already?"

"Yes. I have business I need to attend to over the next several weeks, and I need you to get information for me. In two weeks, at the location shown, there will be card game played by several of the Underworld's most powerful demons, or their representatives most likely—poker or something like that. You will enter on my behalf. The questions to pose are also on that paper."

She took the paper, the confusion clearing showing on her features. "You want me to join a game?"

"It's not just a game. There's no money at stake. Only your life. Information I need will be passed freely to the winner. The losers forfeit their lives."

"And Chris?"

"Take him with you. You'll need someone to watch your back." He leaned over in a secretive gesture and answered with a grin, "I've heard that demons cheat."

Bianca glared at his retreating form as he headed off toward the bedroom.

"So what do we do now?" Chris asked.

"We play. Looks like you get your first real lesson."

TBC…

AN: Ok, I'm on track to finish this before the school year starts again in the fall. I've got about 2-4 chapters left, so cross your fingers. Let me know how you like it:) or not.

Thanks for reading.