2012 and we're still alive; lol!

Disclaimer: I do not own BTR

"Alone and loveless here, just the girl in the mirror, just her and me; the Wicked Witch of the East! We deserve each other..."

-Nessarose Thropp, Wicked: A New Musical

Over the past week I came to this conclusion: Unless doesn't talk much.

I guess someone who doesn't remember much wouldn't talk much.

Often I would help him. Unless became my bittersweet excuse to actually be hiding. I requested to Jo to simply tell them all I planned on betraying his miserable existence. That seemed like me. Not some charity case. I'd never let anyone know of my true intents.

I would like to think of a less saccharine reason to be doing this.

But, alas. I can't.

While I was to mind my business with Unless, I still did have a community of such to run. So today I would meet up with a half-witted thief allied with James and Carlos. His name was Jeremy. No, no I couldn't call him by his last name to intimidate him because no one knew it. It was early in the morning when I left. I'll bet the sun isn't even up yet. In my dim-lit room I pulled on a black leather jacket over the t-shirt I'd worn the night before and a pair of ripped jeans. No matter what time the day, it was a risk to go out without something covering your eyes at least.

But I lived on risks.

Stepping outside into smoke strangled air never felt so great. Breathing in the intoxicated atmosphere, I clamored up the hard concrete stairs, my old rain boots slapping down on them. I didn't think it was worth it to wake Unless up to tell him where I went. I wouldn't be gone for long.

There was a location in Detroit that all we delinquents knew about. It was an underground bar that unless you had some kind of record; you were not allowed in. It was where deals were made and drug exchanges occurred. There was about three or four fights every week there on a daily bases. If the police ever found this place we'd all be in deep.

I was restless as I walked to the bar. It was from being caged in the hideout, but I already promised Jo I'd try to stay hidden and once I've made a deal of any kind, I keep it. As I continued onward I began calculating what I was going to say to Jeremy. For starters I needed to make sure he hadn't gotten arrested recently for now that the police were hammering down on us, we were to be more careful as to the crimes we committed. Jeremy wasn't exactly careful.

In the early dawn, I turned down into the alleyway that led to the bar and turned at the maze like corners. Straight, left, right, left, straight, right. Then there was a heavy concrete door with a small peep hole. Why they made the door out of concrete I have no idea. My knuckles would redden every time I banged against it. So, knocking again against the door I thought to myself that I would have to tell the owner to replace it. A few moments passed before the door slowly opened with a chalkboard-against-nails sound.

"L-Logan, welcome back," one of the workers, a lanky man in his early twenties stammers. "You haven't been here in a while."

"Yep, well here I am," I say sheepishly, walking past him and down the stairs into a lamp-lit druggy-invested pit. Everyone freezes, whether drunk or sober, when I jump off the last step. A perfect, 'he's back...' moment.

"Mitchell!" Everyone in my way parted to reveal Jeremy sitting at the bar. He was only sixteen or seventeen but he looked much younger. Too young to be involved in this world, but everyone got an early start here. I strolled over to the empty seat and plopped down, rotating the spinning chair to face Jeremy. "You wanted to speak with me?" He inquired.

"Yes. How have you been?"

Jeremy frowned and eyed me distrusting and cautious. "What the hell do you mean, 'how have you been?'"

"Got caught by the police lately? Someone see your face while you were robbing a 7Eleven? C'mon, what? Taser got your tongue?" I pressed.

Jeremy closed his eyes, his shoulders tensing. "No and no." He opened his eyes again. Jeremy muses, "Was that all you wanted to know?"

"Not exactly," I lie. Crap, this is so unlike me for not thinking this through. I made myself sound sure of my words when I continue, "You need to be careful. You need to start being careful or else our whole community will come crashing down and we'll all be behind bars so fast you won't know what hit you. Well. You won't know until your cell mates beat you."

"You can't scare me Logan," Jeremy snickers.

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh really now?" I shrug, knowing he doesn't mean that. No one means things like that. "If you say so."

"Hmm? I-yes. Hear that!" He exclaims. "I'm not afraid of Logan Mitchell!"

Once again, everyone freezes. I smirk and rotate around to cast my gaze across the crowd, and then move back around to look at Jeremy. "I do not believe that you are convincing them." I clear my throat to keep their attention on our conversation. "Jeremy, have you been having some mental issues?"

Jeremy coughs. "What?"
"Mental issues. Or...trouble at home."

"I haven't been home since I was fourteen, Logan," Jeremy mumbles, suddenly not so tough.

"Ah, yes. Because no one would try to stand up to me unless something was going on. So. What's going on?"
Crickets. I swear I could hear crickets. Jeremy's eyes narrow. "You expect me to tell you?"

I glance around and slip of my chair. I walk to a man in his late thirties sitting at one of the tables, and rip the near empty beer bottle from his grip. I go back to Jeremy and hover the bottle over the counter, threatening to smash it. "I do actually," I say, icily. "Because your problems become all of our problems."

Jeremy watches the bottle, and voice seething acid, he says, "My cousin is missing...my cousin Kendall."

I stop wielding the bottle and rest my head on one side. "Missing. Missing how? One of these guys kidnap him?" I loosely hold the bottle over my shoulder as a gesture to them. "I can settle that."

"Kendall's father-my uncle, sells him to people to make a quick buck and he doesn't sell him to the most passionate people. Before they abuse him they'll beat him and Kendall's most recent renter hasn't returned him yet," Jeremy explains, a coldness in his eyes. "Why my uncle would do what he's done...well look the hell around…Kendall was easy to take advantage of because...he had short term memory lose."

I nearly let go of the glass in my hands. "Hmm? I-um," I clear my throat. "Well, that's unfortunate, but stay out of trouble or we'll all teach you what happens when someone puts us in danger." I whirl around again and strode off to the exit, casually letting the bottle drop, grinning at the smashing sound it makes when it hits the ground. Heading back home to the hideout I'm satisfied at my newly acquired information and relieved that Unless now has a name. As I turn out of the alleyway, my phone rings.

"What Jo?" I exhale in annoyance, answering it.

"Um, you need to get back to the hideout, now," she hisses, panicked. "Unless is freaking out!"
"Freaking out? I've only been gone for a half an hour and he was asleep, and oh I figured out Unless' name-it's Kendall, who'ta thunk, huh?"

"Who-wait, wha..." Jo trails off. "Nevermind! Just get the heck over here!"

"Fine, okay, I'm hurrying, do you hear me running? I'm running now Jo, if someone see's me and calls the cops I'm rating you out," I warn before hanging up. I don't think I'd do that though. When I reach the hideout, I knock promptly on the door, not really expecting much. I hear shouting and Jo desperately begging Unless to calm down. I knock again, stronger and rapider than before.

"Jo!" I exclaim, "Jo, open the door!"

And it was practically thrown open, the door nearly being ripped off its hinges. Jo stood before me, her blonde hair a gnarled mess falling in front of her face. She is breathing hard. "Come in," Jo snarls, through clenched teeth.

I step inside and glance around. I can't believe that just a second ago I heard screaming because Unless-ur, Kendall- is absolutely no where in sight. The only proof of a struggle was all of the eschew cushions and knocked over...everything. "Where is he?" I ask, continuing to search.

"Oh, check the kitchen floor," sighs Jo.

I nod slowly and walk over to the box-kitchen. Kendall's back is pressed against the inner corner of the 'L' counter and his knees are against his chest. He's glancing around frantically for something. Do people with short-term memory loss break down? I waved for Jo to stay back as I proceeded onward. I crouch in front of him. "Hey...Unless? Are you doin okay?"

He stops and locks onto me. "Lo-Logan?"
"Yeah," I say. "What, um. What happened?"

Kendall shakes his head and I notice suddenly that there are streams of tears sliding down his cheeks. "When you weren't here I...I didn't know what was going on then this...girl came in and I thought she was going to hurt me."

Wow, he's never talked this much.

"Jo? I thought you knew who-" I frown. "Nevermind." Kendall's green eyes flicker with fear, and I remember what Jeremy explained. I feel no doubt when I recall his supposed past that, that is where his pain origins. "Hey, Unless? Today, I was with my...buddies so to speak, and one of them knew stuff about you."

Kendall sniffs, "R-really?"

"Yes. Your name." I smile and rest a hand on his right shoulder. "It's Kendall."

"...Kendall?" He confirms. His eyes close. "It sounds right." Kendall's eyes open, teary and...tragically beautiful. "Thank you."

I rub the hand that was on his shoulder, up and down his upper arm. "Glad to be of service...Kendall."

"I'm sorry I wrecked your home, I freaked out and couldn't remember where you could've been if you even would tell me something like that," Kendall babbles through choked back sobs. I feel my smile falter a bit. Thinking hard, I remember what I would do to comfort Jo.

I move my other arm around him a pull Kendall into a tight embrace. He releases a startled yelp before relaxing. I move my hands up and down his back. I whisper into his ear, "I'll call you Kendall everyday from now on so you won't forget it. I won't leave without giving you a note, okay?"

"Mmm, hmm..." Kendall says, "Logan...? C-can you do me a favor. I know you've already given me back the most important thing anyone could ask for...but..."

"Yeah, Kendall?" I inquire, pulling back, but keeping him close.

"Tonight, I want to hear you sing again. I can't remember how it sounded."

I am quiet. My voice had surprised me. It didn't feel like me. But he still looks broken. And I still want to fix him.

"Okay," I say. Then I remember Jo is still here. "Hold on a sec." I get up. She is just finishing placing the cushions back onto the couch. When Jo notices me, I motion for her to leave.

'Is he okay?' She mouths. I nod. Jo flips her hair out of her eyes before marching out the door. I'll have to call her later.

"Alright," I exclaim, lowering back down to Kendall. "There's still a lot of time left in the day."

"There...is?"

"Yes. And we can't go anywhere so let's just sit and...talk," I finish lamely. I won't tell him about being sold by his father. It just seems too cruel. Even for me.

Kendall wipes his face dry. "Talk about what?"

"About...maybe we could think of what your life could've been."

"Like a word game?" Kendall asks.

I shrug. "You could say that." I stand up straight again and hold out a hand. Kendall takes it, hesitantly and rises. A weak and fragile smile creeps its way onto his face..."I think I'd like that."

"High School graduate?" I say.

Kendall shook his head. He points out quietly, "I'm not sure I seem like someone who would even make it through High School..." Kendall adds even quieter, "Look at me..."

I scoot closer to him on the couch and lightly whap him with the handful of paper I grabbed for notes. If anything other than what I knew that could be true came along; I'd write it. Not too bad of an idea, and at least I could avoid spilling his vile past.

"Vet in training?"

Kendall glances at me. "Vet? That's...an animal doctor?"

I nod. "Yes..."

"I..." He shakes his head. "No..."

"Hmm."

Kendall murmurs, "How about you? What do you do? What's your past?"

Uh. Intimidating my community 'Disturbia', stealing, kidnapping; anything you can think of...oh and I had only one parent and Jo was my only friend if that's even the right word to describe her...Oh! And I became a train wreck and it molded me into who I am. Who I am one hundred percent glad I am.

"I don't like to talk about it." Did I just say? I didn't just say that. "I'll tell you...some other day." He won't remember me saying that so I'll never have to explain myself really. Honestly, Kendall couldn't handle my truths.

"Understood," Kendall mumbles.

I bite my bottom lip and place the paper onto the coffee table. "Are you still in any pain?"

"It's not as bad..."

"Do you still need help, or can you clean up yourself-hygiene. Very, uh important," I say.

Kendall stares down in embarrassment, his cheeks flush in a deep red. "I'm okay. But I want you with me. I feel safer with you."

'I want you with me'... 'I feel safer with you'… was this the same blonde boy from a week ago? I didn't care. My plan was working faster than any pro therapist would deem possible.

"Let's...get to it then."

I bring him one of my pillows, tonight to use. Kendall tucks the pillow under his head and snuggles under the thin blanket. I kneel in front of him.

"...Yes?" Kendall says.

"You wanted me to sing you to sleep again," I remind.

Kendall nods. "R-right. Go ahead."

I had a pretty good song idea in mind while he changed. I wasn't sure if I would sound the same, no one but the two people who couldn't hold onto my voice, were the only hearing it. I would never know how I sounded. I never sung to Jo so she couldn't tell me.

"When you try your best but you don't succeed, when you get what you want but not what you need...When you feel so tired but you can't sleep; stuck in reverse..." This was another song that because of Jo was forever burned into my mind.

"And the tears come streaming down your face, when you lose something you can't replace...When you love someone but it goes to waste; could it be worse? Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones...And I will try, to fix you...And high above or down below, when you're too in love to let it go..." I felt myself tense at the last few words and couldn't bring myself to meet Kendall's gaze.

"But if you never try you'll never know; just what you're worth... Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones...And I will try, to fix you...Tears stream down your face, when you lose something you cannot replace; tears stream down on your face, I...Tears stream down on your face, I promise you that I will learn from my mistakes; tears stream down on your face and I..." I breathe in and out. Kendall has a single tear straying from one of his emerald eyes. I gently reach out and brush it away.

"Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones...And I will try, to fix you..."

Did you see that coming? Hmm? Well you probably already knew Unless' name was Kendall, but yeah...Again, couldn't really think of what to put for the scene where Logan 'helps' Kendall, if any of you have anything in mind for scenes like though, leave me a review or PM =)