(A/N: I love how Alex Rider can't get along with Luke... anyway, to the next chapter!)

12. A Man's Charm

It was late by the time they got home, (well, Alex's temporary home and Alex Meyer's normal home) but the other two were still up. Alex had never seen Luke so flustered. Then again, Luke didn't seem to be the type of person that freaked out easily.

"Meyer, Rider, Fisher's got this weird look in his eyes, and I don't know what to do with him!" Luke wailed like a little child. Alex was reminded that Luke had been very spoiled in his earlier years.

"Was he watching the weather channel?" Alex Meyer thought to inquire as Alex walked over to where Carson was on the couch. Yup, that seemed to be the case.

"He's got the same look on his face like you had, Meyer. The TV's still on, don't look at it."

"I watched it and nothing happened," Luke murmured, his expression puzzled. Alex couldn't see his eyes- he was wearing sunglasses. Suddenly, Alex realized how they could do this.

"Meyer, his sunglasses."

"What about them?"

"They're probably why he was able to watch but keep his sanity?"

"Oh, I was thinking that it was because Farrior's about the densest person I know, but that works too."

"Not funny, Meyer." Luke punched his best friend. "I wasn't really listening or watching- just somewhat."

"Well, then you sit down and watch it!" Alex yelled at him, losing his temper.

"Why me?" Luke demanded. "Why not you?"

"If Meyer or I watch, the only cure is to drink those Tree Frog Bottles, and it causes you to hallucinate. Well, Meyer and I don't have picture perfect pasts like you do, so you get the job," Alex retorted, seizing him by the shoulders and attempting to lug him to the couch. If a fight broke out here, it could get pretty ugly pretty fast.

"Get your hands off me, Rider." Luke broke free, but only because Alex hadn't been really holding him down. "I'll do it- but I do have things that I can hallucinate about," he snapped.

"That's just one thing," Alex pointed out. "Just do it."

Luke scowled at Alex- the hostility between them was pretty obvious- and watched the screen. Alex and Alex Meyer faced Luke, watching to see if he moved at all. Luke fidgeted nervously, but other than that, he didn't seem to be making any movement. It looked as if the sunglasses were working.

"Let me see that," Alex Meyer demanded, lugged Luke off the couch, and put them on. Why couldn't Alex and Luke get along like that? He didn't care- he just wanted this to be over so that he could set things straight with MI6 back home- things like the fact that he wasn't going to go on any of their stupid missions anymore unless he wanted to...

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To Alex, it was amusing how Luke and Alex Rider obviously couldn't get along. He couldn't help it- Luke antagonized and brought out the worst in everyone. Part of his, willingness to experiment with the sunglasses was to see what those two would do when they were stuck in a room together- as long as they didn't kill each other, of course.

Of course, Luke's shades were top brand. Alex made a face and focused on the screen. He heard the words slower than Andrew's mouth moved, and the words were very deliberate. "You can trust me." For some reason, Alex thought that he saw a subliminal message that said, "Trust me," every few seconds. But as soon as he blinked, Andrew's image was back on the screen. It was all very confusing. Alex looked away and took the shades off. To his amazement, Alex Rider and Luke had refrained from completely killing each other.

"Is it just me, or were there subliminal messages?"

"I know I saw them," Luke confirmed. "And the way he was saying, 'You can trust me,' and asking the viewers to look into his eyes... but wouldn't someone realize what was going on after it was over?"

"I didn't even remember anything afterwards," Alex confessed.

"Trust me, Meyer, he had you. You were talking about him like he was some kind of superhero or something until we knocked your senses back into you."

"Good to know that I lost my sanity," Alex acknowledged with a grin. "Well, I think that it makes sense- he's going to get what he wants done through putting subliminal messages on his show. It makes sense how sunglasses would filter that- it's a weather thing- and so was the curse."

"That's all fine and good, Meyer, but there's still one tiny flaw with your little statement there," Alex Rider contradicted.

"What?"

"We still don't know what his plan is."

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Alex knew that he had caught Alex Meyer- the look on his face said it all. Of course, Alex didn't know the answer either, but he had a point, and he knew it. Okay, Alex Meyer hadn't done anything too stupid to him yet, but he was still annoyed with this whole business. He couldn't help it- he was infuriated, and he had the vague indication that Alex Meyer had purposely stuck Luke with him to see what would happen. Well, Alex hadn't killed Luke yet- take that, Alex Meyer. The boy was pretty devious- so was he, of course.

"Good point. I guess that we'll just have to find his place and infiltrate it. Farrior, do you want to help?" The smile playing at Alex Meyer's lips only confirmed Alex's suspicion- he liked seeing them fight.

"Meyer, do you want this mission to succeed?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, then I don't suggest bringing Farrior along."

"Hey, I'll come along if I want to."

"Of course you would, you spoiled brat."

"Okay, calm down, you two. Let's at least talk to the girls about it, okay?"

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"Fine," they both snapped, looking as if they were going to jinx each other but decided against it. Those two were so amusing to watch. Alex Rider was taking some of the heat for Alex- not that Alex was using him, of course. After being used himself, Alex refused to inflict the same pain on any other human being.

"Oh man, you two are utterly impossible." Alex shook his head. "Never mind that- I'm going to bed." When neither of them moved, Alex bolted away, went to his room, and tried to listen for some action.

"You know, I think that Meyer's trying to get us to kill each other," Luke remarked. Alex smirked. That boy was finally using his brain- as dangerous as that was.

"You think?" Alex Rider snapped.

"I'd like to think that I do."

"I'm not dealing with you. Good night."

"Wait, what should I do with Fisher?"

"Turn off the TV and let him sleep? Oh yeah, and did I mention that I would enjoy my rest too?"

"Sorry- I've got it."

There was silence for a moment, then quiet laughter. "Sorry about the immaturity of this conversation," Luke apologized.

"Great to know that you are- but I'm not."

Alex grinned to himself as they laughed again. By some miracle, those two were getting along. He could sleep now.