Author's Note: Warning for a bit of strong language here. Kendall has a bad temper and refused to be edited. Sorry!
The first event back on schedule was a photo op and short set of five songs at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. It would be the first time Big Time Rush had performed since the Day of the Rat, as it had come to be called among them. If everything went well, then they would resume the tour with a few added precautions.
But this was no normal mall; this was a mall large enough to house the theme park Nickelodeon Universe. Sure, most of it was aimed at children, but there was an awesome zip line, a really high ropes course and several roller coasters that James, Kendall and Carlos were excited to try as well. If there were no problems the boys were going to get to try it all.
"Well, there shouldn't be any you-know-whats here," Logan commented, eyeing all the clean chrome and sunlit glass above them. Carlos and James looked at each other and mouthed the word "rats", proud of their Logan-decoding skills.
"Of course there won't be," Kendall insisted. "This is a safe place or Kelly wouldn't have scheduled it." They were on the second floor of the mall, heading to the Southeast Court. "I just can't believe how big this place is," Kendall said in awe. "How many Eiffel Towers did you say would fit in here?"
"Fifty-three," Logan said.
"But why would you want to fill it up with Eiffel Towers? I like it like this!" Carlos said, catching up to Kendall and Logan. "Hey did you guys see there's a LEGO store over there? Can we go see it?"
"Carlos, stop getting side-tracked," Logan snapped.. "We are going to the theme park after we sing."
"But LEGOS are awesome," Carlos said in a whining voice. "And they have all the new sets that came out this year - "
"All right, boys," Kelly said with a smile, interrupting in such a nice way that nobody minded. "You will have time for some fun stuff, and you can all decide what you want to do the most...after."
"LEGOS!" Carlos shouted.
"COASTERS!" James said at the same time. Kendall nodded at James and they fist-bumped. "And then the high ropes course...the tallest indoor ropes course in the country," James said in a dramatic voice.
"Nope- Legos!" Logan shouted, both hands pointing up before then pointing down. "And then I will be on the ground watching you three, and enjoying the fact that I will not be plummeting to my death."
"That's cute, Logan," Kendall said, patting him on the shoulder, "that you think we're giving you a choice."
"Yeah!" Carlos jumped on Logan to give him a monkey hug, which nearly knocked Logan over. "You're gonna' go up, too!"
"We'll see about that," Logan said. "Why are you so heavy?"
"But first, you perform," Kelly said, running out of patience and consulting her clipboard with a schedule on it. "Let's head down the escalator and check-in at the backstage area. They'll have food and drinks waiting."
Carlos jumped off of Logan. "Great, I'm starving!"
The boys followed Kelly onto the down escalator, looking around in awe. The space was large enough to see the two higher floors above them.
"Feels like we walked half a mile to get here." Kendall said.
"We probably did," Logan said from behind him on the next stair up. "A complete circuit around the mall is 1.15 miles."
"No way," Carlos said from above him.
"There are five hundred and twenty stores and over thirty thousand live plants in here," Logan said smugly. "This place is like its own ecosystem. It stays 70 degrees in here, year-round."
"Over five hundred stores," James said in wonder. "It's like...the mothership for shoppers everywhere." Carlos cracked up appreciatively.
"There are forty-six escalators in the Mall of America," Logan continued.
"Am I living in a commercial right now," Kendall asked, "'cause it feels like I might be."
"Well, I just thought it was interesting," Logan said stiffly.
"It is, Logie. Do you know any more cool facts?" James said with his most attentive face. Kendall sighed.
"Well. Did you know that," Logan began, "they employ over one hundred and fifty security personnel and have fifteen canines exclusively trained for explosive-detection?"
"I did not know that," James said appreciatively.
Carlos' forehead wrinkled. "Why do they need explosive-detection-trained doggies?"
"And, more importantly, do the doggies like it?" James added, concerned.
"I assume it's for detecting bombs and of course they like it. Dogs love being useful."
Kendall looked up at Logan. "You do know we're safe here, right?"
"Of course," Logan said, crossing his arms. "The security stuff was just interesting...and a bit reassuring, that's all. You know, since Moon is a psychopath and areas where large crowds gather for fun and/or commerce is a big draw for terrorists."
"But he's not a terrorist. Dude, stop worrying," James reassured him.
Logan frowned up at him. "You do know what that word means, right?"
"Does this escalator ride seem really long to anybody else?" Kendall asked.
"My only point is that I don't want James or you telling me to stop worrying. I would like, maybe, the Mall Head of Security to tell me that, or Freight Train, perhaps?"
Kelly stepped off the escalator and turned to face the boys, exasperated. "Freight Train is here, guys." The boys smiled at the news as they stepped off one by one. "He's already checking out the stage to make sure everything is safe." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And you have four hidden security guards in the crowd around us right now." The boys immediately started looking furtively around at shoppers. "Could you not be so obvious?" She hissed at them.
"Oh, I found one," Carlos whispered, leaning into James. "It's totally that tall guy with the giant stuffed animal in his arms. The poodle hides his AK-47."
"Oooo...yes," James agreed. They bumped fists.
"Don't point at people," Kelly hissed at them, "and you're totally wrong."
"Yeah," Kendall raised an eyebrow at them, "security guards don't carry around AKs. Terrorists carry around AKs." He paused. "...maybe I shouldn't have said that."
Now James and Carlos were clutching each other, watching the guy while trying to look like they weren't, which made them look crazy. Logan fwapped James' on the shoulder. "Stop doing that," he scolded them.
"Everyone calm down." Kelly said, pulling Carlos away from James and putting her arm through his. "We need to focus on the performance and let security handle everything else. Remember, they even have security doggies here."
James smiled. "I bet they look so cute in their little bulletproof vests."
"Aw," Carlos said. "I wanna' see one."
"Eh...let's hope we don't," Logan said in a low voice.
"This way!" Kelly said, and they followed her across the wide expanse of tiled floor. From above them on the second floor, there was a stir of noise and activity. The boys looked up to see some ecstatic fans pointing down at them. "It's Big Time Rush!"
"You've been spotted," Kelly said, "Faster, please." As James stopped to wave, Logan and Kendall pushed him along until they reached the guarded hallway door in the wall. The security guard smiled as he opened the door and closed it behind them just as the fans rushed up. They could hear him telling the fans to back up. No one was getting in.
"That was close," Kelly said. "The performers' area is through here." She walked down a side corridor to the right. They followed her, looking around at the long hallway distrustfully.
"Why does it look like there's something evil hiding behind one of these doors," James whispered, indicating the row of identical doors to one side.
"I don't know. Does it," Logan asked, sidling closer to James. "Just stay in front of me," he hissed to the taller boy.
"Kendall?" Carlos called after their leader.
"Nothing's gonna' happen, guys," Kendall said confidently, turning back to smile at them. "It's just bad lighting. Come on." Kelly opened the door to a large room on the left side and Kendall walked inside.
They followed quickly and walked into a large, beautifully decorated room with warmer lighting and cheerful decor. There were two black couches, a yellow table covered in food and drinks plus some red comfy chairs to lounge in. The far corner held a gorgeous black grand piano and a tall ficus tree.
"This is so much better," Logan admitted.
"Good, because this is where you're going to warm-up," Kelly said. "And we'll take a different way to the stage, don't worry."
A tall redheaded woman in a neat pantsuit walked through the door next. "Kelly, boys, you made it right on time!"
"Amanda, good to see you! Boys, this is Amanda, our mall liaison."
"Hi," the boys all said at once. Then the three looked questioningly to Logan, who translated for them.
"A liaison is a connection. She's the representative between the mall and us, basically," Logan explained.
Kelly nodded. "Yes. She makes sure we get where we're supposed to go and that we have what we need to do the job. Let me introduce the boys: Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan."
"Nice to meet you boys," Amanda said with an easy smile. "We've had so many excited guests today packing in to see you perform. It's very exciting! Now, you've got about an hour to kill - "
"Don't say 'kill,'" Logan interrupted. James and Carlos nodded.
Amanda paused, then reasserted her smile. "Okay, then. You have a free hour before you head up to get in place. We start promptly at 2:00. Is there anything else you need?"
The hungry boys surveyed the food on the table, a tempting array of corn dogs, cheeses, snack meats and crackers, plus a huge tray of veggies and fruits. There were soft drinks, bottles of water and a tray of pink and blue smoothies. Kelly pulled the cooler of soft drinks off the table.
"Aw, man," Carlos said.
"Afterwards," she told them.
"But hey - smoothies!" Carlos cried out and all the boys tickled their fingers together, hearing a red hot guitar rift in their minds.
"This is all we need - thanks," Kendall said to Amanda. At his nod, the boys surrounded the table with enthusiasm, jostling each other as they loaded up their plates.
"All right," Amanda said, "I'm going up to the stage to do one last check. Call me if there are any problems."
Kelly waved her out before turning back to the boys. "Take it easy, guys. You don't want to eat so much that you get sick out there." Kendall took away a third smoothie from Carlos' haul of food and he pouted. "Now, I'm going to check the sound levels and make sure all the equipment is in place one more time. When you're finished, you boys clean up and warm up. Hot tea service is in the corner. Freight Train has been moved in place down the hall, so I will know if you leave. And Kendall, make sure you warm up your high notes - no straining this time."
The boys sat on the comfy couches and for a few minutes there was only the sound of grateful eating. But they showed some self-control and tapered off quickly. James was the first to stand.
"Remember, no straining, Kenny. In fact, I can take your solo if you're not up for it today." James said lightly.
"Once!" Kendall groused, "once I needed you to do that because I had a sore throat and if I had known how many times you were going to bring it up, I never would have asked!"
"Keep telling yourself that," James said affably, popping several olives into his mouth. "'ou and I bo' know 'at you ne' me," he said in garbled English.
"Swallow your food, James," Logan said automatically. "We are not Neanderthals."
James swallowed. "I said you and I both know that you need me," he repeated smugly.
Kendall shook his head, then picked up his guitar and fingered it distractedly. He shouldn't let James get to him. But why did the taller boy have to bring it up over and over again? After hitting a few chords, Kendall paused, walked behind the couch and determinedly messed up James' hair.
The tall boy shrieked and jumped to his feet "How dare you," he said in his lowest, most dangerous voice while totally not meaning it. Kendall smirked, strumming the chords to the beginning of their theme song and Carlos stood to join in, "uh-oh, ohhh-ohhhhhh." James moved dramatically to the mirror and started trying to fix his hair.
"C'mon, James," Logan said as he jumped up to get a few more chips. "Must I remind you that Big Time Rush takes more than just the two of you? You need all of us."
"Yeah," Carlos crossed his arms over his chest, "I'd like to see you try to do it without me!"
James turned at him in shock. "Of course we couldn't do it without you, buddy."
"Or Logan," Carlos said mutinously.
"Or Logan. I know that! What are you two even talking about?" He huffed out a breath and returned to fixing his hair. But Kendall could see that James was going to keep talking and get himself into trouble. Instead of interrupting as he usually would, Kendall kept quiet and smirked just a little. After a long moment, James glanced at the others. "You're all important in Big Time Rush. It's just...I would definitely have the best solo career," he summed up, brushing at one more stray lock of hair and enjoying his reflection a little too much.
And there it was. Kendall rolled his eyes, expecting the guys to tackle James for that one, but Carlos and Logan exchanged looks and nodded. "You're probably right," Logan said, "since I'm not even trying."
"And don't look at me," Carlos said, "I don't want to be up on stage alone. But I'll bet Kendall could do it."
Kendall shook his head. "Nah, it's not for me. Without you guys, it wouldn't be any good. This," he gestured to all of them, "this is what makes it fun, what makes it mean something...something way more than just fame and fortune. I would never want to do it without you guys."
"Aw," Carlos said and jumped at Kendall for a hug.
"Not that there's anything wrong with fame and fortune," Logan pointed out.
"True," Kendall said above Carlos' head. James was staring at the ground and biting his bottom lip, obviously getting emotional, so Kendall pulled him in the hug, too. Then James dragged Logan in with a long, tan arm and then it was a four-way hug.
"I love you guys," James choked out and all of them patted his shoulder or messed up his hair (Kendall) in return. James sighed.
"Right back 'atcha," Kendall said. "Now, are we ready to warm up and rock this place?"
"Yeah!"
As they were announced over the sound system, an enormous cheer went up from the nearly two thousand fans gathered to support Big Time Rush in the atrium. The boys waved as they ran out from behind the stage.
"How is everybody doing out there today?" Kendall asked and got a loud answer of a lot of things he couldn't understand. He laughed and got smiles from the other guys.
"You sound like you're having a great time," Carlos said as he moved toward the crowd and waved to the kids on the front row.
"Carlos!" they screamed and reached out to touch his hand.
The stage wasn't as big as usual but the boys had plenty of room for choreo and singing to fans in all directions. They were already shoppers gathered and watching from above on the second and third floor railings in front of Nordstrom. It was amazing to see signs and smiling faces from so many different directions.
"This place is epic," James whispered and the other boys nodded.
"So you may have heard of this first song," Kendall said and as the drummer tapped on the cymbal in a familiar beat, the fans joined in for the theme song: "Oh, oh, oh-oh, ohhhhhh."
And then they were off. The boys sang their hearts out for the first three songs and it paid off. Shoppers who had been drawn by the music stayed around in droves to watch and have a good time. The crowd's energy gave the boys a buzz, a happy high that they returned in great vocals and sharp dance moves. Then it was time to bring it down.
The downbeats for "No Idea" came on and the fans started shushing everyone. The stage lights went low and an expectant hush came over the crowd. Kendall sounded angelic as he began his verse, looking up wistfully at the fans. James picked up where he left off, using his beautiful tone to leave everyone in awe. Then the chorus began and all four voices raised in stunning, magical harmony. The crowd went silent.
Then Carlos took over with his verse and his fans screamed for him before fading away. Then it was Logan's turn and the fans screamed again. They lifted their hands and started to sway to the music as it built to the chorus again. This time, the bridge pulled each of the boys forward to take turns building the tension of the song, and it kept going until it was time for Kendall's ending run. The other boys respectfully pulled their volume back and let him take over, his beautiful voice soaring over the top. It was haunting and electric and...unforgettable.
Then it was over and the boys exchanged stunned looks after the applause began. Did we just level up? Kendall wanted to live in that magic moment, but it was time to move on, to switch it up again for their final song, "Til I Forget About You,. So they shifted into head-banging rockstar energy and finished the set off just right. Then they were done and it was time to be individually introduced to the crowd.
The boys each took their applause, so happy to look up and down and to the sides and see smiling faces and so much joy. They ran behind the stage to get some water and to change shirts because they were gross. A few sneaky fans managed to get pictures of James with his shirt off, mostly because he went slow and smiled at them while doing it. The other boys threw their sweaty shirts at him.
Outside on stage, the emcee announced that the boys were able to give autographs for the next hour at a platform in front of the elevators on the first floor. A long line began immediately, over three hundred teens and children organized by velvet ropes. After a short break, the boys climbed the stairs to the platform and waved before sitting. So many fans were waiting and their enthusiasm was contagious. It felt easy to talk and take pictures and sign things.
Occasionally, one of the boys would look up and check, glad to see there were still guards posted at both sides of the platform as well as several on each higher floor of the atrium as well. They watched the crowd with sharp eyes. Plus, there were hidden guards in plain clothes as well, right? They had to be safe.
It was all a bit more complicated than normal. The mall was loud with the sounds of thousands of shoppers milling about on all the floors plus their fans talking and piped-in music and a fountain with cascading water just down the way. Sometimes it was difficult to focus on the fans in front of them, like the poor girl currently in front of James.
She was so shy that he could barely hear her. Probably eight years old at the oldest, she had cute blond braids and a super-sweet gap-toothed smile. He leaned forward to listen better, which just made her shrink back and stop trying. Apologetically, James looked up at her mother for help.
"Lily is a little shy, but she's trying to say that you're her favorite, James," she said, giving the little girl a nudge. But Lily shook her head, tears in her eyes, and handed James a paper as if it was all she could do.
"Aw, it's okay to be shy," James told her, "sometimes I feel that way, too. I love this picture you drew. Is that you and me here, singing together?"
She looked up at him in shock and nodded, still wordless. James loved it when he guessed right.
"And is this your dog?"
She shook her head.
"Oh- sorry! Is it your cat?"
She nodded.
Her mother leaned down again. "Lily named her Bandanna Cat because she said you love bandannas?"
James felt his eyes get a little misty as the little girl nodded happily. "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard. And that's why it has a mask and a cape! Lily, do you want to take a picture with me?"
He came out from behind the table and knelt to give her a side hug as her mom took a picture. It was the least he could do. Then he gave his phone to her mom so that she could take a picture of them together so he could remember her.
"Aw," Kendall said as he watched them. "She's so cute." Next, she stopped in front of Kendall with a huge grin and started talking super-fast. He listened carefully and nodded before signing a picture for her. She met Logan and Carlos and got them to sign it, too. But as she stepped down and walked away happily, she gave her last wave to James.
"She could barely even speak to me," James said to Kendall. "But she talked fine to you. Why is that?"
"You don't have my disarming dimples," he said, giving James a cheesy, dimpled grin.
James rolled his eyes, annoyed a bit that Kendall was just as cute as he thought he was. Then a new group of fans came up the stairs.
"Carlos! Carlos," the one on the end was squealing as she slid into place. "You are so cute! I love your dimples!"
"Dimples," James muttered under his breath. Seriously. Why was he the only boy in the band without them?
Logan had an older fan with plenty of cleavage bending over to get his autograph. James caught his friend's shocked sideglance and laughed. Then two of his own fangirls stepped up to get his autograph. One spent a minute asking him to write lyrics to one of their songs down so she could get them tattooed on her wrist.
"Okay, sure. Wow." He bent to write the words down.
SCREEEEECH!
James jumped and clapped his hands over his ears. Several of the fans had as well. "What was that?"
Ten feet above the table was a several feet-thick chrome strip of lights. They hung on long, complicated wires from poles stretching up and over the platform, probably placed there to make the fan pictures turn out better, or at least that's what James thought.
"What was that sound?" Kendall asked. When no one answered, he stood and asked louder. The security guards shook their heads. "Kelly?" he called to her, but she was down a level on her phone listening to someone. "Who put this thing up?" he cried out.
"I don't know, but let's just have everybody move off," called the guard on the left side, gesturing to the fans to move off. They hesitated.
"Kendall, Amanda says they're getting a ladder to investigate," Kelly called up to them from the first step. "Until then - "
CLICK!
"Was that a good click or a bad click?" James asked, raising a finger hesitantly.
The security guard on the right gestured to the fans. "Let's go. Everyone off!" The fans finally started moving back down the stairs.
"Huh." Logan said as he stood, "those little round covers in between the lights seem to be - "
"Why are they sliding?" Carlos supplied, also staring at the lights in fascination.
"Guys - " Kendall warned.
James whispered, "Oh no -"
"MOVE!" Kendall barked and then the next few seconds slowed to a crawl...
...because something dark and liquid was falling from the holes.
Carlos, always ready for action, dove to the right to get free of the table, hands over his head. James, panicking, juked left and then right before choosing to throw himself left away from the table, landing hard on his side.
Logan didn't move; he was frozen in horror as something began streaming from the holes in the lighting rigged above them. But Kendall dove into him and took them both back and away from the table.
They all hit the deck hard: Carlos first, Logan and Kendall next, and James last. By the time they were down, gooey liquid was pumping out in a stream from ten feet above, splattering the table, sending purple streams onto the chairs, the floor and every bit of the boys it could reach.
As soon as James landed, he found himself drenched, thick purple liquid splattering down his torso and legs. Some of it had gotten on his face and in his hair; his jeans felt soaked. He was literally too horrified to move. What is this stuff?
Kendall, who had gotten soaked as well, sat up, dripping purple. He had landed mostly on top of Logan, covering him so that the smaller boy was only purpled on one arm and leg. Logan sat up, blinking. "Are you okay?" Kendall asked.
"A bit bruised, but fine. Thanks for the save. What is this stuff?" Logan touched the purple stuff on his arm, sniffed it and made a face. "It doesn't hurt. It's not acid, looks more like purple dishwasher detergent but smells like pickles?"
Kendall paled at the mention of acid; he hadn't even thought about that being a possibility. He scrambled to his feet, heading for Carlos who was sitting up in a purple puddle. His front half was almost clean. "Why does this smell like pickle juice?" Carlos said. "What is it?"
"You okay?" Kendall asked, helping him up.
"Yep. Just kinda' missing Helmet right now. That hurt. Oh, man - look at James!" Carlos said, cracking up.
Logan was helping James up, and one side of the taller boy was completely purple, even his jeans and one shoe. He turned to glare at Carlos, which didn't help because one side of his face was awash with purple and it made Carlos laugh more.
Kendall moved to his side quickly. "Are you okay?" James stopped glaring at Carlos and nodded.
"It's stinging my eye," he grumbled.
"What did you do, dive on your side?" Kendall asked in amazement.
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"I don't know," James said, defeated. "I wish I hadn't now."
"At least you didn't soak your butt in it like Carlos," Kendall said, and they both made a face.
"Here, use this," Logan told him, offering his clean sleeve. James bent and scrubbed his face against it, trying to get all the liquid off. When he straightened, the liquid was gone but the purple color was still there. James had drips, splotches and streaks of purple scattered across one half of his face.
"Okay," Logan said with wide eyes, "it stains. Not good."
"My face is still purple?" James asked breathlessly. He turned to Kendall and saw the horrible truth in his eyes. "Oh no..." James immediately turtled up, pulling the neck of his shirt up to hide his face.
Kendall's eyes flashed and he spun around to glare at all the security and mall workers nearby. "Who the hell put these lights here? Who did it?"
Kelly was there a second later sliding in the goo as she came to talk to them. "Is everyone all right? What is this stuff?"
"Do we look all right to you?" Kendall snapped and stomped off to check on Carlos again.
"Logan, is James okay?" Kelly asked, eyeing the boy hiding inside his own shirt nervously,
"That depends on your definition of 'okay?'" Logan said tersely. "The goo doesn't hurt us but it does stain skin. So look for the new scandal to be 'Big Time Purple.'"
"Can I get a towel, please?" James asked in a strained voice, "Because I do not want people to get pictures of me with my skin looking like a purple-spotted cow!"
"Yes, towels, right away," Kelly said, then held her hands out to them. "No one move. This is pretty slippery." She whipped out her phone and started trying to get towels.
Logan hesitated, but he just had to say it. "James, cows aren't spotted purple."
"What? What does that have to do with anything?" James screeched.
"Nothing! Never mind. Carlos!" Logan called loudly and gestured. Carlos came over, slipping once, trying to control his smile. Logan grasped his arm hard and tugged him away a few steps. "Listen to me: do not crack jokes right now. Hurricane James is approaching land and we are at DEFCON 5!"
"We are?" Carlos said in shock.
"Yes - pay attention! James is about to melt into a puddle of hysteria and self-absorption while Kendall is actively looking for someone to murder!"
James jerked his shirt down to reveal his wide-open eyes, one surrounded by a giant purple splotch. "This could be permanent," he hissed before yanking his shirt back up.
Carlos' jaw dropped.
"Where is Amanda?" Kendall yelled. "Did these lights even get checked before someone strung them up over our heads? There could have been anything in there!" Everyone he looked at just looked down, like someone one else was responsible.
Amanda, their mall liaison, crept up the stairs with a horrified look on her face. "I am so sorry, Kendall. I am going to have security go over - "
"Who hung these lights, Amanda?" Kendall said again, louder.
James froze in place, shirt over his head, realizing Kendall was about to go nuclear. "This is bad. This is bad," he started chanting.
Logan turned to Carlos. "He's right. This is a publicity nightmare. What do we do?"
"I got James; you get Kendall," Carlos told Logan determinedly. Then he strode over to James, hugged him firmly around the waist and said, "It's going to be okay, buddy. Just calm down." James didn't say anything, and he still seemed frozen in place, but he did stop chanting. Carlos kept up a constant stream of positivity.
"Is security here some kind of joke?" Kendall was in Amanda's face now. "That could have been acid. It could have been liquid nitrogen! And why can't we get some goddamned towels?" He was gesturing so hard that Logan thought he might hurt something and Amanda was just wordless.
Finally Kelly was back by his side. 'Kendall, let me deal with this. You need to get James and the others back out of public view. We don't need pictures and video of this."
Kendall jerked his head to look at the crowd and saw that a few people were filming him. "Are you kidding me?" He cut himself off, spun on his heel and headed back to James, who was still hiding in his own shirt with Carlos hugging him. "Ridiculous. And where are those fucking towels?" Kendall yelled.
"Here! Here they are Kendall," Logan said as a guard with a pile of thick white towels came up the backstairs and handed them up. "Thank you. Here, Carlos," he said, handing him two.
"James, here's a towel," Carlos said, draping one over James' head first.
Thankfully, James slid his head out of his shirt, looking downward as he arranged the towel to cover his face. Kendall grabbed a towel from Logan and wiped his face before doing the same, trying to stop the urge to keep yelling until someone admitted they were working for Moon. This had ruined a great day, a nearly perfect performance and it would probably be all that people would remember. He heaved a huge sigh and leaned in, waiting until all the boys looked at him.
"Let's get out of this fishbowl. Keep your towels over your head, and your eyes on your feet."
"Follow me, boys," Kelly said. 'They've got a safe exit route mapped out. Freight Train is waiting down below to guide us."
"Good," Kendall said tersely.
It was a little tricky getting down the stairs with head coverings on, but they did fine. As expected, Freight Train was waiting.
"You boys okay?" he asked in a concerned tone.
"Yeah, just get us out of here," Kendall said.
"You got it," Freight Train answered, "but we're gonna' go slow until we get outta' that purple shit."
Hearing him curse made the boys crack a smile. Kendall held back and let the other boys go after Frieght, who was following Amanda and two of her guards.
"Who do you think did this?" Carlos whispered to Logan as they waited to take the final flight of stairs.
"Moon, who else?" Logan said before descending.
"Moon?" Carlos said, slipping a bit and catching himself on the railing.
"Careful, Carlos," Kendall snapped.
Carlos nodded and picked his way down the stairs. The boys were told to wipe their shoes on towels and then a thick mat on the floor.
"You don't wanna' slip," one of the guards told them.
Kendall bit his tongue and went first. "So why purple," he asked as the other guys crowded around to dry off their shoes.
"It's my favorite color," Carlos suggested.
"It might be semi-permanent," Logan said, "but hopefully not." James moaned beside him at the thought.
Then an outcry came from the gathered fans, who were shockingly still gathered at the platform. "Look!" James whipped around and peeked out under his towel to see what they were seeing.
"Up there," Logan said softly, pointing to the top of the atrium. A softly glowing Super Moon was reflected on the glass...in the middle of the day. "Must be a projection of some kind."
"What an asshole," Kendall spat.
"But it is better than rats," Carlos said after a pause. "I mean, purple pickle tattoo goo?"
James stared at him. "You still think this is funny?"
"Kinda'," Carlos said with a shrug.
"It is NOT funny," James said. "My hair is purple and my skin is spotted like a cow and I smell like PICKLES instead of CUDA!"
"James, calm down," Kendall said, pulling him away from Carlos while Logan stepped up to tutor their friend again in sensitivity. Then Kendall gave James a fierce hug and whispered into his betowelled ear, "I'm going to kick Moon's ass for this." James nodded, he could hear that he meant it. Then Kendall pulled back to say, "And you know Logan can figure out how to get a stain out of anything."
James was cheered by the thought. "He can."
"Let's get somewhere safer, please," Kelly said, walking up to them. "Malls are a security nightmare. Whose bright idea was this?"
As they rushed off, an emcee tried to sound calm and happy as he addressed the remaining audience. "Thank you all for being here today. Please remember the boys of Big Time Rush are not responsible for this...prank, so please don't spread that rumor. They will be heading off to get cleaned up now and cannot sign any more autographs. Thank you for coming!"
There was a small moan of disappointment from the last, hardcore and hopeful fans, but most had already fled under the vision of the strange moon overhead.
Author's Note: The boys are not out of the mall yet, so stay tuned!