![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
turpsIt was ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
luxshine's birthday yesterday. Now, she's given me two chibis that I adore, as well as drawing many more for others, so I wanted to give her something back.
So, here you go. With thanks toephemera_pop who encouraged and beta read on really short notice.
Kevin, Chris and Joey centric.
Before he’d left for Europe he’d been told certain things. Don’t leave your glass unattended, make sure you always have clean underwear, always wear a condom --which ranked right up there in Kevin’s most awkward conversations ever, because, what was his mom thinking?! -- but no one had told him not to open dusty little doors in backstage areas. Which sucked, because if they had, maybe he wouldn’t be stuck in this place with Joey Fatone and Chris fucking Kirkpatrick.
“Is that a giant rabbit?”
Chris darts away, again, running through long orange grass which snakes around his calves with whispers of sighing swishing sound that turn into two part harmony when Joey follows.
“Are you coming?” The grass sways, breaking waves around Joey’s legs when he stops and looks back at Kevin.
“We should stay here.” Kevin takes a step back, closer to the spidery tree that’s their way home. There are tiny specks of blood on its glittering surface, and Kevin’s fingers ache with remembrance. Reaching out a hand, he runs bloodied fingertips over the gnarly surface. He knows the doorway has to still be there, somewhere, and he can't understand how Joey can be so calm.
“It’s gone, man. Leave it.” The grass whispers again, and Joey’s at Kevin’s side. “Who says the way back is the way we came?”
Kevin looks at Joey, considering. He imagines the doorway opening without them, or one appearing elsewhere while he sits and waits. It’s an impossible decision, but at least if he follows them he won’t be alone.
“Come on.” A quick, final touch of the tree and Kevin steps away, severing the last physical link to his friends.
Joey lays his hand against Kevin’s shoulder. “We’ll get back to them.” Then he shades his eyes against the purple suns, looking across the ocean of orange. “Chris went that way.”
Figuring Joey has some kind of built-in radar to find annoying bandmates, Kevin follows Joey through the grass. It tickles at his ankles and he’s lost in the hypnotic swish of sound when Chris jumps into his field of vision.
“There you are!”
Kevin blinks. Chris has a flower balanced on his head, some kind of bluebell, except it’s yellow with pink spots and big enough to be used as a hat. He’s also carrying a bunch of scarlet blooms, the petals drooping over his hands and staining his skin pink.
“Like the hat.” Joey grins as he runs his fingers over the flower on Chris’ head. “It makes you look like one of those flower fairies.”
Kevin can’t smiling, despite the scowl, Joey’s right. Chris is totally flower fairy material
“A fairy. I think not. I picked these for you, see if you get them now”
Whirling away from Joey, Chris thrusts the scarlet flowers into Kevin’s hands, then stretches up, planting a kiss on Kevin’s cheek. This close it’s possible to see the silvery pollen brushed across his nose, the glinting specks in his eyelashes. Surprised, Kevin takes the flowers, holding them as Chris grins wide.
“Figures it takes some kind of alternate universe to get a kiss,” Joey says, laughing as he rests his arm over Chris’ shoulder.
Kevin looks between them, trying to understand the joke. He still doesn’t get it when Chris ducks from under Joey’s hold and runs toward a thicket of trees.
“Oh, hey. I came back to show you something, come on.”
Chris yells the words over his shoulder and disappears into the shadow. Kevin grips his flowers and walks when Joey claps him on the shoulder. He’d thought Nick and Brian together were exhausting, but this? Kevin wonders how Joey stands it.
“He’s not like this all the time.” Apparently Joey has some kind of mind reading ability, looking across at Kevin as they duck under a criss-cross of knitted branches “He’s only a part-time crack monkey.”
“If you say so.” Kevin’s willing to believe Joey; he’s got no reason to lie after all, but still….
“Chris! Run!”
Kevin jumps when Joey shouts, then freezes when he sees Chris standing next to a giant cat. A giant lavender cat with exploding pink curls, and Kevin hates this place. A lot.
“No. It’s okay. The cat and me are bonding. Aren’t we, cat?” Surrounded by constantly rippling glossy spheres, the cat purrs when Chris kneels, burying his hand into the scruff of its neck.
“I don’t think you should do that.” Kevin takes a hesitant step forward, ready to charge. Chris might be a hyperactive annoyance, but he doesn’t deserve death by killer cat.
“Killer cat? Whatever. Like I’d get a meal off him, there’s more meat on a wiener.” The cat sniffs, and cats shouldn’t sniff disdainfully, and cats especially shouldn’t talk. “You’re too closed-minded, I can communicate by many means, I reserve talking for the lesser creatures, you could say I’ve taken evolution to the next level.”
“Of insanity maybe.” Kevin stands his ground, even when the cat curls its lip in a sharp toothed smile.
“That may be so, but reality is what you make it. Who says what you see isn’t real? What you hear is real to you, and surely that makes it reality.” Yawning, the cat runs a pink tongue over the red-tipped points of its teeth. “You think I see him as a meal, yet your want exceed mine in every way.”
“None of that makes sense.” Kevin rubs his hand across his forehead and presses his fingertips into the crease between his eyes. “What am I saying? You’re a cat, of course you don’t make sense. None of this makes sense. I don’t make sense. I should go back and sleep this off.”
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.” Slinky smooth, the cat pads past Chris and circles Kevin, lavender tail brushing against his chest. “The change is coming and you must go on. It’s the only way.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Frustrated, Kevin can only watch helplessly as the cat suddenly flees, disappearing into the trees.
“I think he means the forest is changing, look.”
Joey has moved so he can rest his hand on the small of Chris’ back. They’re both looking up, eyes narrowed and listening. Kevin listens too, hears the rustle of leaves, the crack of branches. Within seconds things are moving, trees bowing heavy with black mould that clings to once glittering bark. The spheres deflate, empty and sagging, covered with leaves wilted to grey stalks. The air of decay is obvious, and as the wind begins to whistle through broken branches, Kevin knows they have to run.
They hurry forward, jumping the pools of stinking liquid that bubble from the ground. They duck under thorns that slash at their faces and power through grasses that cling to their feet. Panting for breath and legs heavy, Kevin can see the boundary of the trees, then he’s forced to a stop, as if the air itself is holding him hostage.
There’s a chaos of movement, and Kevin has no choice but to watch as a path of darkness glides towards him glides forward, a mess of branches and leaves dripping with slime, and deep inside, a pair of gleaming dark eyes. Kevin looks into those eyes and knows.
“AJ.” Soft words, but still, it hears, and the dark rushes forward, expanding.
“Go now!”
A rush of sound, a blur of colour, and that cat dives into the dark. It hisses and spits, back arched and claws extended as the universe trembles, branches creaking with strain and rot showers the air. “Go!”
Kevin goes, pushing Chris and Joey into movement. They frantically run, branches whipping past their faces, Chris’ flower hat falling to the floor, Joey stumbling over a log that explodes into dust. Finally, they explode into sunlight, looking back into a nightmare of teeth and swirling darkness.
“We need to help it.” Swiping the back of his hand across his cheek, Kevin rubs away the blood that was dripping toward his mouth. It smears across his skin, red against black dusty decay, and he knows they have to rescue the cat, even if he has no idea what to do.
“He doesn’t need help.” A woman had appeared from nowhere, as if conjured from air, long dark hair blowing in the wind, skirt wrapping around shapely legs as she looks into the woods. “This is foreplay of sorts, fun for them but dangerous for those who become trapped close.”
“The cat and that thing? Cool.” Joey gives a thumbs up in the direction of the trees, taking a step back when a trunk thunders to the ground. “How do you think they do it? Those branches look spiky, though cats have good senses of smell, it could see in the dark, find….”
“Wait. Just, stop.” Head throbbing, the flowers in Kevin’s hands squash between his fingers. “I don’t want to know how the cat and that thing have sex. I don’t want to think about it, I don’t want you to think about it.”
“What about me? Because personally, I think with branches that long, the cat has to be….”
”Just. Shut up!” Kevin can feel himself scowl, forehead creasing as he tries to ignore Joey and Chris, who’ve huddled together, whispering with each crack and crash.
“You sound stressed.” A gentle voice in his ear, and soft hands are kneading Kevin’s shoulders. He sighs, muscles relaxing under the skilful touch. “Leave them here and come with me.”
It’s tempting, the strains of the last hours swept away with the scent of sugar. The feel of firm breasts against his back, soft hair against his skin, warm breath against his neck. It is mmediate sensation that soothes the ache of missing his friends, the fear and uncertainty he feels now.
“Come with me.” Hands slide down his arms, and Kevin drops the wilted flowers when fingers entwine with his own. The scent of sweetness is cloying now, making Kevin feel sleepy, eyes heavy as he allows himself to be led away.
“Wait. You can’t leave us.”
Joey grabs Kevin’s hand and yanks. Nails tear down Kevin’s palm as he’s pulled free. It’s a sudden jarring separation, and the haze clears, the world becoming sharp as deception is thrust aside, and Kevin realises that it’s Howie – ringed dark eyes and painted lips -- reaching out for him, not a woman at all.
“He belongs to us, not you.” Chris steps in front of Kevin, shielding him and pushing Howie aside.
“Maybe one day, but not yet.” Howie turns, mouth a thin line as he points a black-nailed finger at Chris. “You think you have him, but he still doesn’t believe.”
A ripping sound and black edged cloud, and Howie’s gone, leaving Kevin standing, staring at empty air.
“You mightn’t believe now, but you will.” Chris is serious, reaching out, resting his hand against Kevin’s chest. “Give it time.”
“Believe what? That this is some drug fuelled nightmare, because it clearly is.”
“Hear that, Joey? He thinks we’re a nightmare. I think I’m offended.” Chris takes a deliberate step back and Kevin tries to work out if he really is offended. With his boys its easy, there’s always some kind of tell to a joke. The smile apparent in the light of Nick’s eyes, the twitch of Brian’s mouth, the way Howie winks just that once when hiding a truth, the twitch of AJ’s fingers that betray his lies. Here though, he’s not sure at all.
“It’s not you, it’s this place. That. That was Howie…”
“Yeah. He’s a hot girl.”
“Hotter than me?” Chris is staring up at Joey, mouth curved and eyes wide.
“You’re not a girl,” Joey says, as he looks Chris from head to toe.
“I could be. Lots of wax, eyeliner and I’m sure Lynn would lend me some underwear, she has that g-string, the zebra print one.”
“Okay, that’s it.” Kevin starts walking. Girl Howie, AJ as some kind of sucking darkness, he can take all that, but there’s a line, and thinking about Justin’s mom’s underwear is way over it.
“Finally, a man of taste. I keep telling him he doesn’t suit zebra print.” Joey’s grinning as he reaches Kevin’s side, his fingers brushing against Kevin’s own as they walk, his voice lowering as he grips them for an instant and says, “It’s okay, we’ll get back, you’ll see.”
~*~*~*~
Kevin’s feet are aching, pants stained multiple colours from the grasses and trees they’ve brushed against. The suns are low in the golden sky and turquoise shadows dance across the dirt. He’s thirsty and hungry, but it’s easy to ignore the berries that grow along the ground. It’s a simple fact, food isn’t supposed to pulse and glow.
“Can you hear that?” Joey’s stopped, head tilted to one side as he listens. Kevin listens too, and finally, hears faint music.
“It’s that way.” Chris points, and as one they change direction. Music hopefully means people, and maybe a way home.
It takes almost half an hour to find the source. It would have been faster but Joey spent ten minutes talking to a two headed yellow llama. Now though, they’re standing on a small hill that wobbles under their feet like jello. There’s bunting tied through the trees, live bunting, snake like and hissing, flapping in the wind.
Below a band plays, instruments shine, spewing a steady stream of gleaming notes that float through the air. One pops when Chris pokes a finger at it, showering them all with silver glitter. Kevin blinks the sparkles out of his eyes, and keeps watching, the way the drum bounces as it plays, sticks thudding against its side. The trombones arranged in a line, up and down, dancing to the beat.
“We need some of them, save on band fees.” Tiny notes slink through Chris’ hair as he stares, brushing them away, he pulls his feet free and leaps down the hill, bounding to a halt next to a slinky violin.
“Hold on.” It takes Joey only seconds to join Chris, but Kevin walks down more slowly, feet sinking with every step.
Notes fill the air, large and small, darting and drifting. One tickles past Kevin’s ear, low and earthy, and he shivers at its touch. He’s surrounded by instruments, all playing, all moving in some way. It should be a mess of music, but it isn’t at all, every note fits, and Kevin can’t help smiling, tapping his fingers against his thigh when the tune speeds up, and the notes dance in dizzy circles in the sky.
He stumbles a little when something thuds against his leg. Looking down, he sees a glossy blue piano, the keys depressing in a steady stream of sound. His fingers itch to touch, but he keeps them tight against his body, it feels wrong to touch somehow, wanting to play with something that’s alive.
“She wants you to play.”
A trumpet brushes against Kevin’s elbow, and deep in the shine he sees two blue eyes, a grin that talks of home.
“Go on.”
The trumpet bumps against him, strange and wrong but still familiar, and Kevin drops to his knees, running his fingers against keys that purr at his touch.
The song is unfamiliar, but he knows it anyway, joining in, part of the band as Joey dances past, the cello wrapped in his arms, Chris surrounded by drums, laughing and twirling as notes rebound of his skin.
The music quickens, notes exploding upwards, and Kevin’s hands are blurs on the keyboard. He can’t help smiling, lost in sound. The drums pound, the violins wail, and the trumpet is at Kevin’s ear.
“You’ll be late. Go go!”
Muscles aching, Kevin stands, wiping at his knees. He weaves through the cartwheeling tubas, grabbing Joey as he spins by, then reaches between the drums, pulling Chris free.
“What’s up?” Chris wipes at his glittering face, following as Kevin leads the way back up the hill.
“We’re late.”
“For what?” Joey gives a last wave to the cello and strokes his finger over a note that lands on his cheek.
“No idea, but we’re late for something.” Kevin shrugs, then halts when he reaches the brow of the hill. Looking down at the huge blanket spread out below, covered in food, dainty glasses and bottles of soda resting on ice “That wasn’t there before, right?”
“No, but it’s there now,” Joey says, looking down. “Are we going there?”
They look at one another, sharing an understanding born of utter weirdness.
“Come on then.” Taking the lead, Chris approaches the blanket, stopping short of its fuzzy red material.
“You’re late you know?”
There’s a lazy blur of movement, and a man props himself up on his elbow. Small, only feet tall, and covered in red fur, glasses askew on his nose, he holds up a book and yawns. “I waited so long I feel asleep, right in the middle of the chapter. Jacob was about to get the earrings, and… you’re not interested in that, are you?” Carefully marking his page, he sits up straight.
“Hi Nick.” It’s no surprise that it’s Nick, Kevin was waiting for him to come along. It’s no surprise he doesn’t answer to the name either, scrunching up his nose as he stands.
“You’re mistaken. But come, sit, eat. I’ve been waiting for you.” Patting a space next to him, Nick bends to gather plates and cups. Kevin looks away; the fur isn’t that great a covering.
“Excuse the food, it’s a little cool. I told the band not to play, but we don’t get many visitors and I knew you’d get distracted, but still, you’re here now.” Nick thrusts a plate into Kevin’s hands. “Sit, eat, help yourself.”
Stomach growling, Kevin looks at the food. It looks okay, normal colours and staying still on the plate, and really, things can’t get any weirder. He looks at Chris and Joey, and, taking their silence as agreement, bends to pick up cake.
It tastes delicious, and Kevin eats fast, licking the cream and sugar from his lips. Nick seems delighted; the perfect host as he passes plates and pours soda as they eat.
“Have another sandwich, I know you people like sandwiches.”
Puzzled at the phrasing, Kevin puts down his glass and looks at Nick. “How do you know?”
Head ducked, Nick worries at a cake, crumbling it between his fingers. “I don’t. I mean, I guessed. More cake?” He offers the squished cake, then pulls it back to himself when he sees the mangled state of it, the red hairs scattered on the surface. “I’ll get more. Keep eating, or, if you’re tired, there’s blankets over there.” Jumping to his feet, Nick hurries away, cake plate held in his hand.
“What did you say to him?” Draining his glass, Chris looks over at Kevin.
“Nothing, just asked how he knew we liked sandwiches, that’s all.”
“Never mind that, did I hear him mention blankets?” Yawning, Joey puts down his plate and licks sugar from his fingers.
“Yeah, over there.” Pointing at the pile of sheepskins, Kevin tidies the plates, stacking empty dishes as Chris and Joey disappear into the trees, returning in minutes to burrow into the pile of blankets, cuddled close, only the top of their heads visible amongst all the wool. Lonely, Kevin wants to join them, accept Joey’s obvious invitation as he lifts up a corner of the blanket. Instead he waits, wanting to question Nick. He never returns.
“Kevin, dude. Come here will you.” Joey’s holding up the corner of the sheepskins again, and this time Kevin joins him. It’s dark and he’s cold, and even if the multiple shimmering moons are beautiful, he doesn’t want to sit alone anymore.
“About time.” Eyes peeking over the edge of the blanket, Chris snakes out a hand, his fingers wrapping around Kevin’s wrist. He pulls, and holds on as Kevin lands awkwardly, knees either side of Chris’ legs, his upper body lying across Joey.
“Hi.” Joey smiles, leans forward and kisses the tip of Kevin’s nose. “I thought we were going to wait forever.”
“Tell us about it! The most action we’ve seen since we were skinned, and what do you do? Make us wait. I mean, give us a break here. It’s not like we’ve much left to work with. Give us something to watch.”
Chris winces as Kevin jumps up, startled by the pairs of eyes that have suddenly appeared in two of the rugs.
“What are you waiting for? Give us some skin.” One of the rugs, the one with the distinctively curly wool, snickers. “Get it? Some skin. We’re skins and….”
“Lame. So lame.” The other blanket flaps a corner, eyes green and huge. “But he’s right, come on. Get naked.”
“I’m not. With you watching.” Taking hold of the blankets, Kevin throws them to one side. He’s tired, and aching and this place is insane, but no one can call Kevin stupid, especially when Joey and Chris are looking up at him, waiting for him to take his place at their sides.
~*~*~*~
“Kevin, Kevin! Wake up!”
Warm and comfortable, Kevin doesn’t want to move, to wake up at all, but the voice is insistent.
Slowly, Kevin opens his eyes.
luxshine's birthday yesterday. Now, she's given me two chibis that I adore, as well as drawing many more for others, so I wanted to give her something back.So, here you go. With thanks to
ephemera_pop who encouraged and beta read on really short notice.Kevin, Chris and Joey centric.
Before he’d left for Europe he’d been told certain things. Don’t leave your glass unattended, make sure you always have clean underwear, always wear a condom --which ranked right up there in Kevin’s most awkward conversations ever, because, what was his mom thinking?! -- but no one had told him not to open dusty little doors in backstage areas. Which sucked, because if they had, maybe he wouldn’t be stuck in this place with Joey Fatone and Chris fucking Kirkpatrick.
“Is that a giant rabbit?”
Chris darts away, again, running through long orange grass which snakes around his calves with whispers of sighing swishing sound that turn into two part harmony when Joey follows.
“Are you coming?” The grass sways, breaking waves around Joey’s legs when he stops and looks back at Kevin.
“We should stay here.” Kevin takes a step back, closer to the spidery tree that’s their way home. There are tiny specks of blood on its glittering surface, and Kevin’s fingers ache with remembrance. Reaching out a hand, he runs bloodied fingertips over the gnarly surface. He knows the doorway has to still be there, somewhere, and he can't understand how Joey can be so calm.
“It’s gone, man. Leave it.” The grass whispers again, and Joey’s at Kevin’s side. “Who says the way back is the way we came?”
Kevin looks at Joey, considering. He imagines the doorway opening without them, or one appearing elsewhere while he sits and waits. It’s an impossible decision, but at least if he follows them he won’t be alone.
“Come on.” A quick, final touch of the tree and Kevin steps away, severing the last physical link to his friends.
Joey lays his hand against Kevin’s shoulder. “We’ll get back to them.” Then he shades his eyes against the purple suns, looking across the ocean of orange. “Chris went that way.”
Figuring Joey has some kind of built-in radar to find annoying bandmates, Kevin follows Joey through the grass. It tickles at his ankles and he’s lost in the hypnotic swish of sound when Chris jumps into his field of vision.
“There you are!”
Kevin blinks. Chris has a flower balanced on his head, some kind of bluebell, except it’s yellow with pink spots and big enough to be used as a hat. He’s also carrying a bunch of scarlet blooms, the petals drooping over his hands and staining his skin pink.
“Like the hat.” Joey grins as he runs his fingers over the flower on Chris’ head. “It makes you look like one of those flower fairies.”
Kevin can’t smiling, despite the scowl, Joey’s right. Chris is totally flower fairy material
“A fairy. I think not. I picked these for you, see if you get them now”
Whirling away from Joey, Chris thrusts the scarlet flowers into Kevin’s hands, then stretches up, planting a kiss on Kevin’s cheek. This close it’s possible to see the silvery pollen brushed across his nose, the glinting specks in his eyelashes. Surprised, Kevin takes the flowers, holding them as Chris grins wide.
“Figures it takes some kind of alternate universe to get a kiss,” Joey says, laughing as he rests his arm over Chris’ shoulder.
Kevin looks between them, trying to understand the joke. He still doesn’t get it when Chris ducks from under Joey’s hold and runs toward a thicket of trees.
“Oh, hey. I came back to show you something, come on.”
Chris yells the words over his shoulder and disappears into the shadow. Kevin grips his flowers and walks when Joey claps him on the shoulder. He’d thought Nick and Brian together were exhausting, but this? Kevin wonders how Joey stands it.
“He’s not like this all the time.” Apparently Joey has some kind of mind reading ability, looking across at Kevin as they duck under a criss-cross of knitted branches “He’s only a part-time crack monkey.”
“If you say so.” Kevin’s willing to believe Joey; he’s got no reason to lie after all, but still….
“Chris! Run!”
Kevin jumps when Joey shouts, then freezes when he sees Chris standing next to a giant cat. A giant lavender cat with exploding pink curls, and Kevin hates this place. A lot.
“No. It’s okay. The cat and me are bonding. Aren’t we, cat?” Surrounded by constantly rippling glossy spheres, the cat purrs when Chris kneels, burying his hand into the scruff of its neck.
“I don’t think you should do that.” Kevin takes a hesitant step forward, ready to charge. Chris might be a hyperactive annoyance, but he doesn’t deserve death by killer cat.
“Killer cat? Whatever. Like I’d get a meal off him, there’s more meat on a wiener.” The cat sniffs, and cats shouldn’t sniff disdainfully, and cats especially shouldn’t talk. “You’re too closed-minded, I can communicate by many means, I reserve talking for the lesser creatures, you could say I’ve taken evolution to the next level.”
“Of insanity maybe.” Kevin stands his ground, even when the cat curls its lip in a sharp toothed smile.
“That may be so, but reality is what you make it. Who says what you see isn’t real? What you hear is real to you, and surely that makes it reality.” Yawning, the cat runs a pink tongue over the red-tipped points of its teeth. “You think I see him as a meal, yet your want exceed mine in every way.”
“None of that makes sense.” Kevin rubs his hand across his forehead and presses his fingertips into the crease between his eyes. “What am I saying? You’re a cat, of course you don’t make sense. None of this makes sense. I don’t make sense. I should go back and sleep this off.”
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.” Slinky smooth, the cat pads past Chris and circles Kevin, lavender tail brushing against his chest. “The change is coming and you must go on. It’s the only way.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Frustrated, Kevin can only watch helplessly as the cat suddenly flees, disappearing into the trees.
“I think he means the forest is changing, look.”
Joey has moved so he can rest his hand on the small of Chris’ back. They’re both looking up, eyes narrowed and listening. Kevin listens too, hears the rustle of leaves, the crack of branches. Within seconds things are moving, trees bowing heavy with black mould that clings to once glittering bark. The spheres deflate, empty and sagging, covered with leaves wilted to grey stalks. The air of decay is obvious, and as the wind begins to whistle through broken branches, Kevin knows they have to run.
They hurry forward, jumping the pools of stinking liquid that bubble from the ground. They duck under thorns that slash at their faces and power through grasses that cling to their feet. Panting for breath and legs heavy, Kevin can see the boundary of the trees, then he’s forced to a stop, as if the air itself is holding him hostage.
There’s a chaos of movement, and Kevin has no choice but to watch as a path of darkness glides towards him glides forward, a mess of branches and leaves dripping with slime, and deep inside, a pair of gleaming dark eyes. Kevin looks into those eyes and knows.
“AJ.” Soft words, but still, it hears, and the dark rushes forward, expanding.
“Go now!”
A rush of sound, a blur of colour, and that cat dives into the dark. It hisses and spits, back arched and claws extended as the universe trembles, branches creaking with strain and rot showers the air. “Go!”
Kevin goes, pushing Chris and Joey into movement. They frantically run, branches whipping past their faces, Chris’ flower hat falling to the floor, Joey stumbling over a log that explodes into dust. Finally, they explode into sunlight, looking back into a nightmare of teeth and swirling darkness.
“We need to help it.” Swiping the back of his hand across his cheek, Kevin rubs away the blood that was dripping toward his mouth. It smears across his skin, red against black dusty decay, and he knows they have to rescue the cat, even if he has no idea what to do.
“He doesn’t need help.” A woman had appeared from nowhere, as if conjured from air, long dark hair blowing in the wind, skirt wrapping around shapely legs as she looks into the woods. “This is foreplay of sorts, fun for them but dangerous for those who become trapped close.”
“The cat and that thing? Cool.” Joey gives a thumbs up in the direction of the trees, taking a step back when a trunk thunders to the ground. “How do you think they do it? Those branches look spiky, though cats have good senses of smell, it could see in the dark, find….”
“Wait. Just, stop.” Head throbbing, the flowers in Kevin’s hands squash between his fingers. “I don’t want to know how the cat and that thing have sex. I don’t want to think about it, I don’t want you to think about it.”
“What about me? Because personally, I think with branches that long, the cat has to be….”
”Just. Shut up!” Kevin can feel himself scowl, forehead creasing as he tries to ignore Joey and Chris, who’ve huddled together, whispering with each crack and crash.
“You sound stressed.” A gentle voice in his ear, and soft hands are kneading Kevin’s shoulders. He sighs, muscles relaxing under the skilful touch. “Leave them here and come with me.”
It’s tempting, the strains of the last hours swept away with the scent of sugar. The feel of firm breasts against his back, soft hair against his skin, warm breath against his neck. It is mmediate sensation that soothes the ache of missing his friends, the fear and uncertainty he feels now.
“Come with me.” Hands slide down his arms, and Kevin drops the wilted flowers when fingers entwine with his own. The scent of sweetness is cloying now, making Kevin feel sleepy, eyes heavy as he allows himself to be led away.
“Wait. You can’t leave us.”
Joey grabs Kevin’s hand and yanks. Nails tear down Kevin’s palm as he’s pulled free. It’s a sudden jarring separation, and the haze clears, the world becoming sharp as deception is thrust aside, and Kevin realises that it’s Howie – ringed dark eyes and painted lips -- reaching out for him, not a woman at all.
“He belongs to us, not you.” Chris steps in front of Kevin, shielding him and pushing Howie aside.
“Maybe one day, but not yet.” Howie turns, mouth a thin line as he points a black-nailed finger at Chris. “You think you have him, but he still doesn’t believe.”
A ripping sound and black edged cloud, and Howie’s gone, leaving Kevin standing, staring at empty air.
“You mightn’t believe now, but you will.” Chris is serious, reaching out, resting his hand against Kevin’s chest. “Give it time.”
“Believe what? That this is some drug fuelled nightmare, because it clearly is.”
“Hear that, Joey? He thinks we’re a nightmare. I think I’m offended.” Chris takes a deliberate step back and Kevin tries to work out if he really is offended. With his boys its easy, there’s always some kind of tell to a joke. The smile apparent in the light of Nick’s eyes, the twitch of Brian’s mouth, the way Howie winks just that once when hiding a truth, the twitch of AJ’s fingers that betray his lies. Here though, he’s not sure at all.
“It’s not you, it’s this place. That. That was Howie…”
“Yeah. He’s a hot girl.”
“Hotter than me?” Chris is staring up at Joey, mouth curved and eyes wide.
“You’re not a girl,” Joey says, as he looks Chris from head to toe.
“I could be. Lots of wax, eyeliner and I’m sure Lynn would lend me some underwear, she has that g-string, the zebra print one.”
“Okay, that’s it.” Kevin starts walking. Girl Howie, AJ as some kind of sucking darkness, he can take all that, but there’s a line, and thinking about Justin’s mom’s underwear is way over it.
“Finally, a man of taste. I keep telling him he doesn’t suit zebra print.” Joey’s grinning as he reaches Kevin’s side, his fingers brushing against Kevin’s own as they walk, his voice lowering as he grips them for an instant and says, “It’s okay, we’ll get back, you’ll see.”
~*~*~*~
Kevin’s feet are aching, pants stained multiple colours from the grasses and trees they’ve brushed against. The suns are low in the golden sky and turquoise shadows dance across the dirt. He’s thirsty and hungry, but it’s easy to ignore the berries that grow along the ground. It’s a simple fact, food isn’t supposed to pulse and glow.
“Can you hear that?” Joey’s stopped, head tilted to one side as he listens. Kevin listens too, and finally, hears faint music.
“It’s that way.” Chris points, and as one they change direction. Music hopefully means people, and maybe a way home.
It takes almost half an hour to find the source. It would have been faster but Joey spent ten minutes talking to a two headed yellow llama. Now though, they’re standing on a small hill that wobbles under their feet like jello. There’s bunting tied through the trees, live bunting, snake like and hissing, flapping in the wind.
Below a band plays, instruments shine, spewing a steady stream of gleaming notes that float through the air. One pops when Chris pokes a finger at it, showering them all with silver glitter. Kevin blinks the sparkles out of his eyes, and keeps watching, the way the drum bounces as it plays, sticks thudding against its side. The trombones arranged in a line, up and down, dancing to the beat.
“We need some of them, save on band fees.” Tiny notes slink through Chris’ hair as he stares, brushing them away, he pulls his feet free and leaps down the hill, bounding to a halt next to a slinky violin.
“Hold on.” It takes Joey only seconds to join Chris, but Kevin walks down more slowly, feet sinking with every step.
Notes fill the air, large and small, darting and drifting. One tickles past Kevin’s ear, low and earthy, and he shivers at its touch. He’s surrounded by instruments, all playing, all moving in some way. It should be a mess of music, but it isn’t at all, every note fits, and Kevin can’t help smiling, tapping his fingers against his thigh when the tune speeds up, and the notes dance in dizzy circles in the sky.
He stumbles a little when something thuds against his leg. Looking down, he sees a glossy blue piano, the keys depressing in a steady stream of sound. His fingers itch to touch, but he keeps them tight against his body, it feels wrong to touch somehow, wanting to play with something that’s alive.
“She wants you to play.”
A trumpet brushes against Kevin’s elbow, and deep in the shine he sees two blue eyes, a grin that talks of home.
“Go on.”
The trumpet bumps against him, strange and wrong but still familiar, and Kevin drops to his knees, running his fingers against keys that purr at his touch.
The song is unfamiliar, but he knows it anyway, joining in, part of the band as Joey dances past, the cello wrapped in his arms, Chris surrounded by drums, laughing and twirling as notes rebound of his skin.
The music quickens, notes exploding upwards, and Kevin’s hands are blurs on the keyboard. He can’t help smiling, lost in sound. The drums pound, the violins wail, and the trumpet is at Kevin’s ear.
“You’ll be late. Go go!”
Muscles aching, Kevin stands, wiping at his knees. He weaves through the cartwheeling tubas, grabbing Joey as he spins by, then reaches between the drums, pulling Chris free.
“What’s up?” Chris wipes at his glittering face, following as Kevin leads the way back up the hill.
“We’re late.”
“For what?” Joey gives a last wave to the cello and strokes his finger over a note that lands on his cheek.
“No idea, but we’re late for something.” Kevin shrugs, then halts when he reaches the brow of the hill. Looking down at the huge blanket spread out below, covered in food, dainty glasses and bottles of soda resting on ice “That wasn’t there before, right?”
“No, but it’s there now,” Joey says, looking down. “Are we going there?”
They look at one another, sharing an understanding born of utter weirdness.
“Come on then.” Taking the lead, Chris approaches the blanket, stopping short of its fuzzy red material.
“You’re late you know?”
There’s a lazy blur of movement, and a man props himself up on his elbow. Small, only feet tall, and covered in red fur, glasses askew on his nose, he holds up a book and yawns. “I waited so long I feel asleep, right in the middle of the chapter. Jacob was about to get the earrings, and… you’re not interested in that, are you?” Carefully marking his page, he sits up straight.
“Hi Nick.” It’s no surprise that it’s Nick, Kevin was waiting for him to come along. It’s no surprise he doesn’t answer to the name either, scrunching up his nose as he stands.
“You’re mistaken. But come, sit, eat. I’ve been waiting for you.” Patting a space next to him, Nick bends to gather plates and cups. Kevin looks away; the fur isn’t that great a covering.
“Excuse the food, it’s a little cool. I told the band not to play, but we don’t get many visitors and I knew you’d get distracted, but still, you’re here now.” Nick thrusts a plate into Kevin’s hands. “Sit, eat, help yourself.”
Stomach growling, Kevin looks at the food. It looks okay, normal colours and staying still on the plate, and really, things can’t get any weirder. He looks at Chris and Joey, and, taking their silence as agreement, bends to pick up cake.
It tastes delicious, and Kevin eats fast, licking the cream and sugar from his lips. Nick seems delighted; the perfect host as he passes plates and pours soda as they eat.
“Have another sandwich, I know you people like sandwiches.”
Puzzled at the phrasing, Kevin puts down his glass and looks at Nick. “How do you know?”
Head ducked, Nick worries at a cake, crumbling it between his fingers. “I don’t. I mean, I guessed. More cake?” He offers the squished cake, then pulls it back to himself when he sees the mangled state of it, the red hairs scattered on the surface. “I’ll get more. Keep eating, or, if you’re tired, there’s blankets over there.” Jumping to his feet, Nick hurries away, cake plate held in his hand.
“What did you say to him?” Draining his glass, Chris looks over at Kevin.
“Nothing, just asked how he knew we liked sandwiches, that’s all.”
“Never mind that, did I hear him mention blankets?” Yawning, Joey puts down his plate and licks sugar from his fingers.
“Yeah, over there.” Pointing at the pile of sheepskins, Kevin tidies the plates, stacking empty dishes as Chris and Joey disappear into the trees, returning in minutes to burrow into the pile of blankets, cuddled close, only the top of their heads visible amongst all the wool. Lonely, Kevin wants to join them, accept Joey’s obvious invitation as he lifts up a corner of the blanket. Instead he waits, wanting to question Nick. He never returns.
“Kevin, dude. Come here will you.” Joey’s holding up the corner of the sheepskins again, and this time Kevin joins him. It’s dark and he’s cold, and even if the multiple shimmering moons are beautiful, he doesn’t want to sit alone anymore.
“About time.” Eyes peeking over the edge of the blanket, Chris snakes out a hand, his fingers wrapping around Kevin’s wrist. He pulls, and holds on as Kevin lands awkwardly, knees either side of Chris’ legs, his upper body lying across Joey.
“Hi.” Joey smiles, leans forward and kisses the tip of Kevin’s nose. “I thought we were going to wait forever.”
“Tell us about it! The most action we’ve seen since we were skinned, and what do you do? Make us wait. I mean, give us a break here. It’s not like we’ve much left to work with. Give us something to watch.”
Chris winces as Kevin jumps up, startled by the pairs of eyes that have suddenly appeared in two of the rugs.
“What are you waiting for? Give us some skin.” One of the rugs, the one with the distinctively curly wool, snickers. “Get it? Some skin. We’re skins and….”
“Lame. So lame.” The other blanket flaps a corner, eyes green and huge. “But he’s right, come on. Get naked.”
“I’m not. With you watching.” Taking hold of the blankets, Kevin throws them to one side. He’s tired, and aching and this place is insane, but no one can call Kevin stupid, especially when Joey and Chris are looking up at him, waiting for him to take his place at their sides.
~*~*~*~
“Kevin, Kevin! Wake up!”
Warm and comfortable, Kevin doesn’t want to move, to wake up at all, but the voice is insistent.
Slowly, Kevin opens his eyes.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:23 pm (UTC)You're making me like Kevin dammit (his eyebrows scare me).
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:36 pm (UTC)Kevin rocks! It's my aim in life to get him more fannish love. He's pretty! He loves his boys. Embrace the Kevin love!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-24 03:05 am (UTC)The crack is fun and sparkly and always appropriate. And I'll take your word for it on Kevin *g*
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:24 pm (UTC)Also : still love and adore the lambs more than is right in any universe :D
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:32 pm (UTC)The lambs are so my favourites, I can just imagine them lying there, chattering away *g*
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:24 pm (UTC)you right some of the trippiest crack.
*giggles*
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:31 pm (UTC)I warned it was crack ;)
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 10:30 pm (UTC)You should let it come visit more often.
;)
no subject
Date: 2006-12-23 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-24 03:12 am (UTC)I loved everysingle word off it, and I wish I knew what happened when Kevin woke up... :D Thank you so much for this wonderful gift!
no subject
Date: 2006-12-23 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-24 03:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-23 03:34 pm (UTC)