© Taranis and Sweet-Kisses™

~*~

Nick sat down, his eyes hooded as he watched the two chortle at private, secretive nonsense, the two boys talking and chuckling in hushed voices. He couldn't seem to lay a finger on what was happening to his brother. Just days ago, he had been normal, the one that cared about all of them, and sure he was a bit "up-the-ass" and prudish sometimes, but Nick didn't mind so much. All he did was watch, and after the tedious hours of just staring, looking, more staring and more looking, nothing ever came out of it, nothing seemed to add up.

Nick let a shallow sigh escape his lips. He just couldn't believe the dramatic change in Kevin all of a sudden. Gone was the sophisticated, suave Southern demeanour that he was usually known for and in its place was a loudmouth, cussing, wannabe eighteen year-old who drank as soon as he woke up right until falling asleep. Usually it was the alcohol that put him to sleep in the first place. The media was having a field day, labelling A.J. and Kevin now copy-cats and clones, and all the rest of them could do was look on with despondency.

A.J and Kevin continued their heated discussion, talking about pool, girls, their latest conquests and tattoos. Kevin had decided to opt for a few on the arms, on the back, and on his abdomen, ranging from eagles to Japanese and Chinese symbols of love, peace, harmony and music, to A.J.'s personal favourite, a number that assumed a rather compromising position. And A.J. loved it, he loved Kevin being this way. He could taunt and tease and have fun with him, like his own little puppy, as though he were playing stylist, making sure Kevin got exactly what he wanted, making sure Kevin appeared exactly how he wanted and wore exactly what he wanted.

On this particular day, A.J. and Kevin had dressed exactly the same. They’d both gone for the Gothic, satanic, all-in-black look. Black shirt, black pants, black hat, black glasses, black shoes, everything. Everything had to be black, right down to their underwear, and the rest of the guys, and the media, was beginning to get a little scared. Well, the media was beginning to find it rather hilarious and loved to make jokes and ridicule them at any opportunity.

But seriously, it was only Kevin and A.J. that weren’t worried. Why was everyone else stressing out completely and giving themselves unnecessary coronary’s when all they had to do was laugh and relax? Understand that Kevin was simply trying to live his life the way he wanted to? Individuality was the key.

Some people just took themselves way too seriously for Kevin's liking.

"So, then, she did," Kevin concluded with a big, naughty smile and shrugged. "And it was great."

A.J. doubled over with laughter. Hearing Kevin's bedroom tales were just too damn funny now. In the past it used to be, "piss off, I'm not saying anything about who I go to bed with!" Now, it was totally different and A.J. was totally loving every minute of it. Now, Kevin was saying absolutely everything, in major detail. This particular story involved a racy club, a blonde and his hotel room. Perfect situation, he thought. Mighty perfect, indeed.

"Hmmm, lucky you. Can't say I've gotten that kind of treatment in a while."

"Oh, buddy, are you missin' out!" Kevin replied with a shake of his head. "I'm tellin' ya, it's the best!"

Nick winced from their rather disturbing tale of Kevin's "love ya and leave ya" game, in which he’d pick up a random girl, sweet talk her until she was putty in his hands, use her for a little satisfaction and make sure she’d get the hell out when it was all over, and quite frankly, Nick had heard enough. He'd heard enough about how Kevin claimed that women practically threw themselves at his feet.

He'd heard enough about how goddamn wicked his tattoos were, and he'd heard enough about how chunky his earrings were. And what was he, anyway? Gay? Didn't only gay people care about things like that? He'd sure as hell heard enough, that is until A.J decided to rise with another subject that was close to heart.

"You're too damn chicken to get any piercings!"

Kevin let out a rumbling laugh. "I got my ears pierced, haven't I?"

"That's chicken shit, my dear friend," A.J taunted, slapping Kevin's knee. "Look, you’ve started with the basics so you can't stop now..."

Kevin arched an eyebrow, his eyes twinkling in realization. "Truly?"

Nick coughed a little, with slight spluttering. "Kev, A.J was kidding."

Kevin's head whipped towards Nick's direction, a set of teeth gleaming from under his lips. "It sounded more like a challenge to me." He turned back towards A.J with a devilish smile. "Wouldn't you say?"

A.J laughed now, but it seemed slightly nervous, rather than triumphant. "You don't really need to, man. I mean, I know how you are with that squeaky-clean, little perfect image you've got goin' on, so - "

Kevin slapped A.J playfully on the back. "How about we do it now?"

"We're on a bus!" Nick squeaked.

He shouldn't have even been in on the conversation, but he was now. He watched with wide eyes as Kevin stood up next to A.J. and saw that it was almost uncanny. Just like they had said earlier, they were beginning to be like twins. It was almost laughable, and had this been a funny situation, Nick maybe would've laughed. But this wasn't funny.

This wasn't Kevin, and it was scary. Very scary. He began to wonder if Kevin had been possessed by some cosmic force or entity and might need an exorcist or something. Maybe it was the devil. Maybe it was God. Maybe it was aliens. Who knew when it came to Kevin now? Usually Nick could predict Kevin's every move, but hell, that had sure changed quickly. And definitely not for the better. Maybe for A.J., but A.J. was a whole other story for another dimension...

Kevin waved his hand. "I know we can heat a needle in here somewhere..."

"Are you fucking out of your mind, Kev?" Nick yelped, jumping out of the couch he was sitting on.

Kevin continued to ignore Nick's outbursts with another backward wave and finally disappeared in the direction of their bunks. Yet, Nick persisted with his complaints and disapproving interjections. Kevin had acquired four tattoos, he had bought a ton of hats at every stop so far on their on-going tour, not to mention the glasses, the cigarettes; Marlboro’s just like A.J., and the drink they now lovingly labelled "Ol’ Jack", like he was an old high school friend or something.

All the guys had chosen to react in different ways to Kevin’s new image. Brian had chosen to be angry and annoyed at his cousin's sudden urge to be "young again", as he put it. Howie had just quit all together, ignoring it whole-heartedly, thinking it nothing more than a mild phase, maybe even an early mid-life crisis. A.J. on the other hand, had been getting a kick out of it ever since, not to mention, the one also partly to blame for the encouragement.

Nick placed a hand on his head, slapping it lightly when he saw Kevin pull out an emergency sewing kit. "What's going to make you stop?" he asked.

Kevin smiled. "Nothing," he said and walked over to the stereo and began to play the same loud, deafening music that he had all of a sudden grown to love and had freaked them all out with that day in the hotel room. "I feel so alive..."

Nick rolled his eyes, thinking 'here we go again with Kevin's new-found metal loving', and A.J had finally entered the bunkroom. He looked at Kevin, shaking his head, but a smirk pretty obvious, cemented on his lips. "You sure you want to do this?"

"No he doesn't," Nick mumbled.

Kevin nodded. "Where shall we sit?"

"Patience, pet, let me heat the damn thing first," A.J. said and patted Kevin's head the way he would a cat and strolled off to the kitchen with the kit.

Kevin sat on the bunk, crossing his legs in an Arabic prayer-style, and watched Nick with a bemused grin. "What's buggin' baby?"

Nick scowled. "Gee, I don't know, someone's damn identity?"

"Ooohhh, touchy baby," Kevin drawled and leaned back, resting his back to the wall and closing his eyes and allowing the music to relax him. Though it didn't seem to be relaxing everyone else. Well, maybe A.J., but again, who could explain A.J. and why he did anything that he did? The rule with him was to expect the unexpected, and this rule with them both was beginning to apply.

Everyone was just way too uptight for his liking, so prudish, not wanting to take risks, so completely happy with the norm, the status-quo. Well, now Kevin had begun to hate that and was out to shock people at any given chance, and reform himself in the process. He was far too old-man like before. He needed to loosen up, that’s all, and that’s all that he was doing. Loosening up.

Nick played with the hem of his shirt, glancing up at Kevin's relaxed figure sitting on the bed. His head leaned against the wall with a satisfied smile across it. "Uh...where you going to get it?"

Kevin opened his eyes, finding Nick's resolute figure before him. "Just another hole on the ear, shouldn't hurt much." His eyes gleamed, and they were frightening. Not because of the sudden change, but the determination was intimidating.

Nick couldn't place a finger on what was happening to Kevin. Hmmm, perhaps a major identity transformation. Yes, that was certain. He watched as A.J. re-entered the room, a grin and a needle in his hand. "Where at me friend?"

Kevin chuckled. "Wherever the hell you want."

"I thought you said just another one on the ear!?" Nick yelped.

A.J. pursed his lips together in thought, surveying Kevin's face and body before him. "I'm not much of a professional..." He paused, a sudden twinkle in his eye advising Nick to be weary. "But....." A turbulent smile arose. "Must follow Nicky’s worried orders. Just another one to the ear, Kev."

Kevin let out an amused laugh. "Took you long enough, shit-head." He licked his upper lip. "Just do it already."

A.J. chuckled. "Ooohh, someone's impatient!" He slapped Kevin's arm. "Down boy!"

Nick watched the needle sink into Kevin's earlobe, and cringed. But he watched Kevin's face start from relaxation to...pleasure? Did he actually enjoy the feeling of intense pain to his body? Was he totally like A.J. and getting off on a needle through his ear? No way! Only masochists enjoyed stuff like that! Who knew that Kevin would love this, when usually, Kevin would start crying at the sight of blood or even a needle.

God, what the hell was going on? And sure, Nick had quite a few tattoos, but nothing as crazy as A.J. A.J. had acquired his through the years, but here was Kevin going at it in less than a month at a dizzying speed. His thoughts were rearranged by the sudden shout of...

"What the fuck are you two doing this time?" Brian squeaked. He had just entered the bunk without any warning. He saw the needle being removed from Kevin’s ear by A.J., a smile on A.J.’s face, and yelled in horror. "Oh no! What the hell is that?"

A low rumble erupted from Kevin's throat. "Relax cuz, it's just another place to hang some jewellery on, my friend."

Brian shook his head and looked to Nick, who was shaking his head right along with him. "Pretty soon that's gonna look like a rat dug through it." He sighed. "And when are you going to stop?"

Kevin shrugged. "Until I'm satisfied, dear worrying cuz."

"Which is?" Brian questioned.

"Which is never," Kevin answered and both him and A.J. let out a series of cackles to Kevin's response.

The hurt shone through Brian's eyes, and he walked away. Nick's heart broke to see Brian's hope being crushed little by little. Each time they treated him like a nuisance. They treated him as though he wasn’t worthy. They treated him that way because he wasn’t like them. He wasn’t like either one of them. But he was what Kevin used to be, and maybe that would help him, but his morale was crushed and he was almost at the point of not even caring anymore. Though he knew he would, family bond was just too close.

In this case, anyway. Nick, on the other hand, wished he could tie Kevin up and demand answers from him. Answers which would make them all realize why Kevin was doing this to himself, so hell-bent on tattooing and piercing his body the way he was. Answers he and the rest of the band could comprehend. Not answers A.J. would usually give.

"That was harsh," Nick proclaimed.

Kevin shrugged. "His fault for asking. And I'm correct, aren't I, Aje?"

"Fuckin' right, my friend," A.J responded.

"See, Nick?" Kevin said, sighing with mock-exasperation. "You've got to lay back and relax. Everyone's so frickin uptight! God, get a grip. It's called, get a fucking life."

Nick rolled his eyes, but hurt overcoming him. Kevin never usually spoke to him that way. A.J. did sometimes, but he was used to that. But not this, not Kevin. Kevin was supposed to be different. Wasn't he? "Have it your way, but when you've suddenly decided to wake up and checked yourself out in a mirror, you'll see how fucking ridiculous you look," he snapped in a huffy voice, and got up, following in Brian's direction.

Kevin took to notice A.J.'s quietness right away, and he put a hand on A.J.'s shoulder. "Deal man, they'll be fine. Just letting out some hot air." He smiled, a genuine Kevin smile. "They've just gotta get used to the idea, you know?"

A.J. shrugged. "Maybe."

Kevin arched his eyebrow, a naughty smirk on his lips. "C'mon, let's get drunk."

A.J.'s smile returned, a devilish sparkle in his eyes. "Ol' Jack?"

Kevin raised a fist in the air. "Fuckin' right!"

A.J. stopped the cheer, and let out a whoop. "I don't get everyone, they should be glad you ain't so fuckin' anal anymore."

"When we hit New York, I want the clubs!" Kevin declared, making it sound as though he were announcing "my name is Kevin Richardson and I’m running for President", and clasping his hands together in anticipation, the same naughty smirk appearing on his face again. "I haven't had any in a fuckin' day!"

A.J laughed. "Damn straight!"

Nick found Brian sitting down on the sofa, staring out into the abyss of a lulling background. "Brian?"

Brian looked up at Nick, before sighing and turning away. "What the hell is up with him?"

Nick shrugged. "I've been trying to figure that out, but nothing proves right."

"Why can't Kevin understand that he's older, we're all older." Brian exhaled slowly. "A.J.'s, well, A.J. He's an imbecile, needs no explaining. We don't need another one."

Nick knew inside that Kevin's behaviour wasn't to do with being young again, for Kevin was still in his roaring twenties. That was young enough. This whole transformation had nothing to do with Kevin’s desire of being young again and missing out on his youth. No way was that true, but Nick couldn’t think of any reason why Kevin was so adamant and different and so, well, transformed.

"Maybe Kevin's confused."

"Maybe...but...." Brian was at a loss for words. "I hope this is some sort of phase. I don't even care if he's possessed but I just want him to wake up."

Howie walked into the room and found the two figures whispering to one another on the couch. "Yo guys, whassup?"

"Kevin," was all Brian needed to muster.

Howie gave them both a small, but reassuring smile. "It's just a phase Bri, just a phase. How long have we all known this guy?"

"All my life, " Brian responded.

"See?" Howie said. "Look at it this way, at least now A.J. has a temporary friend to play with and it’ll keep him out of mischief. At least, until he gets bored with Kevin, which will be pretty soon, I’m predicting."

Brian laughed. "A.J. is acting like a little kid! He's been getting all excited whenever Kevin comes into the room, instead of his usual, 'oh shit', responses."

"There ya go!" Howie chortled. "We'll see the usual Kevin back in no time. We've just got to let him get it out of his blood, even if he's got to ink it all in his rebellion. Just treat him the same, and he'll come back."

Nick nodded, but inside he held an enormous amount of doubt that proved incomprehensible. Nick knew it wasn't a phase, there was something different. Something wrong, and it nagged at him every minute. Every waking day...and right now. But he saw the hope burn once more in Brian's eyes and he would leave it that way.

Until it unveiled.

~**~