Chrome in the Morning Light

Abby Ebon

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Disclaimer; I do not own Minutemen; more to the point I do not own Charlie, Zeke, or even Virgil...I think this has been thoroughly established, eh?

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The landing could have been better, but all things considered, Virgil was just grateful they weren't dead. He'd never forgotten Charlie telling him, in passing, that they could "explode". Virgil had no desire whatsoever to meet with such a messy ending. Finding himself in a park (in the daylight when prom had happened at night) was unexpected, but then, he'd just jumped into a "black hole" in a football field, and he had little inclination to point out that this was a little odd.

While Charlie ranted and worked on what looked like hotwired toaster combined with a laptop, Virgil went to the park bench, there was a newspaper, and he was just the littlest bit curious to how far back in time they'd gone – just to know what time they'd be stuck in if this didn't work out.

He read the date, at first it meant nothing to him – just a number, then he felt as if a jolt of lightning had gone through his body, the first day of freshmen year. It was the day – the single moment in time – he blamed the hell the last three years he'd been put through. Thoughtfully, he glanced over his shoulder, saw Charlie's little machine seem to call a swirl of light down to it – it looked just like the worm hole in room 77. At the sight of it, the kids still lingering in the park ran off – no one would believe them here, then again, if it all worked out, they might not remember.

Sorry, Charlie. He thought as he took off running to the school – he'd make it up to Charlie later, he just had to stop what was going to happen to him. Or at least try, he heard Zeke and Charlie following him – calling for him, but did not stop, not until he'd got to the gate on the top of the bleachers that surrounded the football field.

I made it. He thought breathlessly, looking down to see the scene that played out in his nightmares set bellow him. This time was not like his nightmares, he could change this – he had to try to – he had paused to long, and felt Zeke's hand close on his arm like an iron bar.

"Virg, no – Virg – look…" Zeke tried to say, but met with the determination in Virgil's eyes, he paused – but Charlie did not.

"Are you honestly thinking of stopping what's going on down there?" There was something in Charlie's eyes – a fear, much like the fear that Zeke was all too familiar with. At being alone, friendless.

"Why not? Isn't that what Minutemen do, undo mistakes? Well, I made a mistake down there I have a chance to be somebody." Virgil told them as there was a rush of the rocket-cart's engine just beneath them. Virgil turned, trying to go down the bleachers – Zeke didn't know he had, but he had let Virgil go, he reached for him again, desperate – but then Charlie spoke, and it was as if Virgil had to pay attention.

"Okay, but know this. What happened down there is we became friends. That day that we got tied up together on that stupid ram statue. This day – this day that you hate so much- just because you got a little embarrassed, this is my favorite day. Even though I'd still be a nerd, it didn't really matter anymore, because now I had a real friend that would always make everything okay. So much for always, I guess." Charlie sounded near tears, and Virgil looked back at the football field – then to Charlie who had already turned and was walking away.

"Listen, listen Virg, you do what you gotta do here. An' if things aren't the same on the other side, it's been a good ride." Zeke said simply, looking over Virgil's shoulder at what was happening on the football field. He turned and went after Charlie, knowing the prodigy shouldn't be alone.

Virgil turned back to the field, torn between going after his friends and staying to see this "put right". This is the past. Virgil thought as saw them (he and Charlie) already being carried off, his gaze lingered on Derek. He had always wondered why his friend had never made an attempt to help him.

Then he saw Derek wave the lipstick the football players had smeared on their lips, and it felt alike an oily smear across his heart, a near physical blow. Somehow, he moved himself into action, going for the rocket-cart; he'd need it to get to the park. Charlie had designed its controls simply enough and it only took a turn of a key to see it on and to drive it out of the school in the direction Zeke and Charlie had gone.

He arrived just in time to stop Charlie from having something alike a temper tantrum. Later, he never really remembered what he'd said – likely something about friendship and not wanting to repeat high school all over again, whatever it was it was enough to get them in the rocket-cart (it had seatbelts) and kick into high gear. They almost got caught in a car crash – almost went the wrong direction- and if it hadn't been for Zeke's grappling hook, they never would have made it.

It was a wild ride, and amongst Charlie's screams that they weren't going to make it (and if they didn't, Virgil was fairly certain they were going to crash into the tree the portal had conventionally placed itself in front of) Virgil realized this was fun – being with Zeke and Charlie, it was a adrenaline rush and worth any amount of embarrassment.

Virgil, though, really hoped he wasn't about to die. He also really, really didn't want to think about the rocket-cart impacting a tree at the speed they were going. It was later an unspoken agreement that no one admit they closed their eyes. The first sign that Virgil knew he was still alive (although certainly not seated in the rocket-cart) was Charlie asking where said rocket-cat was. As if in answer the portal seemed to spit out one of the rocket-cart's wheels.

"That's it, no more time travel!" Zeke exclaimed, managing to sum up their collative feelings at the time in less then six words. The coach told them to get off the field – or run, so that's just what they did in "jogging suits" that were white snowsuits. Still, just because the coach didn't recognize them (he was a little dense at times) didn't mean they'd done what they'd hoped to.

Once inside the school, they walked by the vice principal, (who'd always been after the "Snowsuit Guys" from the start) upon seeing them ducked out in white snowsuits, and looking somewhat deer-in-the-headlights caught, only muttered about "dress codes" and left them in peace. It was almost too incredible, but they had done it – saved the world from a black hole. That it was their time machine had caused the rift in time was secondary.

They went to the library – to find out the date, turned out it was the day they'd gotten together to make the time machine, though there was no sign of their "other selves". Zeke thought though, that it was good for Virgil to stick up for himself where it concerned Derek. It was cute to see Charlie try for a return kiss that hadn't happened yet. Though he thought he saw Jeanette smile, and reassured Charlie that it'd be "cool".

Zeke glanced to see his girls, though they weren't his girls yet – and winked with a small smile, only for them to giggle. Virgil went after Stephanie, and Charlie, he thought, spoke to the librarian. Zeke didn't really pay attention to the conversation, though he did hear the word "teleportation" from Charlie's mouth- then a pause. Zeke was really tempted to groan in despair.

Then Charlie had to go and make a scene, yapping about "teleportation" and "still having the time machine supplies" only for Zeke to yell about "black holes" and "no" repeatedly. It accomplished one goal though – Virgil never kissed Stephanie, and had to be, in fact, dragged away from her as they pulled Charlie away from the library and people who likely now thought them insane.

After that, safely away from the rest of the student body - Zeke couldn't help but yawn – and it was true, it was contagious. Soon, both Virgil and Charlie were yawning too, rubbing their eyes – they realized, once the adrenalin had passed, they'd probably been up nearly twenty-four hours, almost zombie-like; Charlie led them to the computer labs, dark, quiet – although far too clean.

"We can crash here, no one will bother us." Charlie assured them softly when Zeke looked uneasy.

"What do you think happened to the "us" that, you know, were here before?" Virgil asked, particularly disturbed at the prospect of "loosing" himself in this timeline. Charlie shrugged, a small frown covering his features, he too seemed worried.

"Ah, hell, guys, we'll probably never figure it all out – just let it rest, were home, safe – and never teleporting-slash-time-traveling again – right, Charlie?" Zeke asked curling his hand into a fist threateningly.

"Er, right…" Charlie grinned a bit, hands raised in "surrender", and Zeke snorted, smiled a bit and folded his arms to lay his head on them, suddenly drained. Somehow, in snowsuits in the middle weather that could have called summer, they fell asleep.

Virgil woke a bit later, to a sound alike a chainsaw – Zeke's snores. Virgil remembered him warning them about it, but he hadn't really taken it seriously. However, Zeke looked…peaceful in his sleep, the fringe of his bangs covering his eyes – Virgil's fingers itched to remove it – so for once, he gave into impulse, reaching out to lightly touch the others skin, wondering if it would feel like it did in his…dream.

Virgil didn't get a chance to find out, as Zeke had moved to grip his hand in his sleep, as if he has sensed what Virgil had intended. Icy blue eye opened, looking into Virgil's own – a number of thoughts passed through his mind, but, most of all – the thought that his eyes looked just like they had the day he'd lifted his helmet, his eyes wild and wary all at once, though Virgil flushed as something in Zeke's eyes softened.

There was no warning, when Zeke pulled Virgil closer to him – it was either move in close, or have his arm yanked – so Virgil found himself pressed to the side of the other male. Icy eyes darkened as they looked at him, and Virgil flushed – opening his mouth to say something, a excuse, a question - Zeke didn't give a chance, and when warm lips met Virgil's he forgot what he was going to say, as a tongue pushed into his mouth, hot, slick moving against teeth and lips and tongue leaving Virgil panting, and aching hard.

Then, Charlie, in typical Charlie manner – interrupted, likely having gone to the bathroom. He looked between them, mouth half open as they tried their best to look innocent, flushed, and Virgil practically straddling the older teen. Zeke didn't think they succeeded.

"L-let's make a rule," Charlie stammered, blushing to the roots of his blond hair, "a no kissing in front of Charlie rule."

Zeke couldn't help it – he laughed, and soon enough, he was joined by the other two.

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Ending Note; well, this has to be a record for me, I finished this story pretty fast (less then a month!), all things considered – I hope none of you were disappointed by the no smut, and I would like to say that it's been a pleasure writing this. Also, do check out

"Double Entendre", by xxmidnitexglowxx!

Also, thanks goes to the following people, Aerias-A-Writer who put my story on the C2 "Aerias's Faves". To those who put this story on their favorites – CakeInfinity, El Takeshiro, KingofLoosePages, Mean-girl05, Nitroglycerin Toast, Obsessive Nature, SirenMoon, Yankii, malfoyshorttie, starbright37, and xxBloodAngelxx.

Thanks also goes to; Aerias-A-Writer, CakeInfinity, Celestial Pendent, DarkPhoenix1987, El Takeshiro, FireDemonofShadows, KingofLoosePages, Littlepaw, Nobody's Ever Home, PlasticBagFreak, Salaiii, Souless-tears, Yankii, brokenwriter,cnfzdpsychosis, malfoyshorttie, princess neko-jin ninja, starbright37, xxBloodAngelxx, and xxmidnitexglowxx, for simply putting this on their alerts.

To all who review(ed), I deeply hope you enjoyed this, it's been a pleasure, and though I do hate endings, they must come – so, unless I get a plot for this – perhaps to cross it with Doctor Who (I do wonder what the Doctor would do when faced with three teenagers able to go back twenty-four hours with a ten-minute window) or some other fandom – this is "the end", for now.

Also, be on the lookout for another Minuteman one-shot story from yours truly, called "Whispers of a Forgotten Moment in Time" likely to be placed in the "Misc. Movies" section. It takes place when the boys are older, and have vowed to put the time machine behind them, then, Zeke starts having dreams of Virgil, naughty ones – that feel too real to be imagined. Only, he's never done anything with Virgil, right? Then after a dream that leaves him sizzling, he goes to Virgil, and demands to know what he's done…only Virgil hasn't done anything…then, their focus narrows to Charlie…who best have a damned good reason for changing time. Zeke x Virgil x Charlie is the pairing…