Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush.

Warning: Contains light slash.

Prologue

"Riding on a cloud is impossible, Carlos. Clouds are condensed water vapor, and if you even try to do that you'll likely fall," said Logan as he scooted farther away from the scowling raven, annoyed by his continuing pestering.

"Then how do you explain their puffiness? There's proof for you! Ha!" Carlos stuck his tongue out as he gave Logan the international symbol for calling someone crazy by twisting his finger in a circular motion around his ear.

It was a typical response from Carlos; he loved driving the others insane, especially Logan since he was the most sensitive one. On second came James—it was fun, but after a while he just wanted to pull pranks together with the tall brunette. And then came Kendall. Either Carlos would receive the desired thrill of accomplishing his task about annoying his blonde best friend, or the mourning feeling because he tried and pathetically failed.

But this time he was aiming at Logan, trying to convince the smart boy that clouds could be used as transportation—but the raven already knew that was beyond possible; he was just testing Logan's intelligence. It seemed like a stupid idea said out loud, but Carlos really had a lot fun trying it out at the moment.

"Guys, please stop. We're about to go to a photo shoot right now, and I don't want any of us with a black eye or a missing tooth," warned Kendall, looking at Logan and Carlos with a serious face, then turning to James. "James, I think your hair is perfect enough as it is." He stared at the black comb that was currently gliding through James' silky hair.

"Not yet. I wanna look more than perfect. Perfect isn't enough," answered James, smiling when he felt the comb's teeth run across his scalp, giving him a calm sense of pleasure.

"We're about to– Guys! Aw, man!"

Kendall buried his face in his hands in shame. Carlos and Logan had commenced their traditional cat fight, trying to slap each other's faces as they fell on the carpeted floor of the limousine. The blonde couldn't help but sigh, thinking to himself what Logan had said a year ago when they were back in Minnesota—he should get new friends. Logan and Carlos were always fighting (except for when they were scheming together) and James was always too preoccupied with his image.

Kendall considered himself the only normal one, apart from that being a complete false statement because he remembered one time he had dressed like a girl—and he did look pretty darn cute if he said so himself—although, some didn't agree, but prettier, at least, than when Logan had dressed as a girl.

Kendall rolled in his bottom lip.

He wondered how James and Carlos would look dressed as girls.

He rolled out his bottom lip, biting it instead, and then pressing his lips together.

Maybe he wasn't the weird one after all; maybe he was the weirdest one.

"James! Help!" squealed Carlos as he threw Kendall off his seat, making the blonde land face flat on the floor as Logan returned back to his seat, breath shallow. "Gimme that!" He snatched the comb from James' hand, and pointed it menacingly at Logan, who was currently helping Kendall sit up, placing him on Carlos' former seat.

"Carlos!" cried James.

Before Carlos could make the illusion of shooting Logan with the gun-comb, James yanked the item from his hand, growling at the raven's face. Carlos grinned sheepishly while sliding down his seat as Logan smirked at him.

"In conclusion, you cannot ride a cloud."

Carlos narrowed his eyes and licked his lips. "This isn't over, Mitchell."

"Oh yes it is," said Kendall as he opened the door of the limousine, and stepped out. "Out."

James exited behind the blonde, followed by Logan then Carlos. As the raven slowly tiptoed out, he made a movement with his hands, giving Kendall an obvious hint that he was about to push Logan as he closed the door. Quickly, the blonde grabbed his wrist, and wagged his finger in front of the small boy's face.

"No."

"Can we go in now?" asked James, half whining.

Kendall glared at Carlos—Carlos glaring back—before he let go of his wrist, and walked next to James.

That was a bad idea.

There was a loud thud, and James and Kendall turned around to find Logan and Carlos rolling on the cement, trying to choke each other.

James huffed out loud. "Wouldn't it be better if they switched bodies? We wouldn't have to deal with any of this."

Kendall looked at James, raising his eyebrow. As crazy as that idea sounded…he actually liked it. "Yeah, agreed. But it's not possible." He rolled his eyes, disappointed.

The tall boy smirked. "You sure?"

He chuckled as he entered the building, leaving Kendall to break the sissy fight between the other two. As the tall boy vanished into the building, the blonde shivered just a bit, feeling odd after that short conversation he just had with James. However, he abandoned the sense as quickly as it came, and carefully made his way towards the (physically) arguing bit, trying not to trip over their bodies.

"Guys, please. Gustavo's going to explode if he finds us here…" Kendall moaned in fear, flinching at the loud, imaginary voice he thought up that Gustavo would use on them once he figured out where they were.

After minutes of struggling to pry Carlos' hands off Logan's throat and Logan's hands off Carlos' hip—which looked to be groping the raven's hip instead of clutching it violently—Kendall's unsaid wish finally came true, and the fight was finally over, except both previously debating boys now had purple circles all over their throats—which, disturbingly, looked more like hickeys than hand-made bruises.

"Inside," he instructed angrily.

Carlos snarled tauntingly the whole way in, while Logan trailed behind Kendall for protection.

ooo

"James, why are you always fixing your hair?" asked Carlos, smiling up at his friend. "It already looks awesome. And fluffy—like clouds—and shiny."

James' eyes flickered from the mirror to Carlos, who was currently sitting on the floor. "Why did you follow me into the bathroom?" countered James, looking back to the mirror as he continued to comb his hair, making sure every single strand was perfectly aligned.

Carlos' cheeks went a bright pink and he scowled, accepting James' accusing words. "Touché." Out of nowhere, his helmet appeared and he put it on his head, buckling the black straps around his chin.

James put his lucky comb back in his jeans pocket, and turned slowly on his heels, giving his best friend an odd stare. "Where does that thing even come from? Up your butt?" He raised an eyebrow, showing that he was being dead serious.

Carlos grinned. "Maybe," he sang, half joking.

James made a face. "Dude."

Carlos kept grinning and lifted his hands in front of him, palms erect as he wiggled his fingers. "I've got magic." The brunette rolled his eyes and opened the door, stepping into the living room while Carlos trailed behind him. "I'm so bored. Why did Logan and Kendall have to leave without us?"

"'Cause you and Logan always fight," responded James, plopping down on the couch. He grabbed the remote control and turned on the television.

Carlos froze, face gradually turning into a confused expression. "No, we do not."

"Yes, you do" said James in a sarcastic voice while he patted the seat next to him.

Carlos took it as an offer and sat down next to James. "Okay, but sometimes–"

"All the time."

When Carlos registered these words, his eyebrows scrunched. "Nuh-uh! We, uh, we're secret agents, too, you know? We're partners. Like that song…Secret Agent M–" James whacked Carlos' head—well, more like helmet, but it still caused the plastic to bump against the raven's head, giving him a headache. "Hey! What'd you do that for?" cried Carlos, taking off his helmet and rubbing the back of his head, wincing slightly at the touch.

"Shh, I can't hear," said James.

Carlos was about to protest, when he noticed the television had been turned off. He whipped his head around, analyzing everything, looking for some movement that could have attracted James' full attention—but Carlos noticed no sign of Newton's first law. He then saw James stand up, the tall boy pulling up the curtains of the back windows to reveal a terrible storm.

Carlos' eyes went wide. "It's raining!" A huge smile formed on his lips. "Wanna go outside?"

Before James could deny Carlos' ridiculous offer, the front door opened, showing off a foursome of two familiar males and females, all dripping wet from head to toe.

"It's f-f-re-ez-zing-g c-cold," stuttered Katie, sliding down a wall.

Mrs. Knight entered the kitchen, her arms wrapped around herself, body quivering slightly. "Kendall, Logan, go put on some dry clothes. And you, too, Katie. Oh, hi James, Carlos… Don't go outside. It's pouring," Mrs. Knight said, directing her warning mostly to Carlos since she knew how reckless and rebellious he could be.

Carlos smiled and watched as Kendall and Logan dragged their feet into their room, Katie ran into hers and Mrs. Knight entered the bathroom. Once the living room was empty, except for the raven and the brunette, Carlos grinned mischievously to himself and bolted for the front door.

"Carlos, you heard what Mrs. Knight said," James reminded.

"But–" Carlos turned the doorknob tauntingly. "It's raining, and puddles are so much fun."

James quickly raked his eyes over Carlos' body, stopping at the helmet on his head. "That helmet won't save you from Mother Nature's monsters."

"'That helmet won't save you from Mother Nature's monsters'," mocked Carlos in a high-pitched voice, blowing a raspberry at the brunette.

James scowled, temporarily offended. "Fine—go get burned like bacon. What do I care?"

Carlos stuck his tongue out, and exited the apartment, closing the door with a loud slam. James pressed his lips together, suddenly regretting what he had just done. What if Carlos really got hurt and it'll be all his fault… The brunette shook his head, revolting against the feeling. If Carlos wanted to go outside and get wet and lost, then that was his decision. At least James will get to say he tried to stop the raven, but Carlos had been way too rebellious. It was a pretty good testimony, in his opinion.

"But your hair, it's still–"

"Logan, just because I didn't dry my hair correctly doesn't mean I'm going to get sick, much less cause a plague."

"What's up?" asked James as Kendall and Logan sat next to him on the couch, picking up on the debate.

"Kendall. Hair, sick!" shouted Logan, too frustrated to answer with complete sentences.

Kendall facepalmed. "He's saying that I'll get sick just because I didn't dry my hair right. It's still kind of wet."

"And I am right," said Logan, squeezing Kendall's shoulder aggressively.

"Ow?" Kendall raised his eyebrow at the short brunette.

James intersected, "Kendall, Logan is right. I might not be a doctor, but I do know about heads and hair. If you let that dirty water get into your scalp, it'll get into your blood and you'll get really sick."

Logan stared at Kendall, eyebrows scrunched. "See? A little bit exaggerating, but even James knows!"

The blonde sighed loudly, irritated. "Fine. I'll go dry my hair the proper way." He stood up, and went back into his and Logan's room, stomping all the way.

"Use a soft towel!" added Logan.

"Yes, Doctor Mitchell," grumbled Kendall as he closed the door of their room.

Logan smiled to himself, happy to have finally persuaded his friend into doing the right thing. He turned his head, about to speak, but stopped himself when he noticed one of his friends was missing. He stared at James, who looked to be deep in thought.

After a few more moments of silence, Logan finally had the courage to speak up, "Where did Carlos go?"

James looked at him, mouth slightly open. Then he quickly turned his head, eyes shifting to the floor. "Uh, I dunno…"

Logan stood up and entered James and Carlos' room, which was empty of the bubbly raven. "He's not in you guys' room."

"Really?" said James loudly, earning a confused glare from Logan as he returned to the living room, and stood in front of the tall boy. "No, don't give me that look."

"Where did he go, James?" asked Logan, a quick stream of worry crossing his eyes.

James hesitated, fearing the short brunette might throw a fit if he were to find out where Carlos was at the moment. Logan hated it when someone was hurt, and James hated it when Logan would complain. Not that James predicted that Carlos would be hurt already. It was still two minutes early. "Outside," he answered nonchalantly.

Logan's eyes went wide, indicating the start of his regular, low-tempered conniption. "But it's raining outside. Please tell me outside means the lobby." His look was pleading.

James puffed his cheeks out and crossed his arms over his chest. "Sure. That's where he went."

"Lies!" Logan groaned. "Oh, come on, does he hate me that much?"

James snorted. "He's not your responsibility, Logan. Let him do what he wants."

"Okay. And if he gets hurt," Logan clicked his tongue, "Gustavo will get angry, and you won't make in Hollywood," he said, trying to make a point that'll get through his friend's skull.

James went quiet for a second. "M-maybe I should go look for him…"

"Too late!" Logan proclaimed as he opened the front door and ran out, ignoring all the people who stopped and said hi to him.

He stopped clumsily when he reached the entrance of the Palm Woods building, watching the dark rain pour down, and listening to the loud splashes through the double glass doors. Logan gulped, rather afraid of what he was about to confront. But he had to—Carlos was outside in the cold rain, no doubt performing wild stunts. He already had enough with Kendall's stubbornness, and he certainly did not need his hands full.

Holding his breath, Logan pushed open the door as slowly as possible. It was currently around three in the afternoon, and it was Saturday, but for a weekend, outside sure looked depressing and midnight-ish. He took a step forward, losing all roof protection, and the rain dug into his previously-dry clothes and skin like a thousand needles, stinging him to the core. The brunette began shivering terribly as he walked down the sidewalk, calling out his missing friend's name. He coughed when a particular school of massive raindrops stabbed his neck, which caused him to jerk furiously.

"Carlos! Carlos, where are you?" Logan coughed again, this time blood accompanying the spit. He watched as the red liquid hit the cement, seconds later washed away by the rain. "Oh, God. No. This cannot be happening." He became anxious when he tasted the remaining blood in his mouth. "No, no. I can't give up right now. Have to find Carlos." Logan shook himself like a dog, and continued to walk. "Carlos! Carlos!"

Through all the loud sounds—car horns in the streets and the splattering rain—Logan suddenly heard a different noise. He turned around, but there was no one behind him except for a few trees, their branches and leaves swaying intensely amongst the slicing wind. He turned back around and waited a bit, hearing the same sound a few seconds later. "Carlos…?" wondered Logan while coughing.

"Ah!"

He whirled around at the voice, and saw Carlos on his hands and knees, scrapes all over him. Carlos flashed him a bright, toothy smile, and struggled to stand.

"What were you doing?" Logan questioned desperately, gaping at the blood on Carlos' arms. He coughed again, tasting iron on the roof of his mouth.

"Climbing," answered Carlos in a simple voice, straightening the helmet on his head.

Carlos seemed immune to the rain, noticed Logan, because he was grinning like a doofus instead of crying or trembling from the chilly rain. "We need to get home. It's raining, and we'll definitely get sick if we stay out here," said Logan in a weak voice.

"Just five more minutes?" whined Carlos like a little kid who was being woken up by his mother in the morning to go to school.

The taller boy shook his head lamely. "No. It's dangerous out here."

Carlos raised his wet eyebrows. He unbuckled the straps of his helmet, and set it down by a wall, backing up while grinning madly. "Dangerous? You must be kidding me, Mr. Weatherman."

"Carlos, I'm serious. Put your helmet back on. Listen to me, and let's go home. Please," said Logan, already feeling numb all over. He winced when he heard the easily-recognizable sound of lightning. It sounded really close. "Carlos, put on your helmet. Now," begged Logan, coughing again, his throat beginning to itch and burn.

Carlos shook his head, disobeying the brunette. "How about a no?"

Fear rose in Logan's eyes as he saw lightning strike the sky—which was right above Carlos. Each second a new burst of yellow zigzags appeared in the dark-grey sky, they seemed to get closer and closer to the ground; the raven was totally oblivious of the danger above him.

"Carlos!" shouted Logan as he ran towards his friend, bringing them both down to the cold, wet concrete.

The fair-skinned boy awaited the pain of being struck, but it never came. He kept his eyes closed, keeping a writhing Carlos under his tight hold, refusing to let go. He waited a few more seconds before loosening his hold on the raven, water stinging his eyes when he stood up.

"That was…a close one…" breathed Logan, keeping an eye on Carlos.

Carlos looked up at him. "What was a close one? I was just kidding with you, you know. I wasn't really going to do anything." He smiled sincerely.

"Well, you fail at being a comedian. Now, stand up. It's getting harsh o–"

They both heard it—the intimidating sound of a violent creak.

"Did you hear that?" questioned Carlos in a choked voice, struggling to grip the concrete under him.

"Um…must have been the wind…" responded Logan in a slow voice as he helped Carlos up, the familiar noise bombing their ears again.

"There it is again!" exclaimed Carlos.

Though the sound scared him, Logan continued to urge Carlos to follow him, keeping his grip on the shorter boy's hand tight. The creak came again, and they both paralyzed. There was an eerie silence to the atmosphere, even though it was full of car horns and loud rain. Suddenly, a quick ray of lightning flashed across the sky, followed by an abrupt, heavy and painful touch that came upon their backs. And as Logan felt the anonymous item digging through the slippery skin of his backside, he faintly recognized it as bark that belonged to a tree trunk.

Seconds later, blood-curling screams could be heard throughout the streets, but the sounds of the car horns and the resonant rain were far too loud for anyone to be able to distinguish them.

A/N: This idea just came to me randomly.

The whole story isn't going to be slash, just little parts of it – kind of like a crack fic. Reason why it's rated M, for later content.

Anyways, next chapter…is when the real plot starts, lol. I seriously don't know what day I'll post it. Hopefully, it will be posted sometime. xD