Edited 8-29-07 and hopefully improved.

Chapter one:

--

“What am I doing here?” Genji asked as he stared out the bus window, watching the flat golden plains of Wyoming pass by. Genji slipped a glance across the aisle to where his boyfriend slumped against the opposite window, asleep and dead to the world.

“You’re trying to prove to your brother that you aren’t just the perfect son who does everything he’s told,” a voice answered quietly from the window.

Genji looked down to where Charlie was leaning against the wall of the bus, his feet on Genji’s thigh as he pressed his nose to the glass. Charlie’s eyes were glued to the passing scenery, watching as though it contained all the answers in the universe.

It had been two long days of travel since Genji had run away from home with his boyfriend. He’d taken a week’s worth of clothes, some snacks, his toiletries, a suspiciously large amount of cash, and Charlie- the family’s fairy guardian. Actually, Charlie had invited himself along, but Genji hadn’t noticeably objected.

It was one thing to run away at seventeen with one’s significant other to places unknown, and it was quite another to do so without the insurance of an ancient, wise and powerful fairy.

Actually, Genji could have done without the wisdom, which was generally imparted in the form of sarcasm. Ancient, Genji felt, was also debatable, since, for all that Charlie had been with their family for generation upon generations, he didn’t look all that much older than Genji himself, and he sure as hell didn’t act it. Powerful had its limits, but ‘an ancient, wise and powerful’ fairy sounded much better than ‘a snarky, immature and with limited magical powers’ fairy.

Standing just taller than Genji’s knee, Charlie’s hair was dark brown and unruly. Two large, dark blue and black butterfly wings grew from his back, each baring two small white spots; visible records of bad magic caused by Charlie’s allergy to caffeine. His body was thin and delicate-looking because, having been raised by a human, Charlie had tried to grow as tall as his mother. He’d failed, of course, but still surpassed all other fairies by at least half a head- or so Charlie had always said; Genji had never seen another one.

“What are you doing here?” Genji asked, annoyed that Charlie had all the answers.

“Keeping you safe,” was the short answer. “Besides, I haven’t been back to the Midwest in years.”

Genji sighed in annoyance.

Charlie pulled his nose away from the window, leaving a tiny spot of mist behind. “And what would you do without your favorite Uncle Charlie?” he asked. “You might actually have to let that oaf over there touch you.” He nodded across the aisle where Nyle had slid a little farther down the window.

“Charlie,” Genji whined, but he didn’t say anything else- the fairy was right, after all. They’d had sex once, and Genji hadn’t liked it much. It wasn’t terrible, but- Genji felt his face flush even thinking about it- whenever Nyle had tried for a repeat, Genji had had Charlie magic him into dreamland to avoid the whole business.

What did I ever see in him? Genji wondered, glancing at the man across the aisle. No, wait- I mean, what do I see in him?

“You know, most people run away with people they actually like.” Charlie had followed Genji’s gaze.

“I liked him,” Genji said, as he let his eyes drift back out the window. Genji had liked Nyle right up until he’d agreed to run away with him. It had been going downhill rather quickly since then.

Starting with Nyle laughing at him for bringing a ‘fairy doll’ along. And then aided by Nyle’s anger that Genji hadn’t taken more of his family’s money. “They’re rich!” Nyle had shouted, “They can afford it, and we need all the money we can get!”

Genji had elected not to tell him that Charlie had at least two family credit cards, which would be paid off in full and on time, no questions asked.

Honestly? Nyle was a selfish, greedy and manipulative jackass. But Genji wasn’t quite ready to admit that to himself yet. Especially since there wasn’t much he could do about it on the highway in the middle of Wyoming.

Anyway, Genji wanted to give Chicago a try, see if he really could live on his own. Or, well, not quite his own, but close. And maybe being responsible would help settle Nyle down a bit, and he’d turn out to truly be the nice person he’d almost seemed back in California.

And if things went to hell in a hand basket, Charlie was along to save Genji from any and all disasters.

But maybe there wouldn’t be any disasters, and Genji could return home a bit more worldly, and with the best what-I-did-over-summer-vacation essay in the class.

--

They picked up a lot more people at the next stop, and, rather than risk sitting with a stranger- and some of them were definitely strange- Genji moved over to the seat next to Nyle.

“Hey,” Nyle said, cracking an eye. “Got lonely?”

“Something like that,” Genji muttered in return.

Nyle stretched slightly before settling more comfortably in his corner. “You got your doll out?” he asked. “You’re so gay,” Nyle said, turning back to the window.

The comment hadn’t sounded angry, or even particularly insulting- of course Genji was gay- but it still made Genji a bit uncomfortable, so he didn’t say anything.

After a few minutes of silence, the golden-green hills passing slowly by, Nyle turned enough from the window to give Genji a questioning look, raising his arm slightly.

Genji gave a half-smile and slid under his arm, cuddling against Nyle’s side. It feels right to be here, Genji thought fleetingly, before letting his eyes drift closed.

--

“Nyle?” Genji asked, poking his boyfriend almost a day later. “We’re almost there, you need to wake up.”

Nyle sat up quickly, and blinked around slowly, muttering something incomprehensible. “…’s there?” he finished.

“Yeah,” Genji said. “The bus driver just announced it.”

“Mm’k” Nyle muttered, glancing down at his watch. “We’re early,” he mumbled. “I’ll have to call Rod.”

Who’s Rod? Genji wondered, but didn’t ask, mostly because the bus pulled into the station just then, and all the passengers started shuffling about, chattering, and standing up, which made communication difficult.

Once they got off the bus, Genji eyed Nyle, smiling shyly but happily at their success. Nyle ignored him, moving through the station –probably towards the pay phone to call ‘Rod.’ Genji grimaced at his back. “Ass,” he muttered. “I guess I should just be glad he didn’t make me carry his bags.” Charlie didn’t answer, since he was playing doll again, tucked into Genji’s backpack. Genji hoisted his own suitcase and trailed after his boyfriend.

Nyle made his call on the pay phone (since Genji had neglected to mention the cell phone he’d stashed in the bottom of his backpack), and shortly thereafter Genji was crammed in a trash-filled back seat, wrinkling his nose at the smell of cigarettes. Nyle’s friend had lit one almost the moment the car was out of the parking lot for the bus station, and Nyle bummed his own smoke only moments later. Genji barely managed to be polite when he turned down the one offered him, whereupon he returned to glaring at the back of Nyle’s seat in irritation. Nyle didn’t usually smoke. Not that Genji had ever seen, anyway. Why was he doing it now?

Dammit, Genji hated that smell, and now he’d have to put up with Nyle smelling like smoke for the rest of the day at least.

Charlie coughed in the bag, but the two in the front seat didn’t notice as they shouted to hear each other over the loud music blaring from the speakers.

Genji had just started thinking seriously about getting Charlie to play tricks on the two when, with a squealing of breaks, the car came to a stop in front of a run-down dingy apartment building, and the friend announced that they were ‘here’. Wherever ‘here’ was supposed to be.

Genji glanced skeptically at the building, but climbed out of the car willingly after the other two.

Nyle put a possessive arm around his shoulders, and waved a hand at the derelict building. “How do you like our new palace?” he asked. “I realize it’s not exactly up to your standards, but it’ll be all ours.”

Genji gave a brittle smile. “That’ll be wonderful.”

Nyle paused to frown at him, and Genji made his smile more real- he was descended from a long line of actors, after all. “I can’t wait to see the inside,” Genji lied. The inside would probably kill him. Either quickly when the whole thing collapsed on them, or more slowly with lead poisoning. Either way, he could wait a few more decades to see the inside. He could wait his entire life, in fact.

The inside was little better than the outside. Nothing dripped or leaked, and the door didn’t stick on its way open or closed. Not only that, but Genji thought maybe the carpet was supposed to be brown. There were even a few pieces of not-quite-broken furniture; a table, a chair, a stool, a dilapidated couch, a bed things might not be living in. There was even a bookshelf with two of its shelves still horizontal-ish.

Ah, yes, a palace indeed, Genji thought as he wandered a bit farther and found that the closet in the bedroom-area had a built-in dresser with only one missing drawer.

He turned back to the door, where Nyle had his head bent with his friend’s.

Nyle looked up and smiled at Genji. “I’m going to go hang out with Tim here, and some of our other friends. Could you unpack while I’m gone?” he asked, and then swept out the door before Genji could do more than narrow his eyes.

At least there was an apartment key taped to the back of the door.

“Can I wish him dead?” Genji asked of Charlie as he heard the zipper on his backpack open.

“Genji-” Charlie started.

“No, not really. But, I mean, God, the man’s a prick. ‘Can you unpack?’” Genji mimicked. “And then what the fuck am I supposed to do?” he kicked Nyle’s suitcase. “I can’t even buy dinner; he’s got all the money.” He kicked it again.

Charlie pulled out a credit card and held it up so the hologram caught the light.

“I don’t know where you hide those things,” Genji said with a sigh, reaching out and taking the card. Sure, his family would be able to track him by its use, but it’s not like they didn’t know he’d run away. And Charlie would keep them informed. And, his aunt would probably feel much better about the whole thing if she could tell everyone he was alright enough to use a credit card. It was funny how reassuring money always was to Aunt Lynnea.

“Check the kitchen before we go anywhere,” Charlie suggested. “Buying food won’t get you anywhere if you can’t cook it.”

Genji bought plastic dishes, and tinfoil pans. He felt a lot better after baking two batches of cookies and a loaf of bread. He’d half-imagined the dough was Nyle’s head as he’d punched it. At least the oven worked properly. And the fridge, too. Although it was entirely possible that the refrigerator would freeze the few lonely vegetables Genji had bought. There wasn’t all that much he could do about it, though.

The door clicked open and Genji looked up to see Nyle and a few friends enter.

“Hey babe,” Nyle said with a giggle.

Genji smiled slightly, but it probably didn’t matter- they had to be on something. Nyle wasn’t a giggler.

“Aww, you made us dinner,” Nyle said, sidling over to the counter that separated the kitchen area.

Genji glanced at the loaf of bread sitting on the counter. The cookies he’d wrapped in plastic bags and hidden in the cupboards. Genji didn’t really think of bread as a full meal, but he pushed the pan across the counter anyway. He’d already had a slice, and since he’d probably be baking more tomorrow, it didn’t really matter if it was eaten.

“Duuude,” one of the friends called from over on the couch. He held up Charlie by one arm. “It’s a fairy.” He glanced blurrily at Genji, and then started laughing. “He’s a fairy with a fairy.” The others laughed, too.

Genji didn’t say anything. Part of him wanted to go over and rescue Charlie, but the fairy was way more durable than anything these boys might try and do to him, so he forced himself to stay put.

“Let’s pull off his wings,” another friend snickered.

“Or pin him to a piece of cardboard, like a butterfly!” Chirped the last friend, flapping his arms.

Charlie had had enough. He flittered his wing in the face of the friend holding him, and then smacked the man’s temple until the human let go of him. Charlie then fluttered through the air until he landed on top of the bookshelf, carefully tucking in his feet so they couldn’t reach him. He crossed his arms and glared.

“Woah,” said one friend who Genji belatedly realized was Tim. “Rod gave us some damn good shit this time.” They all stared at the fairy for a bit longer before draping themselves over the couch and surrounding floor.

Giggling, they spent hours passing a glowing and color-changing super ball around while Genji sat on the bed and wondered if it was safe to sleep with them there, even with Charlie watching.

So far, life in Chicago was turning out to be pretty awful.

--

Please to be remembering to review