What?  Me updating something?  Never!  Yeah, this is old, I put the last few lines in this morning.  Have fun.

--

Chapter Three: Part Two

Max was settling into his knew home.  The space was nice and everything seemed to be working after it was redone so he felt like he had gotten a pretty sweet deal.  He didn't own a thing so the trailer was pretty bare, but overall it was cozy.  Mia and Laura chipped in to buy him a set of Pokemon sheets which, even though he never really liked Pokemon, he loved to death.

           Michael would go over making sure that everything worked all right and Max kept having to assure him that the accommodations were wonderful.  Actually, Michael had been around a lot lately and the two had become pretty good friends.  Michael was like Max's go-to man for the Freak show's goings on, specially since they were taking such a long break between jobs.

"Things are kind of up in the air right now," Michael said flopping down on Max's bed, "Dante had a job lined up for us last week that was booked a while in advance, but he dropped it."

Max raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"Well, I would suspect so that you could get used to things here.  Not to mention the trailer repairs that took longer than they were supposed to...Random."

For some reason Max highly doubted that Dante would care enough about him to take off another week.  There had to be another reason.  Max didn't worry himself too much over it, though.  According to Dante they would start work again the coming Monday which was about six days away.  Max was a little anxious to find out what he would be doing, but at the same time he was excited.  Michael sat up and smiled over at Max.

"Now that you're all settled in I should probably share with you my full wisdom of the Freak Show.  Yes?"

Max laughed and nodded.

"Righto.  So when it comes to people there's a few things you oughta know.  One: you can't trust Random for anything.  You can't tell him anything and you most certainly cannot gamble with him.  You will most likely lose.  Secondly: stay out of Dimitri's way.  He may look like a cute, fuzzy little kid, but he's a cold-hearted brat.  The only people who can deal with him are Mia and Random."

"What about Magnus?  What's the story with him?"

Michael shrugged, "No one knows really.  Well, Dante probably does, but then again he seems to know everything...  You should be fine with Magnus as long as you don't pester him too much.  He really is a nice man.  Broodie and wallowing in self-pity, but nice.  Raven is kind of the same way, but really try not to pester him.  He may seem like he has infinite patience, but that man hates to suffer fools.

"That's pretty much all of the most potentially dangerous people.  Except Dante.  The thing with him is you couldn't catch his interest if you stripped down to nothing and danced the foxtrot with a broom.  It's like he's constantly in his own head, only coming out for performances or anything else business like that."

Max nodded, "Yeah, I kind of get that vibe from him.  Do you know anything else about him?"

Michael laughed, "You'd think I would being family and all, but I'm about as lost as everyone else when it comes to him."

"Is that bitterness I sense?"

He shook his head, "Nah.  Man's gotta do what a man's gotta do."

"What about the other two?" Max shifted on the bed, "Mia and Laura.  What's their story?"

Michael put his forefinger to his chin, "Well, Laura's a pretty upstanding citizen.  She graduated from college with a bachelor's degree and plans to go back to school after the freakshow to become a lawyer.  She says it's her passion.  I think she'd do well."

"Are you two close?"

"Why?" Michael grinned, "You want to get to know her better?  I could set something up if you want."

Max shook his head hastily and waved his arms out in front of him, "Oh, no, no, no.  No, that's not what I mean," he paused, "I'm gay."

"Oh really?" Michael nodded, "So how's that working out for you?"

He raised an eyebrow, "I don't know.  It's fine, I suppose."

"Oh.  Well, on that note Laura and I are just good friends," he smiled, "Yep, that old girl is a good one.  She's really great to talk to if you have any problems so feel free to pester her."

"Okay," laughed Max, "What about Mia?"

"That girl'll rip you apart if you tick her off, but it takes a lot to do that.  She's dumb as a brick and loves almost everyone she comes in contact with.  Even Random, but I don't see it.  I know she used to be a prostitute before she came here.  According to her is wasn't a bad life because she liked it when people paid attention to her and she likes sex.  She was one of those kink types."

"Uh...that's...nice?"

"I'm just givin' you background," Michael sighed, "It seems that the men around here are all clammed up, but the women are easy-going.  That's good for me, I guess.  I like girls."

"Pack a bra and you could certainly pass for one," laughed Max.

Michael feigned offense, "Well, that was a low-blow.  It's not my fault I come from a family of pretty people," he flipped his hair, "You're just jealous."

"Of course."

They laughed.

Uh, yeah.  I haven't really written much lately, have I?  Well, I'll try to get back on that.

*sheepish grin* So it's been a while since I put something up here, but that DOESN'T mean I was being a slacker and not writing at all.  After all, it's summer and I'm bored.

Just so's you know, part one of chapter two is now the only part.  I thought that maybe I'd make the second part chapter three so, yeah.  The next part is actually chapter three.

Yay!

~*~*~

Chapter Three

"Hey, Max," said Michael, "Do you think you could help me with this?"

Max quickly ran over to the other boy who was attempting to move the bed frame back into the trailer. They had been working for about a week and despite the lack of proper skill, they managed to clean, repair and paint it. Presently they were moving the furniture back into place starting with the bed. Because the old mattress was almost non-existent, they had to buy a new one which took two hours both ways to get into town and back. Finally after all their hard work they could finally take a day off.

"It looks pretty good," said Laura and they looked over their handiwork.

Max smiled. Over the past week he stopped being the outsider, the new kid and became part of the family. The transition was surprisingly quick to him and it seemed like he finally had a place where he was accepted. Life was good.

--

Random sat in his trailer like he always did. His cut was healed, but his anger was still very much alive inside. He didn’t know why he couldn’t just let it go, he only knew that he didn’t like Max or anything that had to do with him. That damn kid was all he could think about for the past one hundred and forty-four hours. Day and night he hated him. Barely unprovoked, unrelenting anger filled him with every passing moment and he didn’t know how to deal with it. So he did the only thing he knew to do, he went to Raven.

--

Damitri was lying under a tree by his trailer thinking about anything that would come to mind. It was a beautiful day out and he hated it. Much of his experience with the Freak Show was one that was considered by him to be rather dull. He didn’t much care for anyone there, not that he hated them he just didn’t care all that much. Being bored he went in search of Random.

--

Raven sat in a tree. It’s what he liked to do in his free time. Sit. And think.

He had been with Dante for a few years now, in fact he was the one that started the whole thing (involuntarily). His life was a crawling along at an agonizing pace; he just wanted it to go away. Not his life, but the pain he felt. No matter what he did, no matter what roads he chose or at what pace he walked them his pain still followed.

His time at the Freak Show was not a complete waste, though. He found a piece of himself here, something of a purpose. He’d found people he cared for and was finally able to direct his heart towards something worth while. Through all of the pain and anguish in his life there was something here for him. He smiled to himself, something he very, very rarely did.

"Hey, Raven," he heard a familiar voice call to him. It was Random, "I was kind of hoping we could talk."

-----

"What’s wrong?" asked Raven quietly. He almost never spoke above a whisper.

Random sighed aggrivatedly and rubbed his face with his hands, "I don’t know. I’m just so angry all the time," he paused, "I was hoping you could help me…you know not be angry anymore."

"That depends on what’s making you angry."

Random looked down at the ground, "I don’t know what it is, ever since that kid came—"

Raven hummed knowingly.

"What?"

"He’s the reason you’re so angry all the time."

Random rolled his eyes, "Well I know that, but I’m not sure why. Sure he’s annoying and he gets on my nerves really easily and everyone loves him, but I just don’t know why he makes me so infuriated."

Raven half smiled, but it wasn’t visible to Random from behind the sweater neck, "I believe I know what your problem is."

"What?"

Raven got up, "Go talk to him for a bit and you’ll find out."

"Talk? To that brat? I'll do no such thing!"

Raven sighed, "I'm only telling you this: if you want to get to the core of your problem then you have to talk to him. Nicely. It's completely up to you what you do with the information."

Although Random was thoroughly annoyed with Raven, he let him go. He had some stuff to figure out so he leaned back against the tree and began to think. What did he mean by that? What situation would warrant a need to have a civilized conversation with the bane of his existence? It didn't make sense to him.

Okay. So what did he know? He knew that he didn't like Max. He didn't like how everyone loved him. He didn't like how Dante treated him better than everyone else even though chances were he was just making that up in the first place. He didn't like how Max was so nice. Although he could be rough when he wanted to be which Random liked, but he didn't like liking things about Max so he disliked him for that too. He also didn't like how Max's hair was so messy yet so perfect. No, he hated that. He also hated how his blue eyes seemed almost endless when you stared into them. And he absolutely despised how well his legs met his back. Random paused mid-thought.

Shit. Shit no. Shit no fucking hell way.

...Could he?

Just then he was interrupted by someone coming up behind him.

"You're a bitch to find," said Dimitri as he sat down next to Random.

"Yeah, and you're just a bitch."

Dimitri's face remained emotionless, "Very nice."

Random rolled his eyes, "You're very annoying, you know that?"

He shrugged, "I suppose to some. But then again I can't be held responsible for how poorly you handle social situations now can I?"

"Just sit the fuck down and shut you damn mouth."

Dimitri did as he was told. Mostly. "So what were you doing?"

"Thinking."

"How precise you are."

"I was just thinking about...social situations."

"Let me guess. One social situation in peticular?"

Random looked over at Dimitri, "For a kid with a one hundred and forty I.Q. you certainly like to avoid the point."

"Max?"

"Fuck you."

Dimitri sighed, "See? That's why I avoid the point."

"I guess you know the answer to my troubles as well, do you? Why the fuck does everyone know but me?"

"Actually, no. I was just taking a stab in the dark. I mean, you started being all...weird once he showed up. So, naturally I just kind of assumed."

Random glared at him, "Good guess."

"I suppose."

Random leaned back against the tree. He had only one lead in his case and it was a lead he wasn't liking very much, but he had to test it at least. He had to talk to Max to really figure out if he did want to shove him into a bed instead of killing him.

So this is the gang.  Go on, I bet you can guess which is which.  And if it's not working because it sucks, then go here: http://www.deviantart.com/view/18325840/

Okay, this is the first half of chapter...or episode two.  I wanted to put the whole thing up, but I got writer's block so I decided to content you with this.  Enjoy!

~*~*~

"Well, this is it," said Dante as he opened the door to an old trailer.

They had been on the road for two days and now, but they were taking a break on a large grazing field in the rural side of town.  Dante had figured out Max's living arrangement and decided that he would get the trailer that belonged to a long gone member.  It was quite dilapidated, but with a little help, Dante planned to get the place fixed up.

"That?" asked Max in shock.

"Yup.  Why?  What's wrong with it?"

"Well, for one it's burnt to a crisp."

Dante laughed, "I know, that's why we're going to fix it."

"How long will it take?"

"Well, everything is basically intact.  Plumbing, electricity, etcetera.  All we need to do is get the rubble out and do some patching here and there and it'll be close to almost good as used."

Max stared at Dante.

"What?"

"So you're going to help me?" asked Max hopefully.  He did NOT want to do this by himself.

"Well, I have a load of work to do so not really, no.  But I wouldn't be much of a boss if I asked you to join and then made you fix a whole trailer, now would I?  No, some of the others have volunteered their help."

"Volunteered?"

Dante smiled, "Well, that and I kind of forced them.  Have fun," he turned and walked away.

Max was starting to understand what Michael said about Dante.

"I'm allergic to soot," said Random as he walked into the dilapidated living quarters, "Can I be excused?"

The other four ignored his complaints and began to split up jobs.

"Mia, Laura, you two take the back," said Michael, "Damitri, you and Random will work on getting all of this rubble out of here.  Max and I will take the front."

Everyone got to work except for Random who scrunched his nose and reluctantly bent over and picked up a splinter of something.  He threw it out of the open door and sighed, "I'm done."

Damitri rolled his eyes, "It looks like I won't be getting a lot of help from that one."

Random yawned, "Damitri, why don't you just use your power to clean this place quicker?"

The smaller boy sighed and sat down in the middle of the demolished room, "Move," he told Random, he backed away from the door awaiting Damitri's little show.  The little boy closed his eyes.  A few minutes passed and the rubble all around the room began to rattle and move.

"Come on, boy, can't you do it any faster?"

A peticularly sharp piece of wood rose and zoomed in Random's direction who caught it and threw it out the door, "Shut up, ass, or I'll be forced to make you do it by hand."

Random raised his hands in defense and kept his mouth shut as the smaller boy did his thing.  All at once the shards of charred rubble lifted off of the ground and zoomed out the door.  They collapsed about six feet from the trailer.  The boy got up from the ground and dusted himself off.

"Well," said Michael who had nearly been demolished by a piece of flying debris, "That solves one problem."

"Right," said Random, "I believe my work here is done," he made to leave, but was stopped by Laura.

"Not quite," she said, "Now you can help Mia and me clean."

Random moaned, "Why?  I'm not going to be sleeping here anyway."

"Because it's the kind thing to do for a new friend," said Mia.

Max was feeling kind of uncomfortable.  He didn't like Random that much, but he didn't want him to hate him more because of this stupid trailer.  He tried not to listen to the conversation going on between them, instead he concentrated on sweeping up the front of the trailer.

"That," said Damitri, "And Dante will kill you if you don't."

Random sighed, "Fine."

They all got back to work.  The trailer wasn't in such a bad state, it just needed to be swept and cleaned and a few of the shelves and such were in need of repair.  The job, Max supposed, should only take about two to three days.

Raven sat quietly against one of the scarce trees in the open field.  He shifted his wings uncomfortably against the rough bark, but finally he settled on a comfortable spot.

"Raven?" he heard someone call his name from behind.

He turned his head slightly to meet the owner of the voice, "Oh, hello, Charlot."

Charlot slithered up next to him and lowered himself down onto his chest so that he was resting on his elbows, "It smells like spring."

Raven hummed in acknowledgment.  Charlot was one of the few people in this freak show that he could actually stand to be around.  He didn't much like anyone and had always been kind of sketchy always skirting around the edges of everything trying not to be noticed.

"What do you think of the new kid?" Charlot asked.

Raven shrugged, "He's fine, I suppose."

Charlot smiled.  He didn't have much else to say, but the beauty of being with Charlot was that no silence was ever uncomfortable.

"For god's fucking sake!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Ah!"

"I'm so sorry!"

"God!  Just...get me some sort of bandage!  NOW!"

Max ran out the door to try to find something that could be used to stop the bleeding.  Random clutched his bare side and sat down on the ground against the wall.

"You shouldn't hold it while your hands are dirty like that," said Michael.  He attempted to move his hands away, but Random refused, "I'm just going to look at it."

After a moment of refusal, Random finally took his hands away reluctantly, "Don't touch it."

Michael bent down and looked at the long cut in his side, "Aw, look.  It's not that bad.  It's so shallow I'm sure it'll heal in a couple days."

"Who are you, a doctor?"

"I know enough that I'm sure you shouldn't be whining about it.  It's just a small cut."

"Damn kid."

"Hey, leave him alone.  It was an accident."

"I'm sure, but he shouldn't be here anyway."

"Just give him a chance," said Mia, "Stop being a selfish jackass for once."

"That kid can't do anything right.  So what if he has some stupid pyro ability, that doesn't make him better than the rest of us."

"No one said he was," said Michael indignantly.

"Oh yeah?  Then tell me this.  Why are we all working on this stupid trailer for him? Huh?"

Michael sighed, "Because there's no where else for him to go."

"Look around!"

The four of them looked around once and turned back to Random, "What?"

"Just look!  Does anyone else notice that this place is almost twice the size as the rest of ours?"

"You're overreacting, Random," said Laura

"No I'm not!  For some reason Dante favors him above the rest of us."

"You're just paranoid," said Mia.

Random sighed heavily in frustration, "That kid has no business being here.  He should just go back to wherever he came from."

"Looks like someone fears change," said Michael.

"What?"

"Look, why are you here?"

Random glared at him.

"See?  You shouldn't say a damn thing.  You never know, you and Max may have something in common."

Random stood up with the blood just beginning to touch the waistline of his jeans, "I'll never have anything in common with that brat," he stormed out just as Max returned with gauze to bandage the wound.

He didn't say anything, just watched Random go.  Michael walked up next to him, "Forget about him.  Let's get this place fixed up."

Damn brat, though Random as he made his way back to his trailer.  He needed to clean out his wound and bandage it before it became infected.  When he got there, he had to bang on the door before it would open.  He didn't have much in his possession, a few odd and ends and twin mattress on the floor for a bed.

He slumped down onto his mattress and looked down at his cut.  Michael was right, it wasn't that bad.  Perhaps he shouldn't've reacted so harshly.

There was a soft knock on the door interrupting him in the middle of his thought.

"Come in," he said.  The door gave way to a shadowy figure that blocked the sun from the sky as he stepped in.  It was Raven.  He closed the door behind him.

"It seems you're wounded," he said quietly.

Random laughed bitterly, "Yeah."

Raven crouched down beside him and looked at the shallow gash in his side, "How?"

"That kid was moving a strip of sharp sheet metal from the old trailer and he hit me with it."

"It was probably an accident."

Random sighed, "I know."

Raven got up and pushed the small door open that led to the bathroom.  Random watched him struggle to fit his wings through, but he did it.  He grabbed a few things from the medicine cabinet and Random heard the water start running.

The water stopped and Raven came back into the living area with a few things in hand.  Again he crouched down next to Random.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Raven gave him an indecipherable look, "Cleaning and bandaging your cut.  Why?  Does it look like I'm doing something else?"

Random rolled his eyes, "It's just an expression."

Raven grunted, "A superfluous one."

Random watched as Raven soaked a washcloth in a cup of water he brought with him from the bathroom.  Without warning he brought the water-logged cloth to the open and bleeding wound.  Random clenched his teeth and hissed harshly.  Raven didn't so much as glance at the man's pained expression.  He took the cloth away when he cleaned off all of the blood and squeezed it out back into the cup.  Then he took the small brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide and soaked some of it into the damp cloth.

"You may want to lay back for a moment," said Raven.

"Does that stuff hurt?"

"You should know, I found it in your medicine cabinet."

"Well, was the seal broken?"

"No."

"Then there's your answer.  I've never needed it.  It's not everyday someone whacks you with pieces of sheet metal."

Raven raised his eyebrows, "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are you going to lay back or not?"

Random snorted and slowly lowered himself onto his side.  Raven held the cloth above his side and squeezed letting the clear liquid pour over the open cut, it began to foam.  Raven let it sit for a minute and wiped it away with some more water, then proceeding to pour some of the hydrogen peroxide directly into the wound.  More foam surfaced.

Once this was completed, Raven allowed Random to sit up again.  He took the roll of gauze he found and began to wind it around the other's waist.  When he had finished, he sat up and admired his handiwork.

"There, does that feel better?"

Random hummed in appreciation, "Thanks very much."

There was a pause, but a short one that was interrupted by Raven, "How's the trailer coming?"

Random's face scrunched up in displeasure.  "I don't know," he scoffed.

He turned to look at Raven, "What do you think of him?"

"Of who?"

"That new kid."

Raven shrugged, "I'm sure he'll be a valuable asset to the show."

"I'm not talking about the show's function, I’m talking about social interaction."

Again Raven shrugged, "Well, I'm not really that social.  He seems like a nice enough kid, though."

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

"So you're not going back, I take it?"

Random snorted, "No.  I'd rather be bored for two days than work with that sorry bunch."

"You really should give him a chance, even if you still won't like him.  There's no point in being enemies when it can be averted.  That's just stupidity."

By now Random was used to Raven's "no shit" personality, "I just don't like him."

"You don't have to, just don't be the jackass you always are."

"But, Raven my dear friend, that's who I am."

Raven got up, "Okay, but you are who you choose to be.  Remember that," he left.