![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ajremixTitle: Where the Heart is
Fandom: DCU
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1864
Characters: Michelle, Booster, Ted
In Response to: 30 days of Boostle - heartache
Summary: Justice Riders Elseworld, sequel to Left in the Dust. The prodigal brother comes home.
She was hanging up clothes on the line when a low voice drawled by her ear, "Now what's a pretty young thing like you doin' all out by your lonesome?"
Michelle whirled, prepared to whack her harasser with a pair of wet britches. Instead she squealed in delight, "Michael!" and launched herself into her brother's arms. He responded by trying to twist away from her.
"Argh- wet! Wet!"
"Oh- sorry!" She haphazardly toss the clothing onto the line then turned back to Michael, unable to keep the brilliant smile from her face, gripping his hands in hers. "You came back!"
"Of course I came back," he chided, bringing Michelle in for another hug. "I wasn't gonna leave my only sister forever." The smile abruptly left Michael's face and he ducked his head, hiding his expression under the black brim of his hat. "I heard 'bout Ma..."
Michelle's throat tightened momentarily. "We all was expecting. An' you tried to get us money, so don't go thinking it was your fault. Doctor couldn't do nothing for her." She held Michael tight and said softly, "Please don't leave me again. You're all I got left."
"I ain't gonna. Promise. Though," he pulled back with a rueful smile, "I ain't got no where to hang my hat now. The house got sold."
Michelle gave him a look. "I'm an unwed woman- I ain't allowed to hold property. Here," she pushed him toward the house just up the hill from them, "you go an' see Mister Davis. He's been takin' good care of me and I know he'll be happy to see you again. He might even be able to give you a job."
"Alright, alright, I'll go."
"And try to clean yourself off 'fore you go see him- did you bring all the territories back with you?" She coughed at the dust coming off Michael's clothes.
He laughed, then leaned in to kiss her hair. "It's damn good to see you again, Michelle."
~*~*~*~
Mister Davis did indeed give Michael a job, unglamorous as it was. He merely worked as a hired hand, doing whatever meager odd jobs was around the plantation that didn't already have plenty of workers to take care of. The lack of work, however, meant a lack of pay, but Mister Davis let him bunk in Michelle's room for no charge, so he didn't complain. Besides, it also meant he had time to spend with his sister, helping her with her work as he regaled her with tales of his adventures (which, she suspected, was highly edited).
It wasn't until he started talking about going to Helldorado that Michelle interrupted him, "You mean that yarn 'bout the Justice Riders tracking down Maxwell Lord?"
He looked at her in surprise, "How'd you know that?"
"After service on Sundays, Miss Trixie- Mister Davis's niece, if you recall -sometimes reads Colonel Kent's paper to us. Had Kid Baltimore in it and clockwork men and everything!" She gave her brother a sly look, "But I don't recall hearin' no one called Michael Carter in there."
Instead of rising to the bait, Michael just looked confused, even a little anxious, "Wait- who told?"
"I dunno. But in the beginning Colonel Kent mentioned a man in a funny headpiece, so I guess him."
It looked like everything inside of Michael crumbled. Michelle hadn't seen him look so lost and out of sorts since their ma fell sick. "Beetle..."
~*~*~*~
To anyone that wasn't Michelle, Michael seemed to be his usual self, going about his day with effortless charm and a heart-fluttering smile. To anyone that was Michelle, however, Michael was obviously sullen and forcing himself through the motions. He never mentioned Helldorado again.
After the better part of a week, Michelle decided an intervention was in order. After dinner she roped her brother into drying the dishes she washed. Afterwards she pulled him out the backdoor, sitting them both on the steps. The servants in the house turned down the lights, leaving the twins with just the starlight, fireflies and lantern Michelle had carried with them.
Gently she said, "Michael, you ain't happy."
"'course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You've been gone a long time, but that don't mean I can't tell when you're lyin'. You're my twin, Michael- I know you as well as I do myself. Always have, always will."
For a long moment he just looked at her. Then down at his knees. "It's good to be back, Michelle. It really is."
"I know it is, but you still ain't happy."
"I missed you," he went on. "This place... not so much, but you. I don't want to leave you again. You're an unwed woman- it ain't easy for you an' I don't want you goin' through all that trouble alone again."
Michelle bit her lip, hands tugging a bit at her skirts. Her stories may not have been as exciting as Michael's but that didn't mean she didn't edit some bits out to keep from upsetting him.
"I didn't meant to stay away so long and I don't want you thinkin' I abandoned you."
"I know you didn't, Michael. I know you came back as soon as you could. But you left someone important to do it, didn't you?"
He hugged at his knees, finally letting himself look as miserable as Michelle knew he was. "Yeah."
When the silence stretched out, Michelle pressed on. "Was it someone in that Justice Riders story?"
He hugged his knees tighter. "Yeah."
Silence stretched again and Michelle said slowly, "You know Ma died long ago, right? And Mister Davis took me in not long after. Well before you had trouble sending back money." When Michael didn't pick up her hints, she went on to say, "So Mister Davis put all that money in the bank for me. We could always go see your friend."
Michael shook his head, "I said I ain't leavin' you again, Michelle."
"And I said we if you listened a bit." She reached over and grabbed his hands, "Michael- there ain't nothin' for us here. We lost our property, our work an' pay ain't nothin' to brag about an' there's plenty of money in the bank for us to go out West and start new lives. Preferably with your friend you're pinin' about."
Michael's lip twitched, "I ain't pinin'," he retorted, but his eyes were unspeakably grateful, even in the dark. "You sure 'bout this? The West ain't that nice a place and it can be rough on women."
Michelle just smiled, squeezing his hands. "That's why I got my ornery brother to protect me."
~*~*~*~
It was hot but at least it wasn't sticky like it got in Natchez though the dry air and dust were doing a cruel number to her throat. It was a palpable relief when they finally came upon Diablo Wells despite its unfriendly name.
Amusingly enough, Michael seemed to be looking more confident, more excited the further west they went. More like the Michael that Michelle had seen off from home the first time around. That alone made the weather around them bearable.
Carefully Michael steered the cheap cart they had bought to carry them and their luggage from train to town, herding the horse towards the back until they came to a marginally well-kept store. Michelle didn't know her letters enough to read the window, but she knew what it was from what Michael had told her on the way.
Pulling the cart to a stop, Michael turned to his sister and said, "We're here. How're you doin'?"
"Been better," she replied with a little cough, "but nothin' I can't handle."
With a smile, Michael leaned over, tipping his hat back slightly so he could place a kiss against Michelle's cheek before hopping off the cart and then froze. Standing in the door of the shop was a man with the strangest headpiece Michelle had ever seen and she instinctively knew who he was before Michael let out a soft, "Beetle..."
"You came back," the man said, carefully guarded.
"I did."
It was difficult to tell from the distance and the reflection on his goggles, but Beetle appeared to be eyeing the cart. "You aiming to settle down here, or stay long enough so you can leave without a goodbye again?"
Michael winced and Michelle could see it wasn't just a barb to him- he knew he'd done wrong and knew he might not be able to fix it. "We're thinkin' of settling. That is, if I'm still welcome 'round here," he said quietly. Michelle would've been amused at the sudden Western drawl her brother developed were she not concerned at his sudden almost-timidness.
She suddenly found herself looking into eyes shaded and impassive. "Your lady-friend as well?"
"Her?" Michael looked at his sister almost as if he'd forgotten she was there. He quickly stepped over and held his hand out to her to help her down. "This is my sister- I told you about her. Michelle."
Some of the coldness seemed to evaporate from the man. "Ah, yes. Twin, wasn't it?" Michelle suddenly realized she hadn't known exactly what kind of relationship Michael and this Beetle's had until now and even then she wasn't sure if she was imagining it correctly. "Much as I'd like to help, I'm afraid my accommodations are inadequate for three, let alone fit for a respectable lady such as Miss Gold."
She blinked. "Miss what?"
Michael winced, "Ah- it's Carter, actually. My name is really Michael Carter."
Michelle stepped back to eye her brother. "Have you been using a fake name way out here?"
"It's a long story."
"Well, I suppose it's only fitting I return the favor," Beetle reached up to pull the strange headpiece off. He was pleasant enough to look at, but his hair was a shade of red-brown Michelle had never seen before, long enough that the tips curled a bit, even when matted against his head, the skin hidden by his goggles and headpiece a shade or two lighter than the rest of his face and his eyes like the night sky being lit by stars and full moons. Michelle could certainly understand her brother's interest. Especially when his attention was riveted on the man again, she and the rest of the world being forgotten once again. "Kord," Beetle said, stepping aside to hold the door to his shop open, "Ted Kord. You must be tired from your journey, feel free to rest inside. I can ask Miss Lance if she has room at the Alabama Rose for Miss Carter. It may not be the most respectable establishment, but she keeps her girls safe so there'd be no better place for her to stay."
Politely thanking Beetle- Ted -Michelle smiled and waved him off. Then she stepped in close to her brother and said, "We come hundreds of miles to see the man you love and you don't even know his name."
Michael gaped, "How did you-"
Tutting, Michelle found herself a seat and undid her bonnet. "Really, Michael. We came here for you," she smiled encouragingly, "so you'd better make the best of it."
Fandom: DCU
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1864
Characters: Michelle, Booster, Ted
In Response to: 30 days of Boostle - heartache
Summary: Justice Riders Elseworld, sequel to Left in the Dust. The prodigal brother comes home.
She was hanging up clothes on the line when a low voice drawled by her ear, "Now what's a pretty young thing like you doin' all out by your lonesome?"
Michelle whirled, prepared to whack her harasser with a pair of wet britches. Instead she squealed in delight, "Michael!" and launched herself into her brother's arms. He responded by trying to twist away from her.
"Argh- wet! Wet!"
"Oh- sorry!" She haphazardly toss the clothing onto the line then turned back to Michael, unable to keep the brilliant smile from her face, gripping his hands in hers. "You came back!"
"Of course I came back," he chided, bringing Michelle in for another hug. "I wasn't gonna leave my only sister forever." The smile abruptly left Michael's face and he ducked his head, hiding his expression under the black brim of his hat. "I heard 'bout Ma..."
Michelle's throat tightened momentarily. "We all was expecting. An' you tried to get us money, so don't go thinking it was your fault. Doctor couldn't do nothing for her." She held Michael tight and said softly, "Please don't leave me again. You're all I got left."
"I ain't gonna. Promise. Though," he pulled back with a rueful smile, "I ain't got no where to hang my hat now. The house got sold."
Michelle gave him a look. "I'm an unwed woman- I ain't allowed to hold property. Here," she pushed him toward the house just up the hill from them, "you go an' see Mister Davis. He's been takin' good care of me and I know he'll be happy to see you again. He might even be able to give you a job."
"Alright, alright, I'll go."
"And try to clean yourself off 'fore you go see him- did you bring all the territories back with you?" She coughed at the dust coming off Michael's clothes.
He laughed, then leaned in to kiss her hair. "It's damn good to see you again, Michelle."
~*~*~*~
Mister Davis did indeed give Michael a job, unglamorous as it was. He merely worked as a hired hand, doing whatever meager odd jobs was around the plantation that didn't already have plenty of workers to take care of. The lack of work, however, meant a lack of pay, but Mister Davis let him bunk in Michelle's room for no charge, so he didn't complain. Besides, it also meant he had time to spend with his sister, helping her with her work as he regaled her with tales of his adventures (which, she suspected, was highly edited).
It wasn't until he started talking about going to Helldorado that Michelle interrupted him, "You mean that yarn 'bout the Justice Riders tracking down Maxwell Lord?"
He looked at her in surprise, "How'd you know that?"
"After service on Sundays, Miss Trixie- Mister Davis's niece, if you recall -sometimes reads Colonel Kent's paper to us. Had Kid Baltimore in it and clockwork men and everything!" She gave her brother a sly look, "But I don't recall hearin' no one called Michael Carter in there."
Instead of rising to the bait, Michael just looked confused, even a little anxious, "Wait- who told?"
"I dunno. But in the beginning Colonel Kent mentioned a man in a funny headpiece, so I guess him."
It looked like everything inside of Michael crumbled. Michelle hadn't seen him look so lost and out of sorts since their ma fell sick. "Beetle..."
~*~*~*~
To anyone that wasn't Michelle, Michael seemed to be his usual self, going about his day with effortless charm and a heart-fluttering smile. To anyone that was Michelle, however, Michael was obviously sullen and forcing himself through the motions. He never mentioned Helldorado again.
After the better part of a week, Michelle decided an intervention was in order. After dinner she roped her brother into drying the dishes she washed. Afterwards she pulled him out the backdoor, sitting them both on the steps. The servants in the house turned down the lights, leaving the twins with just the starlight, fireflies and lantern Michelle had carried with them.
Gently she said, "Michael, you ain't happy."
"'course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You've been gone a long time, but that don't mean I can't tell when you're lyin'. You're my twin, Michael- I know you as well as I do myself. Always have, always will."
For a long moment he just looked at her. Then down at his knees. "It's good to be back, Michelle. It really is."
"I know it is, but you still ain't happy."
"I missed you," he went on. "This place... not so much, but you. I don't want to leave you again. You're an unwed woman- it ain't easy for you an' I don't want you goin' through all that trouble alone again."
Michelle bit her lip, hands tugging a bit at her skirts. Her stories may not have been as exciting as Michael's but that didn't mean she didn't edit some bits out to keep from upsetting him.
"I didn't meant to stay away so long and I don't want you thinkin' I abandoned you."
"I know you didn't, Michael. I know you came back as soon as you could. But you left someone important to do it, didn't you?"
He hugged at his knees, finally letting himself look as miserable as Michelle knew he was. "Yeah."
When the silence stretched out, Michelle pressed on. "Was it someone in that Justice Riders story?"
He hugged his knees tighter. "Yeah."
Silence stretched again and Michelle said slowly, "You know Ma died long ago, right? And Mister Davis took me in not long after. Well before you had trouble sending back money." When Michael didn't pick up her hints, she went on to say, "So Mister Davis put all that money in the bank for me. We could always go see your friend."
Michael shook his head, "I said I ain't leavin' you again, Michelle."
"And I said we if you listened a bit." She reached over and grabbed his hands, "Michael- there ain't nothin' for us here. We lost our property, our work an' pay ain't nothin' to brag about an' there's plenty of money in the bank for us to go out West and start new lives. Preferably with your friend you're pinin' about."
Michael's lip twitched, "I ain't pinin'," he retorted, but his eyes were unspeakably grateful, even in the dark. "You sure 'bout this? The West ain't that nice a place and it can be rough on women."
Michelle just smiled, squeezing his hands. "That's why I got my ornery brother to protect me."
~*~*~*~
It was hot but at least it wasn't sticky like it got in Natchez though the dry air and dust were doing a cruel number to her throat. It was a palpable relief when they finally came upon Diablo Wells despite its unfriendly name.
Amusingly enough, Michael seemed to be looking more confident, more excited the further west they went. More like the Michael that Michelle had seen off from home the first time around. That alone made the weather around them bearable.
Carefully Michael steered the cheap cart they had bought to carry them and their luggage from train to town, herding the horse towards the back until they came to a marginally well-kept store. Michelle didn't know her letters enough to read the window, but she knew what it was from what Michael had told her on the way.
Pulling the cart to a stop, Michael turned to his sister and said, "We're here. How're you doin'?"
"Been better," she replied with a little cough, "but nothin' I can't handle."
With a smile, Michael leaned over, tipping his hat back slightly so he could place a kiss against Michelle's cheek before hopping off the cart and then froze. Standing in the door of the shop was a man with the strangest headpiece Michelle had ever seen and she instinctively knew who he was before Michael let out a soft, "Beetle..."
"You came back," the man said, carefully guarded.
"I did."
It was difficult to tell from the distance and the reflection on his goggles, but Beetle appeared to be eyeing the cart. "You aiming to settle down here, or stay long enough so you can leave without a goodbye again?"
Michael winced and Michelle could see it wasn't just a barb to him- he knew he'd done wrong and knew he might not be able to fix it. "We're thinkin' of settling. That is, if I'm still welcome 'round here," he said quietly. Michelle would've been amused at the sudden Western drawl her brother developed were she not concerned at his sudden almost-timidness.
She suddenly found herself looking into eyes shaded and impassive. "Your lady-friend as well?"
"Her?" Michael looked at his sister almost as if he'd forgotten she was there. He quickly stepped over and held his hand out to her to help her down. "This is my sister- I told you about her. Michelle."
Some of the coldness seemed to evaporate from the man. "Ah, yes. Twin, wasn't it?" Michelle suddenly realized she hadn't known exactly what kind of relationship Michael and this Beetle's had until now and even then she wasn't sure if she was imagining it correctly. "Much as I'd like to help, I'm afraid my accommodations are inadequate for three, let alone fit for a respectable lady such as Miss Gold."
She blinked. "Miss what?"
Michael winced, "Ah- it's Carter, actually. My name is really Michael Carter."
Michelle stepped back to eye her brother. "Have you been using a fake name way out here?"
"It's a long story."
"Well, I suppose it's only fitting I return the favor," Beetle reached up to pull the strange headpiece off. He was pleasant enough to look at, but his hair was a shade of red-brown Michelle had never seen before, long enough that the tips curled a bit, even when matted against his head, the skin hidden by his goggles and headpiece a shade or two lighter than the rest of his face and his eyes like the night sky being lit by stars and full moons. Michelle could certainly understand her brother's interest. Especially when his attention was riveted on the man again, she and the rest of the world being forgotten once again. "Kord," Beetle said, stepping aside to hold the door to his shop open, "Ted Kord. You must be tired from your journey, feel free to rest inside. I can ask Miss Lance if she has room at the Alabama Rose for Miss Carter. It may not be the most respectable establishment, but she keeps her girls safe so there'd be no better place for her to stay."
Politely thanking Beetle- Ted -Michelle smiled and waved him off. Then she stepped in close to her brother and said, "We come hundreds of miles to see the man you love and you don't even know his name."
Michael gaped, "How did you-"
Tutting, Michelle found herself a seat and undid her bonnet. "Really, Michael. We came here for you," she smiled encouragingly, "so you'd better make the best of it."
