Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

August 31st, 2017, 4:52pm

"The gps says 4.2 minuites- my goodness it's been a while since we've seen everybody. I don't think it's been the whole cast in about..." Cameron trails off, tapping his chin.

"A whole five years." Mike finished for him, making a left turn "Not since the farewell party, I don't think."

Cameron rubbed his cheek "Wow, are you sure? We've met up with people quite a few times but... No, you're right- we've never hung out with Lightning, and I'm not sure I want to. Remember when you and Zoey moved into her place and threw a Mutant Maggots party? And Jo and Brick spent the entire time playing DDR?"

"Oh my god," Mike giggled "I totally forgot about that. They we're going for hours- The apartment smelt like a gym bag after."

The apartment. Mike frowned. That had been their home, together. They moved in there together. Now it's just Zoeys place.

"Uhh, Mike? You still there?"

"Huh? Yeah, still me. Why?"

Cameron breathed a sigh of relief "Thank goodness, the way you were frowning I thought it was Mal for a moment."

Mikes scowl deepened "I'm not allowed to frown?"

"No, no," Cameron backtracked, sweating "We've talked about this, you can express whatever emotions you want around me. If I'm uncomfortable that's my issue and I'll leave of my own accord. I was just worried that the first time we saw everyone together in five years Mal would be in the pilot seat. I'm sure you wouldn't want that either."

Mike pulled up into a very large driveway where multiple cars were already parked "Hm, yeah. We're here."

He got out of the car, ignoring Cameron's concerned expression and leaned against the door, just drinking in his surroundings. They were basically stood in front of a mansion- Dakota's mansion. Or her father's. Didn't matter.

What did matter is that tonight she was hosting a five year renunion party. The cast was flying in from all over the country to attend, most people staying the night. Mike had initially wondered how Dakota would fit the entire cast with sleeping arrangements but now it seemed obvious they had more than ample space for their guests. Luckily for them Dakotas place was only a little over an hour away, out in the suburbs of their shared city of Toronto, so he and Cameron would be driving home later in the evening. The smaller boy didn't drink so had promised to be the designated driver.

They would be going back to their condo- well, Cameron's condo. That he bought with his prize money. That his mom also visited every day. He'd purchased the unit directly next door for her so that they could still be close, but he could maintain a sense of independence while he attented university. Mike didn't really see the point of this arrangement, but then he didn't even talk to his own parents, and actually it was kind of sweet how close they were. It made Cameron happy.

He'd been living in the guest bedroom for about six months now. It was better than what he'd previously been doing, which was living out of his car, but instead of freezing his ass off every night and showering exclusively in local gyms he now had to live with the guilt. He felt he was taking advantage of Camerons kindness- he didn't pay rent, his friend would never ask that of him knowing his circumstances, just paid for groceries and the occasional takeout as and when he had money.

He wasn't doing great. And every day he could see he was making Cameron more and more uncomfortable. It wasn't his constant presence so much as his sour mood that affected the other boy, and it really wasn't fair to his friend that he had to put up with it. Cameron was a happy guy- he had a wide circle of friends he'd met at university who mostly shared his interests in science. He was moving up into the fourth year of his degree this fall, and generally was considered a genius in his feild. He had an amazing career ahead of him, no student loans to worry about and a boat load of cash still sitting in his bank account.

Mike had a car. That was about it. He hadn't gone to university and struggled to find work that could accomodate his condition. There weren't very many jobs available that didn't mind if he, oh I don't know, became an old man or an outback explorer in the middle of the workday. He'd been fired from multiple retail positions for his alters wreaking havoc on the store or accosting customers and the like. He really didn't have much going for him at the moment. People would come to Cameron's condo to study or hang out, and whisper about that weird guy who lives here. Cam's crazy roommate. The one that was on TV, who has all these other people in his head, who despite being semi famous was living out of his car, and isn't Cam such a nice guy, to let him live there.

And this is why he's standing here outside, eyeing this mansion like it's a lions den. He has most of the cast on social media, has seen what they're up to. He's fallen behind in comparison, not been doing so well for the last couple of years, not since he moved out of Zoey's place, and quite frankly doesn't want anyone to know.

Doesn't want her to know. He's seen her a few times since the breakup, since they're sort of friends and all. She facetimes with Cameron on a regular basis just to catch up. Knows they're living together. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together and see that he's struggling, supported only by his friends endless generosity, but Mike likes to think he's kept the more depressing aspects of his life well hidden.

He doesn't notice Cameron beside him until the smaller boy clears his throat, snapping him out of his reverie. 

"It's okay, Mike. I'm nervous too." he says, putting a gentle hand on his arm. It's comforting.

"Sorry Cam, just got a little caught up in my own head." he excuses, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn't realise they've been standing out here a good five minuites at least "Thanks for being patient with me."

"That's alright." his friend smiles up at him "Shall we go inside?"

The front door is gargantuan, and when it opens they realise why "Oh em gee! Hi guys! Like, welcome to my crib!" Dakota greets them, still a mutant and proud to be in her neon orange skin "Mostly everyone is already here, people have been flying in all morning. Come inside!"

"Thanks Dakota!" Cameron grins, stepping into the mansion and wiping his already clean shoes on the doormat "Gee, you look great, have you done something with your hair?"

She giggles, putting a perfectly manicured 4 inch claw to her lips "Aww, thankyou for noticing, I finally found a salon that could handle mutant hair- We're back to blonde, baby!" She flipped her locks over one shoulder, posing dramatically in the grandiose entryway. Her hair had grown out past her shoulders and was much in the same style as before her mutation, now a perfect platinum blonde.

"And so, so unbelievably beautiful." Sam walks up behind her, reaching up to put one hand on her waist. She beams at the compliment "Hey guys, long time no see. Want something to drink? Maybe a game of Mario kart?"

Sam looked very much the same, a little older, a little beardier, but nothing much had changed with him. He clearly had been dressed by Dakota. Mike had nothing against the guy, but there's no way the Sam of five years ago would have thought to wear a shirt and blazer of all things. He looked a bit like a waiter in an upscale restaurant, it didn't suit him, but he looked smart. Come to think of it, Cam looked smart too, in his sweater vest and slacks. Dakota was dressed to the nines, but honestly that was expected regardless of what kind of party this was. Mike suddenly felt self concious- he'd been wearing his one pair of jeans for about seven months now, the same ratty trainers he'd had since total drama, and an ill fitting black tee shirt that hung off his skinny frame like a garbage bag, WWE logo emblazoned on the front. 

"I'll definitely take a drink, thanks Sam." Mike smiled, feeling self concious.

"And I'll take the Mario kart." Cameron enthused.

"Awesome, I'll be in with you in a minute Cam. Mike, let me show you the bar."

Sam lead him through to a large open plan kitchen diner. Many of their other cast members already occupied it, mainly around the foosball table on the far side. Jo and Brick stood on either side, exchanging insults and furiously twisting the handles.

The ball clattered into one of the goals "Ha!" Brick exclaimed, standing tall, hands on his hips "I win again! You can take your two out of three and suck it, Jo."

"Three out of five!" she roared, slurring her words. Mike was shocked to see her in anything other than athletic wear- her hair had grown out into a low bun and she wore a pair of leggings with a long sweater "Actually, fuck you, you've got to be cheating."

"At foosball?" He raised one half of his eyebrow.

She took a long swig of her drink, what looked like a fairly fancy cocktail in a long glass, and pointed an accusatory finger at him "At foosball! Y'know what, we're starting over. Scores reset, and I'm going to destroy you this time."

Brick scoffed in response "Nah, I won fair and square. I'm out. But if you wanna impress Anne Maria so bad I know Lightning's dying for a turn on this thing."

"Yeah, sha-my go!" Lightning grinned, taking Bricks place as he walked away "C'mon dude, get your game face on, Lightnings gonna win!"

"What? No fair! And I'm not trying to impress Anne Maria!"

"Yeah, as if this would impress literally anybody." The girl herself deadpanned, sipping her drink through a straw as to not ruin her lipstick. She looked good, in a pastel blue dress and sneakers, and was her hair somehow even bigger? Just then she looked up at their new arrival, bored eyes lighting up "Oh my gosh, Mikey? Is that you? I haven't seen you since the maggot party like, a bajillion years ago. How have you been? Tell me everything."

"Well, I-"

"Oh, and multiple Mike has made his appearance. Are we Mike today? Where's the rest of the gang? Wouldn't be a full reunion without them."

"Back off, Joey. Go pick on someone else. C'mon, doll, let's get you a drink, we're having mojitos." She grabbed his hand, leading him over to the well stocked bar.

"Well, I can see my hosting skills aren't needed here." Sam interjected "That should be everyone now- I'm finally gonna go play Mario kart."

"No, no, wait," Jo stopped him, doing a mental head count "Where's freckle face? I wanna beat him at foosball next."

"What? But Lightning wants a go! It's his turn!"

"Oh, Scott? Hehe, I kinda forgot, looks like my hosting skills could still use some work." He rubbed the back of his neck, bashful "He's definitely coming, I confirmed with him this morning. Man, I cannot tell you how much convincing it took to get him down here. Dude's, like, a recluse these days."

Jo sniffed in derision "Not surprising. Nobody likes him anyways."

"Hey, that's not fair." Sam frowned "We're actually kind of friends. He logs on to play call of duty with me now and then."

"Wow, lame." Anne Maria cut in, pouring spirts into a cocktail shaker "And shut it, Joey, nobody likes you either."

"Hey, fuck you, people like me!"

"I don't."

"Me neither." Mike added. Did he say that out loud? Whoops.

Jo just stood there, mouth agape, while Anne Maria cackled away. Sam couldn't help a nervous chuckle, and Lightning stood on the other side of the foosball table, eyebrows raised and a hand over his mouth. Mike could feel his face darkening in embarrassment "I, uh, I didn't mean to-"

"Can it, lanky. I can see you became a real bitch since Zoey dumped you." She said pointedly. Satisfied by the way his mouth twisted, she righted herself, smug "No hard feelings, though. Now, lets see, where's stringbean? I haven't seen him yet."

Jo stalked off, throwing one last nasty look in Mikes direction "Yeah, I shouldn't have said that." he muttered, giving Anne Maria a weak smile.

"No, no, you were absolutely within your rights. That girl can dish it out but she sure can't take it." She poured the contents of her shaker into two tall glasses and garnished with mint leaves "Besides, you of all people? Tellin' it to her like it is? Unexpected. Hilarious. Some other third thing." She punctuated with a sip of her fresh drink.

"Yeah that was pretty funny, I-" Sam was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

"Sam! More guests!" Dakota chimed from the hallway, gesturing with one long clawed hand to join her.

"Oh, sweet, that'll be everyone then. Mario kart here I come!"

They ran off to greet their new arrival, and Mike and Anne Maria were left alone.