Ash
Ashley was on his way to the Hansons' home. He expected Zac to be home, and possibly Ike.
He grinned. This wouldn't be the first time he'd had fun at their expense. They'd long vowed to get him back for the last time, but from what he could tell, they hadn't yet.
He parked his car at the end of the street, and checked that no one was around. So he wouldn't be recognized, he began to shape shift. He became a sort of green plastic goop he'd been experimenting with over the years, which was just as agile as water.
He seeped through the car door and onto the road. He saw a car whiz past as he hid behind a tyre, then made his way up onto the footpath and toward the house - clearing to transparency.
He made his way around the corner of the house, where he began to shape shift again. This time, turning into Ike. He grinned to himself, hearing Isaac in the bathroom (either having a shower, or about to have one).
He stood up, brushing himself off, then made his way around to the front door. He tried the doorknob, found it locked, then knocked on the door and waited patiently.
Zac
Zac heard knocking on the door. He wandered over casually and peered through the peephole. He saw Isaac.
Zac stepped back, frowned, blinked and looked again. Yep, still Isaac. That couldn't be right. Isaac was upstairs. Hmm, okay. Maybe the peephole was distorting it. Or maybe he had gotten mixed up and it was really Taylor upstairs.
He opened the door curiously. Yep, it was defintely Isaac on the other side of the door.
"Hey Ike..." he said. "Umm... weren't you upstairs?"
Ash
"Nope, it must be Taylor. I was just out in the garage checking my car, something's wrong with it," he shook his head, making his way inside, "why was the door locked anyway? Can't a guy get in his own front door without using keys?"
He chuckled as he made his way into the kitchen. He loved raiding other people's fridges... especially when they didn't know. He opened the door and frowned.
"Not much to eat in here, maybe someone should go for groceries."
He closed the door and made his way back into the livingroom. He sat on the couch, put his feet up, grabbed the remote and began to watch TV.
"So... how come you're not out with one of your so-called girlfriends?"
Zac
"I'm not out with one of my girlfriends because we're supposed to be practicing today," Zac said pointedly. "And besides, Maggie is 'busy' if you know what I mean, even if she won't admit it to me. Caitlin has a huge assignment she has to do. Hannah's going to see rel's for the weekend, so she's not even in Tulsa at the moment. And Laura has a dance class on Fridays."
He scratched his cheek absently.
"Actually, I've been kinda thinking of slowing down a bit."
Ash
"Practicing? Practice is only worthwhile if Tay gets his butt out of the shower and you stay home long enough."
He glanced up at Zac.
"Wait, that just hit me... you're thinking of dumping a couple? For real? That's like, that's like..." he tried to sound like Isaac as best he could, "that's like Jess vowing never to go into someone's dreams again."
He hesitated, knowing he was happily getting away with this.
"So, how many are you gonna dump? All of them? And what brought this on, one of them dump you?"
Zac/Isaac
"No, I'm not actually gonna dump anyone, just see these relationships to their end, but I... I'm not sure if I want to mutlitask and just sleep with anyone any more..."
He chewed his lip for the moment.
"And it's on account of... Julie... she was the one I broke up with recently. Just the reason why we split, y'know... anyway. I think I'll go see what's taking Tay so long."
Zac headed upstairs and then banged on the door.
"Hey, Tay, what's taking you so long?" he called.
Isaac, wearing nothing but a towel opened the door and gave Zac a strange look.
"Hmm, Tay might be taking so long because... he's not in here."
Zac stared.
"But... you were... Taylor... downstairs... huh?"
The strange look Isaac was giving Zac just got stranger.
"Umm, okay. Zac I think all the sugar you've been putting on your cornflakes is beginning to rot your brain. Now, move out of the way, young grasshopper. I do have plans to get dressed before I catch cold."
"Umm, right... okay..." and a very confused Zac went back downstairs again.
Ash
Ashley was way ahead already. He knew that Zac was sure to see Ike when he went upstairs... so, compromising, he shifted into Taylor.
He got up and opened and shut the front door to make it sound like he'd just got back, then went into the kitchen to grab a drink. By the time he came out, Zac was coming down the stairs.
"Hey Zac," he said simply, swallowing some juice, "I just saw Ike leaving, I thought we were supposed to be practicing today?"
Zac
Zac stared so hard he thought his eye would pop out of his head.
"Ike leaving?" he repeated. "But I just saw him coming out of the bathroom!"
He sat down on the stool at the bench.
"Argh, I'm so confused."
Ash
Ashley watched him, trying his hardest not to burst into laughter. Thankfully, he knew how to keep calm in this kind of situation - he'd had practice.
"Well he can't have been in two places at once," he scorned, swallowing more juice, "you must be seeing things. Which one of these so called 'Ikes' seemed more real? Then we'll ask that one to practice with us, hm?"
Ashley hesitated suddenly. There was no way he knew everything about what songs they were working on lately. Oh well, he'd be out of the house by then. But at the moment, he was having fun.
Zac
"Umm, the one I just spoke to, duh. No one else could possibly look that repulsive coming out of the shower," Zac joked, not knowing any other way to react.
Ash
Ashley chuckled. Typical Hansons.
"And I suppose you think you look a lot better? Got news for you buddy, you're related to him. No one related to that can get away with looking good."
He laughed to himself, not caring if Zac humiliated or insulted Taylor... he wasn't Taylor.
"So are you gonna tell him to get his ass downstairs, or am I?"
Zac
"You do of course, realise you just insulted yourself," Zac smirked. "After all, you're related to us too. And you can tell him. I'm not in the mood to get any more confused today."
He reached for the bowl of fruit on the bench, pulled out a manderin, and started peeling it.
Ash
Ashley chuckled, and turned to leave the room. He made his way upstairs, hearing Isaac still getting dressed. Grinning to himself, he shifted into Diana. Hey, shape shifters don't mind being the opposite sex... and this situation needed it.
He made his way into where Isaac was, and stood in the doorway.
"Isaac dear?" he asked in her voice, getting his attention.
"Can you do something for me when you're done here?"
Isaac
Isaac shrugged on his shirt and called through the door.
"Uhh, I suppose. But we were going to have a practice today."
Ash
"Well honey, I need to you to take the garbage out for me, I feel a little sick at the moment and I need strong man to do it," he grinned, "then after that, could you please clean up the kitchen? I'm expecting your father home early today."
He hesitated for a moment.
"Have you seen Zac? Maybe he could help you."
Isaac
"A big strong man?" Isaac repeated. "Umm, okay... who are you and what have you done with Mom?"
Isaac, now fully dressed, opened the door.
"And I just saw Zac a few minutes ago."
Ash
Ashley whacked him over the head playfully, then gave him a slight shove in the back as a mother would to send him downstairs.
With Isaac now gone, he shifted into Taylor again and followed him.
Making his way down the stairs, he soon caught sight of them again.
"Hey Ike, I must have just missed you. I heard you talking to mom..." he began with a glance at Zac, "so, we gonna practice or what?"
Zac/Isaac/Avery
"We're gonna practice," Zac answered. "C'mon men. And Taylor."
Isaac chortled and followed Zac towards the garage.
"Oh there you are," Avery said, poking her head around the corner. "Mom wanted me to ask you guys to remember to clean up your rooms when you're done practicing. I've seen it. It's a pigsty."
"And yours isn't?" Zac retorted.
"My room is the embodyment of cleanliness," Avery replied smugly.
Then she gave 'Taylor' an odd look. A smile grew on her face as her Telepathy told her who she was really looking at.
*Hi there Ash,* she sent. *How you doing? Good I hope, 'cause I'm giving you an ultimatium. Either you let me help or I blab.*
Avery's smile turned into a grin.
"What are you grinning at?" Isaac asked.
Ash
'Why you little...' Ashley fumed, but stopped the thought.
He grinned.
'Sure you can help. I just shifted into your mother and told Ike to take out the garbage and clean up the kitchen,' he tried not to chuckle, 'wanna work with me here? Get these guys doing some work for us?'
"Yeah, your room's clean, and so's the toilet," he said out loud with a chuckle.
Isaac/Zac/Avery
*Now, now, now,* Avery sent smugly. *Insults will get you no where. But don't be mad because my skill with my powers has come to the point where you and your little pranks can't fool me any more. Be mad because I'm gloating about it.*
"Well, considering the toilet just got cleaned today..." Avery trailed off with a grin. "I am having such a good day. Oh and hey, don't forget to take out the rubbish, Ike."
"And don't bring it back in like last time," Zac added.
"I didn't bring it back in," Isaac replied, slightly confused.
"I think you did. I believe I'm looking at it."
"Oh very funny."
"Why, thank you."
Ash
'I'm not mad because you're gloating. If I were in your position I would too. However, one day I do believe I'll trick you,' he grinned slightly, 'so are you with me or what? Let's put these guys to work!'
Ashley chuckled at Zac's remark.
"Well hey, as I said, you're related to him. And so is Avie for a matter of fact," he smiled at her with a wink.
Isaac/Zac/Avery
"Yeah, but I get my looks from the other side of the family," Avery replied with a grin. "And speaking of looks, the kitchen looks a mess too. And the lounge. You know what? You guys should just forget this practice idea and just clean up the house."
"I think not, baby puppy," Zac glowered. "I'll have you know that it's our music that keep up fed. I think you should clean up the house."
"Yeah," Isaac agreed empathically.
Ash/Avery
"Excuse me guys, I'll be back. Gotta use the men's room," Ashley winked at Ike and Zac, before heading upstairs.
'Call your mom,' he instructed Avie.
She sent him a telepathic grin, before yelling for her.
Ashley came back downstairs as Diana.
"Oh my gosh, this house is in such a mess," he gasped dramatically, putting his hands to his cheeks, "boys, can you please do this favour for me and clean up? It's about time you had an afternoon off for practice anyway."
Zac/Avery
Zac was about to object most loudly and empathically when a voice floated into the room.
"Yes Avie, what is it?"
Everyone looked as Diana - the real Diana - walked into the room.
"I, umm..." she stammered, looking between her and Ash. "Err..."
Ash/Avery
'Tell her if she wants her house cleaned for free to play along,' Ashley thought, hoping Avie would pick up.
She did, and she instantly informed her mother of their plan.
"Oh Ashley, you gave me such a fright," Ashley tucked some hair behind his/her ear.
Diana instantly caught on, and a smile grew on her face.
"Well, I suppose I should be off then," she said with a pointed look at him.
Isaac/Zac/Avery
Isaac shook his head as Diana left.
"Sometimes I can't believe Ash. The nerve. Trying to imitate Mom like that."
"Say, we haven't gotten him back yet," Zac mused.
"Yeah, we ought to think of something really good," Isaac said.
"Yeah."
"Excuse me?" Avery said. "Hello? YOu guys have a house here to clean up."
Issac looked glum.
"You mean I do. It's always me who gets the brunt of the cleaning around this joint. This is what I get for being telekinetic."
Ash
"Well I did say that Zac should help you, don't strain yourself," Ash said sarcastically.
"And I don't want you using your powers to get out of chores too often anymore. It's meant to teach you a lesson in life. What if your future finace` is human? You'd have to do housework the conventional way. It's good to get some practice in once in a while."
Isaac and Zac stared at 'Diana'.
*Umm, Ash, you shouldn't have said that, now they know something's up,* Avery sent. *Mom is usually the one taking the most advantage of Ike's telekinesis. It's Dad who thinks we should do stuff the conventional way, and he uses the same arguement amonst other. Mom's opinion is that the future human fiance is well, in the future.*
"Umm, Mom? Have you and Dad switched bodies or something?" Zac asked curiously.
"Yeah, since when have you become so conservative about power use? You didn't have a problem with me cooking breakfast this morning telekinetically," Isaac added.
"And a yummy scrummy breakfast it was too," Avery said, her eyes glittering.
Ash
Ashley glanced toward Avie.
'Wanna help me out here or what?!' he exclaimed.
"So who says I can't agree with your father for once? It's time you boys actually got some excersize off stage."
He gave Avie a pointed look.
"And breakfast wasn't that bad," he began, trying to sound like a 'dear' mother, "you have to thank him for trying."
He smiled at Isaac in the 'it was fine, dear' way.
Isaac/Zac/Avery
"Fine?" Isaac repeated. "This morning it was great, and now it's fine."
He sniffed mockingly.
"I'm hurt! I'm gonna go to my room and sulk now."
And Isaac departed. Avery sent telepathic giggles to Ash.
*He's goint to clean the house on his way - telekinetically, of course, but he hates arguing, as you know.*
"Umm, I think I'll go find Taylor," Zac said.
*That's the truth.* Avery said.
Ash
"Well, I think he was upstairs. I passed him in the hallway," Ashley indicated upstairs, "you two really should help your brother sometimes."
And with that, Ashley left the room.
As he ducked around the corner, he informed Avery of his plan, before he started shifting into a small moth. He made his way up to the ceiling, making sure to keep close to the roof so no one could reach if they tried to swat him - another thing he'd had practice with.
He made his way upstairs and towards Taylor's room. But he heard Isaac inside.
'Dammit,' he thought, looking around.
It didn't help that moths could hardly see a thing compared to humans.
Eventually, he made his way into the bathroom. The door was already closed, so obviously no one had been in there since Isaac. He crawled through the crack, and flew towards the basin.
Then he shifted into Taylor.
Isaac/Zac
Isaac was neatening up his bookshelf while the clothes on the floor behind him jumped up and dumped themselves into the dirty washing basket.
Meanwhile Zac had ceased his search for Taylor on account of the fact that nature was calling. Very loudly. He raced to the bathroom and reached for the door knob...
Ash
"DUDE!" Ashley yelled out, running over to the door and slamming it shut.
He couldn't stop the grin crossing his face.
"I'm about to have a shower man, you'll have to wait!"
Zac
"Oh c'mon Tay. I really have to go!" Zac complained. "As in, right now. As in if I don't go, there's going to be a rather disgusting mess on the carpet out here."
He glared at the door angrilly.
"I swear man, if you don't let me in, no matter how far you turn the hot tap, your shower is gonna be freezing cold!"
Ash
Ashley rolled his eyes at Zac's pleas. Typical. If only Taylor wasn't such a skinny runt...
"Ok, ok... just... wait a second."
He looked around for a moment, his back still to the door, then looked down.
"Oh man..."
Quickly, he began to take his shirt off.
"Wait, I'm just getting my pants on," he called out.
He threw the shirt aside and opened the door.
Zac
Zac didn't even look at Taylor as the door opened. He just zipped in, threw the door closed behind him - not even bothering to make sure it clicked - and went straight to the toilet.
"Ahh..." he breathed.
A contented smile appeared on his face as he relieved himself.
Ash
Ashley scratched his forehead with his eyebrows raised as he looked down the hallway. He could still hear Ike in the room cleaning up. He chuckled.
Thinking of what to do, he waited impatiently for Zac to finish. Maybe he could just grab Taylor's shirt again and take off. But where would the fun be in that? Maybe he should start a fight first...
But who with?
Isaac
They were supposed to be practicing today, yet somehow that didn't end up happening. Isaac sighed. It was all one big mess - in both meanings of the word.
"Ike! Watch me!" called a voice behind him.
Isaac turned around, then looked up and grinned. Mackie was flying in amongst the things he was telekinetically putting away.
"Just be careful not to break anything," he warned.
" 'kay. Tay wants to know where you and Zac are. He says he's been waiting and waiting and waiting for you in the garage for ages."
Isaac frowned.
"But I just saw him a little while ago. Oh, well. We should be practicing anyway."
He got up and started towards the garage.
Ash/Taylor
Ashley heard the conversation, and had to think quick.
"Umm... ok."
He quickly shifted into a fly. It was the fastest unnoticeable thing he could come up with.
Flying over Isaac's head, he made his way down to the garage. As he crawled through the top of the door, he saw Taylor at a keyboard with his back to him.
Grinning as only a fly can, he began to shift into Zac. Taylor quickly turned, sensing someone behind him.
"Oh, Zac..." he rolled his eyes, "where the heck have you been? We were supposed to be practicing almost an hour ago."
"You never came looking," Ashley shrugged.
"That's because I kept thinking 'they're coming, they're coming'. Remind me never to trust you again."
Ashley chuckled, and made his way over.
"Ike should be down in a second. I heard Mac teling him you were waiting."
"Well it's about time. Thank Mac for me next time you see him."
Isaac
Isaac entered the garage.
"Hey guys," he said cheerfully. "Sorry I took so long Tay - Mom got it into her head for us to clean the whole house."
He picked up his guitar, and slung it over his back.
"Which song?"
Ash/Taylor
"So you're not going to clean the house?" Ashley raised his eyebrows.
"She what? Since when has she wanted Zac to clean the house? You're the telekinetic," Taylor looked confused.
"Well hopefully it's a one off thing," Ashley grunted slightly.
Taylor frowned, and looked at him.
"Are you ok Zac? You don't seem like yourself..."
Ashley glanced at Isaac.
"Ah, actually, I'm not. I'm feeling a little sick at the moment, you know, so ah... I think I might skip practice today."
Ashley wasn't sure he'd be able to pull off Zac at a practice session if he was himself. He definately wasn't as good a drummer for one.
"But Zac, we need to get this done," Taylor raised his eyebrows, "what about that song you were so desperate to work on last night?"
Isaac/Zac
"Oh, I did some cleaning on my way here," Isaac said nonchalantly. "And Zac? You're not skipping practice. Not after the way you were harrassing me to get down here."
"Why would I want to skip practice?" Zac - the real Zac - said, walking into the garage.
Then he stopped and stared as he looked into the face of himself.
"Oh my gosh. Tay, I think this is my worst nightmare - two Zac's!" Isaac said.
Taylor/Ash
Taylor stared at the two Zacs between he and Isaac.
"Yeah man, I'm with you."
One of the Zacs - who was actually Ashley - grinned and turned to Ike.
"Hope you enjoyed cleaning up the house Ike," he chuckled, "remind me to thank Avie and Diana for playing along."
With that, he began to shift into a small bird. A sparrow to be exact.
"Ashley," Taylor glared.
Once the bird had fully formed, he flew through the door, upstairs, and through an open window. From there, Ashley headed home.
Taylor stood stock still for a moment, then raised his eyebrows.
"Guys, remind me to bash him."
Zac/Isaac
"Well, it certainly explains a few things," Zac said. "Y'know, we still haven't gotten him back for last time."
"Yeah," Isaac nodded. "And now we're gonna have to get Mom and Avie as well."
Zac gave his brothers a good long look.
"That was real low that," he said. "You realise of course, that this means war."