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Story Notes:
What, I started a new story?! I haven't forgotten about Running Up That Hill, I promise! But I got the momentum going on this one again and it's really heavily outlined so I'm hoping that the new album well keep me chugging along on it. Also straight up, this is inspired by (and a universe crossover with) Neon Genesis Evangelion, but you don't need to know anything about that show to read this, all will be revealed!

Warnings are subject to change, and they will change. You have been warned... about the warnings lol
1


“Boston!” Nick Carter shouted through the microphone. The crowd went wild with anticipation. He raised his hand high in the air. “We, the Backstreet Boys, just want to thank you. We truly have the best fans in the entire world.”

More screaming commenced as the band played the first notes to the last song in the setlist. Everyone in the room, whether hardcore fan or chaperone knew exactly what it was. The moment of recognition when the crowd went wild for the hit single was something that always sent chills down Nick's spine.

He was tired, the show was nearly over and he couldn't wait to run back to his bus for a bite to eat. Still, he couldn't help but grin.

“B-Rok,” Nick said, pointing to his bandmate as a signal to start singing. Of course it was only for show, definitely not necessary. They knew the entire set list by heart and could probably perform in their sleep if needed.

Brian gave Nick a grin, before turning back to the crowd. “You are...” he began, and almost instantly, everyone in the arena began to sing along.

“My fire, the one desire, believe, when I say, that I want it that way...”

Nick licked his lips just before it was his turn to come in. “But we,” he sang. “Are two worlds apart, I can't reach to your heart, when you say...” he trailed off before holding his microphone out for the sold out crowd to continue.

“I want it that way...”

With the first verse out of the way, the band went into full swing, and the boys gave it all they had. The last song of the night was always the toughest to get through. It was the most well known, the most anticipated and the most bittersweet. By the end of the show they were always tired and eager to get off stage, but the crowd reaction kept them going. It always made the song easier to get through.

Nick loved being on stage and loved his career. He loved the song I Want It That Way, and what it had done for the group. Even still, he was fairly certain that if he never had to sing the words “tell me why,” ever again in his life, he'd be fine with it.

The boys gathered back on the top of the stage as AJ held the last note to the song. The band continued to play, and there was an explosion of pyrotechnics as the five superstars were lowered down. As they began to disappear, they all joined hands and took a bow the same way they always did.

The band still played, and the pyrotechnics continued to go off, but the boys were no longer in sight. As soon as the platform touched down, they hit the ground running. It was the same every night – the goal was to get back to the hotel before the fans left the venue.

Nine times out of ten it worked well. They would be on their buses and on the way back to the hotel before any of the fans had left the venue. They would safely make it back to their rooms without so much as a scream or an encounter.

Of course there were sometimes setbacks, but they were few and far between. More often than not, the boys were safe and sound after the show.

“I'm starving,” Nick panted as they ran to the buses. “There better be some food on that bus! I feel like I haven't eaten anything in a week.”

“Nick will you shut up?” Kevin asked in exasperation. “Every night you complain that you're hungry after the show, and every single night there's food waiting for you on the bus.”

Nick just grinned as they went barrelling through the door. He sat down at the small kitchen table and sure enough, as always, there was fast food waiting for them.

The bus started to move as he dug into his food. The other four members of the group joined him. Though they each had their own separate buses for travelling, they usually only used one to get from the venue back to the hotel. It was just easier that way.

While AJ and Nick always ate the food relatively quickly, the others just picked at it, preferring to eat something with a little more substance after they got back at the hotel. Nick of course was fine with this, as he had no problem stealing a few fries from Brian.

“Can you believe this?” Kevin marvelled as they continued on their way back to the hotel. “Our first stadium tour, it seems like only yesterday we were playing in middle schools...”

Nick looked up slightly and raised his eyebrow. Kevin tended to get nostalgic like this every once in a while. Usually he found it best to stay quiet, but there were times he couldn't help but open his big mouth. “Sure, but we were playing arenas before this. We always said we wanted to get to this point you know? Well, here we are.”

“Would it kill you to be humble for once, Nick?” Kevin asked in annoyance.

Nick just shrugged and went back to picking at the unwanted fries on the table.

The rest of the ride to the hotel when on without incident. Once they were back at the hotel it was the same process as always. The bus would pull up around the back, the bodyguards would check to make sure there were no fans waiting around, and quickly, as though they were sheep, the five guys would be herded off the bus and into the hotel.

They walked briskly, surrounded by the guards as they made their way into the hotel. For once, word about where they were staying had seemed to be kept under wraps. There wasn't a teenage girl in sight as they entered the hotel lobby.

Nick was somewhat disappointed. Though he disliked having to walk through a mob, a couple of fans in the lobby didn't usually bother him. Especially when they were hot, he thought to himself with a grin. But much to his dismay, there was no one who had their eyes fixated on him.

No one that Nick noticed anyway. From afar, a woman dressed in a professional business suit watched as he was ushered into the hotel. When they stopped in front of the elevator, she got up from the chair she'd been waiting in and walked over to them.

“Nickolas Gene Carter?” she asked, though it wasn't necessary. She was well aware of who he was.

Before Nick had a chance to answer, their security guard, Marcus held up his hand. “No autographs, ma’am,” he said sternly.

The woman remained professional, though she wanted to laugh. “I'm not here for an autograph, I'm here from NERV,” she said, flashing a badge much like someone from the FBI would.

Nick's eyes widened as he glanced at the other Backstreet Boys. NERV? What could they possibly want with him? They weren't exactly an unknown organization, but what they did and how they operated and never been quite clear to the general public.

“NERV?” Nick croaked, and he heard AJ stifle a giggle from behind him as his voice cracked.

“Yes that's right,” she said, putting her badge away. “I've been sent here to bring Nickolas back to our headquarters in New York. So I'll ask again... is that who you are?”

Nick was too stunned to say anything. NERV was serious business. He didn't think he'd done anything bad enough to get the government involved. Sure, he'd slept with a lot of girls and never called them again. And he'd done a fair bit of underage drinking... and there had been some drugs. But all of that had come with being a part of the music business... and if he was going down, he was taking AJ with him!

Before Nick had a chance to regain his composure, Marcus stepped in. “Yeah, that's him,” he said, his attitude changing completely from when the woman had first approached them. “What do you want with him?”

“That's classified,” she replied, half smiling.

“I haven't done anything bad...” Nick said shakily.

The woman softened. “No... it's nothing like that,” she said. “We just want to talk to you... but unfortunately I do need to take you back to New York with me. There's a car waiting outside that will take us to their airport. If you could pack a bag and meet me back down in here ten minutes, it would be much appreciated.”

Nick looked at Marcus for support, but nothing was said. He couldn't go to New York! He had a show to do the next day!

Marcus just nodded slowly. “Alright. He'll be back down here in ten minutes.”

Nick wore a look of shock on his face. Alright? Alright? Nothing about this was alright! Wasn't Marcus supposed to protect him? Wasn't that what a bodyguard was for?

Marcus sighed as Nick shouted all of these things while haphazardly packing his backpack for his trip. “It's NERV, Nick, what do you want me to do?”

“Tell them that I have a show tomorrow! Tell them that I can't go with them!”

Marcus rolled his eyes at Nick's teenage outburst. In the face of this, he had reverted back to his fifteen year old self. “Relax Nick, you'll be fine.”

“How can you say that?” Nick muttered, zipping up his backpack. “How can you say that it'll be fine? They're NERV! They're a faceless, corporate organization and no one knows what they do! They're just... there! Being evil and stuff.”

“If no one knows what they do, then how would you know that they're evil, hm?” Marcus asked, giving Nick a small grin as they exited the hotel room.

“Just... cause,” Nick shrugged, feeling defeated. They stepped into the elevator, and Nick began to feel nervous all over again. “All corporate organizations are evil, aren't they? And you heard about what's going on in New York, didn't you? They said NERV was behind that.”

Marcus rolled his eyes. “You and your conspiracy theories. Do you think we'd actually let you go if you were in any real danger? If NERV needs you, you've got to go, Nick.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Nick mumbled.

The elevator doors opened, and, just as she said she would be, the woman was still waiting there. “All ready to go?” she asked, looking up at Nick, who just nodded glumly.

“Do you need me to come with him? Whenever he goes out in public, he usually needs some kind of escort,” said Marcus, looking at Nick. Nick smiled gratefully, hoping that a familiar face would be travelling with him.

The woman shook her head. “That won't be necessary. We are aware of Nick's situation and are prepared to deal with it. He'll be in good hands with us.”

Marcus nodded. “Just bring him back in one piece.”

The woman kept the smile plastered on her face as she looked at Nick. “He'll be in good hands.”