Disclaimer: Sky High is owned by Disney. I do not own Sky High, but the original characters are products of my imagination. Some characters were not given names in the movie, so for this story, I went ahead and gave them an identity.
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To Touch Fire
Ch.1: An Old Acquaintance
Finally allowing a tired yawn to escape her for the first time that evening, Joi raised her sore arms over her head and rejoiced when she felt the pressure within her muscles alleviate. Shaking away some of her exhaustion, she began the tiresome task of counting the register, hoping to finish up quickly.
Oh how I miss my bed…
"Tired, kid?"
Joi looked up from her task to find her head chef smiling at her, amusement shining in his gentle eyes. His soiled apron was thrown over his arm and the smell of Chinese food was heavily embedded into his simple work clothes and onto his tan skin. Joi wondered how the seemingly good-natured chef had managed to survive her aunt's kitchen for so many years. Granted, she loved the woman to death, but to work alongside her was a living hell. Her shrill screaming and usually barked orders were enough to break through any man's resilience, including her own at times. Thank the stars and heavens that she had retired!
Sighing, she nodded to the middle-aged man, "Afraid so, but I'm almost done. Did everyone leave already, Xing-Xing?" Looking down at her watch, Joi found that it was a quarter to one. She groaned, knowing that when she got home there would be quite a few lovely messages waiting for her from her said aunt.
Joi had moved out of her aunt and uncle's home a good two years ago now and still considered it the best decision of her life, though now she wondered why she didn't just move out of Maxville, since her aunt made it seem that she lived in a whole different continent altogether when, in reality, she only lived a few blocks away from their home. She had managed to find a homely apartment complex that didn't charge her an arm and a leg, and wasn't infested with roaches. A very nice deal indeed, she had thought at the moment.
"Everyone has gone home. It's just you and me, kid." Xing-Xing has a very pleasant smile and ever since Joi first met him, he had nicknamed her 'kid.' It hadn't bothered her, since he had become a part of her makeshift family. What with her loony aunt and sickly uncle, one more addition couldn't hurt. Besides, Joi always loved how he would make funny faces just for her whenever her aunt's back was turned to him.
Joi felt a warm hand squeeze her shoulder, "If you want I could stay with you until you get through. Wouldn't want to leave you alone, and at this hour too, it's not safe."
"No, it's alright. Go on home, I'm almost done," she replied, finishing up with the register. "I have missed messages to get to, or else tomorrow I might just be the front cover of the Maxville Times."
As always, Xing-Xing boomed with laughter. "Your dragon of an aunt is just looking out for you, Joi. With no children of her own and your sick uncle, it's no wonder she worries and fusses about you." He winked and let out another chuckle, "Though I love having you as a boss, kid, I sometimes miss hearing those choice cuss words your aunt used to shout at me. They reminded me of my mother back in the old country."
"Aunt Ming Yue certainly is one of a kind," she grinned, "No one can swear and hold their rice wine quite like her."
Laughing, Xing-Xing headed towards the door, "Give my regards to the old demon and to your uncle, kid. And try not to stay out too late, you hear?"
"I'll try." Joi waved him off and watched as he headed out, walking along the sidewalk before disappearing around the corner. Sighing, the young woman closed her dark eyes and breathed. It was tiring, yes, but she loved her job. This restaurant had been her home away from home for many years and when her aunt retired, claiming she felt 'old,' she did not hesitate in agreeing to keep it running in her stead.
Heading to the office, Joi locked up the register bag and their earnings of the day, making a mental note that come Wednesday she had to go to the bank and start preparing the compensation checks for the employees. After locking up the office and shielding the windows with the burgundy-colored curtains, Joi quickly checked the stock to note how much raw fish and vegetables to purchase in the morning.
Grabbing her bag, she turned down the lights and started heading towards the door, glad that the new waitress was willing to clean up the tables in the meantime until a new busboy could be hired. The latest one had quit when her aunt was still running things, claiming that Ming Yue was a malignant spirit with the soul of a ravenous hound. It was rather comical, actually. Her aunt had been rather subdued to the new hand, her usual snarky comments being less frequent.
"None of them last more than a few weeks or so," her aunt had explained to her in heavy Xiang dialect with a shrug after he had torn off his apron, stomped on it for good measure, and stormed out of The Paper Lantern in haste. "Lazy, good-for-nothing vagabonds the lot of them. I haven't had a decent busboy in years." Joi knew which busboy she meant, but wisely kept quiet.
Feeling her eyelids further descend, Joi quickly locked up, but not before grabbing a fortune cookie from the complimentary basket set by the door for customers. Staring up into the night sky, she tilted her head back as far as it would go to enjoy a simple view of the stars and the half-moon. She began walking soon after, turning her head back down to look ahead of her.
It was a chilly night, but pleasant. The wind toyed with the hem of her pencil skirt and the collar of her button-down blouse. Joi smiled gently, listening to the subtle sounds of the night and feeling the tips of her long hair brush against her back as her ponytail swished with the movement of her hips. Her legs were covered by sheer, black stocking and her comfortable shoes barely made any noise on the grey concrete.
The streets were deserted, alighted by yellow lampposts that stretched on for a few miles. Maxville looked stunning at night, she could not deny it. Especially when there wasn't a single cloud to litter the wide expanse of sky that loomed overhead. It was a beautiful city, but a dangerous one.
Hitching her bag further onto her shoulder, Joi was not afraid. She knew enough self-defense to ensure her safety if need be and there was that little pocket knife she kept at the waist of her pencil skirt. It never hurt to be cautious.
Distracting herself, Joi took out the fortune cookie from her skirt pocket and tore the plastic wrap open. Snapping the cookie in half, she put one end into her mouth and ate it slowly, while removing the strip of paper hiding in the other half. Holding it before her, she squinted her eyes to the darkness.
Learn Chinese: Banana (Xiang Jiao)
Lucky numbers: 13, 2, 7, 21, 3, 20
Turning the paper over in her hands, Joi read the fortune. She always loved reading them. They were usually some cryptic quote from some anonymous source or a product of her uncle's philosophical genius. She had a feeling that this one was one of her uncle's. He always did love astronomy and stargazing.
"Stars are born and destroyed in fire; becoming giants, becoming dwarfs, and at times self-consuming darkness. But then they are reborn and given life again."
Joi smiled sadly, wondering if her uncle will be reborn like his star. He had been sick for many years, recalling that never once had she seen him healthy or any color besides pale-faced. But what he lacked in physical strength and wellbeing, he more than made up for with stark intelligence.
Pocketing the small paper and eating the rest of her cookie, Joi walked a little faster, now longing for the comfort of her bed more than ever. Passing beside an alleyway that held fire-escape ladders to its opposing buildings, she was almost around the corner when she suddenly felt a slow, crawling feeling make its way down her spine. Shivering, not from cold, but from an unexplainable heat rolling down her back and through her arms, reaching to the very tips of her fingers and continuing down her legs to her toes and up again until her whole body was enraptured by it.
Her body felt so sensitive to her, never before had she felt this way. At first she was frightened, thinking that she was in pain, but no. The heat was not harming her, it was not painful but…soothing, as if a candle had been ignited within her very core.
Why am I feeling such things? She tried releasing the heat, tried forcing herself to remain rigid, Joi even tried stopping herself from shivering at the intensity of its comfort, but failed miserably. What is happening?
It suddenly stopped, the warmth leaving her body, and strangely leaving her cold. She hated to admit it, but she instantly missed the warmth and comfort of the heat. Her body felt empty and frigid without the ghost touch of that candle in her core.
Shaking her head a little, Joi noticed that she had stopped walking and was still standing by the alleyway. Turning her head to the side, she stared at the metal stairs that covered the edge of the building. Lowering her gaze, she was startled to see a slumped figure of what clearly was a person, their back leaning against the brick building to her right. Because of the darkness, she could barely make out the person.
Joi wanted to just dismiss the rogue, attempted to cajole her mind into thinking it was just a homeless person, but no matter what she tried to picture, the person drew her in and she so desperately wanted to go to their side. She was only barely aware that her feet were moving.
She found herself walking cautiously into the alleyway, smelling the foul decay of food and waste littering the place. She continued onward and when she finally stood before the sitting person, she knew that it was a man.
The stranger had his eyes to the ground, so it was impossible for her to see his face. Dark, matted hair that was kept long fell over him, keeping him a secret to her questing eyes. He didn't appear to be injured, just extremely dirty. His clothes were tattered and filthy, not even a good washing machine could get rid of that dirt. His feet were covered in decent boots, worn but not in the extreme condition as the rest of his attire. His hands were invisible beneath the large trench coat he wore.
But what shocked Joi more than this strange man, was the smoke sizzling from his body. Her dark eyes widened at the sight. This man was emitting smoke!
Joi wanted to feel fear, she wanted to feel revulsion for being near such a person, but she couldn't help but feel pulled to him; drawn to this silent and unknown being. She could feel it now, the heat rolling off of him. It was slowly diminishing, and soon the evidence of smoke trailing off his body ceased as well. His once shaky and hoarse breathing dimmed as well and return to normal.
Not knowing, not understanding what in the world she was doing, Joi kneeled before him and reached out to touch him. Before she even skimmed the material of his coat sleeve, a tan hand shot out and grasped her wrist tightly. A surprised gasp escaped her lips.
With her hand still being held prisoner, Joi watched in amazement as the man raised his head, allowing the dark strands of his hair to fall away from his face. From the little light that entered the alleyway, Joi was able to make out the strangers features. Rough hair framed his jaw, making him look that much more dangerous. Unlike the roughness of his appearance, his lips were softer and a shade lighter than his skin. They were full, but grim and when she looked into his eyes, recognition washed over her.
She knew those eyes, she knew this man.
"Don't touch me." The threat was growled between the man's teeth.
Joi felt his hand tighten its grip, and something in her snapped. She somehow snatched her hand away from his bruising grasp and took his face between her palms. Holding him still, she turned his face up completely towards her own and searched the planes of his profile. There was no doubt as to who he was anymore.
He instantly raised his hands to the ones that held his face and savagely tore them away, "I said don't touch me," his voice shook aggressively.
But she knew that voice. She knew those lips, those eyes. Her own eyes watered with such sadness she did not understand. Her bag slid from her shoulder and landed on the ground, but she barely gave it notice.
What happened to you?
"Leave."
Joi sucked in a breath, and shakily let it leave through her lips. He was glaring at her, trying to scare her off. She had never been looked at like that before, especially not by him.
Licking her lips, she shook her head. She met his stare and whispered, "No."
He was frustrated, and tired. "Go away," he tried to scare the woman away once more, wondering why she was being so defiant. Why didn't she run away from him? Why was she even out at this hour of the night? He had been surprised when she had taken his face into her shaky palms, not having felt another's touch in so long.
What surprised him was her lack of concern for her own safety. He could have been a murderer or rapist and here she was still kneeling before him, even though he had given her enough warning to leave him.
She seemed so young, so innocent. Her Asiatic features dominated her delicate face. Her pale and unblemished skin, her small nose, and high cheekbones that would have seemed harsh on her soft face, but somehow suited her wise visage, even with her apparent youth. She had small peach-colored lips and dark eyes that burned him to look at.
He watched her with narrowed eyes as she seemed to second-guess her bravery, looking away from him, but just as quickly raising her eyes to his. He was surprised to see her eyes shining with tears. Why?
"You don't remember me?" she asked quietly, sadness evident in her gentle voice. Before he could question her, the girl sighed and seemed to make up her mind about something. "Of course you don't remember me, I was only twelve the last time I saw you." She smiled sadly and, unafraid, moved closer to him.
He forced his back further into the rough wall, grunting from the discomfort. He watched her warily, as she neared him. "Listen girl, I already warned you to leave me-"
He stopped abruptly when he heard her giggling gently into her hands. She found him amusing now? He had thought that the...episode from earlier would have been strong enough to give him enough time to strengthen before another would course through him, but he could feel the subtle fire building up, becoming stronger and stronger. His anger fueling it and he knew he had to relax. He had to control it.
He hadn't traveled around the globe to fail now.
He watched her lips lift into another smile, though this one wasn't as heart- wrenching as the last. "You know," she said softly, with a trace of humor in her voice, "I never did understand why you always had to call me girl all the time. I did, and still do, have a name, Warren."
Warren…
She knew him. Who was she?
Joi bit her bottom lip, her eyes scanning his face as he concentrated on something. He hasn't changed, was her forethought. He was older, but so was she. He seemed more cautious and solitary, then how he had been ten years ago. But she knew that it had to have been required through the years he spent out of Maxville. Other than that though, he still looked like the same boy who had worked at her aunt's restaurant throughout his high school years.
The same boy she had befriended, despite his somewhat callous manner. She had never once tired of letting him know this fact, he had been her friend, whether he had asked for the friendship or not.
Joi sighed, resting her backside against her kneeling legs. She wanted to ask him so many things, wanted and needed to know what had happened, but she knew he was exhausted and she hadn't slept properly in three days. Putting aside her curiosity for now, she turned to him and reached out to grasp his coat sleeve.
"Come on then," she sighed, tugging on the sleeve before letting it go and standing, bending over to pick up her bag from the ground. When he didn't immediately follow her lead, she placed a hand to her hip, "Well?"
"Well what?" he all but roared, though in a controlled voice.
Shaking her head, Joi reached down and grasped his hand. A small shiver raced down her spine, but she ignored it. She started pulling him up and he eventually caught the idea and stood from the ground, standing beside her.
She hadn't realized how tall he had gotten.
She felt the blood pumping through her quicken, along with her heartbeat. When he had worked at the Paper Lantern as a busboy, she had been only a few inches shorter than him. But now, Joi had to crane her head a little far up then before.
She realized that she was still holding his hand, feeling a warm radiate from it that was familiar somehow. She blushed from embarrassment and dropped his hand, turning as she did towards the way she had come through. Before she actually started walking towards the alleyway's entrance, Warren had a hold of her arm, turning her around to face him.
He seemed mildly upset and she just couldn't help but find his attitude amusing. He always did have quite a temper. "Just come with me, Warren. Please." Placing a friendly hand over the one holding her elbow, she squeezed his fingertips. "Trust me."
Where did he know this girl?
"My apartment isn't very far. I'm sure you'd enjoy sleeping in an actual bed tonight," Joi said kindly, hoping to get him to cooperate. Tomorrow Aunt Ming Yue is going to kill me…
He didn't reply, but allowed her to guide him. His exhaustion from earlier taking its toll on his little strength, but at least the fire seemed to be subdued for the moment.
Joi felt the weight of him against her side and feared that he would pass out before even reaching her floor! Slinging his arm over her shoulders, she gripped his waist and allowed him to rest against her.
He kept pace with her easily enough, and together they walked the few blocks that eventually lead them before her apartment complex. They climbed the staircase silently, their hips brushing together at their close proximity. Joi allowed him to lean on her further, knowing that he was never going to admit to her how tired he really was.
She knew better.
He was going at an almost snail-like pace, taking one step at a time, lifting one leg and then the other. His body tense and shaking beside her, she could feel the tremors raking his body under her fingertips. Oh yes, Joi knew just how exhausted he truly was, but wisely kept her observations to herself. He needed rest, now, and that desire was what kept her moving.
When she saw the little black 4 next to the staircase, Joi was beyond relieved. Warren was heavy against her and she had half expected a stumble that would have ultimately brought about their undoing. Luckily, her hand had never left the banister. She tugged him with her a few steps away, passing by a few doors that opened to her neighbors apartments.
Once standing before her own paint-chipped door, Joi had to momentarily let go of the rouge's waist to reach for her keys. She felt his body collapse against her own and instantly felt the heat of him sinking into her flesh, even through the layers of her blouse. He smelled strangely of burnt wood and she wondered why that was, the image of his body releasing smoke as he sat in the alleyway questioning her reasoning.
She quickly opened the door to her small, one bedroom apartment and led them both to her room. He was asleep before he was on the bed and he didn't move as she removed his boots and trench coat, draping the covers over him. Joi watched his breathing even out, glad that he would be resting tonight. Before she realized what she was doing, Joi felt her fingers gently run through his soiled hair. The strands were longer than she remembered, but they were soft to her touch.
Retracting her hand, Joi spared him one last glance, amazed at how unguarded he was once asleep. He needed this so much, she wondered biting her lower lip. When was the last time he slept on a bed? She was surprised that he had willingly followed her at all, expecting more fight out of him.
Joi closed her apartment door and bolted the lock. Removing her own shoes, her eyes fell onto her answering machine, and true to its purpose, the little red light was blinking angrily at her.
"Tomorrow," she promised and after taking a short shower and dressing into comfortable sleep wear, Joi fixed up her own bed on the couch and slept.
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Author's Note: Well, here you have it. The first chapter for my Sky High story. I hoped you enjoyed it and all feedback and/or questions are welcomed. Hope you keep reading! The story is set ten years in the future to the movie.
