Disclaimer: I don't own F.E.A.R. or the Teen Titans. Nor do I own any of the bands mentioned.
Alma Wade walked down the long corridor of her school. She sighed with relief when she saw that there were no "populars" in this corridor. Horrible creatures, think that they are better than everyone else because they're richer or extremely beautiful. They liked to pick on some kids, and Alma was a favorite. Scientist father who was barely ever home, mother who had disappeared when she was six, supposedly dead, and the worst nightmares in existence made her a joke.
Not to mention she could set things on fire, literally. With her mind, too. Alma had discovered her powers two days before her eighth birthday. Alma secretly considered herself a freak, despite her father saying she was gifted and strongly suggesting that she was not a freak. If any of the other kids knew about her powers... she couldn't imagine what that would be like. Even her friends would stay away, cast her out. One friend knew, and he thought it was awesome. He was the closest thing Alma had to a sibling. Alma wished that she had a sibling. Brother, sister, she didn't care. She just wanted someone to be in her life.
True, she had her father. However, due to his job at Armacham Technology Corporation, he was mostly always working. He saw her off to school, even drove her sometimes, but she was always alone in the evenings. Thus, at the age of fifteen, she could just cook about anything. Her friends considered her a master chef, and her dad always had something nice to say about whatever she cooked. Despite her ability to possibly become the greatest cook on Earth, or at least in Fairport, WA, possibly the West Coast, Alma was hoping that, one day, she'd play guitar in a band. Metal all the way! Though, she hadn't a clue what the band would be named, or what they'd sing about. Still though, anything was possible, right?
"Hey, Alma!" a voice cried. Oh great, Alma thought, a popular...
Turning around, Alma smiled and began to breathe easily. "Canyon! Back from Scotland at last, I see! Where's the kilt you said you'd bring back?"
"At home. I have bagpipes as well. Looking forward to being the youngest graduate in the history of Fairport High?" Canyon grinned, his blonde hair falling in front of his dark blue eyes. Standing six feet tall, he towered over Alma by 5 inches. On his left arm was tattooed the Valknut, a symbol of Odin, King of the Norse Gods. On his right arm, Mjollnir, the Hammer of the Norse God Thor, was tattooed. Below Mjollnir, his last name, Smith, was tattooed in Elder Furthark Runes.
A fan of Norse mythology, he could recite at least thirty Norse myths at any given time, and he and Alma often talked about mythology for hours. Having grown up as neighbors for nearly all their lives, they were brother and sister to each other, despite the three year age difference.
Brushing her black hair out of her face, Alma stared. Graduation had slipped her mind. "Um... mind if I get back to you on that later? I've been spacing..."
"Why, spending a lot of time in math class?"
They laughed. If it was one thing both of them couldn't stand, it was math class. Good thing was, their math finals were over, and soon they'd both be graduating. "No, just... thinking, mostly about my mom. I wish she were here to see me graduate." Canyon nodded, a look of understanding in his eyes. "So, how'd your finals go? You're lucky you got to take yours early."
"Math was bleh, got an 79.5%, though. I aced my Norwegian IV, French IV, English IV, got a high B in Biology III, aced Civil War History, and did great on my Tai Chi final. You?"
"96.3% in Math, aced French, thanks to you, did superbly in Aca Deca, you saw the medals... we placed second in Nationals for Mock Trial, got a 98% on my English IV exam, aced Ancient Runes, and performed extremely well in Drama entire class was applauding. Mrs. Folsom even smiled. Wanna get some lunch?"
"Sure."
Lunch was grilled cheese with tomato soup, with a chocolate brownie for dessert. After finishing lunch, Alma went to get the last stuff from her locker, and decided that she'd walk home. Canyon joined her, as they most always walked home together on the last day of school. After all, they were neighbors.
They walked in silence for a little bit, enjoying the clear skies, the warmth of the sun, the cool breeze that gently blew. Having survived school, they enjoyed the thought of summer, of spending some time out of school. Maybe taking a year or two off to work, then go to college.
"So, Canyon..." Alma asked, "when are you leaving for Jump City?"
"Two weeks. Who knows? Maybe I'll run into the Titans!" Canyon joked. The Teen Titans were famous, superheroes who guarded Jump City from all sorts of villains. Alma wondered if it were possible that she could run into the Titans when she visited Canyon. Then again, she wondered if it was possible he was joining the Titans. After all, unknown to everyone except her, Canyon could fly, and, as most everyone knew, was skilled in hand-to-hand combat, as well as a blade master and quite a good archer... though she could beat him in an archery tournament any day.
"Two weeks. Not much time, but let's make the most of it!" Alma said optimistically.
"Ya know, Tyr's in town..." Canyon said, "and I've got tickets!" He brought two tickets from his coat pocket. "Think you can come?"
"My dad said to enjoy tonight, and the next few nights, he's going out of town... party at my place Monday. Graduation Wednesday. Then another party at your place, right?"
"Sounds like a plan. Ya know, it feels great to finally graduate. Want to play some basketball until we have to leave for the concert?"
Alma's face lit up. "Actually, I've got something better..." she said, grinning like she was insane.
"Wow... I can't believe we just did that." Canyon said, panting.
"Neither can I." Alma replied though breaths. "I thought we'd get caught. Oh, I can't wait to see Chenisce's face when she finds out her car's got a paint job!"
"Or that we finally are able to embarrass her."
"You didn't..."
"Yup. Posted the pics on Google, spread them around on a few websites, and that video mysteriously made its way to YouTube. Yeah, she's going to be embarrassed. Took forever to get into that party, though... never again. Next time we paint a car, make sure there are no rabid attack/guard dogs, okay?"
"Sure, I'll bring a shotgun too... still can't believe you did that. We still hadn't decided if it would be good to post those or not."
"You said..."
"I remember what I said. Oh well, doubt anyone from here is going to see them."
"Don't be so unsure, Alma. I just might have, well, printed some of them out and post them around the school."
Alma's jaw dropped. "W-when, how? I didn't see anything posted!"
"You didn't look hard enough. However, I think her days as a popular are at an end. Leaving Ryan single..." Canyon said, chanting the last three words.
Alma's face was redder than a tomato. Whether from blushing or from anger, neither of them could tell. "You! You planned that? Or just a stroke of... oh great, look who it is ," Alma said, glaring down the street.
"Smith!" a voice cried out. Chenisce stood, Ryan and a couple of her friends at her side. "Have you seen these! Hanging around school, I'm a laughing stock!"
"Haven't seen any pictures. Too excited about tonight Tyr's in town, you know."
"No, I don't. You wouldn't have to know who took these pictures, do you?"
"Sorry Chenisce, I don't have a clue. Hope you find whoever took that picture. Au revoir!"
"You got plans or something? We're not done yet..." Chenisce said coolly.
"Well, I am. I've got a game of basketball to get to. Try catching me before I move. Later."
"You're walking out on us, some of the most popular kids in town, for that, that whore's daughter?"
Alma's temper flared. Canyon's jaw set, hard. Neither of them said anything. Then, in a matter of seconds, it happened. Canyon lunged, and Alma quickly restrained him before he got sent to jail for beating Chenisce to a bloody pulp. Chenisce stepped behind Ryan, who glared intensely at Canyon. "C'mon, Canyon, let's just go. She's not worth it."
"I know she's not, Alma. You are, though."
With that, they left, leaving behind pissed off populars, and one scared popular. The walk home was silent. Alma and Canyon were furious. At least, no more populars to deal with in school. That was a good thought. When they reached their homes, however, Canyon's face lightened considerably, and he laughed, much to the confusion of Alma.
"You okay? I don't know what's funny... could you enlighten me?" Alma asked, one eyebrow lifted in confusion. Canyon could be random at some times...
"I just realized, that video, it's been on the internet for a while... just imagine if we could show it to her parents. Completely by "accident", of course, just imagine how much trouble she'd be in. Too bad I lost the hard copy." A hand came out of nowhere and smacked the backside of his head.
"It doesn't matter whether you have the hard copy or not, it's on the internet. Hundreds, if not thousands of people have seen it by now. C'mon, you promised me a basketball game."
After a couple of hours, it was time to get ready for the concert. Alma got her favorite band shirt, Heidevolk, and some black pants. Canyon got a Tyr t-shirt, black pants, and shook his head a little. Alma was going to wait until the concert started to get her hair messy. They both put on black sunglasses, and walked out of their houses. They got to Beckett Hall, where the concert was being held. Surprisingly, they were first in line.
The bouncer came out to get some air, and they talked for a while. The man's name was Rowdy Betters, and the ticket holder was named Redd Jankownski. Rowdy and Redd didn't like each other, that much was clear. Redd, as they heard, was almost always complaining about something. From there, talk turned to music and sports. Before they knew it, time was up. Soon, a crowd of hundreds was inside, everyone ready for a great night of headbanging. A couple of local bands started out, then came Alestorm, Heidevolk, and finally, Tyr. The concert was great.
Alma woke late the next morning, happy and cheerful. Then she promptly fell off the couch. After getting back up, she went to go take a shower and made some breakfast. Time seemed to seep by slowly, as if the morning didn't want to end. Alma was content with that, since she felt like relaxing, hot cup of spiced chai tea in her hand, plate of bacon, sunny side up eggs, and buttered toast in the other.
Time passed, and there was no sign of Chenisce, Ryan, or any other populars. Canyon was busy doing, well, whatever he was doing. Alma had a party, and, despite how small it was, it was fun. Canyon ended up getting a pie shoved in his face, and then started the great food fight war. An eight graduate all out food fight war... what could go wrong? Was it mentioned that most the participants were eighteen to nineteen, excluding Alma?
That had been a mess to clean up, both on the floor and in the hair of everyone involved. Don't mind the dirty clothes, it was a celebration, who cares? Besides, anyone who knows about the Wade parties knows to bring an extra pair of clothes or two... for Harlan, though, he'd lock himself up in his room during the food fight wars, praying for a swift end. After everyone had taken a shower, switched clothes, and got their dirty clothes into the wash, everyone settled down for movies, games, and popcorn. Life was peaceful, in those moments. Laughter could be heard, and if one was to walk by, it would seem that, in a world filled with villains, war, famine, suffering, politics, and paparazzi, there was at least one bright spot. However...
Armacham Technology Corporation Secret Experimentation Facility, Giza, Egypt
"Her powers are growing, Harlan. We need you to bring her in."
"She's my daughter, Aristide, and she's not going to be part of your telepathic warfare experiment."
"Be reasonable, Harlan. She's one of the most powerful pyrokenetics on the planet, Project Fallout could proceed faster than expectations if she joined."
"No, Aristede, and that's the last I want to hear of it." Harlan boarded the jet that would take him back to Fairport, to Alma, and away from the annoying Aristide.i nodded. "Then maybe he should be.. removed." All Genevieve did was nod silently, a smile forming on her lips.