Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in Sky High. But the OCs and the story line are completely mine. No touchie. ;P
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Title: Blown Sky High
Author: Thera Menders
Summary: Most of the kids in Sky High are the low-risk ones. Yes, their powers can occasionally be impressive, but the truth is that they aren't the dangerous kids. The kids at Sky High can afford to be let out in a public place. High risk kids are usually kept under wraps, where no one is going to get hurt by them, and they can't destroy the whole world by accident. There are a few exceptions, however, and Warren Peace is one of them. His powers have been developing lately, spurred by Royal Pain's attack three years back, and with rapid development comes an unpredictable amount of control. There are some people who are worried about this, and they send in Chaney Chai to monitor Warren Peace's developing powers. Her mission has two parts: make sure he doesn't get anyone hurt (including himself), and keep the bad guys away from him. Otherwise, some of the REALLY scary villains may try to monopolize his power and wipe out a lot of lives in the process.
But to take on such a dangerous job, they had to send in someone with enough cabability to handle the situation. Chaney is a feild agent that packs a punch, but there are a few personal reasons that she took this job...
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Chapter 1 -Meeting the Gang
Walking into the school for the first time was like walking into a zoo. Chaney felt like the eye of the storm—the one area of calm and control amidst a hurricane of chaotic activity.
Sky High. It sounded cliché, it looked cliché…it was cliché. If it weren't for the attendance of a person of interest, she never would have set foot here.
In all truth, these were the children the world's superheroes were willing to expose. They were a…cover for the real risks. Supernatural men and women —who had any sort of brain—did not congregate with their children in any sort of public display like this unless they were certain that the world would be safe if something went wrong.
Like three years ago. It still gave her pain to think that anyone would think a school like this would be a "good idea." It was basically like painting a big target on the school and saying "the world's future lies here, packaged and located for your convenience, SHOOT ME DOWN!"
Someone bumped into her, and Chaney turned to look at a cheery-faced red-head with a sweet smile.
"Oh, I'm so sorry about that. I should have been looking where I was going." The redhead said, and Chaney grinned before waving her off.
"Don't worry about it. I'm just not used to crowds like this." Chaney glanced over the crowd once more.
"You're new here?" The girl asked.
Chaney nodded. "I just transferred."
The redhead looked puzzled for a moment. "I thought it was hard to transfer normal high school classes to Sky High."
Chaney nodded. "It is." She pulled out the papers she'd been given by Principal Powerpuff or whatever the name had been. "I'm going to take a test-out with…Coach Bloom?"
The redhead looked like her eyes were going to jump out of her head for a moment, and then she raised a dainty hand to her face to hold in the laughter. She glanced around, abashed, and Chaney watched in exasperated impatience.
"You may not want to call him that to his face," the girl said in a conspirator's whisper. "You would get placed in the sidekick class faster than you could blink!"
Chaney smiled. "Thanks for the warning."
"Hey Layla, who's this?"
The two girls turned to the newcomer, and Chaney noted the black hair and purple trailing locks. Cute color combination, she supposed. Odd fashion sense though…Chaney smiled as the girl she'd been speaking to introduced her.
"Magenta, this is one of the newcomers. Her name's…um…" Layla turned to Chaney with a look of horror on her face. "I'm so sorry. I completely forgot to ask you what your name was."
Such melodrama. It was kinda funny. "My name's Chaney." She grinned.
Layla smiled. "Well, nice to meet you Chaney."
Magenta smiled. "Yeah. Nice to meet you."
"Magenta, Layla! Will's looking for you guys," came another voice, and Chaney turned as a boy—who was practically an albino, he was so blond—came up and stopped in front of the two girls. Chaney noted the "eyes" he sent Magenta's way, and saw the look of pleasure light up Layla's eyes. Hmm. So Sky High was like every other school then…a place to meet and mate, apparently.
Chaney sighed.
"We should probably get going," Layla said to Chaney. "Maybe we can talk again later."
Chaney nodded as the three turned and ran off, leaving her to once more be the lone stance of sanity amidst the idiotic frolicking of lovesick, chattering peers.
Are they REALLY the same age as me? Chaney sighed and turned to follow her directions to the test with Coach Bloom. She flipped her long black hair out of the way.
She was halfway to the building when she noticed one of the side doors open with enough force to slam against the outside wall. A guy stormed out, gripping one arm as though in pain—well, technically he just walked out quickly, but with the feeling of tension surrounding him it literally felt like a storm. She actually saw the air around him rippling with heat, and the closed, furious expression on his face mixed with a look of pain and irritation. He walked over to a low wall and turned to lean against it before reaching into his leather bomber jacket for a pack of cigarettes. A flick of his fingers, and a flame sprang up on his thumb.
Wow. There he was. Her 'person of interest.' Chaney glanced down at her papers. Actually, it was almost too convenient. She hadn't expected to find him so quickly.
She reached into her backpack and pulled out a worn picture. It was a three-year old picture, and he had matured a lot. His dark brown and red hair was still long, the chocolate eyes (she dared anyone to describe his eyes like that to his face) still dark and hooded by smooth, dark brows. The strong chin with just a hint of a cleft, and the full, sulking lips settled over it were the same tempting combo—forbidden fruit denied by the forward, aggressive tilt of his head, the set of his shoulders, the brooding look in his eyes that hinted at a temper simmering just below the surface, ready to burst forth and sear the nearest victim. Oh, and the shoulders, by the way, were broader than they had been just a few years back. His posture had "denied access" written all over it, which was probably half the reason Chaney noted so many girls fawning from afar. They giggled and pointed and fanned themselves in mock swoons. She chuckled and shook her head, and went back to her scrutiny.
The way he dressed, the leather, the black beneath it, the worn pants and rugged boots…it was either an indication of character, a proclamation of his desire to be left alone or fight off all comers, or both. The problem was that he was gorgeous, so of course the girls wanted to think the best of him. Wanted to believe there was a good boy beneath the straight-faced scowl.
Hehehe. If only they knew.
Anyway. He just looked older somehow. A little taller, a little leaner. She was happy to see that his posture had improved. Handsome men over six feet that weren't skin and bones—and even had enough shape and muscle to look very natural with all that height—shouldn't slump even the slightest bit. It detracted from the shape of that magnificent back.
As he leaned against the wall, she got an overwhelming impression of length, strength, and…deception. His mask was really quite perfect. And oh so sexy.
She walked over then, and he raised his eyes.
"Can I bum one off you?" Chaney asked, and he glared at her for a moment. Then he lifted his arm and tossed the pack at her. She pulled one out and walked up to lean against the wall next to him. She had a lighter in one pocket, since he didn't seem eager to aid on that front, and pulled it out to light her own. Then she handed him the pack back and they smoked in silence for a time.
She liked cigars better, she thought as the smoke came swirling out of her mouth on a soft breath. They tasted better. What the heck though.
He was flexing his right hand, she noticed. The skin was red—it looked like a burn, and he was trying to hide it. Ergo the glare when she walked up. Big tough boy—who by reputation and ability is supposed to be unable to get burnt—didn't want anyone around to see the boo boo.
She chuckled to herself. It looked to her like the reports about his growing instability were true.
"What's so funny?" He asked sharply.
"Notthin. I just remembered what one of Principal Powerpuff's cronies told me."
His eyebrows shot up at the principal's new nickname and he let out a small laugh. "What's that?"
"I heard there's a guy on the grounds I'm supposed to be scared of. Tall, menacing guy with long brown and red hair or something like that."
"Are you?" Apparently he was at least smart enough to know who she was talking about.
"Haven't decided yet. But he's no pansy." She turned to him as she huffed out another breath of smoke.
"So you're new here." He was fishing for confirmation. Not information. Was there a brain behind those seductive brown eyes after all?
"Brand. I'm joining the senior class. See you around." She turned to walk off then and took a long, slow draw on the cigarette as she did so.
"Warren Peace," he said to her back.
She turned back momentarily. "Chaney Chai." An oriental American name—because she was half Japanese and all American. She glanced down at the papers in her hands. "Actually, could you tell me how to get to Power Placement?"
He didn't respond for a moment; just looked at her contemplatively. Then he gestured with his good hand—the one holding the cigarette. "Two buildings back. Just follow any kids that look nervous enough to piss their pants."
"'Kay. Thanks." She lifted her cig in farewell and left.
Warren Peace. The whole reason she was here. Chaney tossed the cigarette in the first garbage can she came across and exhaled the last of the smoke. Honestly, she didn't like that feeling in her lungs, but she preferred subtle introductions to brazen manhunts.
She was walking up the front steps when she felt it. Goosebumps trailed down her arms, and she slowed.
Eight years of feild experience told her someone was watching. Chaney asked a passing student for directions, and glanced around under the cover of being lost. She saw no one.
Interesting. Chaney thanked the student and moved into the halls, still watching for any sign of a stalker. Hey - she was a feild agent. It was a habit.
She followed Warren's directions and walked in on a test for the freshmen, whose coach was trying to discover useful abilities. She nearly walked right back out, but the posing quarterback-type on the center stage was one of those sights that are so horrifying you can't look away.
What the hell was he doing? Were those…ice cream cones he was making?
"That's your power?" The coach asked, in what sounded like an incredulous voice.
The posing looker—roughly 5'10" (Chaney's height), probably not finished growing yet, and built with muscle to spare—didn't hear the tone. He just grinned at the girls in the audience, and tossed one of them an ice cream cone. Chaney grimaced. He was good looking, but not that good looking.
The Coach sighed and called for the test. A giant fist came down from the ceiling, and the guy froze himself. He turned into a crystal man and then reached up to catch the giant fist.
He broke. Into a thousand crystallized pieces. Chaney had to work to keep the laughter repressed as the coach assigned him to sidekick class.
Next up was a real winner. He was a four-foot tall midget who could lift four hundred pounds and perform numerous calisthenics. The midget was assigned to the superhero class—making Chaney groan (if this was the standard of superheroes, how on earth was the world staying saved?).
She didn't pay attention to the next three. She had some vague impression of metal and then the ability to screech loud enough to break glass. Or something like that. It wasn't until a pitiful pyro kinetic wannabe stepped up that she gave any notice. But…he was pathetic. He could basically smoke, and that was it. Nothing like the abilities her target was developing.
"Chaney Chai." The coach bellowed then. He was getting irritated at the lack of skill. Or at least, Chaney was, and she assumed that was his problem too.
She raised her hand. "Here."
He waved her up. "Well hurry up, princess." He sneered. "We don't have all day."
She hopped up on stage and waited.
"What's your power?" He demanded gruffly, which irritated her.
Good question. How to boil it down to something they wouldn't freak out at?
She shrugged finally. "Telekinetics," she said, and decided to show them. With a thought, a large steel rod that was as long as she was tall came flying at her from the back of the room. Her audience gasped and ducked as it swooped lower than was strictly necessary. Chaney didn't reach out for it, but set it down next to her foot and tilted it so that it was standing alone, mid-air, titled to one side as though she were holding it. Her hands, however were tucked into her folded arms. The audience oohhed and ahhed, and she had to fight the urge to show off.
The Coach was scowling at her now. "Fine. Your grades from the previous school are good enough for a last-year transfer, but normal grades don't count for much at Sky High." He looked up at her, his face a mask of irritation. "So, Princess Butternut, I guess you're just going to have to prove you have enough control and experience with your powers to get out of the first three years. But I don't go easy, so I'll give you a choice. Enter freshman year now, or take the test and probably fail it. Your choice."
Chaney grinned. Maybe she'd only show off just a teeny little bit.
She picked up her steel rod and with another thought started warping it. The sound of screeching, groaning metal filled the room and everyone covered their ears and squinted their eyes against the offensive sound. Most of them didn't see the shape Chaney was making until she dropped the steel rod at Coach Boom's feet, tied in a pretty little bow.
"I'll take the test." Chaney said.
The fist came down again, and from somewhere to the right a cannon fired. To the left, a wall of flame suddenly rushed forward, eager to engulf her. From somewhere else, a truck was hurled at her.
…That was it? This was her senior year test? Chaney felt a little crestfallen. The standards had really fallen.
The audience ducked to avoid all the danger. Several gasps escaped everyone, and a few of the girls screamed. The coach stood looking smug—though his grin faded when the truck whipped around and changed its path. It slammed into the fist, shattering the huge tool, and then upended itself to block her from the fire. The cannonball stopped inches from her head and hung, suspended and still.
"Senior Hero." Coach Boom ground out, and Chaney smiled before she skipped down the steps.
"Yes sir." She headed out the door to go get her schedule.
The hall was crowded. Students were milling through like a herd of mindless cattle, mooing and bumping together. Chaney grimaced inwardly, and ventured out into it.
She had only gone a few feet though, when the touch of a passing student sent a chill down her back.
Now, Chaney did not like being touched. Childhood scars…social indelicacy, personality flaw…whatever it was, she did not like being touched. In the crowd, there were dozens of students pressing past her in a hurry. There was little opportunity to take in faces before one person was gone and another person filled that place. Chaney was either brushed past or shoved out of the way. She watched the people that passed her, trying to guess if there were others here like her, but when she felt that other shoulder brush hers, she whirled. A hand had trailed down her side and over her hip, but in among the masses it was impossible to see who had done it.
She had a feeling it wasn't just some jock looking for a grope either. Who else was covering this place? She was going to have to be more careful.
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A/N - Oh yeah, I guess I should warn you that this is going to be a long story. If you eventually get attached, let me know. It may make a difference.
