Chapter 1.
"Peace, you gonna get your stuff and get out of here or should I call 'em up and ask for another five years?" the burly man asked as he leaned casually against the counter.
I looked back at the man, an amused smirk sliding onto my face before I could stop it. "That's alright," I began and slid my things into the large brown envelope on the counter. I closed it up before looking back, "You're not a bad guy Henry- but I can't say I ever want to see you again."
He laughed loudly, the deep sound nearly shaking the ground. Then it stopped just as suddenly as it had started. "I don't wanna see you again either Peace- keep yourself out of trouble alright?"
"Can't help it if trouble finds me," I replied quickly and then shook my head, "But I'll do my best. See you." With that I turned and left, shrugging into my leather jacket as I turned my back on the corridor that led down to the jail cells. It felt strange to be walking away from the prison, in clothes I hadn't worn for ages.
For the first time in five years I was able to face the doors that led out. For the first time in five years I could walk to those doors and open them up. For the first time in five years I could walk outside the walls and stand under the sky as a free man. It should have felt strange- but it didn't. I felt like I'd woken up after sleeping for a long time. But this was before I'd see this new world- before I'd realized that everything was different now.
"Warren! Warren! Over here!" someone was shouting.
I turned and smiled genuinely, the first time I could remember doing so in years, "What are you doing here Stronghold?"
I watched him, looked him over slowly, eyes probing to pick up any changes. He still had the same boyish grin as he stood, leaning against his car, but there were differences too. He was wearing his hair shorter, his clothes were more business-like and he had a pair of black-rimmed glasses on. Even his body had changed, I noticed as I slowly walked over. We both knew that he had more strength than anybody in the world but now he was finally beginning to look like he actually had some muscle.
I stopped in front of him, pleased to note that I was still a few inches taller.
"I came to pick you up," Will finally answered, with the same easy-going grin as he looked me over- examining like I had examined him.
I wondered what he would see. Even without seeing a mirror in five years I knew some obvious ways that I'd look different. I moved a hand to my head at the thought and scratched idly. My hair was gone- replaced by a short buzz cut that was the standard for prisoners. I'd grown a couple inches- the last ever I was sure, and my face was thinner. Of course the most noticeable difference was the one he was staring at right then.
"Knife fight?" Will asked, not gulping nervously like he might have if we were back in high school. His tone of voice was concerned, curious, but not frightened or intimidated. He'd grown up, and the thought made me feel very strange.
"This?" I asked, knowing very well what he was talking about. I moved my index finger along the thin, but slightly jagged scar that ran from my right cheekbone to my chin. "Someone got a hold of a piece of glass," I explained, shrugging it off and hoping he wouldn't worry about everything that'd happened in the past, "It's nothing."
He nodded, "Nothing," he mimicked and laughed slightly. Turning, he patted the passenger side door of the dark blue convertible, "Ready to go?"
"Sure," I replied and got in while he walked around to the other side. I was glad not to have faced any probing questions…yet. "Nice car," I offered while he started the engine, "Real estate business going well then?"
"Yup," he answered quickly and then turned to give me a sheepish look as he pulled out onto the road. "It's pretty boring actually, but it's not bad."
"As long as you have your other work," I concluded for him, looking out the window as the prison grew smaller and smaller. The slight wilderness surrounding the road as we drove didn't look any different then when I'd first come. Of course, back then I'd only caught glimpses. My transportation had been much less stylish than Stronghold's car.
"Layla has dinner all planned- she's not going to take no for an answer, so no use trying to get out of it. She's already invited the gang over."
I clenched my fists slightly, crumpling the corner of the envelope still in my hand. "That sucks."
"She just wanted to do something nice."
"Making everyone feel awkward by making them play nice to man just out of jail isn't exactly what I call nice," I responded gruffly- though in my head I was thinking that it might be good to see everyone again…almost everyone that was. "I'm not going."
"You have to Warren- besides she'll just take it out on me you know," he glanced over at me, "You don't want me to suffer because you couldn't just sit and enjoy dinner with some old friends?"
I maintained stony silence.
"It'll be small- just us and Zach and Magenta. Ethan went to India last year to chase after Malati," he went on to say. I knew he was trying to reassure me with who wouldn't be there.
"The multi-language chick?" I asked, knowing the answer but wanting to distract him anyway.
"Yeah- you know, Quincy's friend."
"Where's Quincy now then?" The question was gruff too, though I didn't mean for it to be. Smalltalk was never easy for me- but to keep from awkward silences I could give it a try, even if that meant leading the conversation closer to something neither of us wanted to talk about.
"She transferred to New York City after she found out Taylor was going to Boston. It was the closest assignment—she's not ready to give up on him yet I guess. Maiden Force had broken up anyway, so she's working with some other team there."
I nodded slowly, only half-listening to his explanations. We both lapsed into silence. I knew he was trying to think of a way to broach a different topic. I also knew that in the end he'd just leave it unsaid. After all, we both knew Layla would probably interrogate me to death over dinner anyway.
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, noting the stubble there. "I know you offered to let me live with you- but I'm going to find an apartment."
"You can stay with us until then at least. Layla isn't going to let you say no."
"Wouldn't want to ruin your wife's plans," I replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, please don't," he answered jokingly, "She might cry."
"She might cry," Henry had said, grabbing my arm as I'd tried to pass. "She might cry again- that's pretty pathetic to make your wife cry like that, don't you think?"
I shrugged him off and joined the others in line for food. I was out of solitary after a week and was almost glad to see the worn faces of the villains around me- all imprisoned for some criminal act. Most of them were villain sidekicks who couldn't be charged with crimes serious enough to be sent to the maximum security building.
Henry had followed me into line, not caring about the glares that the inmates were giving him. There wasn't much to worry about- after all, many of them were pathetic as long as they had the power-draining cuff attached to their ankles.
"I'm not going to watch her cry again Peace. I don't know what your problem is, but at least go tell her it's over alright. Tell her to stop coming yourself. She won't believe it if it's just me telling her."
I closed my eyes and sighed before stepping out of line. I looked at the burly man with an annoyed expression. "I'm not going- I don't care what you tell her."
"If you want to break it off then be a man and go talk to her."
"Tell her I'll see her next time," I said after a minute and looked away from Henry's eyes. I knew anyway that he'd look shocked. "I can have a visit again in two weeks. Tell her to come then."
"Alright," he managed to mutter as I went back to the line.
The memory ended as swiftly as it had come. I scratched my cheek with agitation and tried to concentrate on the passing scenery. We'd finally arrived in the suburbia surrounding Maxville. Though there were some new developments I recognized the area right away. In twenty minutes we'd be back in the old neighborhood, thirty minutes could take us to the old part of town where the Paper Lantern was, assuming they were still in business.
"You have a cigarette?" I asked Will suddenly.
He smirked, "I knew you'd ask," he said triumphantly with the goofy grin and reached over to open a compartment. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and threw it at me. "I picked them up before I came, but enjoy one now because Layla would kill me if I let you smoke while you're staying with us."
I managed a smirk and took a cigarette out. Will kept driving with that silly grin and I was almost sad to ruin the moment.
"You have a lighter?" I asked, my gut twisting at the question.
"Oh," Will's smile fell like I knew it would. "Sorry- I didn't think of picking one up. I totally forgot about- forgot that-"
I shook my head and put the cigarette back in, "Don't freak Stronghold, it's alright. Parole measures suck-"
"Does it hurt? I mean, don't they inject you with something?"
"It wasn't bad, it's just like the power draining cuff- but inside your body," I explained lamely, "Mine will wear off in a month and then I can light up again if I've been a good boy."
"What do they judge that by?" Will asked with a laugh, "You might be without fire the rest of your life depending on their standards."
"Yeah," I answered pensively, forcing a smirk. I watched as we turned into a neighborhood and drove to the Stronghold's house. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood- because it was the only one that had landscaping specifically designed to save the environment. No grass- and only 'useful' plants, but it looked great nonetheless. I supposed it helped to have someone like Layla in charge of that.
"You ready?" Will asked as he pulled into the driveway and parked.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
