Disclaimer: I do not own Sky High or any original characters.

Liquid Glass

When Warren could finally go back to school, he had had three sessions with Dr. Iverson and was feeling remarkably better. He had caught up to the curriculum and was a lesson ahead of the class. Which was why he was smiling as he got off the bus at school.

Then he realized that he was smiling for the whole school to see and quickly changed his expression and buried himself in his book. The gang had already closed up around him and he turned away from them and continued on his way. People who he had never talked to greeted him and welcomed him back to school. He scowled back at them. Just because I'm having counseling doesn't mean that I'm happy-skippy.

He made a point of brooding in every class so that people can see that he hasn't changed at all. Mr. Medula even asked Warren to write the formula of Kerugular Ocutane (that he had learnt the previous day) on the board and he stared at Medula as if he had a second head growing out of his already bulbous cranium.

At lunch he growled when his friends neared him and told them to get lost. They grinned happily and took their laughter to a nearby table. Will had explained to them about Warren's predicament.

It was after lunch when the trouble started. Warren had just put his books in his locker when he felt an ominous tap on his shoulder. He didn't turn around, just leaned against his locker and groaned inwardly. He admitted to himself that they were bound to try their luck with him sometime in the future. He had just hoped it wasn't today.

Another tap. He grabbed the arm and held on for dear life.

He yanked the hand closer and slowly started to roast it in his other hand.

Somewhere down the passage a yelp was heard and Warren let go. Hopefully that put them off.

It didn't. Lash and Speed blocked his way when he turned around. He regarded them with a neutral expression as he leaned back against his locker.

"Hey, guys. Glad to see I'm back?" Warren said and scrutinized his nails.

"Yeah. Now we have someone more challenging to beat, hey Speed?"

"Yeah," Lash's partner-in-crime echoed.

"Yeah. You, us and Stronghold, gym, today."

"Let's hope you can take a hit this time, hothead." Warren shifted his gaze to Speed, who was canning himself at his own joke, inclining his body against the locker next to Warren's. He shook his head sadly. Small things amuse small minds. Suddenly he couldn't resist anymore.

Quick as a flash he yanked his locker door open and bashed Speed's head against it. Speed stumbled back, clutching at his head. People around them started sniggering.

Warren closed his locker door and sighed with annoyance.

"Man, Speed, look what you've done. Now there's a huge dent in my locker." His eyes flashed at Lash who looked ready to take him on alone, but he hesitated when he saw the fire igniting in Warren's eyes.

People were laughing fully now as Warren walked away, unsmiling.

Yes. He was back.

Warren sat in the bleachers, ready to stand up if his name was called. He knew it was coming.

During the three weeks that Warren was absent, Lash and Speed had taken up the reigning champion belt again. Which meant they could beat up whoever they choose again. Warren bristled again and wondered angrily why they let the two bullies back into Sky High. Or why they didn't change the rules. There were so many things that annoyed Warren about the school. At least it was only half a year left…

"We choose… Stronghold and Peace!"

A ripple went through the crowd as Warren's name was called. He's back?

There were many rumors flying around school crediting the reason why Warren Peace suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth. The craziest one Warren had heard that day was that he had run away and was now somewhere in Cuba, smoking dope and selling rum to pensioners. He actually laughed when Will told him.

"Welcome back, Hothead," Coach Boomer called as Warren walked onto the floor. Warren muttered something and scowled at Lash and Speed. Will jogged up behind him and they quickly discussed a plan. Nodding to Boomer, they got into position and waited for the signal to start.

BEEP

Lash immediately formed a cage around the civilian with his body and Speed went straight for Warren, dodging around the floor to make a difficult target. But this time Warren was ready.

As soon as Speed was close enough, Warren powered up and slowed down his heart rate. Just a little trick he learnt from old Uncle Henry. Nothing super-powered. Doing this made him more alert and quicker to respond to stimuli. Anyone could do it if they really set their mind to it. Breathing as slow as possible, he launched a fireball right onto his feet. With the floor around Warren burning, Speed couldn't come close enough to create a vacuum. As soon as Speed hesitated, he struck.

A fireball landed in Speed's path, tripping him and sending him flying into the barrier. Warren stole a quick glance in Will's direction. He was easily flinging Lash back and forth, obviously enjoying himself.

"Stronghold, you can play later, get the citizen NOW!" Warren yelled. Will shrugged, flung Lash aside, grabbed the citizen in a flying leap and lay her down carefully. He grinned at Warren and only a received a "We'll talk later" glare for his efforts.

"Looks like your winning streak is OVER, LOSERS!" Boomer laughed to himself as the bell rung.

Will invited everyone over to his house for a celebration "study session" in honor of Warren. Warren just sighed and took a shower as soon as they were home.

"Come on, Warren, hurry up." Zack stood outside the bathroom door, begging Warren to show him the mind trick. Silence came from the other side of the door.

"Warren? Are you in there?" Zack cocked his head and listened again. Suddenly the door was yanked open and he stumbled.

"You saw me go in, weirdo." Warren gave him a strange look and came out, smelling like the ocean. Zack told him that. Warren laughed and called him a spazz.

"I have to work tonight. I can't go smelling like a wet dog."

"Show me."

"No. It's my secret."

"Please?" Magenta looked up when they entered the living room. She, as well as Ethan, was fascinated with the new trick. Warren groaned and stretched himself out on the couch.

"I have less than half an hour before I have to go. Just let me rest for a while, okay?"

Ethan eyed Warren suspiciously.

"How do we know it's not a new power?" he said and stuffed his mouth with popcorn.

"Because it's not!" Warren threw his hands up in exasperation and turned onto his side to glare at his friends. They stared back at him disbelievingly.

"We never know with you, Warren," Magenta accused and pulled the bowl closer.

"Yeah," Zack echoed, then changed the subject. He hated awkward silences. Magenta thrived on them. "So, you're going to the Paper Lantern tonight?"

"Yes. I haven't seen the Wongs in a while." Warren frowned and tried to remember when last he had seen them. It must have been the night before…

Warren cleared his head and stood up, greeting everybody a little stiffly and called to Mrs. Stronghold that he was leaving. She called back, asking if he needed a lift, but he declined and said he would prefer walking.

He liked walking. It helped him to think about things more clearly and the cool night breeze refreshed him as he strolled to work. It was a quiet night and the restaurant wasn't very full for a Wednesday. Yet he was kept busy by the waiters ordering him around and asking him to check their tables on a quick smoke break. He didn't smoke, it was a vile habit and he knew what it did to a person's lungs. But he didn't mind. He enjoyed being back into the environment where everyone was always blaming things gone wrong on the busboy. That is how he grew up. Being a busboy. Mr. Wong had asked him if he wanted a promotion the first night he worked after his sixteenth birthday, but he flustered and refused. Afterwards, he felt guilty because the extra money would mean a lot to his mother. He always had to implicate his mother in all the decisions he made.

He was walking back when he realized that something was out of place. At first he thought the dreaded thoughts had come back again, but this felt different. He glanced behind him, but there was no one there. There was no other person in sight. He tried to shake the strange feeling, asking himself who would be dumb enough to pick a fight with someone who looked like he had just stepped out of a biker bar. But the awkward prickling between his shoulder blades refused to be quelled.

He whirled around, powering up and surveying the street behind him. There was no one there.

"Show yourself!" Warren shouted into the darkness. His own illumination didn't penetrate very far, but where the darkness became light at the edge of his radius, a slight undulation could be seen. At first Warren thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, but then the ripple became more intense and the breeze quickly became a gale force threatening to blow him off his feet. He hunched down to prevent that from happening and kept his glare on the patch of air that began advancing slowly towards him.

Instinctively he launched a volley of flames at the area, still not knowing what the hell it was. His blaze did absolutely nothing to the patch and he was starting to stress. What the hell is this thing?

Fear turned into anger as self-preservation set in and he felt his body strengthen automatically as he carried on blasting the space. Torrent after torrent of fire crashed through the air and he only ended up scorching the wall on the opposite side of the street.

Warren stopped, gasping for breath. The fire died down on his arms. Blazing away at the thing was only wasting his energy and he decided to keep it cool, at least until the thing actually threatened his life. He was slowly backing up into the wall, but he could still escape to both sides of the street.

With his back finally pressed against the brick and the wind whipping at his hair and clothes, Warren felt like he was standing in the middle of a cyclone. Pieces of stone and grit hit him in the face, stinging his eyes.

With nothing else to do, he charged forward, right into the heart of the ripple.

He seemed to hit a steel wall, because after less than two steps he found himself falling backwards into the brick wall at his back, his shoulder aching for a second before the pain disappeared. The wind had faded and all that was left was a gust that blew continuously at his face.

Slowly Warren stood up and marveled at the thing in front of him. At his touch, small wavelets converged back and forth. He could see right through it like glass, the wall on the other side rippling as he tapped at it in wonder. It felt cold and solid and his mind whirled as it tried to comprehend the thing.

"Like my toy?" Warren whirled to his right. A girl a little older than him with platinum blonde hair leaned against the wall. She held nothing in her hands and her arms were folded. Her expression was completely blank.

"What is it?" Warren asked, his voice quiet with suspicion.

"It's liquid glass." Warren must have looked utterly confused at this point, because a slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"What?"

The girl's hint of a smile disappeared and she stepped closer. Warren backed into another wall on his left and his elbow throbbed for an instant before he willed the discomfort away.

"Let me explain something to you." Her eyes flashed with icy fire and her voice dripped with venom. "I only came here for one reason. That was to warn you. But tonight I feel different. I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you how I did that, if you tell me why you stick around with mere mortals who know nothing about you!"

Warren stood silently and let the girl's harsh voice die down. He could either blast through her and make a break for it, or he could try to reason and learn her secret. He decided the latter would be the easiest and safest. If her wall could withstand the fire, it was obvious that she could too.

"Deal." Warren waited for her to spill, then observed that she was waiting for him.

"They're the only friends I have. Besides, they know me better than you do."

Her eyebrows rose. "I doubt it."

He waited patiently. After about five minutes of staring at each other with mutual distrust, she sighed and turned her back on him.

"I'm a form-shifter like you friend Ethan. That's my kidney and appendix you were poking."

"That's impossible."

"That's manipulation." She swung back, her dark eyes flashing dangerously. "If I exploited my body to its fullest extent, I could probably cover about a hectare. I would also probably kill myself in the process." The hatred in her voice reminded him of himself a few months ago.

"Jeez." Warren gaped at her for a while. Who is she angry at? Me?

"Can we get back to the point of this visit?"

"What about the wind?"

"I don't know where that came from. I haven't been able to manipulate it. It's just there for effect."

"You mean you didn't do it?" Warren glanced around worriedly. Why do I feel so weird around this girl?

"No, I did it. I mean it's probably just strange genes. You most likely have the same." Suddenly she clamped her mouth shut, having said too much.

"I shouldn't be here. I've just brought a warning. Be on guard." She smiled suddenly, a cold, sneering smile. "Goodbye, Warren."

Then, suddenly, she was gone. The scorch marks on the wall were the only thing to remind Warren that the strange meeting ever took place.

There. Four chapters in a row. Enjoy it? Tell me all about it.

Reg