Chibiyu: So…how to fit in Macy and Stella?
Nick: I have an idea.
Chibiyu: Really?
Nick: Have then torture me.
Chibiyu: *not amused*
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The girl shrugged at the begrudged greeting, leaning against Nick in a way that was sure to annoy Tom Lucas further. "McDonalds was closed. Got any food?"
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"Florice caused more damage than we thought," said a blonde as she turned around. Her dark eyes were fixated on the wreckage of a once great skyscraper, sighing when she saw inside the walls. "This building won't last another day," she commented, other Heroes rushing to evacuate the area. They trusted the blonde in heels, knowing that she would have seen through the brick and noticed the full extent of the bent support beams and cracked foundation beneath. "Millions of dollars will have to be spent to fix this."
A small brunette stepped forward, a scowl heavy on her lips. "Stella," she called, the blonde turning to face her. "Cascadea wasn't the only Villain fighting Florice." More of the Heroes turned to face the smaller female, worry lining their brows. "I can feel the presence of death. Talis was here as well…but it's strange," she paused, eyes going distant for a moment. "She was here to watch and not fight. Her malice…it feels as if she was readying herself; watching who fell victim to death in order to use them to her advantage at a later time."
"That's scary, Macy. Are you sure?" The one called Stella asked.
Macy only nodded her head, lips thin in distress. "Only three lived. How can someone be so evil?"
"Because she thinks her actions are correct." A new voice entered, causing the two girls to jump and turn. Stella, who was in turquoise heels, stumbled slightly.
"Mr. Lucas!" The two friends smiled in greeting and walked over, trying to read the look of discontent on the man's young face.
"How's Nick?" Macy questioned, knowing of her friend's pain from following Florices' vine's path.
The man sighed, but there was some relief coating his hardened eyes. "He's fine, thank God." The girl's allowed their shoulders to relax and small smiles to form. "It was close, but Nurse came through."
"And Eric and Brianna?" It was Stella's turn to inquire.
The father nodded, looking over to where Ray stood, her ivory mask covering everything but her dark hair and light brown eyes. "They're both safe." He turned towards Macy and her partner. The older boy was hiding in her shadow, intimated by the man in front of him. In his hands lay a single petal, white and nearly perfect. "Any luck with finding her, Allegeilist?"
"No, sir," the boy with thick black glasses replied. "She is adept at hiding, but she will not avoid Knightess and I for much longer." Macy, displeased with her Hero name, crossed her arms. She took the moment to readjust her simple dark green mask, before sticking out her tongue.
"I doubt she will. Now, Macy and Regales, back to work." The two scurried off, one with a petal and one with a scowl. "Stella," the blonde looked away from the dirt stain on her friend's back, nearly flinching when she saw the look in Tom Lucas's eyes. "Are any of her roots still underground?"
"No." Her answer was immediate. "The first thing I did was look underground for them. We're safe for now."
The Hero known as Armoro nodded. "Keep on watch for activity. If there is an attack tonight, we may be shorthanded."
Stella looked up and rolled her eyes. "Frankie's having fun."
Tom's eyes followed hers, sighing heavily when he saw that she was right. "He needs to be aware."
Stella shrugged, knowing the boy zooming above their heads was smarter than his actions presented. "Give him time; he's still just a kid. And besides, I bet Nick will have some logic hammered into his head before Frankie's next birthday."
"Whose head am I hammering?"
"Nick!" Stella bolted over, tackling her curly-haired friend with a hug. She heard him chuckle lightly and knew it was forced, but didn't care when he hugged her back. "How are you feeling?" She pulled away, studying his face. It was her turn to scowl when she saw the unhealthy hue of his skin and the dark circles under his eyes. "You!" Nick's brothers had been flanking behind him, jumped as Stella's finger landed on them. "How could you let him outside like this?"
"It's my fault," Stella's face faltered for a moment, not used to Nick redirecting the blame unto himself. "I wanted to see."
"But why?" The blonde did not understand why her friend would want to see the damage he so narrowly escaped from. It would not do well for his dreams.
Nick shrugged, not really answering. "I just felt like I needed too." A vague answer, it was something Stella had expected from the younger Lucas. For a moment she watched his eyes scan the chaotic scene, stopping briefly on an alleyway, before he looked back at his brothers.
"You guys may be needed. I'll be ok." But both shook their heads at this, taking a step closer so they were on either side of him. Nick swallowed passed a lump in his throat before sighing, trying to hide both his gratefulness and irritation. His attention was quickly directed elsewhere when a bird zipped down and landed bravely on his shoulder. He risked sending the feathered girl a smile. Stella, being smart enough to not question the oddity, just shook her head.
"Joe, actually, you are needed to help move a beam. Some people are trapped inside an apartment complex." Said brother groaned at this, but stepped aside at Nick's nod. He followed his on-and-off girlfriend, casting a few looks back to make sure everything was still ok. All Nick did was roll his eyes.
Macy walked over, Regales trailing behind her like normal. She explained something to Kevin, saying his help would benefit the search. He reluctantly gave in. Kevin's hand grasped Nick's arm and pulled him along, but he let go when Paragon pecked his finger lightly.
"It got this," she whispered, flicking her head for Kevin to follow. "You can trust me with him." Kevin looked the bird in its eyes and felt the truth behind her statement. He nodded, vowing to not let the two out of his sight.
Nick, however, had other plans. As soon as Kevin's back was turned, he stepped back slowly. His mind was barred from all; Kevin could not sense him and his mother could not pick up on his intentions. Paragon seemed antsy at his movement, fluttering back into the air and trying to divert him.
"Hush," he caught her gently and gave her a small glare. "I have to see."
"Don't!" He was unsurprised that the Villain knew of his intentions. "Please, Nick, just let it go." At these words, Nick looked to the faint burn on his hand, tracing the curve lightly.
"I can't."
"Why can't you?"
"I can't let it fall into the wrong hands. If it is still down there, then we have to find it and return it to the Resting Place Florice mentioned."
Paragon, not finding an ample argument, grew silent, though the flutter of wings showed her anxiety. Nick found the path with ease and was soon staring into the mouth of the old subway tunnel. The smell of moist air had his skin crawling and the lump in his throat returned as fear. The Normal took a deep breath and walked forward. Florice would be long gone from this tunnel and all of the roots she laid would have been frozen by Cascadea. He knew he was safe, but he couldn't shake the terror.
And he still walked. Soon the light from above faded. Glass crunched beneath his feet and his path was scarcely illuminated by the flickering of light bulbs. The only sound was the tinkle of the broken shards he stepped on. Even Paragon had stilled her movements. Nick stopped when the girl hopped off his shoulder and returned to human form. She took his hand and led him on, head high and ears perked up. Nick had to smile at her protective stance, knowing that he had made a good choice with befriending her.
His eyes scanned the bars he had been held behind with utmost distaste, the memories of the scared faces he had been with floated into view. He closed his eyes and moved on. Paragon tugged his hand, leading him with speed towards the desired spot. They both stopped, looking at their feet and unable to speak.
"It's gone."
"What is?"
Villain and Normal both jumped at the new voice, neither having heard her approach.
"N-nothing, Talis."
"Talis, was there a pendant here?" Paragon shot Nick a dirty look at his question, but she was ignored.
Talis stepped into the light, looking up at the Normal teen with curiosity. She was a sorry sight: her brown hair was plastered to her face and nearly gray with grease. Her skin was coated in dirt and scum and her clothes were tattered and stained.
"No," the young girl said, titling her head to the side as she regarded them both. "Did you lose it?"
Paragon's grip on Nick's hand never wavered, especially when the young man tried to step closer towards the young Villain. "Not really. Florice had dropped it earlier and I was hoping it would help Allegeilist search for her."
Talis took a step back and shook her head again. "No pendant." The girl turned, but Nick gently called her back. Much to the Shifter's dismay, Nick took off her fuzzy black sweater and offered it to the young orphan. Talis's eyes flashed with distrust, her fingers twitching in a way that would have anyone backing up from the unspoken threat, but Nick stayed kneeling. The sweater was in his outstretched hands. He didn't move and he didn't speak.
The girl eventually stepped forward and swiped the jacket away before darting off, her footsteps as silent as the death that followed her.
"Are you mad?" Paragon rounded on Nick, shoving his chest. "If you pissed her off then we would both be dead!"
Nick shrugged, giving Para a knowing smile, knowing that it would annoy her. "But I didn't piss her off." He stood and brushed off his pants, wavering slightly as the light bulb above them gave out. "She's just a girl, Para. Small and scared and looking for a little care." He said no more. He just turned and looped his arm through his friend's before heading back out of the tunnel.
"Do you thing she telling the truth about the Four?"
Nick looked to his hand, aware that it had never stopped burning from the encounter. "Yeah, I think she was." He was silent for a moment, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. "Come on, Joe and Kevin will kill us both when they see we're gone."
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Chibiyu: Short because I have other things to write. Until Next Update!
Written on 12/23/11