A/N: Sorry it's taken so long for me to update!

Warren was first to awake. As his eyes adjusted, he scanned his surroundings. He couldn't recognize the place. It's a room with white walls, covered in dirt and stains. There were no windows, just a wooden door across from him. Obviously an old place, probably abandoned. He rolled his eyes thinking typical villain.

He saw no one around guarding him. He was seated in a wooden chair with his limbs tied with rope. Man, whoever theses guys are, they're awfully stupid, he thought. He wasted no time and heated up his body until the ropes caught fire. He got up from the chair and stretched out. He wondered how long he'd been out.

Warren walked across the room and put his hand on the knob. "Good to see you're finally awake." Came a voice. The same voice he heard when he went to get Layla. Layla?

Warren spun around and took a fighting stance, "Where's Lay-?" He stopped talking when he noticed there was no one in the room.

"Don't worry, you're girlfriend is fine." It said with a chuckle.

"Where is she?" Warren hissed, searching around for anyone.

"Wouldn't you rather know where I am, Warren?" The voice said teasingly.

Warren remained silent, looking around carefully. Where was this voice coming from?

"What are you planning with us?" He demanded instead.

"Ugh. I already told you that. I need you to-"

"Why me?" Warren snapped.

"You're the only person I know with superpowers strong enough to do this." It explained.

"I'm not stron-"

"Who is willing to do it. You said it yourself, Peace, you're not a hero." It teased.

"I'm also not helping you. I may not be a hero but I'm also not a villain." He hissed.

"Let me guess. Vigilante?" It mocked.

Warren scowled. ...the only person I know with superpowers... Warren looked around again, still not seeing anyone and he already knew for sure the voice was inside the room, not coming from a speaker or anything. He smirked and backed away to the door, standing firmly in front of the knob.

"You've lost it, you know? Did you not think about the consequences if I were to figure out who you are?" Warren tested.

"I'm not worried about that. I know you're not the brightest." It teased.

"Well, neither are you... You're that invisible sidekick nerd." Warren stated with a wide grin. "And I'm frying your ass, you crazy son of a bitch." He said before igniting his arms.

"H-How!?" The voice said. Suddenly he revealed himself, not being able to hold the power in check.

"You gave yourself away. You know me, know about Sky High, know about Layla. It was too easy." Warren explained as he glared holes into the diminutive boy. "Not so easy when people can see you, huh?" He mocked.

"P-Please don't hurt me!" He yelped, wrapping his lanky arms around his head.

"I'm afraid that's not possible. You broke into my house, kidnapped Layla, attacked us, kidnapped us again and for added effect, you're mental." Warren said, cracking his knuckles. He strode his way to the small tanned boy with large glasses and headgear for braces. "Before I pummel you; where's Layla?" He asked as he lifted the boy off the ground by the shirt.

"I-I let her go! I wasn't gonna hurt her! What other way would I get you here?" He said as he shook like a leaf in Warren's hold.

Warren held a strong glare at the boy, a snarl on his face. He wanted nothing more than to pound him into the ground right now. He narrowed his eyes, "I'm taking you to Powers." He said, putting the guy on the ground and dragging him out by the shirt.

Outside another geek was waiting. He had a bandage over his nose and it was red around it, obviously burns.

"You. Minion. Get over here." Warren demanded, wiggling his finger at him.

The pale guy with braces glanced at the boy in Warren's hold who nodded frantically. The minion bowed his head and scurried over to Warren who quickly grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"Actually..." Warren said, getting a good idea all of a sudden. "I'm taking you somewhere else. Kind of like hell, only worse." He said with an evil smirk.

Warren knocked on a door and rung the bell as he held the two nerds by the shirt with the other hand. He patiently waited until the door was opened.

"Peace? What's going on?"

"These two kidnapped Layla. They lured me to a warehouse, they want me to help them take down the heroes. They're jealous sidekicks, not alright in the head." He explained quickly, wanting to get off this porch already.

"Wha- This is all a little farfetched, Warren."

Warren rolled his eyes and gave the two villain/sidekicks a good shake. They stumbled over their words, "I-It's true, Commander! We're sorry!" They both wailed, falling to their knees.

The Commander could tell they were telling the truth. He was shocked to know end. He looked at Warren with an expression showing his shock. "You mean to tell me you set out to save Layla from these two?" He asked.

Warren shrugged, deciding he'd brag a bit, "At the time I didn't know it was these two."

The Commander nodded absentmindedly as he thought about it.

"Well, I leave them in your care, I've got things to do." He said as he backed away and went down the steps.

"Hey, wait! Is Layla okay?" The Commander asked from the door as he picked up the two boys.

"Gonna find out." He said simply, not even looking back at the superhero.

The Commander shrugged, not understanding the mysterious hothead. He looked down at the feeble sidekicks with a frown. They both looked terrified and swallowed the lump in their throats. The Commander pushed them into the house.

"Honey, we have guests!" He called out to his wife who was in the kitchen cutting tomatoes. He chuckled when the two boys tensed under his hold.

Warren stood in front of his house, his hand hovering over the door knob. He readied himself of what may lay behind the door. He shuddered, Layla must be a mess. Poor girl. He sighed and walked in. Immediately he heard footsteps scurrying at the top of the stairs. He glanced in that direction and saw Layla leaning down to look at whoever had come in.

Her eyes immediately lit up and she ran down the stairs to meet him. She didn't take the last couple of steps and jumped instead, landing on him in a tight hug. She hooked her legs around his waist and squeezed him, relieved he was back and in one piece.

"Warren! Oh God, I was freaking out! What the hell happened?" She asked frantically but in a whisper.

He hugged her back tightly, enjoying the feeling after such a hectic day. He sighed into her neck and closed his eyes, just holding her there in his embrace. Who knew a hug could feel so good?

"Warren, are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

"Fine, just tired. You?" He asked, his voice low and tired.

"I'm okay, thanks to you." She said, giving him a smile he couldn't well see since his face was nuzzled into her neck. She blushed as she realized that.

"You would've been fine. It was just that invisible nerd that has some bolts missing in his head." He mumbled.

Layla was shocked speechless. Literally. After a few moments of silence and her thinking, "How did you find out?" She asked in awe.

"He gave himself away, dropped all the clues I needed." Warren explained simply. He finally put Layla down, not being able to handle her weight any longer, he was too tired. He grabbed her hand and pulled her upstairs with him. Layla quietly let him pull her along, wondering what he was doing.

Warren could barely keep his feet underneath him. He let go of Layla seconds before he dropped into his bed. He sighed heavily, all the weight of today crashing on him at once and then disappearing. Layla grimaced sadly as she watched the pained man. She gracefully climbed into the bed next to him, facing him with a small smile.

She found herself caught in his dark eyes and as soon as he cracked a smile at her, she melted away. She grinned at him as she pushed some stray strands of hair from his face back.

"Why does everything have to be so hectic?" Warren asked, sounding sad.

Layla sighed, "I ask myself the same question. We never get a break." She said with a sigh.

"Tell me about it. If it's not this, it's that. We need a break." He said. He turned onto his back to look up at the ceiling.

"Warren..." Layla said softly.

"Hm?"

"You're leaving Sky High now..." She stated sadly. "Graduated. Gone."

Warren chuckled, knowing what she was getting at. "Don't worry, I'll still sneak in to visit you." He teased.

Layla would have protested, saying it would be too dangerous and he would get caught but she knew nothing she would say will ever change his mind about anything. She smiled instead, "You better." She teased back.

"Besides, I need the nerds to bully." He added.

"Jerk!" She said with a playful punch to his bicep. "You're not a bully, Warren." She giggled. Layla blushed as the next words left her lips, "You're just a hotheaded bad boy." She said foxily but in mock tone.

"You love me that way." He teased, turning his head to look at her with a grin on his face.

"Guilty." Layla said with a chuckle. "But that's between us, Peace."

"Whatever you say, Hippie." He said, turning his head back to face the ceiling.

"Your boss called earlier..." Layla said moments after. She instantly felt when Warren tensed. She glanced at his face to see the tight scowl that marred his perfect face.

Warren sighed heavily and sat up, moving to get off the bed but Layla grabbed his wrist. Warren tensed and twisted around to face her with a confused expression.

"Don't go." She said. No whisper, no mumble, no stutter. She asked of him to stay firmly. She looked at him with pleading eyes that darted over his features as she waited for his response.

"Why not? You know I could lose my job." He said seriously.

"While you were gone, I went to the Paper Lantern to talk with your boss. I told him you were really sick." She said sheepishly. Warren stared at her in disbelief. He didn't know Layla lied. "I volunteered to fill in your shift and I got a free order. There's takeout in the fridge. I thought we could maybe watch a movie or two." She suggested, her voice low and nervous by the end.

Warren was shocked and overjoyed. He fell back into the bed and turned to face her with a serious expression on his face, "We could definitely watch a movie or two." He said, his voice nothing over a rumble in his chest, and he cracked her a grin. He absentmindedly expected the blush that now crept into her cheeks.

Layla smiled excitedly. "Cool. You hungry?" She asked. Warren raised an eyebrow at her and enough was said. "Right. Well, come on." She said, hopping off the bed and going around to his side. She grabbed his arm and helped him sit up. "Move it, Pyro!" She teased, yanking on his arm.

Warren swallowed a groan and stood up, letting her drag him downstairs. As he took the steps, he noticed what she was wearing. Definitely not what he last saw her in. She was in a comfy looking dress with a thin belt around her waist, presenting the curves that he oddly enough liked very much. He looked down at what he was wearing and grimaced. His clothes were filthy and... well, he looked like he just came back from World War III and then some.

"You can pick out the movie while I heat up the food, okay?" Layla said as she parted from him and walked into the kitchen.

"You really wanna watch a movie?" Warren asked, following her into the kitchen and sitting on one of the stools of the island counter.

"Why? You don't?" Layla asked, turning to face him.

"Not really. I don't think I'd pay attention." He admitted with a shrug.

"Well, do you have board games?" She suggested as she turned to attend the food.

Warren gave her an incredulous but she wouldn't see it, "Do I honestly look like the kind of guy to have board games? Who would I play with?" He said, marking his incredulous expression from earlier.

"Well, there's solitaire."

"Solitaire? Are you making fun of me, Layla?" Warren asked her skeptically.

"Not intentionally, no. Well, what do you suggest we do?" She asked as she turned to set their late night dinner on the counter.

"Have you heard anything from Stronghold lately?" He asked, seemingly out of the blue, but he's been wanting to ask for a while.

Layla grimaced and shook her head, "No, not really. Not a thing. Have you?" She asked, sitting across from him.

"I ran into him the other day." He admitted as he dug into his food.

"Oh?" Layla asked. Warren could hear the mixture of emotions laced in her tone.

"Relax, we only talked." He grumbled, lying through his teeth.

"About?" Layla asked curiously but demanding.

"Well... about him bugging you." Warren said softly, hoping she wouldn't freak.

Layla scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Well, that must have gone smoothly." She said sarcastically. "I told you, you don't have to confront him about that, everything is under control." Layla scolded.

"If I hadn't had a talk with him, he'd be on your heels right now." Warren defended.

"I doubt it-"

"We fought." Warren said exasperatedly.

"What!?" Layla wailed incredulously.

"Don't freak out." Warren grumbled, poking his food with the wooden chopsticks.

"How can I not freak out, Warren? You're telling me you got into a fight with Will! Why would you do that?" Layla scolded angrily.

"Look, I was just trying to set the record straight." He said, trying to keep his temper in check. The last thing he wanted right now was for Layla to get mad at him.

"You could have gotten in trouble!" She said.

Warren lifted his head to look at her. He ran his hand through his hair to get it out of his face. He furrowed his brows and cocked his head, leaning on his arms on the counter. "You're worried about me getting in trouble?" He asked out loud. He was mostly wondering to himself.

Layla imitated his posture and leaned on the counter. "Why would you even ask that?" She asked in return.

Warren looked away from her eyes and clenched his jaw. He was going to have to accept the fact that she worried about him, that she cared, that she considered him a friend. Of course she would worry. He sighed, letting go of the edgy attitude he always carried, keeping him on guard. He decided he could drop it for, with her.

He turned his head to face her again and his gaze was caught by something he wasn't used to seeing from her. He furrowed his eyebrows, dumbstruck.

"Thank you for sticking up for me, Warren, but I don't want you getting into fights with Will over something so stupid. One of you will get hurt and then I'll feel responsible for it. Can you... just... What!?" Layla asked exasperatedly when she couldn't take his silent staring anymore.

She scowled and tried to follow his gaze. She looked at her food which seemed uninteresting. She looked down and her eyes widened. He couldn't be... Layla glanced up at him again just to make sure and then back down. Her face went beet red as she shifted awkwardly and discreetly pulled her top up to cover her cleavage that was practically popping out of the dress.

Warren looked away, holding in his laughter. He knew he had been caught staring but he could care less. Come on, even Layla had to know that no man on this earth wouldn't stare. And she knew him. Well maybe not that side of him but in general every guy has that side, she has to know that.

"Wipe that smile off your face, Peace!" Layla said, utterly flustered.

He chuckled, "I don't think I can." He teased. Layla frowned at him. "Come on, you should take it like a compliment. Their nice." He admitted teasingly. He just loved to get her upset like this. She got so jittery and nervous.

"Warren!" She wailed.

"What? So, you can 'admire' my body but I can't look at yours?" He defended, air quoting the word 'admire'.

"What!? I don't-"

"Guys notice these things too, you know. We're just not so touchy. Besides, I'm your best friend, I have a right, don't I?" He joked.

"Magenta's my best friend and I don't let her gawk at my chest!" Layla wailed.

"Okay, I wasn't 'gawking', and that's different. She's a girl." He pointed out.

Layla noticed he was steering the conversation another way. She shook her head and frowned at him again. "You were too gawking! And that's not the point here!"

"What is it then?" He asked slyly.

Layla was taken aback by his question, not quite remembering what this was about. Obviously about him staring at her in such a way but if she bought that up, he'd bring her staring up too.

"You don't need to be so touchy about it, it's only me. Besides, no harm, no foul." He said with a shrug.

Layla couldn't find a way to counter that. Did he really get away from staring at her chest? She wouldn't let that happen! But... she found herself not being mad. Flustered maybe but not mad. She felt her stomach twist and her cheeks burn.

Warren glanced at her under lashes and was shocked to see a small smile play across her lips. What does that mean? Whatever it is, at least he's off the hook about the fight and the staring.

"I don't stare at you." Layla said with a chuckle.

"We're still on that?" He asked, mocking annoyance.

"You were staring at my chest!" She wailed but with a laugh she couldn't contain.

"You like the fact that I did." He said flat out.

"And what of it?" Layla blurted out defiantly.

"It encourages me to do it more often." He teased.

Layla scoffed, "Fat chance." She said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm doing it now." He said.

Layla gasped and noticed his gaze was downcast at her chest again. "You pervert!" She laughed, throwing some stray lo mein noodles at him with he dodge and they fell on his lap.

"Hey, I didn't tell you to wear that provocative dress! Look, at it, it's so short!" He said, ducking his head under the table to look at her legs. Layla squeaked and jumped to her feet, knocking the stool over. She was appalled!

"Only you could make this dress seem provocative!" She shouted angrily, grabbing a handful of lo mein and tossing it at him. He took it to the face and it all slid down as he glared at her but not threateningly. Just enough to know he was upset.

"Oh please, you wanted me to look!" He said, taking the lo mein she threw and tossing it back at her. "We all know you have a thing for me!" He teased, dodging the noodles she threw back at him.

"Don't make me laugh! You're the one with a thing for me! You're the one that can't keep his eyes off of me!" She teased back, grabbing another handful of noodles and throwing them at him as he threw some at her. They both took noodles to the face that time.

"I'm a guy, it's instinct to look!" He defended as he wiped the noodles from his face.

"Oh please, that's a lame-ass excuse!" Layla said, shocked she used that language, and threw noodles at him just as he wiped. He grimaced and wiped his face again. He grabbed the top half of the foam container and ripped it off, using it as a shield. "Admit it! You have a thing for me!" She said with a mischievous smirk on her noodle covered face.

"If by having a thing you mean liking your legs and chest then yeah, I certainly do have a thing for you!" He mocked, throwing noodles at her. "Hell, if that's the case, I'm freaking in love with you 'cause you gotta nice ass too!" He wailed, covering his face from the incoming noodle.

Layla gasped, again appalled by the monstrosities coming from his mouth. She couldn't avoid the blush that rose to her cheeks though. "You're a pig!"

"Says the girl who's throwing food!" He mocked, throwing more noodles at her. He laughed as they caught in her hair.

"Oh, you think this is funny? You should look at yourself!" Layla teased as she pulled some noodles out of her hair.

Warren scowled and ran a hand through his hair. It was completely greasy and tangled with noodles. "You will pay, Williams!" He shouted, running around the island but she was one step ahead of him, running to his side of the battlefield.

"I don't think so, Peace!" She shouted back, grabbing his plate of lo mein and sprinting into the living room.

Warren grabbed her plate of lo mein and ran around the table but he slipped on some noodles, nearly falling down. He steadied his footing and set the plate back down on the island. He grabbed a handful and threw it at Layla across the room. She squeaked and ducked but got hit anyway.

Warren took the chance to peel his shirt off so he could use it to wipe the grease off his bare feet. He tossed it into the sink and grabbed the plate in time to duck under the noodles Layla threw at him. He ran into the living room and stopped at the coffee table where Layla stood on the other side.

"Oh really? The shirt had to come off?" Layla mocked sarcastically.

"As if you don't like it." He said with a scoff.

"Oh, I do. More area to hit!" She said, throwing lo mein at his chest, getting a direct it.

"Oh yeah?" Warren was quick to hop on the coffee table, grab a handful of lo mein and dump it into her hair.

Layla shrieked and ran behind the couch, taking cover. "Warren, that's gonna take forever to get out!" She whined.

"I know!" He said, giving her a 'duh' look. He would have to deal with his own hair too. He hopped off the table and made a move toward her but she hopped over the couch. His eyes widened as she unintentionally flashed her thighs at him. If her skirt hitched a little higher and his nose would be bleeding.

Layla hid behind the coffee table, her breathing hitched. She knew her legs flailed when she went over that couch, he could've seen anything! Her heart was racing. She lifted her head over the small table and looked back. She was surprised that Warren wasn't standing behind the couch anymore. By the time she looked back, it was too late. Warren stood right in front of her. Right in front of her.

Layla's eyes widened and everything seemed to go by in slow motion. Her face burned like if it were caught on fire. She couldn't look away no matter how much she wanted to. It was just right there, perfectly in her line of sight. Although he moved out of the way in seconds, to her it felt like one embarrassing eternity.

When she felt a noodle crawling into her ear, she shrieked and snapped out of it, jumping to her feet. She shook her head frantically, making all the noodles he had just thrown fall to the floor. She grimaced and grabbed a handful, throwing it at his chest. She watched as his abs contracted at the contact. The grease from the noodles shined on his torso with the light from the kitchen. Her cheeks burned again.

Warren noticed her staring and grinned, throwing noodles at her. "Eyes up here, Hippie." He teased.

"Speak for yourself, hothead." She countered, throwing the entire plate at him which he barely managed to dodge. It managed to land on his shoulder.

"Oh, you play dirty, huh?" He mumbled as he lowered his arms, walking up to her. He stopped only a foot away from her. She could back up, the table was right behind her. "Fair enough." He said before raising the foam container and dropping it on her head. Layla gasped and froze, glaring holes up at him. He only smirked at her. He noticed something that he could use to drive her over the edge. It was a bit daring but he could sleep on it.

Warren reached out for the tip of a noodle that hung out of her dress. He grabbed it and slowly and very teasingly pulled it out. He laughed as it kept coming out from in between her... well. It was a long one, making this more enjoyable. Layla was frozen stiff, watching him pull out the noodle. Once the other end came out, he bought it up to his face.

Layla looked up at him in horror, "You wouldn't." She hissed.

Warren wiggled his eyebrows and pulled the noodle over his head which he threw back. He then lowered the noodle into his mouth. He looked down at her and sucked up the rest of it. He swallowed it and enjoyed the look on Layla's face. She was beyond appalled.

"I'm taking a shower." He said casually as he started to walk away.

Layla's eye twitched. She jammed her hand into his bare chest and for a moment felt not so disturbed. She couldn't say furious because it was somehow amusing though she'd never admit it to anyone. She could barely admit it to herself.

"You will do no such thing, Warren Peace. You will wait here until I come out of the shower. End of discussion." She said firmly behind gritted teeth. She did a sharp turn and marched up the stairs, "You can clean up the mess in the meantime." She growled.

"Fair enough." Warren mumbled to himself with a chuckle as he looked around at the mess they made. There were noodles all over the kitchen. There were noodles on the couch and coffee table. He sighed and started his cleaning. "She's hot when she's pissed." He said with a bellowing chuckle.

A/N: I think this chapter has gotten long enough so I'll cut it off here! Sorry it took so long to update but there you have it! A long chapter full of mushy fluff and as you readers call it "sexual tension" along with the slight action at the beginning, of course. Hoped you enjoyed reading this playful chapter as much I enjoyed writing it! I believe there's still a little more to this, we all know Layla won't leave it at that and Warren just won't pass up the opportunity to mess with her :D

Please leave a review, tell me what you liked, what you disliked (be NICE!) and whatever comment you may want to give me. I love the praise. Who doesn't? Hahaha. Hopefully the next chapter won't take this long to update. School has been holding me back and lately I've been sick so, yeah, I'm a little behind. Thank you in advance for the reviews! The more I get, the quicker I update! ;)

Until next time, love, Mutinous Pirate :)