Happy late 4th of July y'all! This right here is the first chapter of my receipt paper notes from last summer. I'm still a little shaky on some parts because they were on my typed notes that Fanfiction deleted months ago, but I'm still majorly excited to reach this part of the story! And for those of you who are curious how much longer this story will continue, I'd say about five chapters after this one. I'm hoping to wrap this up by Christmas, but considering my update habits and the fact that my free time will be eaten up by my new position as the recruitment advisor for my co-ed honors fraternity, my realistic goal is to finish this up by next summer.
Thanks to my reviewers Blindluck92 (gotta love our on-screen banter), Watership's Nightwish Rat (two very good guesses, but you'll find out soon enough), and Carlisle Fan 22 (Adam's tougher than he looks, but trouble always follows toughness).
Disclaimer: 25 chapters later...and I still own nothing :(
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A BIT OF...DARK CONTENT! NOTHING HAPPENS, BUT IMPLICATIONS ARE THERE!
*0*0*
"Looks like we've got it all. Load up the ship, kids, an' we'll be outta here in no time!"
"Yeah, about that..." an unfamiliar voice spoke up. "I don't think you'll be going anywhere for a while."
Silver and his crew spun around to find five scruffy brutes standing there, all armed and all itching for a fight.
The thief in the center, clearly the leader of the crew, was dressed in a long black leather vest with gold stitching over a red silk shirt, high-quality brown boots, spotless white pants, and a black cavalier hat with gold embroidery on the wide brim and a perfect red feather plumage protruding from the top. Despite the youth evident on his face, the thief had white hair and a beard, both of which were trimmed neatly to a point. A malicious energy radiated from his ice blue eyes and devious smirk as he rested his hand oh-so-casually on the gilded pistol protruding from his garnished belt.
As for the four flanking the boss, they must have been brothers because (other than one who was a head taller and twice as muscular) they all looked practically identical with their alabaster skin, bulging veins, shaved heads, and yellow eyes. Unlike their boss, their clothes looked rougher and more worn, but that increased their intimidation factor.
"Captain Virgil at your displeasure," the pirate introduced with a grandiose bow and a sweeping flourish of his hat. "My companions and I run these streets, which means that your ship as well as your assets are mine now."
Silver protectively ushered the kids behind him. "We just came from Cap'n Hoot's. No treasure, just supplies, which means yer violatin' the pirate code."
"Ah yes, but that would only apply if you were real pirates," the leader dismissed as he scrutinized the seven adventurers with distaste. "All I see, though, are six kiddie cops and a washed-up has-been as a babysitter. Besides, you say you don't have any treasure, but my boys and I are known for our ability to put a dollar sign on anything."
As if on cue, the other four thieves began to close ranks around the crew of the S.S. Booty Hunter, guns and swords drawn.
"Let's see," Virgil began as he casually circled around Silver and the kids, eyeing them up and down as if he were appraising their value. "The clothes are in good shape, as are the shoes, so I could probably make a hundred or two from those at the thrift shop. And I count one, two, three, four sets of crown jewels…another 40,000 easy. Ooh yes, and probably 5,000 for the wings strapped on the muchacho here." Virgil leaned in and whispered loudly in Tigre's ear, "Those rich society ladies have many uses for gossamer like that." He continued pacing, stopping at Silver to knock on the cyborg's mechanical arm. "Eh, maybe about 300 in scrap metal here. So that adds up to more than 45,000…and that's just what's on your bodies."
"You wouldn't," Silver growled furiously.
The port pirate laughed conspiratorially. "This is a once in a lifetime score, Mister Silver! You of all people should know the consequences of holding that much wealth in your hands and then letting it go to waste."
"I'd make the same choice a million times over if I had to," the cyborg barked.
"Well, unfortunately for you, I don't share your upstanding morals. Because I see about 1,500 for strapping young cabin-boys like these…and about fifty times that for these three lovely ladies."
Even Silver's non-mechanical eye looked like it was shining red from his rage. "You son of a-"
The other four thieves raised their weapons and held them at the old pirate's head.
"Ah ah ah," Virgil chided. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mister Silver. You make one move," he aimed his pistol directly at Marina's forehead, "and I blow her brains out."
Silver's crew stayed in place, not moving and not speaking.
"Glad we have an understanding," the captain continued with a smug smirk. "Rocco, Nero, check the ship for anymore valuables. Bruce, you and Clyde restrain the children while I-"
Skylar groaned dramatically as her eyes faded to white. "Ugh! Enough of this crap!"
She inhaled deeply and, before Captain Virgil even had time to react, Skylar blew him away…literally. Virgil soared through the air until he landed on a trash bin in some dead end alley around the corner. While the rest of her crew was shocked into silence, Skylar scooped up the dropped pistol and chased after the piece of scum who had dared to threaten her family.
"Boss?!" Rocco and Nero called out before dropping their loot from the Booty Hunter and running down the gangplank to follow their leader.
"Huh, super-breath. That's a new one," Adam commented before spinning around and decking Rocco across the face mid-step.
The secluded port around the ship broke into sheer mayhem. Adam and Rocco were duking it out; Tigre showed Nero the real meaning of a 'flying kick'; Silver had switched out his arm for that steel sword so he and Clyde could battle on a level playing field; and Blaise, Jaz, and Marina teamed up to take out Bruce, which only seemed appropriate considering he was basically the same size as the three pre-teens put together.
"Let's do this, guys!" Jaz whooped. She ran straight at Bruce, only to get tossed aside and sent rolling across the cobblestones.
"HEY! Nobody hurts my best buddy and gets away with it! Now you gotta mess with me and my sister! Come on, Rina! Heeeeyaaaah!"
Unfortunately, Blaise's fire got out of control, practically consuming him.
"Gah! Hot! Hot! Marina!"
"Eep!" Marina squealed as she did her best to douse the flames on her brother, which turned into a very odd scene with Blaise hopping back and forth on his feet and Marina trying to aim her random spurts of water at him.
Blaise and Marina's powers were so flakey and weak that it was borderline amusing to Bruce. He simply plucked them up off the ground and dangled them up in the air, one in each hand.
"Lookie here, guys! I caught da pipsqueaks!"
Suddenly, Jaz managed to get to her feet and ran up from behind. "Let go of my friends, you bully!" Using all her strength, Jaz swung her foot and it landed right between Bruce's legs.
"Oopsie! Guessed I missed one!" the pirate squeaked before he dropped the twins and fell to his knees.
Silver, after leaving a deep enough stab wound in Clyde's side to render the thief incapacitated, appeared behind Bruce and knocked him unconscious with the butt of his sword.
"Make dat two."
The cyborg glanced around to check on the status of the rest of his crew.
Tigre seemed to be doing just fine on his own, but Adam was only using his powers defensively. He wrapped vine after vine around Rocco's wrists and ankles, only to have the brute snap each and every one of them.
"Offense, Adam! Offense!" Silver hollered before going over to help his grandson.
As for Tigre, once he realized he wasn't strong enough to knock Nero out on his own, he decided to let gravity do the job. The Hispanic boy ducked to dodge a punch and then kicked Nero's feet out from underneath him. The thief fell to the ground and Tigre took advantage of that to scoop Nero up and fly about thirty feet in the air.
"Gah! Put me down! I'm scared o' heights!" Nero blubbered.
"Put you down?" Tigre repeated. "If you say so." Just like that, the winged Latino released his grip.
"Not like that!" Nero screamed, squealing the whole way down like a little baby until he hit the ground with a sickening crack.
Tigre scoffed in satisfaction. A three story drop wasn't enough to kill a man like that, just knock him out…and probably paralyze him for the rest of his life. However, the Hispanic boy noticed the absence of a snarky or demeaning remark.
Meanwhile, over in the alley, Skylar was creeping across the cobblestones, her stolen pistol held at the ready. "Gilly...come out, come out, wherever you are," the Air Elemental hummed mockingly.
Suddenly, something hard connected with her skull, causing Skylar to see stars as she buckled to the ground. Captain Virgil stepped out from behind the dumpster, spinning his backup pistol around his finger, the end stained with blood…Skylar's blood. "A gun only does so much good if you don't know how to use it properly," he jeered.
Skylar pulled herself back up and tried to fight back, but the spots dancing across her vision made her offense weak and her defense sluggish. All it took was a few hits to the gut and one strong slap to the cheek to render her defenseless. Skylar moaned, her mind too foggy to gather enough words for a comeback. The head thief wasted no time in plucking her black steel and diamond right off Skylar's head and then straddling over her to search for other valuables. However, amidst all the frisking, Virgil came to a sick conclusion.
"How old are you?" the captain asked out of nowhere.
"Fi-Fifteen," Skylar stammered.
"Ah, fifteen," Virgil replied airily as he leaned forward to caress Skylar's cheek, causing the girl to flinch. "Such a tender age. So young, so innocent, so...pure."
Skylar squirmed, her stomach turning at the pirate's implications.
"Did you know that I could easily make 50,000 for an unspoiled beauty like you...unless I decide to keep you for myself instead."
"Bite me!" Skylar retorted before spitting in the pirate's eye.
Virgil chuckled darkly as he wiped off his face. "Mm, you asked for it."
Before Skylar had time to react, Virgil's hands and mouth were everywhere, ripping her clothes and nipping at her neck and collarbone. Skylar struggled, trying to shield herself or do some damage to her attacker, but she might as well have been lying in a prone position with the amount of resistance she put up. The Air Elemental squeezed her eyes shut as she told herself that it would only last a few minutes, that her family would find her soon enough. However, before Virgil's fingers could find their way underneath the girl's clothing, Skylar felt the thief's weight being ripped off her body. The teenager opened one eye to see (what looked like) a red and orange missile slamming Virgil into the brick wall at the end of the alley.
"DON'T!"
Whack!
"YOU!"
Whack!
"TOUCH!"
Whack!
"HER!"
WHAM!
When Skylar finally opened her eyes all the way, she could see Virgil's body, broken and bloody, leaning up against the wall...with Tigre standing over him. All Skylar could do was stare at the winged Latino, his shoulders rising and falling from his heavy breathing. Tigre...Tigre Garcia Torres...the boy who had been torturing her for the past fifteen years...just saved her life. What kind of jacked up fumes had they been breathing in that pub?!
Suddenly, as if Tigre just remembered his reason for clobbering the mugger, he ran over and crouched in front of Skylar, her eyes big and brown with fear. "Dios mío! Skylar! Skylar, are you alright?!" Tigre pleaded frantically as he raked his hands through the girl's raven locks.
After taking a few more gulps of air, Skylar finally regained her senses and her eyes turned red with fury. "What the hell was that?!" she demanded as she slapped Tigre's hands away and used the brick wall to pull herself to her feet.
The Hispanic boy scoffed in disbelief. "I believe it is called coming to your rescue."
Skylar crossed her arms angrily, trying to cover herself as much as possible. "Well did it ever occur to you that I was doing fine on my own?!" The Air Elemental stormed off in a huff.
However, Skylar barely made it out of the alley before Tigre grabbed her by the elbow and spun her around to face him. "Um, in case you haven't noticed, I just risked my life to save yours! The appropriate response would be something along the lines of 'gracias'."
"Oh right!" Skylar stuck her hand in her pocket and began digging around like she just remembered she had something in there. "I've got your 'gracias' right..." she pulled her hand back out with her middle finger raised, "here."
Tigre glanced down at Skylar's so-called display of gratitude and raised an eyebrow before shrugging noncommittally. "Personally, I would have preferred a kiss, but-"
Skylar stepped in closer, her eyes practically burning two holes into Tigre's skull. "This isn't some fairy tale. I'm not a damsel in distress and you sure as hell aren't my knight in shining armor. I know how to take care of myself," she hissed bitterly. She snatched her circlet from Tigre's hand and yanked it back on her head, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from whimpering in pain. "And I don't need a bodyguard!"
The mischievous twinkle vanished from Tigre's hazel eyes as he took in Skylar's ripped clothing and injuries. "The position I found you in just minutes ago would beg to differ."
Skylar could feel her bottom lip start to quiver as tears threatened to stream down her cheeks. However, she would never give that beetle-wing brat the satisfaction of watching her cry. Skylar crossed her arms even tighter over her chest and fled toward the ship, keeping her eyes aimed toward the ground.
"Sky, where ya goin'?" Silver called out. "We need-"
"No offense, Pops, but the only the only thing I 'need' right now is some alone time," Skylar replied tersely. She didn't even wait for the cyborg's reaction before she turned on her heel and marched up the gangplank.
Silver sputtered in disbelief. "Young lady, you get-"
"Pops," Adam interrupted softly, diverting Silver's attention away from the rainbow-eyed troublemaker. "I got this."
The old pirate hesitate for a moment, not wanting to add fuel to the fire by sending in the sibling with whom Skylar had the most antagonistic relationship. However, underneath all the bickering and pranking and name-calling, Skylar and Adam truly cared about each other…even if it was just at the "I'm the only one allowed to make him/her miserable like that" level. The sound off the girls' door slamming shut cut off Silver's train of thought. He glanced at his oldest grandchild and, before he could change his mind, jerked his head toward the ship.
"Go on."
Adam nodded obediently and dashed up the gangplank.
"Alright, crew, we're down two so we're gonna have to work double time if we wanna get outta here 'fore these bottom-feeders wake up," Silver barked.
"But shouldn't we call the police?" Jaz asked, directing her gaze at the unconscious mugger lying on the street.
"And tell 'em what?!" Blaise snapped, his ego obviously bruised from the fact that he needed to be rescued by a girl who sews…even if that girl was his tomboy best friend. "That these guys tried to rob our pirate ship?! Don't be stupid!"
"Hey! I just saved your butt, stupid!" Jaz fired back.
Meanwhile, as Silver worked to break up Jaz and Blaise's argument over who's stupider, Adam pressed his ear up against Skylar's door and could hear muffled sobs coming from the other side.
"Skylar, it's me," the blonde boy spoke up.
"What part of 'I need alone time' don't you understand?!" Skylar responded bitingly.
Adam recoiled slightly when he felt a quick breeze under the door, accompanied by the sound of the bolt securing in place. "Seriously, Sky? You know my vines can open this in about thirty seconds, right?"
"I do," Skylar acknowledged. "However, I also know that Mister Perfect would never barge into a locked room uninvited."
"You're scared, Sky, I get it," Adam continued. "We're all scared, but whatever happened down there is no reason for you to disrespect our grandfather and hide like a little girl!"
Suddenly, Skylar's door swung open to reveal a pissed-off Air Elemental. "You did not just call me a little girl!"
"I did," Adam admitted, "but only to get you to open the door."
Upon realizing she had just fallen for one of the oldest tricks in the book, Skylar immediately tried to slam the door shut, but Adam stuck his boot in the crack just in time.
"Uh uh, you're not getting away that easily."
Skylar rolled her eyes, but she released the door nonetheless. "I can't believe you baited me like that," the dark-haired girl grumbled.
"I knew it was the only way I could get you to open the door. Haven't you ever heard of hubris?" Adam chuckled lightly.
Skylar, though, simply crossed her arms tighter over her chest, turned her back to him, and moved toward her bed. Adam, having inherited his parents' stubbornness, took a seat beside his sister.
"Skylar…what happened out there?"
"What makes you think something happened?" Skylar dismissed. "Maybe I'm just on my period."
"Oh trust me, I know your PMS and this isn't it."
Skylar remained silent, which prompted Adam to continue.
"Over the past fifteen years, you've developed three distinct ways to storm out of a room. One, when you lose an argument, which normally involves clenched fists, muttering, and a stomp for effect. Two, when you're, um, at that time of the month and you're just so fed up with everyone and everything that you roll your eyes and walk away. And three…that's the one when you've really been hurt."
"Great, now we have a psychiatrist in the family," Skylar chirped mockingly. "Won't Mommy and Daddy be so proud!"
Rather than seem hurt by the mention of their parents, Adam smirked in victorious bemusement. "And now I know for a fact that this is a Type Three Tantrum because that's the one where you try to sucker-punch anyone who wants to help."
"You don't know anything," Skylar muttered, refusing to meet her brother's gaze.
Adam rested his hand under his little sister's chin. "Educate me."
Skylar kept her lips sealed.
"Come on, Sky," the green-eyed boy trilled teasingly. "Don't make me tickle you. Three, two-"
Skylar lifted her chin and uncrossed her arms.
"…one," Adam finished weakly, any traces of humor gone from his face and his voice.
The top four buttons on Skylar's dark teal shirt were either missing or dangling by the thread; her black tank top was askew, revealing her purple bra underneath; and the zipper on her denim shorts was stuck open. Obviously it was too soon to be certain, but judging from the redness on her cheek and her extremities, she had taken more than a couple swings out there. The hair on one side of her head was also wet and sticky with blood from being pistol-whipped. However, the worst of all was the look in her eyes. Underneath all the redness and puffiness from crying, Skylar's irises were a blend of black and orange…the colors of pain and humiliation.
"I should've known," Adam stated, his voice wavering like he was on the edge of control. "I should've known as soon as you and Tigre came out of that alley alone!"
"Adam-"
The Terrain Elemental had stood up and was pacing frantically around the room. "I-I let the jokes slide but this..." He raked his hands through his bronze hair. "I'm gonna kill him!"
"But-"
"No, Sky! You're my sister! I'm gonna go out there and crush that little insect so he can never hurt you again!" However, Adam never made it out there because a strong wind slammed the door shut as soon as he pulled on the knob.
"HE DIDN'T HURT ME!" Skylar screamed as she leapt to her feet. "Tigre...he's the one who saved me!" However, Skylar's emotional energy only lasted so long before she crumbled back on the bed.
And just like that, Adam's fury transformed into brotherly concern as he reclaimed his seat beside his sister. "I'm right here, Sky. I'm not going anywhere."
Skylar sniffled, blinking quickly to keep the tears from falling down her cheeks. "I can start tornados with a snap of my fingers and fly on the wind as easily as I can walk, but one punch...one punch and I'm powerless to a piece of street trash. Another few minutes-"
"You can't think like that," Adam insisted. "Tigre stopped that from happening."
"Yeah, Tigre stopped that from happening," Skylar repeated bitterly before standing up again and walking toward the mirror, too ashamed to look at her reflection for more than a few seconds. "I've spent my whole life competing with Tigre, trying to prove myself as an equal. In that alley, though, he saw me at my most vulnerable and, to me, that's worse than almost being raped."
"'Almost being the key word there, sister dear." Adam emphasized. "And thanks to Tigre, you didn't have to find out the hard way."
Skylar chewed her lip anxiously. "You won't tell Pops about this, right?"
"Only if you promise to talk to Tigre," the seventeen-year-old bargained with a knowing look.
The raven-haired girl sighed in irritation. "Do I have a choice?"
"Hmm...no," Adam teased before stretching out his arms. "Now get over here, airhead, and gimme a hug."
Skylar finally cracked a grin and wrapped her arms around her big brother, who kissed her on the forehead affectionately. It was such a beautiful sibling moment.
"If you tell anyone about this, I'll deny it," Skylar mumbled, her face squished up against Adam's chest.
Adam smirked playfully as he rested his chin on top of her head. "I wouldn't expect anything else."
0*0*0
A few hours later, once the S.S. Booty Hunter was safely out of Venetian jurisdiction, Skylar crept out of the girls' room, taking care to close the door quietly so as not to wake Jaz and Marina. After talking with Adam, and allowing him to care to her wounds, Skylar had spent the rest of the day in bed...and she was sick of it! She needed fresh air, something to clear her head. The rainbow-eyed girl shivered as she wrapped her gray cardigan tighter around her hot pink t-shirt. However, the shivers were not from the night chill, but from her nerves. Skylar had replayed her argument with Tigre over and over again in her head, trying to come up with the right words for her apology.
All of a sudden, Skylar's train of thought was derailed by a soothing Spanish song coming from the other side of the ship. Skylar tiptoed across the deck and peeked around the mast. She found Tigre leaning up against the railing, gently strumming the strings of an acoustic bass guitar. How could someone who spent so many years taunting Skylar and her band create such beautifully intricate music with his fingertips? She stood there, mesmerized by the Latin melody until the last note.
"I didn't know you played guitar," Skylar spoke up as she emerged from the shadows.
Tigre opened his case and began to gently lay his instrument inside. "You never asked," he replied with a shrug. "There's a lot of things you never asked," Tigre murmured, almost as an afterthought.
Skylar sighed and slowly sat down beside the Hispanic boy. "Look, I'm not going to take back what I said about not needing a bodyguard, but I'm sorry for-"
"Practically biting my head off for trying to be a gentleman?"
Skylar narrowed her eyes in irritation. "Why must you interrupt me? Can't you see I'm trying to be sentimental here?!"
"Mm, must be so hard for you," Tigre teased with a smirk.
Skylar propped her elbows on her knees and dropped her face into her hands. "You have no idea!" she mumbled into her palms before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry for overreacting earlier and..." The dark-haired girl peeked through her fingers to see Tigre grinning in amusement. "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"Immensely," the winged teen chirped.
Skylar groaned, but she still dropped her hands and made an effort to look Tigre in the eyes. "As I was saying, you did sorta...kinda...save my life, so thanks...or whatever."
"Wow," Tigre breathed out. "Am I loco or did I just get a 'sorry' and a 'thank you' out of Skylar Hawkins?"
"Don't push it, Torres."
"Si si, just give me a second to," Tigre sighed nostalgically, "savor this moment."
Tick, tock.
"Ding! Your second's up! And I hope you savored it enough to last a lifetime because it's never gonna happen again!" Skylar stated with a playful shove to Tigre's shoulder.
However, that little push gave Tigre a chance to catch Skylar's hand, to intertwine his fingers with hers as their eyes locked under the twinkling stars of the night sky. Tigre leaned in slowly, his attention focused entirely on Skylar's lips...and strangely enough, Skylar didn't mind it. In fact, for a split-second, Skylar actually wanted Tigre's affection.
But then, when their lips were only inches apart, Tigre softly brushed Skylar's good cheek with his fingers as he whispered, "Mi cielo."
Those two words...they were the same two words Tigre had used in mockery so many times before. It didn't matter that he said them differently this time, that he meant them as a term of endearment. Skylar snapped out of her daze; pulled her hand out of Tigre's; scrambled to her feet; anxiously brushed her hair behind her ears; and turned away, hoping that the darkness of the night was enough to hide the redness of her cheeks.
"Well," Skylar cleared her throat, "I guess that covers everything."
"Skylar-"
"No, no, it's cool, I should be heading to bed anyway. But, uh, good job with that guitar," Skylar stammered as she backed across the deck toward her room. "Maybe with a little practice you could be good enough to join our band someday. So, um, I'll let you get back to that and I'll, uh, I'll see you in the morning."
Skylar whirled around and accidentally ran face-first into the door. Her cheeks heated up in embarrassment.
"Good night," she blurted before jerking the knob and retreating into the girls' bunk.
Tigre sighed as he propped his cheek in his hand and stared at the full moon, his eyes dark with sadness. "I just wish you would let me in..."
*0*0*
So, remember how I said up top that this was my first chapter off my receipt paper notes? Well it's also my first chapter off my memo scrap paper notes. Guess old habits die hard when you're sitting behind a desk on a slow work day. I really hope y'all liked seeing this other side of Skylar, even if it came from a dark context. As for the next chapter, I'll give you a little hint: Silver is gonna "make a man" out of his crew so they can "get down to business" ;). Please leave reviews and I'll be back soon!