-Chapter Five-

~Nico's POV~

In the morning, Nico turned to face Andrea, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Everything is gonna be okay."

He looked into her eyes, determined to fix this for her.

"Hey, how about we go get some ice cream?"

Nico grabbed some money from his pocket and showed it off, six dollars and forty-eight cents. Just enough for two cones.

"Sure, I guess."

They walked down the neatly kept street, silently taking in the familiar surroundings. The two of them came here often; whenever something just seemed... unfixable. This place always made them feel better. Andrea looked down and spotted something papery and green stuck in a shrub. She picked it up and saw that it was a ten-dollar bill. She held it up to her brother with a slight smile.

"Hey Nico, now we have enough for cookie sundaes."

Nico cracked a grin too, putting the newfound money in his pocket.

"Perfect."

As they walked back, chatting and trying to forget their troubles, a whooshing noise sounded beside them. Stumbling back, Nico looked up to see T. R. standing outside Tony's house with a flaming torch.

"It was your fault for even letting me visit for tea! You ruined my life, and now it's time for revenge!"

~Tony's POV~

The house is on fire. - - - On FIRE.

The heat was unbearable, and Tony was beginning to feel the effects of smoke inhalation. He crawled to the nearest window, and spotted the two kids outside.

"Andrea! Nico! Help! Get the ladder!"

Tony watched as a fireball was launched out from underneath the window, and the ten-year-olds screamed and scattered as T. R. picked up the burning piece of wood.

T.R.?! That was you?!

"T.R.! I'm sorry! Please, help!"

Tony saw T.R. drag out a beaten up mattress from underneath the house and signaled him to jump down onto it. He decided it was better than the flaming house, so he went for it. The impact made his legs feel like they had snapped clean off, and it knocked the wind out of him. Tony's vision went spotty, and he felt himself black out as sirens wailed around the corner. Then he opened his eyes as he fell through the floor, forgetting his fantasy of rescue.

~Nico's POV~

Nico and Andrea were standing on the other side of the street, when suddenly-

"Andrea! Nico! Help! Get the ladder!"

- They looked up to see the entire house up in roaring flames, thick smoke billowing from it. Wait… was that Tony that I heard?!

Nico pulled out his phone from his pocket, and quickly dialed the local fire station's emergency number.

"You've reached emergency services."

"Hello, I am at 4130 Belladona way, and it's on fire… the whole house is on fire, and someone is still inside." He said calmly, knowing that freaking out won't help the situation any further.

"Acknowledged. Sending units now. Stay away from the fire and smoke, we will be there soon."

Nico hung up, then immediately made a beeline for Tony's house.

"Stay here, Andrea!"

He quickly flung the nearest door open, and pieces of singed wood immediately fell on top of him as he rushed in. Nico took off his shirt and put it around his mouth to (somewhat) filter the smoke.

Before Nico even got to the stairs, part of the ceiling fell down nearby, and it- it was Tony!

Nico rushed to his side.

"Tony! Are- are you okay?!"

Tony didn't reply, just groaned in pain, just loud enough for Nico to hear that he was still alive. Nico gasped, tears welling up in his eyes.

"I- er, we're gonna get out of here. We're gonna be okay," Nico said, picking Tony up.

Nico carried Tony out of the building, managing to dodge the falling debris. But soon enough, a large piece of charred wood began to crumble above them. Nico swiftly gave Tony a reassuring statement,

"Maybe mom won't beat you up too bad." and threw him out of the burning building through one of the holes that was seared all the way through.

All is well.