(A/N: I present to my infinitesimal audience another little chapter, filled with useless junk and author's notes that are so annoying you'll probably want to hunt me down and shoot me! Yay!)
Tip dropped her last, now-empty spray can, her breath coming in short gasps. Scrap was just behind her. She looked around for more paint, but her heart sounded so deafening in her ears that she couldn't concentrate on anything. Spark had disappeared, along with Cat, Cube, and the two other members of Poison Jam. Please, let Cat and Spark be doing better than I am, Tip prayed, or we've lost everything.
She skated desperately along, chased by Scrap, knowing she did not have the strength to keep going. She slowed down as she heard the Poison Jam monster pulling out a paint can. I can't believe this…
The sound of paint being sprayed reached Tip's ears, and she stopped moving altogether. It was over.
It was a moment before she realized that she was not the one being tagged. Turning, she saw a dark figure behind her attacker. Scrap turned as well, and Tip noticed the beginnings of graffiti on his back, graffiti other than hers. She made out an S, a P…
She skated backwards a bit, unsure of what to do or who this person was, as Scrap swung hard at him and missed. Tip could not see clearly, but she caught a glimpse of a boy: older than her, with long black hair and bright amber eyes. Like Spark's, she thought. He looks a bit like her, too…
To Tip's astonishment, the boy drove a fist into Scrap's stomach, making him double over, then brought a knee up into the monster's masked face. The boy then grabbed another paint can from his side and in several smooth strokes finished the painting on Scrap's back: SPEED.
Tip watched as the littlest member of Poison Jam collapsed to his knees, then fell face-first to the ground, unconscious. Tagger's Tag…
The boy looked up, his eyes meeting Tip's.
"Sorry about that," he apologized. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"Nothing at all," Tip replied breathlessly. "Who're you?"
He motioned at Scrap's painted back. "Speed. I assume you're part of Dark Storm?"
Tip nodded, confused.
"Do ya know a girl named Spark, by any chance?" he asked. When Tip did not answer immediately, he added in a softer voice, "Please?"
"Yeah," Tip answered, still puzzled. "She's part of my gang."
Speed tried not to look too hopeful. "Where is she?"
"I'm not sure, but I need to find her," Tip admitted, turning and skating off. Speed followed, as she had known he would. "Why're you lookin' for her?"
Speed was silent for a moment, then responded, "She's my sister."
Tip stopped and looked at Speed, this time much harder. "Are you serious? You're Spark's brother?"
He nodded.
Saying nothing, Tip began skating again, faster this time. "Go this way," she directed when they came to a corner. She paused and caught Speed's gaze. "I guess I gotta trust you." Turning, she continued on. Speed went in the other direction.
So apparently she does have a brother, Tip thought. She said something about that… a long time ago…
"So, Tip, I see you've taken out one of mine. Not without help… as usual."
Tip halted at the voice behind her, sure she felt the blood rush to her head. She turned around as slowly as she could, afraid she would fall over if she moved too fast.
"Cube," she whispered. "Why?" Her voice's pitch raised to one of anger. "Why did you do this?"
Cube raised an eyebrow at her. "Why not? I wanted it, so I went for it. Ya see, that's the difference between you and me. If you want something, you sit around and hope it'll come to you. Like that kid in the sewers, right?"
Tip felt her cheeks heat up. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb, Tip. I've known you plenty long enough to know what I see with you. Tell me, what'd ya do? Just let him go?"
Tip said nothing; words seemed to elude her. How had Cube known?
"You let him go, didn't ya? Or if you didn't, you will. He'll never know that ya like him. I gotta say, that was pretty fast, though. Love at first sight, and it sure wasn't much of a sight."
An alarmed cry that sounded like Spark interrupted the unpleasant conversation, from the direction Speed had gone. Cube nodded at Tip.
"You might as well give it up," she advised, "before it becomes too painful. Your friends are both gone, you know."
Tip stared at Cube. It was impossible… wasn't it?
"No," she declared finally. "You're right, Cube, we've known each other a long time. I've known you long enough to tell when you're lying. You're losing this… and both of us know it."
Cube's eyes locked with Tip's, and for a moment neither moved.
"I may have lost this," Cube snarled, "but I ain't finished. You had help this time. That kid won't always be here to save you. And next time… I'll be ready."
Poison Jam's leader turned around, then glanced over her shoulder and spoke once more, her voice softening. "I'm kinda sorry, ya know. It's too bad things didn't work out differently… you and I never agree, but you're still my baby sister." She tossed down a smoke bomb in her usual style, and when Tip could see again, she was gone.
"Always had to be the flashy one," she muttered, skating in the direction she had sent Speed. "Things 'worked out' the way they did for a reason, Cube… and maybe someday you'll understand what that reason is."
(A/N: 'Kay, when one of my friends read this, she wasn't sure if Cube was being sarcastic, so to make sure that's clear: Cube is Tip's sister. Lame, you say? Don't care. …Oh, yeah, and that smoke bomb thing is based on Cube's exit from Sky Dinosaurian Square in the JSRF storyline… kind of stupid, I think, but she did it, so don't blame me…)
* * *
Spark couldn't believe her eyes.
One moment she had been backed into a corner, Shred blocking the only way for her to escape. She had closed her eyes… and by the time she opened them, he was crumpling to the ground.
She had not immediately recognized the boy who had saved her. She had done no more than watch in shock as he smashed the edge of a paint can into Shred's back and sprayed a tag on him as he fell. Still she did not understand, not until she looked at the graffiti.
Speed…?He had turned to her as soon as Shred had fallen. His eyes had met hers, and both froze for a few seconds.
Then he had wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Spark," Speed whispered. "I was afraid…" He didn't, or couldn't, finish his sentence. He released her after a moment, pulling her back and looking more closely at her face.
"Dude, you've changed," he remarked. "It hasn't been as long as it feels, but… you've changed a lot."
"So've you," she returned. "Last time I saw ya, you were still a skinny little kid." She grinned. "Who never wanted to leave the house."
He grinned back. "Last time I saw you, you were still a shy little girl who couldn't skate to save her life."
"We've both changed a lot, then," Spark agreed. She hugged her brother again. "Speed… it's good to see you."
"You, too," he murmured.
"Isn't that sweet," Tip interrupted, skating up behind Speed. She glanced down at Shred. "That was quick." She looked from Speed to Spark and smiled. "Family reunion. Lovely…"
Mine, she thought, wasn't exactly a happy one.
Spark's smile dropped off her face. "Anyone seen Cat?"
"I'm right here," a voice called. Cat dropped ninja-style off a nearby rooftop, her skates making noiseless contact with the ground.
"I told you not to do that," Spark scolded with mild annoyance. "How long have you been up there?"
"Not too long," Cat replied. She looked up. "Are you coming, kid?"
Reluctantly Yoyo jumped down after her. At Tip's look Cat shrugged and explained simply, "This is Yoyo." She looked at the boy standing next to Spark. "You must be Speed. I guess you two were traveling together?"
Speed glanced at Yoyo. "Yeah."
"Oh, that reminds me," Yoyo exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "You guys seen a kid named Tab?"
Tip, Cat, and Spark exchanged a glance. "Uh, yeah, actually we have," Tip answered after a moment.
Yoyo seemed surprised. "Really?" His surprised look broke into a grin. "You're tellin' me the little guy survived the sewers? Are we talking about the same person?"
Cat tried not to laugh and failed miserably. "Survived the sewers? Well, technically he did, but—"
"All in good time," Tip cut in. She glanced at Spark, then at Speed, then at Yoyo. Shrugging, she said, "I guess we might as well take you to our home. Come on," she sighed, and skated off. Her two friends followed, Cat with Yoyo at her heels and Spark side by side with Speed.
* * *
(A/N: Yay, more annoying original characters! …Don't shoot…)
Pulse leaned over the girl's shoulder. "Hey, what're ya doing?"
She jumped with the sudden awareness of his presence. "What am I doing? What are you doing? Here, specifically. And where're Ellipse and Wax?"
"Who cares?" Pulse asked with a shrug. He put his face next to the side of her head and whispered into her ear, "It's just us."
"Go away, I'm busy." She brushed Pulse's hand off her shoulder.
Again he tried to see what she was doing. "With what?"
Giving up as he was stronger than her, the girl let him see. "Trying to figure these stupid papers out. And you ain't helping. Go away, or I'll call Ellipse. I gotta finish this."
"That Blade guy again?" Pulse asked, frowning as he glanced over the paperwork, which seemed to be about release from jail and probation and such. "What's so important about him anyway? Be honest with yourself, Petal. If ya only heard from him a couple times in three years, what makes ya think he cares about you at all?"
Petal pushed Pulse's hand off her shoulder again, a bit harder this time. "Leave me alone, Pulse. This is Blade's gang. When he gets here, I'm giving up my authority to him. And if ya don't like it, you're free to leave. Not necessarily with your entire body intact and functioning, but we'll make sure ya leave… Got it?"
Pulse took a step back, not at all liking the possible implications of her words. "Sure, I just—"
"Now shut up and stay out of my way, or I'll have Ellipse make sure ya do," Petal threatened, her voice holding no trace of humor. "Get lost."
Sulking, Pulse slipped off behind some old abandoned buildings. He was turning the corner of one when his skates were suddenly and disturbingly levitating a good six inches above the ground.
Pulse's back slammed into the wall that had been at his side. He was fighting to replace the air that had been knocked out of him when he found himself looking up into a pair of cold, pale blue eyes. Ellipse.
"She told ya to stay away from her," he growled, "so you stay away. Blade asked me to watch out for her, and I plan to do that. I'm letting you off with a warning this time. If ya know what's good for your personal health, you won't ignore it."
He released his hold on the front of Pulse's shirt, sending him to the ground, where he coughed and gasped, "Okay, okay, I got it."
Ellipse glared down at him. He was pretty big and strong, plus Pulse was so small and wiry that Ellipse had no trouble lifting him off the ground. Ellipse was the stereotypical overprotective brother, except he wasn't Petal's brother… Rather, he was the brother of Petal's boyfriend, Blade, and he was loyal in every way to his sibling's single request: Watch Petal.
Pulse coughed again, glad that he wasn't spitting out blood, like he had been the last time he had made the mistake of getting too close to Petal. Forcing himself to ignore his fear, Pulse stood and skated past Ellipse's steely eyes. He was almost to safety when a hand on his shoulder pulled him back.
"Don't forget again, kid," Ellipse warned in a low voice. "Next time, ya ain't even gonna know what hit you, understand me?"
Pulse nodded and swallowed in an attempt to moisten his mouth. Ellipse was stronger than he was, but that didn't by any means make him stupider. He saw everything that went on in Petal's life, and Pulse couldn't even look at her without feeling Ellipse's eyes burning into him…
Yet he still loved her. Foolishly so, he thought as he skated as far away from Ellipse as possible. She had no such feelings for him; that was so obvious that Pulse couldn't even delude himself into thinking otherwise. No, Petal was in love with Blade.
Blade didn't love her, though, at least not anymore. Pulse was sure of it. But Petal was no better at accepting rejection than Pulse was, so the two kept trying unsuccessfully to attract the attention of the one they loved.
I'm not as bad as she is, Pulse decided. When Blade gets here, I'll see if she changes her mind about that jerk… but if not, I'm leaving. After all, Petal had waited three years for Blade. Pulse would not wait so long for her.
He would give her only one more chance.
* * *
Tab looked up immediately at the sound of skates hitting the ground. He was relieved to see Tip, crouching from the impact as she skated over to him.
"You okay?" she asked.
Spark dropped into Dark Storm's home, followed by… could it really be?
Tab's turquoise eyes widened. "Speed?"
The boy looked up at him, his expression of surprise mirroring Tab's. "Well, Tab, it really is you. I wondered what happened to ya."
Tip was watching the exchange, confusion in her eyes as she saw the look on Tab's face, then the identical one on Speed's. "You two know each other?"
"Yeah, kinda," Tab muttered. "We grew up together."
Cat came grinding down the ladder in an uncharacteristically civilized manner, followed by Yoyo. Tab did not notice his friend until Yoyo greeted him with his traditional, "Yo!"
"Hey," Tab replied, almost forgetting about Speed. "What're you doing here?"
"Came to look for you, yo," Yoyo answered. He looked from Tab to Speed, as if remembering what Speed had mentioned earlier. "Do you guys know each other?"
Tab nodded, as did Speed. Comprehension spread over Spark's face. "Oh, I remember you!" she exclaimed. "You guys used to be best friends!"
Both Tab and Speed looked away from each other. "Yeah," Speed said.
"I remember you now," Tab addressed Spark. "You used to be friends with…" His voice trailed off as he realized that the subject was a sensitive one with Spark.
"Yeah, I did," she murmured. "Not anymore."
Always ready to escape an unpleasant situation, Tip turned to Tab. "You never answered me. Are ya feeling any better?"
"A bit," Tab said.
"Good. Maybe we'll be able to get rid of you in a few days then."
Tab tried to pretend he was offended. Yoyo was looking from Tip to Tab and grinning. Noticing him, Tip inquired, "What's so funny?"
"You two," he answered.
Tip's cheeks flushed pink, as did Tab's. "What's that supposed to mean?" Tab demanded, looking away from Tip.
Yoyo shrugged. "Whatever ya take it to mean, yo."
Tip could think of nothing to say, so she gave up and sat down on the floor. Spark joined her. "Boy, I'm tired," she sighed.
Bracing his back against the wall, Speed slid to the floor. He felt suddenly drained of energy, as if the day had held too much excitement.
It was Cat who voiced what everyone else was thinking. "Let's get some sleep," she suggested, and the idea was met with agreement all around. Cat herself was first to fall asleep, followed by Spark and Speed, who stayed next to each other. Tip found a spot for Yoyo, made sure Tab was asleep, and finally dropped off herself.
* * *
(A/N: Remember the Romantic Energies? Well, they're BACK! …I've had too much caffeine… sorry…)
Hand was jolted out of his sleep by the sound of the phone ringing. He was the lightest sleeper of the Romantic Energies, and from what he could tell, he was the only one who had been awakened. Soft, steady snoring, Hand wasn't sure who from, confirmed his assumptions.
After fumbling with the phone for a few seconds and cursing at it, he held it up to its proper position and muttered none too pleasantly, "Hello?" He frowned then, sure he recognized the reply. "Just a moment, please." Putting the phone face-down, he crawled over and gently shook the sleeping girl a few feet away from him.
"Black Rose!"
Eyes blinking open at the sound of her name, Black Rose gave Hand a sleepy smile. "Oh, hello," she murmured. "What is it?"
"I know it's really early, but there's a phone call for you."
"Who is it?" Black Rose inquired, noting that Hand's voice seemed a bit lower than usual and that, even in the dark, she could tell the smile he always had for her was absent. He's just tired, she told herself.
"He, um, didn't say," Hand mumbled. "You'd better get it."
Black Rose sat up. Picking up the phone, she asked suspiciously, "Hello?"
"Hello, sister," came the cool voice on the other side. "How've ya been?"
Black Rose closed her eyes. "Why're you calling me?"
"I haven't seen you in the longest time," the voice said smoothly. "But I'd like to. You can come meet me… or I could come meet you."
"No!" Black Rose exclaimed, her voice louder than she intended. "I'll meet you. When?"
She knew the answer before it came. "Now. And come alone."
"What about Snap?" Black Rose asked half-sarcastically. "You haven't seen him in the longest time either."
She heard a click and the line went dead.