Chapter 13: All That Matters
Tyler sat on top of the Transamerica Pyramid–it had became his favorite spot to just sit and think about things, be it life, him being Magna Man, or his favorite subject, Chelsea. His thoughts also went to Lithium Flower; Sabrina. She had put up one hell of a fight, testing his limits. Now, she was free to live her life as a normal person, and though he was content with it, being normal was something he could never be.
"It's worth it," he said to himself.
His thoughts then went to Chelsea. Since she had parted ways with Ben, she seemed to loose the spring in her step that she had. After being the catalyst for one of Jennifer's break ups, he knew they were tough to endure–he caught her flame messing around with someone and Tyler took matters into his own hands by beating the guy senseless. When Jennifer found out, she didn't speak to Tyler for a week, but once the truth was revealed, she and him had never been closer friend wise. She was like the sister he never had.
That was two years ago.
The sky started to change colors as the sun began its descent into the ocean. From his perch, Tyler could see the police as well as construction and maintenance crews busy at work from the events earlier down at the wharf. The destroyed streetcar had been hauled away hours ago and now, even traffic on Embarcadero was flowing, though slowly as most of the people were gazing at Lithium–Sabrina's–and his own handy work.
"Well, they were right in those tourist brochures. They do have some nice sunsets here," he said to himself as he pulled his mask up over his face, then lifted off, heading back home.
Once there, he checked the area, making sure no one was around, deactivated his powers, then landed, pretending to be an Olympic gymnast.
"Tens for me baby," he said to no one in particular.
The neighborhood was quiet, especially for a Saturday evening. Tyler decided to hitch up Kia and take her for a walk down to the field.
Chelsea chatted on the phone with both Raven and Jennifer in a three way conversation. From her bedroom window, she saw Tyler walk by with his dog. Quickly, she said her "goodbye" then hung up the phone, put her shoes on, the raced downstairs and out the front door.
"Tyler! Hey!" she called out running up behind him.
"Chelse, what's up," Tyler called out with a smile.
"This your dog? She's beautiful," she cooed, kneeling down before Kia and scratching her behind the ear.
"Yeah. Beautiful," he murmured, actually referring to Chelsea.
Her reddish hair seemed to frame a perfect face, accentuating her brilliant smile. Kia sniffed at her a moment, then placed her head on Chelsea's shoulder.
"Oh she is so sweet," Chelsea purred.
Lucky, Tyler thought, scowling at his dog, which instantly morphed back into a smile when Chelsea look in his direction. "Hey, we were gonna head to the field. You wanna come with?"
"Sure. That would be cool," she said, standing up.
The two walked chatting, Tyler saying something that would cause Chelsea to either smile or all out laugh, and vise versa. Once at the field, behind the school, Tyler grabbed a tennis ball, unhitched Kia from her leash, then tossed the ball, which Kia promptly chased after.
"Y'know Chelse, there's something I've been wondering. We go to Bayside High School, right? Well where's the bay? The school's no where near it."
"That is so right," she exclaimed. I've been wondering that for years."
"Yeah. Strange stuff, man, strange stuff."
After the two threw the tennis ball to Kia a few times, Tyler finally worked up just enough courage to say something.
"Um... I-I, er, never mind." he grumbled, wanting to say something special.
"What were you gonna say?" Chelsea asked as she tossed the ball once again.
"Nothing," Tyler quickly said.
You nancy-assed pansy. Just say you like her and get it over with, he mentally conversed with himself.
"You were going to say something," she retorted, then jabbed him in his side with her finger. "Spill it."
"Never!" he cried defiantly.
Tyler knew how to get out of a tight situation when his or someone else's life depended on it. In fact, he seemed to think better when pressured. However, whenever he was around Chelsea, all of that; his training, his skills, everything went out the window.
She continued to jab him with her finger with the intent to annoy him to the breaking point where he just couldn't take it anymore.
"I can keep this up all day, you know," Chelsea informed casually, gradually poking his rib harder.
"Like to see you try," Tyler acknowledged in a challenging tone.
A few seconds later, Tyler gave up. Not only was it getting on his nerves, but her fingernail was sharp and starting to leave an imprint in his side.
"Alright, alright." Tyler sighed once, took a deep breath, then said, "I like your hair. Red's my favorite color."
He turned his head, as if looking at a video camera, then cursed to himself wishing he could have really said what he was thinking.
"You held out... just to say you like my hair?" she asked sarcastically, then grinned. "I think you were trying to flirt with me."
"Me? N-no, I-I didn't–I mean–" Tyler stammered, but was abruptly cut off when Chelsea put Kia's leather leash over his shoulders, then pulled down, forcing his lower half to bend, bringing his eyes level with her own.
"I like your eyes. Green's my favorite color," she said smoothly, lifting an eyebrow showing interest.
Tyler could smell that she had recently sprayed some Kissy Fresh mint spray in her mouth.
"Well, I'll make it a note to sport more green, then," he whispered, their faces just a millimeter apart. "I actually had a dream that was kind of like this."
"Whoa. Were we at the park? 'Cause since we're at the park now, it would be like you could see the future or something," she quietly said.
Tyler could smell the aroma of strawberry gloss on her lips. Mixed with the mint of her breath, it was soothing, almost hypnotizing in a sense. Suddenly, he sensed something else. Something dangerous.
Though they were the only two people visible in the area, there was another presence. Both he and Chelsea were surrounded.
"Look at the two love birds," a gruff voice laced with a thick New Jersey accent announced.
Quickly, Chelsea and Tyler stood erect and wide eyed. Kia sniffed the air, then growled. Just then, as if materializing from the shadows, twenty people, all adorned in black hooded sweatshirts, emerged as if from nowhere.
"Oh my God," she barely breathed, fear brewing within.
As reassuringly as he could, he said, "Don't worry, Chelse. We'll be just fine."
The advancing crowd laughed, then one person mocked, "He's gonna protect his lil' bitch, eh? Who's gonna protect you?"
Tyler recognized that voice for some reason. It was then, it hit him that these were the same bunch of thugs who Tyler took on when he first got his powers. But instead of five, there was four times as many.
"So," Tyler huffed, "you needed three months an twenty people just to take on a kid? Oh, bravo to you, big boy."
He could feel Chelsea tremble with fear. This was no place for her, and he'd go down fighting just to make sure she was okay. If he could transform, he could just fly her, Kia, and himself away, then deal with them. But he needed to keep that secret, even from Chelsea. Guess I gotta do this the old school way, he thought.
"Tyler, please, I wanna get out of here," she began to sob, tears running down her cheeks.
"We'll get out of here, I promise. Just trust me," he whispered, then faced the gang leader. "I'll make you a deal, let her go, and you guys take me on."
"How about I say no, and add a fuck you to that." The gang leader scoffed, resulting in a laughing murmur from his followers.
"Well... then I guess there's only one way to finish this," Tyler growled. "Chelsea, I need you to one thing: get help."
The leader sneered, "get 'em, boys. Save the red head bitch, though. I want her to personally fix my twig and giggle berries."
"You guy's just never learn, don't you?" Tyler slyly grinned, then shouted, "Kia, get Chelse outta here, double quick!"
Kia barked, then attacked the nearest gang member, clamping her canines into his arms, before the other members could attack, Kia let go then ran off, Chelsea following close behind. Tyler had just enough time to make sure the two got far enough away before the gang turned to fight him. With angelic grace, Tyler snapped his leg high into the air, his foot impacting into the man's skull causing him to collapse in a crumpled heap.
Following though his kick, he planted, then spun around snapping his leg low to the ground, knocking down three more thugs by sweeping their legs out from under them.
"Gad damn it, boys! Kill that mother fucker, now!"
Two of the thugs pulled out weapons–9 millimeter pistols. Before they could aim and fire, Tyler wrenched the weapons from their hands, snapping the bones in ther fingers and wrists from the sheep force. He then bent the two pistols as if they were nothing more than softened plastic toys.
"You wanted to kill me? You've done a piss poor job so far," Tyler roared, waiting for his next attacker.
Chelsea and Kia ran to a safe distance. Chelsea then fumbled in her pockets for her cell phone. The fear she felt caused her hands to shake violently as she plucked it out. Due to the shaking, she dropped it onto the sidewalk, causing her to sob even more.
Noticing that Chelsea was in terror, Kia wagged her tail, then with her snout, pushed the phone back to Chelsea.
"Good girl, Kia," Chelsea managed to say, still distraught.
She flipped the screen up and satisfied that she had enough battery power left, she punched in 9-1-1, then hit CALL. Off in the distance, she could hear fist and foot impact with flesh and muffled cries of pain.
"Please be okay, Tyler," she wished.
Two gang members leapfrogged over the others. Both moved their arms in lightning quick movents as they were highly skilled martial artists. Trying to intimidate him, the two fighters sliced at the air then high kicked multiple times in a synchronized manner.
"Not bad." Tyler mused. "But now it's my turn."
Tyler went into a classic kung fu ready stance. He then began to hop and prance around, reminiscent of Bruce Lee. With his thumb, he quickly touched the tip of his tongue then swiped the bottom of his nose. Next he let out a high pitched "Whuaaa" cry that gradually became louder as he was ready for action.
The two thugs advanced, cartwheeling to him, then jumping and kicking as the same time. Tyler dodged left, then right, back flipped, and crouched down low, spreading his legs wide apart and avoiding a blow to the head. It was now his turn to go on the offensive and he snapped up, then side kicked one of the assailants causing the man to go flying.
The remaining kung fu fighter watched as his partner flew, then landed onto the track with a whump. Wildly, he went after Tyler, just trying to land a kick or hit. As he tried to scissor kick Tyler, Tyler grabbed one of his legs, then with ease, bent it at an odd angle, snapping the stiff bones like toothpicks. The last kung fu fighter roared in pain as he felt his bones splinter within.
The rest of the crowd decided to dogpile Tyler, thinking there was no way he could take them all on at once. Tyler let them. A few lucky punches managed to connect on his face and some of the thugs bit and clawed like animals. He felt a bit of blood trickle down his forehead.
Tyler was mad now.
Channeling his energy, he closed his eyes and focused. More clawing and biting ensued, but Tyler paied no mind to it. Once he felt ready, Tyler let out a loud cry, then exploded his body out. One unlucky thug who got caught in his grasp was thrown into a light tower pole, while a few others made acquaintances with a tree. The rest were all knocked out cold, or pretending to be. There was only one left: the leader, who stood there watching.
"H-hey kid, you know, I was only jokin' with ya," the leader stammered as he backed away. "I wasn't really gonna fuckin' kill you or the broad."
Tyler walked forward, his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched. "Didn't I say I was going to throw you clear to Alcatraz if you messed with me again?"
"Now-now-now... there's no need for–"
"I gave you a chance to run, and you opted to stay." Tyler growled, his voice nearly three tones lower than normal.
"Y-ya not gonna kill me, are you?" The leader asked, chuckling nervously.
Tyler could hear the wail of sirens. Chelsea must have called the police. Good, he thought, then said. "No, I'm not."
Tyler then grabbed the man by the scruff of his shirt and lanced a clean punch to the leaders face, making him fall to the ground and stay there as he was knocked out cold. Tyler sat down on the thug, then sighed. Never had such emotions gotten the better of him. After a moment, Kia ran up to him and Tyler gave her a scratch on her back.
"Oh my... Tyler, you're hurt," Chelsea cried as she too ran up.
Tears flowed from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Tyler. He felt warm and soft, yet at the same time hard as steel.
"I'm fine, Chelse. Are you okay?" Tyler quietly said, still wrapped in her arms.
"I'm okay." she whispered.
"Good," he responded. "That's all that matters to me. That you're okay."