Settle in kids, this is a bit of a long one, and I hope you think it's worth it.

Crush

Chapter 5

Problem Children

It was early afternoon before Will and Warren had finished cleaning up the front porch of the Stronghold house from Layla's vegetable vengeance. Will had offered the use of the shower for Warren to clean up, but he said he had to get going. After he left Will realized that all Warren had talked and asked questions about was Layla. Had he been trying to get Will to think about her?

After cleaning himself up Will was in the kitchen, making himself a couple of enormous sandwiches using every piece of cold cuts and cheese he could find. As he worked he turned on the radio, but didn't really pay attention to it as all his thoughts were on eating.

"…are encouraged to avoid city center as what appears to be a giant flying octopus is building a nest atop city hall…"

Will wolfed down the sandwiches, following them with a whole apple pie as he polished off another gallon of milk. He'd never been a big eater before, but apparently the workout Victoria had put him through yesterday had really jump-started his metabolism.

Once finished he decided to fly over and see if Victoria was home. It would be great to see her again, and he knew Layla REALLY didn't want to see him for at least a couple of days.

He carefully looked to see that no one was around, then quickly flew straight up to get as high as he could before he could be spotted. He then leveled off at about 1000 feet so only someone actually looking up intending to see him would.

Will was cruising along, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness as well as the wind in his face and was completely unprepared for what happened next.

An open, full garbage dumpster came flying straight up, hitting Will just right so that he was inside it and slammed through its contents to hit the steel bottom. The impact also made the lid slam shut.

Will was in the dark, unable to breathe in the reeking mess and lost his concentration. Trapped in the dumpster, he plummeted down.

The dumpster slammed into the ground, splitting open from the deafening impact and spraying garbage everywhere.

Will staggered to his feet, completely disoriented and reeking of filth. This was not his day.

He looked to see a large figure looming before him just as a fist slammed into his jaw. Will literally saw stars not just from the impact, but the blinding pain was like a handful of burning, electrically charged porcupine quills being jabbed into his face, twisted, then yanked out fiercely. Will dropped to the ground, stunned. He was on his hands and knees when his vision cleared and he saw his attacker.

He was a young man, probably only a year or two older than Will. His spiked hair sprayed out in all directions and was bleached yellow-white with a bad dye job as his black roots still showed. He wore wraparound sunglasses that hid his eyes, but nothing could cover the arrogant sneer on his face. His skin was a deep bronze color, and there was no evident tan line as he didn't wear a shirt, displaying a monstrously over-muscled physique that rippled and flexed with every breath he took. Strange tribal tattoos decorated his thick forearms, leading to two large hands encased in fingerless black leather gloves. He wore tight black leather pants and heavy work boots complete with steel toes.

"Well, well," sneered the ogre, "If it ain't little Willie Stronghold. Glad you could "drop in"."

"Witty and fashion conscious," thought Will, "just great."

"Who are you supposed to be?" Will asked as he spit out some coffee grounds.

"The name is Paine, Willie boy, MISTER Paine."

The name froze Will in place.

"Pain…as is Royal Pain?"

"Well, no," said the brute, "mine's spelled with a silent "e" on the end."

"Are you Gwen's brother?"

"Nope," he grinned evilly as he cracked his knuckles, "Victoria's."

"Either way I'm screwed," thought Will.

Layla went to the Paper Lantern and found Warren was not there. Mrs. Ling, the owner and head cook, told her Warren was home with a doctor's excuse; "bad day at school," she said with a wink. Layla wondered if the woman knew the truth, but didn't have time to question her.

She knew the address where Warren lived, and found a small, humble old apartment building down by the docks. She found the apartment number after climbing a couple of flights of stairs, and knocked on the door.

Warren opened the door a crack, his eyes bleary from just waking up.

"Yeah?"

"Hey sleepy head," smiled Layla, noticing from what she could see of him that Warren didn't have a shirt on.

"Huh? You? Just a second…"

Warren shut the door and Layla heard him leave and return a moment later. The door opened again and he stood in his customary sleeveless shirt and jeans. Even barefoot Layla couldn't help but notice how tall he was, and resisted the urge to run her fingers through his already tousled hair.

"What's up," he asked, already looking like he was ready to fall asleep on his feet.

"I just thought I'd come by and see how you were," said Layla, coming in and looking around the apartment. It was also very humble with comfortable furniture and a modest entertainment center. Many pictures lined the walls, and she was instantly drawn to the wedding portrait of Warren's parents; how beautiful his mother was in her wedding dress and his father was so handsome in his tuxedo. She doubted it was the same tux that Warren had worn to homecoming, as his father was a huge man taller than him.

"So?" she asked.

"So what?"

"So how ARE you?"

"I'm alive," he half-smiled, "despite Boomer's best efforts."

"I doubt coach was trying to kill you," smiled Layla, "he's just…"

"An a-hole?"

"I was going to say loud mouthed jerk, but…"

"So?"

"So what?"

"So now you know how I am. You can go."

"Don't be rude to your friend, young man," came a commanding voice from another room.

If Layla had been chewing gum, she would have swallowed it.

Into the room walked Angelica Peace, Warren's mother. She was tall enough to look her son in the eye, and every inch of her statuesque form was that of a queen, totally out of place in the apartment. Her snowy hair was pulled back in a simple braid that reached her waist, and her own green eyes seemed to glow from within. Dressed in even a simple light blue dress suit she was stunning. She looked young enough to be Warren's older sister, not his mother.

"I'm sorry,' she smiled, lighting up the room, "he's always grumpy when he first wakes up."

"Then he must nap a lot," smiled Layla, "he's been grumpy since I first met him."

"You must be Layla," Angelica said, taking Layla's hands and looking her over, "Warren has told me all about you."

"He HAS?" Layla shot Warren a quick look and noticed he was blushing.

"And you are as lovely as he said."

Now it was Layla's turn to blush.

"I'm glad you came to visit," she said, "I couldn't stand the thought of Warren sitting around all day when it's so beautiful outside."

"Thank you Mrs.…" Layla didn't know how to address her.

"It's alright dear," Angelica said, "I am still Mrs. Angelica Battle, though Warren and I use my maiden name. Just call me Angelica."

"Thank you…Angelica," said Layla.

"Warren," she turned to her son, "go shower and take Layla somewhere nice for lunch. I'll keep her company until you get back."

Warren got a worried look on his face.

"What are you going to talk about?"

"I'm your mother," she grinned, "what do YOU think? Now hurry before I break out the baby pictures."

Warren as off like a shot down the hall and the door to the bathroom slammed shut behind him.

Will ducked the first wild swing and came back up to punch his opponent in the stomach. Though a good punch, his abdominal muscles were like steel plates and he was barely winded while Will felt another shock of agony where his fist had touched, igniting all the nerves up to the elbow.

"Good shot Willie," grinned Paine, "but I bet it hurt you more than me. See, my skin gives off a low-level energy field like an electric eel. It affects the nerves of anyone I touch or who touches me…and it hurts like hell."

He slugged Will in his shoulder, sending another shock of agony into the same arm.

"Invulnerability doesn't help," he continued, "because if you can feel, I can hurt you."

Will then wished he'd has his mom teach him martial arts, they'd come in handy right now. But that would still mean making contact with his opponent and getting fried again, unless…

Will got an idea…to test it he started dancing around, staying out of Paine's reach. When the punk finally got frustrated enough, he bellowed like a bull and charged. At the last second Will flew up into the air, hovered at head height, and kicked him in the jaw.

There was no pain as Will's foot was covered by his tennis shoe.

Paine's head snapped back as his glasses flew off. He stood there stunned for a second, then shook his head and wiped some drool from his chin. He then glared at Will with the same deep blue eyes Victoria had, startling Will.

"Sweet move, Willie," snarled Paine, "but you'll have to do better."

He then grabbed Will by his ankle, trying to pull him down, and his pain touch was useless as Will's leg was covered by his heavy denim jeans. Will was glad he didn't wear shorts right then.

Will flew up into the air as his foe tried to grab him with his other hand. Once high enough, Will tried the same mid-air spin his mother could do, becoming a blur as he spun faster and faster until Paine lost his grip and went flying off.

Once Will felt the grip gone, he slowed down and stopped but found himself extremely dizzy from the stunt. He didn't see Paine anywhere nearby, so he landed as best he could, still woozy.

"Will! Will!" He heard a familiar voice.

It was Victoria. She was wearing a green blouse and jeans that looked painted on but still very nice; her hair was pulled back by a braid woven with silver wire that accentuated her black hair, and she wore sandals revealing her manicured toenails.

"Are you okay? I saw the whole thing."

"Yeah, I'm…okay…."

He then fell to the ground.

Layla and Angelica chatted about a few things before Layla finally used the opportunity given to her.

"I met someone this morning," she said, "a boy…a young man…who used a ring of some kind to make himself look and sound like Warren."

Angelica's face went pale for a moment. "Did you learn his name?"

"Marduke…Mandragore."

Angelica sat back, her mind racing.

"Did he try to do anything…say anything?"

Layla took a deep breath and told her everything, even about Will and Victoria.

"Be very careful Layla," said Angelica after hearing the entire story, "I don't know why Lucretia has taken such an interest in all of you, but she is very cunning, manipulative, and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. I just don't know what it is this time, but I have a suspicion…"

"What about Victoria and Marduke?"

"I don't think either one of them is a threat, despite who their parents are."

"Marduke told me Dr. Mandragore saved Warren's life when he was little."

"Yes he did, and I'll always be grateful to him for that. I've never thought he did it to try to atone for his crimes. The old devil actually looked upon Warren's father as a friend instead of the usual hero/villain relationship, and he helped Warren because he wanted to."

"That's how Marduke talked about it."

Angelica smiled. "Apparently also having children of their own seems to have taken the venom out of both of them…but always remember Layla, that Barnabas and Lucretia are still snakes. Treat them with caution and respect."

Warren came in, dressed in a different sleeveless shirt, singed jeans and boots.

"Doesn't he wear anything else?" asked Layla.

"Not as long as I've known him," replied Angelica.

Warren rolled his eyes and headed for the door, grabbing his jacket off a coat rack next to the door.

"Have a good time kids," smiled Angelica, "but Layla, remember what I said…stay close to Warren and be careful."

Layla nodded as she and Warren stepped out into the hallway.

"What did you two talk about," he asked nonchalantly.

"How cute you were as a baby."

"No you didn't."

"Mm-hm. Showed me pictures too."

"No."

"You had the cutest dimples."

He only grunted.

"And the ones on your face still aren't bad either," she grinned.

Mr. Paine looked around, wondering where he was and how he could get back to Will.

Then he heard it.

"Balthazar Agamemnon Mandragore!"

He was afraid of only five things in his young life. The voice he heard belonged to three of them. He slowly turned, and there she was.

"Hi Mom," he said, once again a scared five year old caught stealing cookies.

"Don't you "Hi Mom" me, young man!" Lucretia Mandragore was fit to be tied and, as usual, it was her middle son who was responsible for her state of agitation. She stood in the middle of the alleyway, looking completely out of place in her immaculate black dress, high heels and blood red scarf draped across her shoulders.

"What in the Nine Hells did you think you were doing?"

"But Mom, he's a little Sky High punk and…"

"I'm not talking about that," she snarled, "though we'll get to that later! I mean just look at you…what is with that atrocious hair and those tacky leather clothes? You make a mockery of all those lovely goth children out there by running around like a shirtless heathen brawling in the streets. And just WHERE did you get those muscles?"

"Radioactive steroids," mumbled Balthazar, for the first time ashamed of his powerful physique as he tried to scrunch down, wishing he had a coat or something to cover himself.

"I don't believe this," said Lucretia, throwing her hands up in the air, "we let you out of the house to go to the west coast so you could "find yourself" and THIS is what you found. Now I like the tattoos mind you, but why you got radioactive steroids when you have a perfectly good genetic manipulation machine in your little brother's lab is beyond me."

From thin air the family limousine appeared, the back door opening by itself.

"Get in the car," said Lucretia, "we are going home, young man."

Balthazar almost protested, but he swallowed his pride and followed his mother into the car. Once inside he received a smack upside his head by his older brother Marduke.

"Way to impress Victoria's boyfriend beach boy," said Marduke.

"Yeah," replied Balthazar, "at least I can take him, which is more than you can say. And why do you smell like watermelons?"

"Enough you two," hissed Lucretia, her mind racing to find a way to save this entire situation.

"Hi Balth," said Loki, popping up over the middle seats to greet his brother.

"What's HE doing here?" asked Balthazar, surprised to see his little brother on the loose.

"Your father saw fit that Loki spend this lovely day out of the castle. Besides, he seems to have…misplaced…another of his pets and he is out looking for it."

"What, this one doesn't leave a big enough trail of destruction to follow?"

"It flies," grinned Loki. "I like your new look, Balth. It's freaky."

"Thanks," said Balthazar. At least someone in the family had a kind word for him.

"Oh, please don't sulk dear," said Lucretia as she reached over and tried to straighten the tangled mess that was Balthazar's hair with her hand. He had always been a bit of a problem child, but that was mostly due to "middle child syndrome" and Lucretia did not love him any less than the others.

"We'll at least get your hair touched up so it looks decent. You are quite handsome as a blond."

"Thanks," said Balthazar, eating up the attention like candy.

"But that is still no excuse for attacking William like that. You could have ruined everything."

Balthazar seemed to deflate like a balloon again. Why did his mom have to run hot and cold?

"Balthazar," said Lucretia, knowing full well how sensitive her second born son was, "I'm just worried that Victoria's chances of having a relationship with William may have been jeopardized by your…eagerness. I know you didn't mean any harm."

"Except hitting him with a ton of garbage then trying to beat the snot out of him with his "pain punch", you mean," said Marduke, who was also upset to see so much hard work being wasted but was not as caring about his brother's feelings.

"Marduke," said Lucretia, "you are in no position to criticize your brother. He at least knew nothing about this. You, however, deliberately went against my wishes and used your ring to get close to Will and gain information on Layla. And do I really need to guess why?"

Marduke went pale as a sheet for a moment, and then turned red with embarrassment under his mother's all-knowing gaze. Did she really know about his sudden feelings for Layla, feelings that were only hours old but quickly gaining in strength?

Lucretia sighed heavily, and then looked at her two oldest boys while the youngest scrambled over the back of his seat to join them.

"My sons," she smiled, "whatever shall I do with you?"

Victoria helped Will to his feet, heedless of the reeking smell coming from him. She then began gently picking pieces of refuse still stuck in his hair.

"Are you really okay?"

"Yeah," said Will, not really sure but not wanting to worry Victoria, "yeah, I'm okay."

"I'm so sorry," said Victoria, "I'm going to strangle Balthazar when I get home. He's not even supposed to be in town right now."

"Victoria," said Will, "I think we need to talk about a few things."

"Oh no," said Victoria, "are you going to dump me?"

Will was surprised. He didn't even know they were going together, and now she was so afraid of rejection it was painful to watch.

"No," he said, "that's not what I mean at all. Your brother tried to pound me into the ground just because I was seeing you, and I have no idea who he is. I don't even know who you really are, but you know a lot about me. Why is that?"

"I…" she started, nervous and unable to look him in the eyes, "I…studied you."

"Studied me?" said Will, surprised by her answer. "Just what does that mean?"

"I've been…watching you for quite a while, Will. I first learned about you when I read mother's report about the fight between you and Warren in the cafeteria…when you first powered up."

"Report? Why would your mother have a report on that?"

"She…likes to keep track of things. That's how I know so much about you. I know about the homecoming dance where you saved the school from Royal Pain, I know about you and Warren being the reigning champs at "Save the Citizen", I know…about Layla."

"Victoria," said Will, really wanting to understand what was going on, "what are you not telling me?"

"My last name," she finally whispered, "is Mandragore."

Will's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Mandragore…as in Dr. Mandragore, the super villain who was always fighting Warren's dad? You're his…"

"His daughter," admitted Victoria, for once in her life ashamed of her heritage.

"And your mother…who likes to keep track of things?"

"Lucretia Mandragore…the Shadowitch."

"Oh this is just GREAT!" Will finally lost it.

"First I get all lovey dovey with a girl who turned out to be one of my dad's old enemies turned into a major hottie, and now I'm dating the daughter of two of the world's most dangerous villains. My taste in girls SUCKS!"

Will heard a sound.

Victoria was crying. For all her big muscles and stunning beauty, she was still just a young girl in the throes of love, and now the object of her desire had just insulted her.

"Victoria," said Will, suddenly feeling worse than he smelled, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. It's just that things have been crazy the past…well, since you came into my life."

Victoria started crying even harder. Will mentally kicked himself.

"No, that's not what I meant," said Will, trying to put his arms around her but realizing he couldn't encircle her broad shoulders. "I meant that…things are happening so fast. I've been in two fights, one with your brother and…"

"Both of them," said Victoria through her sniffles, "were my brothers."

"You mean that guy at LIMBO…"

"My oldest brother Marduke."

"Okay, so when does you dad show up driving some big death machine to pound on me?"

"Don't be silly Will," said Victoria, having gotten a hold of herself, "Daddy doesn't do that sort of stuff anymore. He'd probably just send a giant robot after you, and even then only if you really hurt my feelings."

"Like I just did?"

"Maybe."

"And if I said I was sorry?"

"He…might not. If you said it the right way."

"Like this?" Will pulled Victoria to him and kissed her, holding her there for several moments as he drank in the taste of her strawberry lips and her perfume.

When he finally released her she was panting for breath. Whether because of the kiss or his smell was unknown.

"I…think that takes care of any robot launch," said Victoria, her still wet eyes now glittering with joy.

"I don't care who your parents are," said Will, "I don't care if your brothers hate me and want to beat on me everyday…by the way, are there any more brothers?"

"Only Loki, but he's only eight. Though he might send a giant monster after you just because he's a little brat at times."

"Sounds like I'll get lots of practice fighting the forces of evil then," grinned Will.

"Well, not evil. Naughty, grumpy and needing a butt kicking maybe, but not evil."

Will shrugged. It would get him in shape if nothing else.

"Yo dude, what's up?"

Will turned and saw Zach, Magenta and Ethan standing there staring at him and Victoria.

"Uh, Hi guys," said Will, his face reddening, "how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," said Magenta, who's crossed arms, stiff posture and narrowed eyes were all signs she was not too happy about what she was seeing. She and Layla were good friends, and seeing Will in the arms of another girl was not conducive to lightening her usual dark moods.

"Uh…what are you doing here?"

"We…uh…we were hoping to spot that giant flying octopus that's been all over the news this afternoon," said Ethan, "when we ran into you and…someone else."

"Who?" asked Will, getting a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Me," said an all-too familiar voice behind him.

Will and Victoria both turned to see Layla and Warren standing there. Warren had a confused look on his face as if wondering what Will was doing soaked in garbage and standing in the street making out with someone who had to be the Hulk's little sister.

The look on Layla's face was one Will knew all too well.

"Will," she said too quietly, "do you know who she is?"

"Yeah," said Will, "this is Victoria Mandragore. Victoria, this is…"

"Layla," smiled Victoria as innocent as a lamb, "I know all about her. Hi."

"Hi?" echoed Layla, "you come lumbering into our lives and disrupt everything, steal my boyfriend and act like you can be all friendly?"

Even Warren stepped back away from Layla. He was NOT going to get in the middle of this. Will, however, did not have that kind of good sense.

"Easy Layla," said Will, trying to step between the two girls, "she doesn't mean any harm. Not like you anyway.'

"What does THAT mean?"

"Come one Layla, you nearly trashed the front porch of my house just because you were mad at me. My folks will kill me."

"I've got a feeling they'll have to stand in line," said Warren.

"Come on Warren," said Will, "you saw the mess she made, how about backing me up here?"

"Whoa," said Warren, holding up his hands, "don't drag me into this Stronghold. I haven't seen you since gym yesterday.

"By the way…" he turned to Victoria, "are your parents my parents' old enemies?"

Victoria nodded her head.

"Then shouldn't WE be making out? That's usually how it works, isn't it?"

"What IS it with everybody?" Victoria yelled, "Yes your gorgeous, yes your hot, yes I know about your nipple rings, but I LOVE WILL!"

Everybody was stunned.

Warren turned three shades of red as he crossed his arms over his chest before he realized everyone wasn't focused on him.

"There," said Victoria, "I finally said it, and I don't care who knows it. Now all your friends know it. Now you know it."

Will was dumbstruck as much as everyone else. It took him a moment before he could finally say anything.

"Really?"

"Oh yes," said Victoria, grabbing his hands and holding them tenderly in her powerful grip. "Yes I do. I developed a crush on you from reading about you and seeing pictures of you. You were so strong and heroic saving Warren from Speed in "Save the Citizen", you captured Royal Pain, something your dad never did. And once I got to meet you face to face…got to talk to you and work out with you…when you carried me through the evening sky in your arms…when we kissed…I know I love you.

"Well, well, ain't that sweet."

It was Paine again…rather Balthazar. Marduke was with him, backed up by Drake and Aaron. All of them were glaring at Will.

"I see you got some buddies, little Willie," sneered Balthazar, "good thing I got my big bro and his buds with me here."

"Back off Balthazar," said Victoria, "you leave Will and his friends alone."

"Uh-uh Vicky," said Balthazar, "we're going to "initiate" little Willie into the family. But his buddies can watch."

Ethan tugged on Zach's arm.

"There's another one, over there."

Ethan had spotted Loki sneaking up behind them, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Dude, you mean Eddy Munster over there? What can he do?"

"Let's cut him off before we find out the hard way."

Zach and Ethan both moved to intercept Loki who, though he stopped, was still grinning.

"Okay little guy," said Zach, "where do you think you're going?"

"I wanna fight too."

"No offense," said Ethan, "but there's no way you've powered up by now. How would you fight us?"

Loki pointed up.

Zach and Ethan…everyone in fact…first felt the wind, then the shadow fell across them.

As one they all looked up.

A fifty-foot long octopus with a pair of huge, bat-like wings growing from the sides of its body hovered above them. Its bizarre skin kept changing colors and textures from smooth to thorny and back as it looked upon them with pulsing yellow eyes.

"Dude," Zach half-whispered, "that is wrong on so many levels."

Loki pointed at the Sky High kids.

"Sic 'em!"

With a deafening roar the octopus turned bright red and began to descend.

To be continued

(The events in The Night the Devil Cried storyline)