This story is AU, you'll have to deal with it. I don't own Sky High, and Prince owns the title.

When Doves Cry
Chapter One

"Out of the way, Stronghold."

I flinched out of instinct at the bark directed at me, but didn't have enough time to get out of the way as Lash went storming by me. His shoulder hit mine, and the force of his almost accidental shove almost knocked me off my feet -- and to think I was the one with super strength.

"What is with him lately?"

Layla grabbed my arm lightly to steady me, and I glanced at her.

"You noticed it too?" I asked.

For the past few days, Lash hadn't been his normal, cocky, happy in the 'dumb-dog-who-doesn't-know-any-better' way. He'd been angry, independent, and for lack of a better word depressed. Even Speed had stopped hanging out with him, not that he seemed to mind anyway.

"It's kind of hard not to." Layla said, as we started towards the building. "I mean, I'd much rather have him making his stupid jokes, then being an outright prat to you."

I furrowed my brow. "I don't even get a say in this?" I asked, gesturing to myself with one hand. "Jeez, thanks."

She gave a short laugh. "Sorry," she said, "But you actually don't mind him shoving you around like he does?"

I paused thoughtfully. "Well," I said slowly. "I'd rather him shove me around and just walk away -- rather than you know, shit-talk me and my friends and stick around." I gave a shrug. "The shorter, the better."

She thought about this for a moment, then she nodded. "That's true." She said. "That's very true."

Turning a corner inside the school, we almost ran into Speed and his new cronie -- some guy with power over water. They were busy with a few of the lower classmen, the normal 'looking for a swirly' conversation, and how they better cough up their lunch money -- typical school bully behavior; maybe not high school behavior, but what can you do?

The bus had been a little late that morning, so there wasn't much time for our socializing. Layla and I said our short farewells, and I met up with Zach, also telling him I'd see him at lunch, before I started off to class. As I was walking down the hall, not paying attention, as usual, I almost didn't see the lanky figure with the striped sleeves -- he always wore those sleeves. Of course, this was my only thought before I almost ran smack dab into him. We both froze, and I half expected him to grab me around my mid-section, and throw me out the window or something. What would happen if I were to fall off the floating island anyway?

"Sorry." I said quickly, raising my gaze to his face.

My brow furrowed just slightly at the dark tinge on his left cheek, it almost looked like a shadow of sorts. He caught me studying what was most clearly a bruise, and he sneered.

"Got a problem, Stronghold?" he asked me gruffly.

"No." I said quickly, eyes widening slightly -- had I been staring? Shit. "No, Lash, I wasn't -- I'm sorry."

A snort came from him as if he were a horse, and he shoved passed me like earlier, looking like a Lash I hadn't seen before since I'd came to Sky High -- a Lash that looked like a puppy that'd been kicked around too many times.

I took a deep breath -- you'd think I didn't have a power the way I was 'scared' of him. There was just something about Lash and the way he acted lately -- I could see him snapping and going crazy; I did not want to be the one there when that happened. I quickly hurried off to class.

"Will -- lunch is for eating."

I glanced up at Zach as he sat down at the table, tray in hand. One of my notebooks laid out open on the table in front of me, and I'd be glaring at some of the crap I'd written previously.

"I have a test after lunch," I said. "A big one."

He shrugged, but said no more as he started eating. Slowly, but surely, the table filled up, but at the sight of my 'studying', my friends didn't try to engage in any conversation with me. I was thankful for that, because at that moment I was engulfed in my own thoughts.

I was looking too much into this whole Lash thing -- there was no point. It was his problem, and not mine. But I couldn't help but wonder...

Instinct told me that this was no ordinary bruise on his cheek, and instinct told me that he wasn't 'depressed' on his own will. I just couldn't explain it, well, I could, but I didn't want to seem like I was making a big deal out of everything. I tended to do that a lot.

Tapping my pencil on the table, I glanced up and threw a look around the cafeteria. There was Speed, stuffing his face as he demanded some kid to give him more food, and ah yes, there was Warren, looking all dark and scary -- but Lash? Lash, by himself? Being quiet at a corner table? Staring at his tray full of food -- and not eating? If there was any time to make a big deal out of things, it was now. Why was I the only one who saw this as a problem?

I turned to Zach. "Did Lash get into a fight or something?" I asked.

His nose crinkled slightly as he got an expression of 'do-I-care?' on his face, but he shrugged. "I don't know," he answered. "Why?"

I shrugged as well, looking back down at my notes. "Just curious." I mumbled. Then I felt my annoyance build -- I had no idea what the words on my paper meant.

I left Mr. Medulla's class quickly, heading for the bathroom. I didn't have to go, but I hadn't finished the test, and I hated sitting in there, and feeling like an idiot as everyone else wrote their little hearts out. I slowly pushed open the door, and stopped. Lash was standing by the sinks, studying himself in the mirror, and muttering quietly. He was so engrossed in himself that he hadn't heard me come in, he didn't even hear the door as it swung shut.

I slowly took a few steps towards him, like I was fucking Crocodile Dundee or whatever his name was, sneaking up on some wild animal. As I closed the gap between us, I found he was examining the fading bruise. He touched it with his index finger and winced slightly, but then he caught sight of me in the mirror.

I saw my life flash before my eyes.

"Stronghold." he growled turning to me.

I pressed myself flat against the wall, and I was slightly surprised to see that his eyes had been watering -- the pain from him touching the bruise had been that immense. What caused that?

"Lash." I said softly.

He studied me for a moment, before turning back to the mirror, as though mentally saying: 'Fuck it'. I watched him for a moment, and his shoulders sagged as he turned to me a second time, this time less angry.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He snorted like earlier. "You wouldn't understand, man." he said shortly.

And suddenly I was struck with the feeling that I wanted to understand. His brow furrowed.

"What?" he asked.

Shit, thinking allowed again.

"I said I wanted to understand." I repeated a little louder this time.

His gaze faltered, and he looked down. "Why?" he asked, his tone proof that he was trying to keep his cool and casual facade.

I didn't answer right away, I couldn't. "I don't know." I said, finally.

He nodded, and then he shook his head, getting ready to walk away.

"Who did it?" I asked.

He stopped again, and he kept his gaze fixed on the tile floor. I took a deep breath, I didn't know if what I was doing was smart or not.

"Your dad?"

His head lifted sharply, and his eyes narrowed -- they'd started watering again. "Not everyone can have the perfect fucking family like you, Stronghold!" he exclaimed, voice cracking slightly.

Before I could say anything, he shoved passed me for the third time that day, and left the bathroom. I stayed there, standing against the wall, and processing things over in my mind. Why did I care so much? I didn't know, but I didn't worry about the answer to that. Why in the Hell was I the only one who did care though? That was the question I wanted answered.