32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Love in the Fast Lane"
Chapter Two
One Week Later: Training Room
Everything was going just peachy between the two love birds. Kid Flash and Red X had really hit it off. He still declined membership with HIVE, opting to just take a communicator for emergencies instead. Red X felt like she was walking on air. She had never been so happy. Now she understood why her friends acted the way they did. She was jolted from her thoughts by a sudden pain in her arm.
Jinx: Watch it, Red X! You're lucky those things are only designed to stun!
Red X cursed her stupidity and got back into the battle. The battle robots were destroyed. As expected, Jinx was not happy with Red X's performance.
Jinx: What the hell was that!
Red X: I made a mistake. Sorry.
Jinx: Sorry! You could have LOST that arm in actual combat!
Red X: Well it wasn't actual combat! I'm fine!
Red X turned to leave, but Jinx grabbed her by her uninjured arm.
Jinx: I'm not done talking to you!
Red X pulled away.
Red X: I've got a date with Kid Flash in an hour! I have to get ready!
Jinx was getting angry now. The others looked at each other nervously. Gizmo nudged Sonic.
Gizmo: (harsh whisper) She's your girlfriend! Do something!
Sonic: (whisper) Like what!
Gizmo: (whisper) Calm her down!
Sonic sighed.
Sonic: Jinx, baby…?
Jinx: Shut. Up. SONIC!
Sonic shrank back. He turned back to Gizmo.
Sonic: Well, I tried.
Jinx finally regained enough composure to speak to Red X again.
Jinx: Red X, I'm happy for you and all, but you're letting yourself get distracted. If you can't get your head out of the clouds…I'm going to have to forbid you to see Kid Flash anymore.
Red X stared at her.
Red X: You're joking.
Jinx: Do I look like I'm joking?
A note to all you readers out there. Jinx did not look like she was joking. Just thought I'd let you know.
Red X: You can't do that! You're not my mother!
Jinx: No, but I AM your leader! I haven't done anything yet, but if I do, it'll be to keep you safe!
Red X: You…you can't…
Jinx: I can and will if you don't get your act together. Now go on. Get ready for your date. Just keep what I said in mind.
Red X stormed out of the room, furious. How dare that pink haired bitch? As if she COULD tell her who she can and cannot date! That was the single most ludicrous thing she had ever heard! She grabbed a towel and wash cloth and headed for the bathroom. Mammoth was about to enter but she shoved him out of the way.
Red X: Use the other one.
She slammed her hand on the close button, though it really lacked any real display of anger, what with the door sliding closed at normal speeds. Mammoth blinked in surprise. Krystal floated in, laying on a platform of light lazily. She stopped when she saw Mammoth.
Krystal: Why the puzzled face, Mammoth? Trying to figure out the logic behind jumbo shrimp again?
Mammoth: Red X is actin' weird.
Krystal: Oh yeah, you weren't in training today were you?
Mammoth: Nah. I couldn't sleep last night so I did a lot of training earlier.
Krystal: Oh. Anyway…
Red X's voice came from the bathroom.
Red X: Stop your damn gossiping, Krystal!
Krystal gulped and motioned for Mammoth to follow her. He did, though he really wanted to go to the friggin' bathroom. When they were far enough away, she stopped and turned back to him.
Krystal: Red X got hit by one of those battle droid's stun blasters in her arm. Jinx got all upset at her and told her that if she didn't straighten up, she'd forbid her to go out with Kid Flash.
Mammoth: Harsh.
Krystal: She had it coming. A laser in the arm could take the damn thing off, you know?
Mammoth: So was this what the bad feeling was telling you?
Krystal frowned and concentrated.
Krystal: …I don't know. It's kinda hard to focus instincts, you know?
Mammoth shrugged, indicating that he didn't know at all.
Krystal: Maybe you're right…maybe that was it.
Movie Theater
Kid Flash was really going crazy on that popcorn. After all, he's got a crazy metabolism. He noticed however, that Red X wasn't enjoying the movie as much as he was. After the movie he stopped her outside.
Kid Flash: Hey, why the long face? The movie wasn't that bad.
Red X shook her head.
Red X: It's not that. It's Jinx.
Kid Flash: What about her?
Red X: (sigh) I got hit by a stun laser in training today.
Kid Flash: Are you okay?
She nodded, rubbing her arm. It wasn't sore anymore, but it still tingled a little.
Red X: I'm fine. It's just…she said if I didn't shape up…that she'd forbid me from seeing you anymore.
Kid Flash frowned and tapped his foot rapidly.
Kid Flash: What did I do?
Red X: She thinks my being with you is distracting me.
Kid Flash: Sheesh. One lousy mistake and she jumps all over us. You were fine before, right?
Red X: Yeah…yeah! I was okay before. I make one mistake and she assumes it's because of you? That's not fair at all.
Kid Flash: Hey, speaking of fair…
He grabbed her around her waist and started running. In seconds they were at a fair.
Red X: Whoa…I'll never get used to that…where are we?
Kid Flash: A carnival, where else?
Red X: I…I've never been to one before.
Kid Flash tilted his head.
Kid Flash: Are you serious?
Red X: …yes.
Kid Flash: Well, then come on!
He grabbed her hand and they zipped over to the nearest ride.
HIVE Tower: Jinx's Room
Jinx sighed as she sketched in her book. She enjoyed drawing, particularly unicorns, something she nearly perfected as a child. There was something about watching the lines she made with her pencil slowly start to form a recognizable shape that seemed almost magical. It usually made her feel…sort of special, but not today. Maybe she was wrong to assume it was Kid Flash that made Red X screw up. It could have just been a mistake…but Red X never made mistakes. She was always on the ball, moving with almost perfect grace and unparallel skill. There was no way she could simply just "make a mistake" unless something was wrong. There had to be a reason. An illness, maybe? No, she sounded fine. Lack of sleep? That was possible, but why the lack of sleep? The answer: Kid Flash. There were times that trouble with Sonic made her stay up late at night. She put the pencil down and massaged her temples. She hated her job as leader sometimes. She knew she was capable of it. She knew what the others could do and no delusions as to how powerful she was. Her plans were sound and rarely failed. Slade chose her because of her talents, so she had little doubts in her abilities in combat. It was outside of combat that she was worried about. Did she really have the right to forbid Red X from seeing Kid Flash? She needed help with this one. She got up and left her room. She knocked on Blackfire's door. Blackfire was wise in the ways of the universe. She had traveled a lot and knew much about the way things seemed to work. Sure, she had no idea how the economy worked or anything like that, but when it came to understanding other people, she was pretty smart. Blackfire answered the door.
Blackfire: Hey, Jinxy. What can I do you for?
Jinx: …I was wondering…do you think I was wrong for threatening Red X like I did?
Blackfire: You know, that really shouldn't matter. You shouldn't have to ask people that sort of thing.
Jinx: …yeah, I know…but…do I have a right to tell her who to see like that? I mean, I may lead the team, but it's still her life.
Blackfire sighed and tapped her finger on her chin in thought.
Blackfire: Hmm…well…it IS interfering with her work on the team. So I guess that makes it valid. The real question is, will she accept your order, or will she quit?
Jinx's eyes widened.
Jinx: You think she'd quit?
Blackfire: (shrugging) Or just sneak out.
Jinx: Do you really think she'd…is that whip cream on your arm?
Blackfire blinked and looked at her arm. She hid it behind her, grinning nervously.
Blackfire: Yeah…how about that? Guess I got a little carried away with the ice cream.
Jinx: We have ice cream and nobody told me!
Jinx ran off to enjoy the delicious treat of ice cream. Blackfire shut the door.
Blackfire: That was too close.
Krystal: (eating ice cream) What was?
Blackfire: …you know, I'm not sure. You got some whip cream on your nose.
Krystal: (wiping it off) Thanks…why are we eating ice cream in your room?
Blackfire: …I don't know.
Krystal: …that's really weird.
Carnival: Inside of Farris Wheel
Red X leaned against Kid Flash as she enjoyed the view. Kid Flash had his arm around her.
Kid Flash: You know, babe…I was wondering…why DO you work with those guys anyway?
Red X: Huh? Well…uh…
She couldn't very well tell him that it was because her father set the team up in the first place.
Kid Flash: I mean, it's not like you need them. You've got the moves, you got the gadgets, and you got the devilishly handsome partner, i.e. me.
Red X: …but they need me. I can't just leave them.
Kid Flash: I see what you're saying, but if they want to try and butt into your life because of one simple mistake, then maybe they don't even WANT you.
Red X was silent. They got off the ride together.
Kid Flash: Eh, enough of the depressing stuff for a while, okay? We're supposed to be having fun.
Red X: Yeah…yeah, you're right!
Kid Flash: I'm hungry. You want something?
Red X: Uh…well…I've never actually eaten cotton candy before.
Kid Flash: Say no more.
He led her over to the food area and found them a set.
Kid Flash: Be back in a sec…
Kid Flash zipped off. He zipped back a second later.
Kid Flash: You want something to drink?
Red X: Just a lemonade I guess.
Kid Flash: You got it.
In under a minute he returned with two drinks, a thing of cotton candy, and a hot dog. Red X lifted her mask over her nose so that she could eat and drink.
Red X: How'd you do that without sending the cotton candy all over the place when you were running?
Kid Flash: Trade secret, Red. I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
Red X giggled and took a small piece of cotton candy and put it in her mouth.
Red X: Mmm…this is pretty good.
Kid Flash: (mouth full) Mmph mmm mmphm mmm mmphm?
She laughed again.
Red X: What?
He swallowed his hot dog.
Kid Flash: I said, "See what you've been missing?"
Red X: Yeah. …Kid Flash…thank you.
Kid Flash: Don't mention it. I owed you for the pizzas…and the movie…and…
Red X: No, not that. I mean…for…accepting me. It must not be easy going out with a girl whose face you've never seen. Even with your mask on, I can still make out most of your face, but mine hides it completely. You don't even know what color my eyes are.
Kid Flash: You'll show me when you're ready.
Red X: …yeah…but…
Her communicator went off. She slammed her fist down on the table.
Red X: Dammit, not now!
Kid Flash: Better answer it. Could be important.
Red X nodded and answered the communicator.
Red X: Red X.
Gizmo: Hate to interrupt, but it looks like Thunder and Lighting are at it again. They're trashing the bridge that leads out of the city.
Red X: I'm on my way.
Kid Flash: I'll come with you.
Kid Flash paused and pulled out something from his pocket.
Kid Flash: Shit…I've got trouble back home. It must be bad if the big guy is calling me. Sorry.
Red X kissed him on the cheek and pulled her mask back down.
Red X: Don't worry about it. I understand. Duty calls.
She pressed a button on her belt, calling her bike to her position. Kid Flash ran off.
END PART TWO