Just the Girl

Chapter II: Possession

By: Shadowed Replica

Disclaimer: I don't own Sky High or any of it's original characters. So me no own, you no sue! (Piper Wells is mine though!)

Full Summary: Warren has been having some trouble with his powers lately, they're out of control and now even he can feel their burn. She was being followed by the adversary of her heritage since birth; never a moment of peace. They'd both been attracted to dangerous, forbidden things. Perhaps that is why they were drawn to each other. He was her salvation and only light within the darkness; even if she refused to accept it. She was his only chance to find love and hope for some normality; though he'd never admit it.

Regular Narration

"Speech."

'Thought.'

Dream/Song (You'll know the difference)

Flashback

Change in time, etc.

(Interruption)

'I hate him!' Piper snarled mentally as she stomped her way up to her new apartment. She pulled out a solitary key and unlocked the door. With a sigh she stepped into the wide hall and closed the door behind her and dropping her small duffel bag at her feet. It was nicely furnished and everything looked neat and tidy. She gave a small smile as she thought of the people who'd let her stay the weekend with them. They were nice enough, though they did seem a bit frightened of her.

She yawned slightly, suddenly tired, and trudged over to a white recliner couch and fell on it face first. She sighed with joy as her face connected with the soft, plush material and her eyes snapped shut as her body began to relax until she was nearing the border of lovely sleep. But a ring on the phone she hadn't noticed sitting on the table next to the couch startled her awake. She answered it immediately.

"Hello?" She asked cautiously.

"Hello?" A kind and elder voice answered. "I'm sorry; did I wake you up dear?"

"That's okay, you didn't wake me. May I ask who's calling?" Piper was curious now as she waited for the reply.

"Of course, of course; I'm so sorry. I'm Ms. Chang." Chang paused for recognition and continued when she received none, "I'm the owner of the Paper Lantern dear."

For a moment Piper spaced and then it clicked, "Oh! Right; I'm sorry. I'd completely forgotten about the job! Am I late?"

Ms. Chang's laugh interrupted Piper's anxious words, "No, no, you aren't late. You actually don't start until tomorrow but I was calling to ask you if you'd like to come in a day early. We're quite busy and my niece is sick with the flu so we're a bit short-handed."

Piper sighed with relief, "Oh, yes, of course I'll help!" She said enthusiastically before she yawned silently; boy she was tired!

"Thank you very much. I appreciate it," Ms. Chang was smiling as she spoke; her tone of voice indicated such which in turn caused Piper to smile.

"No problem, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"All right then. When you get here I'll have someone show you around and help you out on your first day. See you in a few." There was a click as Ms. Chang hung up and the line went dead.

Another sigh escaped Piper's lips as she stood up and stretched slightly before yawning. 'Oh joy,' she thought sarcastically, 'This is going to be a very long day.'

It took all of ten minutes for Piper to grab her keys and the map to the Paper Lantern, lock her door, and follow the directions. She reached the restaurant in five minutes. 'Cool.' She thought absently. As she walked in, she was assaulted by the sweet scent of almond and fortune cookies, fried rice, several different meats, and a sweet scent she couldn't quite put her finger on. It made her mouth water and her stomach growl forcing her mind to remember she hadn't eaten all day.

A little laugh from beside her made her turn to see an older woman around her late forties possibly with chin-length, straight black hair and the kindest brown eyes she'd ever seen. There were defined lines around her mouth that proved she smiled a lot as she was doing at the very moment. She was a short and squat woman that looked almost frail yet healthy. "I assume you're hungry. You may eat a quick bite before you start. Just head through those doors and grab some chicken fried rice for yourself. You can eat dinner later. I'll send someone to fetch you in ten minutes, okay?"

Piper nodded happily and forced herself to calmly walk to the back of the restaurant. When she pushed open the double doors she inhaled and sighed happily before walking over to the chef, "Excuse me, but Ms. Chang said that I…" Her sentence drifted off when she realized the cook didn't understand her and gave her a weird look before continuing to create delicious Cantonese food. So she poked around and saw the chicken fried rice and ate a small plate full.

She'd just finished her plate when the double doors swung inward. She glanced up out of the corner of her eye only to receive a glare from a certain person she'd like to strangle the life out of!

Warren Peace was shocked when he first entered the kitchen and saw a familiar head of platinum blonde hair and a pair of startling green eyes. His shocked expression narrowed into a fierce glare that would have killed her if it were possible. With a satisfied mental smirk, he noticed the gauze wrap that covered her shoulder where he'd burned her earlier sticking out the top of her shirt slightly. 'Good,' he thought, 'Serves her right!'

Even though Warren disliked her with all of his being because she was a snotty little brat, he couldn't deny she was appealing to the eye; it'd be a cold day in hell when he'd admit that aloud though. She wasn't perfect and she definitely stood out with her too-bright hair and those stony eyes that were closed-off from the world. She didn't seem too friendly and he wondered why she let Layla tug her around like they were best pals. But whatever, he didn't care.

"What do you want?" Her voice was calm and yet there was a hint of arrogance underneath it that pissed Warren off in ways he'd never imagined.

His eye twitched slightly, "Watch it or next time I'll filet your ass and make sure even your own mother won't recognize your pretty face." He snarled threateningly as his hand spontaneously combusted into flame.

Her eyes went wide with his sudden lack of sense and she moved so that the doorway was blocked. Luckily the chef took a break to go smoke out back and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you out of your mind? What if someone had walked in here and saw that?!" She hissed before dumping water on his hand to put out the fire.

Warren bit the inside of his mouth when the fire consumed his hand. He could feel his calloused hand begin to grow painfully hot. He cursed mentally as his eyes flew to the door and he tried desperately to kill it. He completely ignored her scathing words and hissed in pain as the cool water doused the flame and felt both horrid and wonderful at the same time. He quickly hid his pain and snatched his hand away from her view to hide the damaged skin; it would repair itself in a few minutes. But he realized he did have a problem now; he was losing control of his powers!

As Warren snatched his hand away and all but growled at her, Piper could see a bit of burned flesh before it disappeared behind his back. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she met his glare with one of her own. "What's the matter with you?" She snapped in a quiet voice.

"Mind your own business." Warren snarled before shoving her out of his way and stalking out the door calling over his shoulder at her, "Come on."

A delicate eyebrow rose in aggravation but she followed him brushing off his attitude. She didn't care about him anyway; what did she care if he was hurt? She learned long ago that if someone didn't want help then don't help them; it would only lead to pain on her part. So she followed him, arms crossed, and her own attitude of indifference in place.

She shadowed Warren for most of the night. A couple of tables she'd been hit on several times and received tips and phone numbers she didn't want. One creepy guy kept staring at her as she walked away from him leaving an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She brushed it off as paranoia and took a table's order with Warren standing over her shoulder nit-picking anything she did wrong. By the end of the night they were tap dancing on each other's last nerve. Ms. Chang saw the tension between the two and finally separated them.

Once away from Warren, Piper had no problems whatsoever and completed several orders perfectly as well as receiving several good tips. She was a pro at feigning happiness and controlling her emotions. She could easily evaporate any foul mood the customer was in and have them smiling by the time their food was at the table.

Three hours later, Piper sat in a booth with her feet crossed Indian style and a plate of sweet and sour chicken in front of her. She ate the meal slowly as she stared blankly out the window. She was so far away in her thoughts that she didn't notice Ms. Chang walk up to her and jumped slightly when the woman spoke to her.

"Piper, dear, do you have someone who will come get you? I noticed you didn't drive here." The old woman smiled with her hands clasped together resting against her stomach.

"No, I don't have a car. But it's okay, I'd rather walk anyways." Piper put on a fake smile to reassure Ms. Chang.

A frown creased Ms. Chang's face. "Do you have someone to walk with you? It's rather dangerous to be walking home alone at this time of night."

"Well no, I don't, but that's okay. I don't mind having to…"

Ms. Chang ignored Piper's excuse and turned her head to call over her shoulder. "Warren, come here please."

"Oh no, please, you don't need to do that Ms. Chang. I'll be fine walking by myself." Piper tried to explain.

"Nonsense," she said with a smile before turning to Warren. "Since your shift is almost over. I'll clock you out at eleven so you can walk Piper home okay? I don't want her getting hurt and I'd feel much better if she was with you."

Warren's eyes narrowed at Piper in an accusing glare but he knew he didn't really have a choice; Ms. Chang wasn't asking, she was telling. "Of course Ms. Chang," Warren said calmly through gritted teeth.

"Good," she clapped her hands together ignoring the glaring contest the two teens had broke into. She disappeared into the back room speaking rapidly in Chinese to one of the waiters.

With a sigh Piper finished her food and threw away the box before standing up. Warren glared at her from the door as though she were making him late to get home. 'How do I get myself into this shit? I should've just lied to the old woman!' She growled mentally as she stalked over to the door. She just reached it as Warren was leaving and had to throw her hand out to keep it from smacking her in the face, "Asshole." She hissed at him.

He smirked back at her, "Thanks." The moon made the single red streak in his hair cast a reddened glow on his dark brown hair and his chocolate brown eyes sparkled. Piper had to resist the urge to blush but she couldn't stop the shivers that tingled in her spine.

They walked in an uncomfortable silence. Why was it taking so long to get to her house, she wondered. It seemed to take forever to get to the crossroads that were a block away from her apartment complex. "You don't have to walk me home, I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself." She said monotonously.

He scoffed at her and gave her an arrogant look as he spoke, "I wasn't. It just so happens that my house is this way. I figured you were following me, not that I blame you." A smirk lit his conceited features.

Disbelief cluttered her mind and she rolled her eyes. "Hello tall, dark, and arrogant. You're as handsome as a pig and about as smart as one too, but I wouldn't want to insult the pig." With a smirk, she flipped him the bird and disappeared from his sight.

Warren snarled at her but she was already gone. He growled to himself and stalked home angrily. He entered his house quietly so as not to wake his mother who was most likely sleeping. As quiet as a mouse, he walked up the stairs to his room and closed the door before turning on the light. He shrugged out of his shirt and threw it into a dirty hamper that was nearing the top; contrary to popular belief, Warren did own more than a few shirts and he took a shower every night because he liked to be clean!

He stepped into the shower and pulled his worn out jeans off letting them fall on the floor next to a pile of clean clothes. He shook his head slightly and turned around to face his shower. As he leant down to turn on the faucet, a flame sprouted on his arm and he hissed in pain before jerking the cold water on and dousing the flames. He scowled at the melting skin on his arm and winced as it slowly began to heal itself; thank God he was gifted with his mother's power as well.

His gaze trailed over his arm intently as if the sudden manifestation of his enraged powers could be seen. A couple weeks after his junior year had come to an end, his powers had started going haywire. The fire, which he could easily wield without harming himself, began to burn hotter and soon his skin would blaze from the heat and cause him terrible pain. It was only a little at first though, now it was starting to kick up and he was beginning to realize that his power was overpowering him. He could no longer control it at will as he used to. This scared him in a way he'd never been before. He was used to chaos; but his powers had always been under his control. They were the one thing he was certain of and now he was finding even the simplest of flames painful and searing with its heat.

With a sigh, he turned the cold water back on and stripped his boxers off before stepping into the shower. As the icy water hit his body, it turned to steam and soon the bathroom was filled with a hazy mist. Warren forced his body temperature lower so he could shower. The cold felt good against his skin as he cleaned himself; it renewed him.

After a long, pleasant shower, Warren pulled on a clean pair of boxers and fell into his bed. He pulled the comforter over him and closed his eyes; he was asleep instantly.

Piper appeared inside of her decent-sized apartment. She crossed her arms as her eyes furrowed in anger and loathing. "Oh I cannot stand him!" She snarled to herself before pacing the floor to her room and stripped her clothes off her body. She marched into the adjoining bathroom and turned on the hot water. She waited until steam began to rise off the floor and into the air before settling herself in.

The water burned her skin and she hissed slightly in pain though she didn't move. Her skin reddened with the heat and she began to calm down as she lathered her heated skin with a rag and rinsed. She shampooed and conditioned her hair thoroughly before rinsing it and stepping out. The knobs spun to the off position and she looked at the shower with narrowed eyes.

She used her towel to wipe the mirror clear of condensation and glared. Her own body was not reflected, but one that seemed a replica of her. The body was a deep purple and the eyes were pure white. The lips reflected silver and her reflection smiled devilishly at her. "Alvara," Piper snarled.

The reflection smiled at her mockingly, "Hello my dear." The voice was melodic and entrancing, but Piper was used to this tact and so ignored it.

"What do you want?" Piper growled at the manifestation.

Alvara scowled, "You're no fun." She teased before her blurred face became serious. "The pyrokinetic is growing unstable. I do not think it is safe to be around him."

Piper's face screwed up in concentration as she tried to think what Alvara meant. It clicked easily, "You mean that arrogant bastard Warren?"

A chuckle resounded and a ghostly caress of a hand on her face made Piper flinch. "You must be wary. His power grows unstable and he grows more feral with every passing day... He is much like you when your powers first manifested and woke your inner being."

"More like inner irritation." Piper growled, annoyed at Alvara.

The apparition chuckled delicately and smiled. "Piper, there is another reason we are here." Her face was suddenly serious losing all humor in an instant.

Eyes narrowed together in a frown, Piper glared into the mirror. "Oh really? What, pray tell, is that?"

Alvara smiled mysteriously before her own eyes narrowed and looked to the door. "Someone is here."

Piper's head snapped to the side and she hit the light switch instantly. She quickly wrapped the towel around her body before she crept out of the bathroom and towards the living room as quietly as possible. No one was there but the uneasy feeling of being watched didn't leave her for a moment. Then she heard a creak in the wooden floor and jumped over the couch landing in a crouch before turning to face her attacker with a well-aimed roundhouse kick.

Her attacker caught her foot and pushed it aside. The fact that it was pitch black in the house, now that it was night, didn't help Piper at all. She sprang up and backwards feeling for the wall when she suddenly hit a hard, masculine body and two arms wrapped around her. She struggled for a moment before she teleported into the kitchen and staggered into the island stove knocking a few pots and pans from the overhanging wrack. They were sent skittering to the floor with loud clangs and bangs causing Piper to stumble over them and smash her hip into the table. She grunted with pain; that would leave a mark.

An iron fist closed over Piper's wrist and whipped her backwards. She curled her free hand into a fist and punched the assailant in the gut as she tried to wrench her hand free. The guy grunted and then caught her fist in his own and yanked her against his body before trapping her there. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to kill me." His gruff voice whispered into her ear as his whiskered cheek rubbed against her own smooth one.

She gasped slightly and stopped struggling. "Hunter?" She asked softly. A soft chuckle was her only reply before his lips pressed against hers. She didn't move for a second and then suddenly the familiar scent of earth and woods filled her nostrils and she returned his kiss with full vigor. His arms that had trapped her against him unwound slightly and slid down to her hips as he backed her to the table once more. When her butt hit, he lifted her up and set her down upon it; their lips never breaking contact with the other.

Hunter finally pulled away from her lips to give her breath before the light switch flipped up to the on position and he looked down at Piper. He smirked upon seeing her clothing, or lack-thereof and pulled the towel tighter around her body. His hands trailed over her shoulders and they faded from the kitchen. They faded back into Piper's room and he went to her dresser. He opened the top drawer and raised an eyebrow at her before waving his hand over her unpacked bags. The clothes appeared, neatly folded, into the drawers and the bags were put away in the closet. He casually grabbed a matching black spaghetti strap top and shorts and a bra and underwear. He turned to her and held the clothing out to her. When she made a move to walk towards him he glared, "No, use your power."

With a sigh Piper returned to a stance and concentrated on the clothing in his hand. They shivered a bit but otherwise nothing happened, "I can't."

"Yes, you can. Now concentrate and try harder." Hunter commanded.

Her eyes narrowed at him before she sighed and turned her glare upon the clothing. He held his hand open and she concentrated hard enough for her mind to twinge painfully. Her vision blurred slightly and she felt dizzy but just as she felt as though she'd black out, she felt the cloth touch her hand. Then, all was black.

Hunter was beside her instantly and caught her deftly before lifting her to the bed. He made a noise of disappointment before waving his hands over her towel-covered body. The towel vanished and appeared in the dirty clothes hamper and the clothes were transported on her. He then waved a hand over his own body and he was dressed in night clothes. He slid into bed with Piper and smirked as she curled instinctively to him.

The next day around noon, Piper woke up with a staggered yawn. She first realized that she was very comfortable and warm. Next, that her head was not lying on the most comfortable pillow in the world but a rather bulky and muscular chest that was rising and falling with every breath its owner took. She also discovered that two strong iron bands for arms were wrapped around her so securely she couldn't move from her resting place. For a moment she panicked until the familiar earth and woodsy scent reached her and a deep chuckle resonated from the body beneath her. She blinked wearily and looked straight into Hunter's unsettling silver eyes before giving his a light smile. His lips descended hungrily on her own as he flipped them over so he was pinning her down. She grunted in surprise and turned her head away to catch some air. She didn't get much time as he forced her to face him with his hand on her chin and attacked her lips once more fiercely. His hands encircled her slightly flared hips and his mouth trailed down her delicate throat to her collarbone nipping roughly causing her to start. "Hunter, what're you doing here?" She managed.

He stopped for a moment giving her a slight relief, "What does it look like love?" He bit her neck gently before lathering it with his tongue and sliding his hand up from her waist across her chest to wrap securely around her throat dominating and possessing every part of her. She stilled beneath him and felt the familiar feeling of fear streak through her even as tingles slid up her spine.

"No I mean, why are you here? How did you find me? I thought you were trying to infiltrate the Knights?" She asked evading his lips once more by flashing herself to the end of the bed.

He turned to look at her with a knowing smirk as he propped his chin up with a fist. "Things were getting a little too tense for my tastes so I told them I was taking some time off. I've already penetrated their outer defenses, now I'm rising through the ranks." He said nonchalantly as though they were discussing the weather and not the syndicate that was out to get her at all costs.

"So you took a vacation? Won't that make them suspicious?" She snapped irritably.

Hunter smirked and crawled to her before pulling her into his arms and kissing her lips and cheeks gently as though she were a piece of china ready to shatter if she were handled roughly. "They told me to take some time off, love. They would get suspicious if I didn't do as they ordered." He said complacently.

With a sigh Piper nodded to him and gave him a shy kiss back. She then stretched largely and smiled up at him, "So what's on the agenda for today?" She asked him already guessing what he was thinking.

He smiled mischievously before dumping her none-too-gently on the bed allowing her to bounce into the air. "Training of course; now that you've got some hold on your telekinetic powers, you need to practice with them." He dug through her drawers and pulled out a black and green work-out suit. "First we run," he said throwing the suit to her "Then we exercise your mental capacity to its limit."

She groaned and quickly divested herself of her clothes after turning her back on him. She pulled on the suit and allowed him to pull her into his arms and carry her bridal-style through the living room, pausing idly to transport her running shoes on her feet, and out the front door. He kissed her thoroughly before setting her down and locking the door with a flick of his hands. "Let's go babe." He gave her a swat on the behind and led her down the stairs into the brisk morning and onto the sidewalk where they began a long ten-mile run around the neighborhood.

Around this time, a very sleepy Warren was rousing. He kicked his quilt off and stumbled out of bed. He ran his hands through his hair before pulling on a pair of black and red basketball shorts and a shirt that had the sides ripped down almost to the end. He pulled on some tennis shoes and walked downstairs to make himself some breakfast.

Two melted cups, a shattered plate, and a slightly charred egg with toast later; Warren scowled and threw the ruined dishware into the garbage. His hand was burning and he watched as the skin quickly mended the charred flesh. He growled angrily and resisted the urge to punch his fist through the wall; his mother wouldn't like that very much. He glanced at the clock and sighed; it was only two thirty. He grabbed the remote and sat down in front of the television. He fell asleep twenty minutes into it.

(For the sake of not boring you guys to death, I'm going to jump three days from this point because all that happens is Piper gets her ass whipped both physically and mentally by Hunter as he's 'training' her. Warren is just irritated but doesn't work until Friday. So now, Friday. Thanks!)

Piper woke up sore and in pain. She was sweating profusely from some nightmare that she couldn't remember. The burned skin on her shoulder was healing nicely but still hurt sometimes. She wouldn't have a scar luckily. She'd had to lie to Hunter when he asked what happened and he finally believed her story about being burned during Save the Citizen by jumping in front of her partner to protect her after an hour or so of growling and arguing with him.

Surprisingly, he wasn't there when she woke. But she found a note taped to her TV and sighed reading it. He said he'd be back by nightfall; that he had to scout around the area and make sure it was safe for her. She rolled her eyes and threw the note in the garbage. She looked at the time and stretched with a yawn; 2:00 P.M. She'd been through quite one hell of a week with him. But at least now she could use her telekinesis a little better. She didn't black out anymore; a major bonus. She could even control her blasting power.

She made herself some cereal and sighed as she looked at the clock, thirty minutes till she had to be at the Paper Lanturn and had to deal with that pyro idiot again. She cleaned her dish, took a quick hot shower, dressed, and exited the apartment within the span of twenty minutes leaving her ten to get to work. She'd even left Hunter a note telling him where she'd be.

It didn't take long for her to reach the restaurant and she was happy to see that Warren wasn't there and hopefully wouldn't be for the rest of the day because he caught something nasty like the flu or something. She got to work and happily took and dished out orders for an hour before she heard the bell 'ting' gently signaling the end to a perfect day and the beginning of a horrible afternoon and evening. Warren stomped through the door just as rain began to fall and dark clouds began to roll in with the breeze.

He ignored Piper-which made her happy-and began to clean off tables and take out the trash and other things. She managed to keep herself away from him except for a couple incidents that she cleverly maneuvered her way out of.

Near the end of the day, around 10 o'clock, Piper's bad day just got worse. She looked up as the bell jingled to tell the person they were closed when she saw who it was. Hunter was staring at her with a slightly miffed expression and she could see he was terribly close to growling at her; she rolled her eyes and excused herself to Ms. Chang to reach him. When she was within an arm's length of him, his hand snaked out and snatched her close with a painful iron grip on her upper arm. "What's the matter with you?" He hissed.

Piper blinked a couple of times and took a few moments to reel in her shock before glaring at his display of arrogant dominance and self-righteousness. "Excuse me?"

"Why did you leave without telling me? I searched all over for you until I see you in here." He growled letting his hand to rest upon her throat possessively.

She growled at him and tried to pull away, "I left you a bloody note, now let go so I can finish up."

Hunter snarled at her and ripped the half-apron off her and tossing it onto a booth. "Tell them you're leaving."

To keep herself from being dragged away she dug her heels into the ground and grabbed onto a booth seat while she wrested herself from his iron grip. "How dare you order me around like some drill instructor!" She hissed in panic seeing that Ms. Chang and a few of the other workers were staring at her strangely. "Um, Ms. Chang, would you mind if I left now, I need to get home."

Ms. Chang, bless her, didn't like the way Hunter was standing so dominantly over the girl she immediately grew to love as a daughter in the span of five days. She narrowed her eyes on the man and saw him smirk cruelly at her. "Yes dear, but can you come here and answer a question for me, it will only take a moment." She watched as Piper jerked herself free and walked the short distance to her. Before she could speak, Ms. Chang whispered, "Are you all right dear? Should I call the police?" She asked while staring concernedly up at the girl.

Piper felt her heart constrict as the elderly woman looked over her lovingly before casting a scathing look towards Hunter. She blinked away some tears and shook her head, "I'm just fine Ms. Chang. He doesn't mean any harm; he just doesn't like me out alone this late at night." She said reassuringly before turning on her heel. She saw Warren staring at her from the corner of her eye and stirred slightly with irritation. Hunter must've noticed Warren and didn't like him because as soon as Piper reached him, his arms curled roughly around her. She was plastered to his body a little uncomfortably as he claimed her lips viciously and then yanking her outside into the pouring rain without giving her a chance to recover. He teleported them back to her apartment.

Warren had watched the display of dominance and possession with disgust. He didn't understand how Piper could stand someone like that. He then shook himself mentally for even caring as he turned in his own apron and walked home alone, in the rain.

Well I hope you guys liked that one.

Please review and tell me what you liked and you can guess about what you think is going to happen or you can tell me what you want. Just do whatever, hah. No flames please, I will ignore them; as always. Constructive criticism is always welcomed and if you don't like my pairing, or my girl, or just my damn story, too fucking bad. I don't care.

Thanks for reading, I appreciate it.

For those of you who review my stories, thank you very much!

Ciao,

Shadowed Replica