By the time the bell for first lunch sounded, Kira was well on her way to having a panic attack.
Her palms were sweaty and her throat seemed to close, blocking all possible air entry. How could she of let this happen? Her entire life was in the stupid notebook that was now in the hands of the first and only boy she had ever been attracted to. What if he was thumbing through it now, face disgusted as read her heartfelt words and sappy poems?
She knew she looked like an idiot as she buried her head against her folded arms, soft mewls rumbling in her throat. Thankfully, the sound of the still-playing movie muffled most of the pitiful sounds, but it wasn't enough to mute them completely.
Starfire stared at the puddle of mush that was her daughter with a frown. She leaned toward an equally befuddled Sam and whispered in Tameranian, "What happened?"
Sam gave a jerky shrug, golden eyes narrowing at the clogged doorway where the previous class lingered in curiosity. "Dunno. She was fine when we walked here, then suddenly, she crashes and falls into what has to be the finest display of anguish I have ever seen. It's like she's…dunno," she added as an afterthought when no explanation came forth.
Another quite mewl sounded and both mother and daughter sidled closer. Sam threatened the boys with a deep, rumbling growl, face softening when they scampered away. Gently, Starfire laid her hand on Kira's shoulder. "Honey, what's wrong? Why are you so down? Did that donkey—I mean ass—try to make another attempt at…scoring with you?"
Starfire threw a nasty glare at Sam's muffled snort of laughter. "Samara," she hissed. "Stop making fun of me. It's not nice. Help me with your sister before I make you clean up my classroom."
Sam bit her full lip hard to stifle the chortles that ticked the back of her throat. "Right, right," she said with a wave of her tan hand, "sorry."
With another deadly scowl, Starfire returned to cooing at Kiranne's unknown plight. "Come on, baby, tell me what's wrong."
"Hi, Mom. How's it going?" Shia paused in his approach to his mother's desk when he spotted the bundle of red curls draped over the mahogany. He blinked as his twin pressed a finger to her mouth with a glare.
"Sshh, loudmouth. Sit down and shut up. We have a Kira dilemma here."
Shia scooted over to his sister, plopping down elegantly beside her chair with a pout. "What's going on?"
Sam shrugged as Starfire tried to poke some life into Kira. "Ma, I don't think that'll help," she said with a raised eyebrow as Starfire continued to prod her finger into the side of Kira's head.
With a sigh, Shia scrambled up and forcefully shoved his mother's chair away so she skidded back. Still in motion, Starfire threw him a dirty scowl.
Oblivious to his mother's dark stare, Shia leaned down to his sister. "Why so down, Angel? Did that idiot Dick try to ask you out again?"
Sam rolled her golden eyes. "Mom's already asked if he had tried to attempt to "score"," she said, using her fingers to form quotations with the spoken word, "with her."
Shia mouthed the word and turned to pin his mother with an arched brow. "Scored?" He then asked aloud, shaking his head at his mother's unique sense of wording. "Never mind. So it wasn't the asshole, huh? Then what is it? Grades? No, that's not it. You wouldn't get this upset over that. Uh, did Chase do something stupid? Nope, not that either. Chase does nothing wrong in your eyes. Then it's gotta be—"
"Here. I took your damn notes like an idiot. Stupid Mayson using that against me like a coward. Hell, even I don't take notes, yet there I was, listening to his damn preening voice and writing what he was. He was giggling the whole damn time, too, stupid idget teacher. You seriously owe me, Kiranne. I think my hand is numb from all the damn notes. I swear that man added useless crap that won't even be on the test just 'cause I'm such a freaking push over when it comes to you…"
It all happened quickly then. Dante could only stand dumbfounded in the doorway, notebook held loosely in his hand as Kira yelped and jerked up, the crown of her head snapping against Shia's chin.
The force sent him stumbling back with a shocked curse. He tripped over his twin's foot, teetered precariously on his feet before crashing into said girl, knocking her out of the chair and sending them both careening to the floor in a mass of twisted limbs and shouted curses.
Starfire hooted with glee, head falling back in utmost amusement and nearly took a dive herself when she bent over with loud, rambunctious giggles. Kira watch the pandemonium with wide eyes, mouth parted in shock as Sam tried to shove her moaning brother off her and having little success, for she was stuck on her stomach, arms pinned beneath her. Shia was sprawled in all different directions and was too busy rubbing his tender jaw to notice the fiery yells under him.
"Damn you, you heavy oaf, get your boney ass off me!"
Shia brushed the insults off with a grunt. "Ouch," he muttered, pressing two careful fingers against the throbbing skin. "You have one hell of a hard skull, kiddo," he added as Sam tried to buck him off fruitlessly. Sam huffed in annoyance, blowing moodily at a long strand of fire red hair that dipped into her eyes.
Dante noted that Starfire was still laughing her ass off when Adara and Dahlia walked into the fray. Grey followed closely behind, blinking rapidly at the scene, slim arms folded daintily over her small chest. "Aunt Star, you know the entire second floor can hear you, right? Most people haven't moved off to lunch yet. They're starting to group around to see what the entire ruckus is. "
The knowledge did nothing but cause her to slip into more peels of amusement. Lips twisting, Grey shook her head and turned to peer up at her slack jawed brother. "What happened? And where is—"
"Shia Grayson, get your boney butt off me!" The loud cry was then followed by long bouts of Tameranian curses and grunts of pain.
Kira snapped out of her daze to jump to her feet, knocking over the chair she was sitting in with a clatter. She flinched when it knocked over her mother's bag, sending papers scattering across the tiled floor. Stray curls tumbled into her eyes as she tried to move to her bickering siblings to somehow right the wrong she had undoubtedly caused.
Sam kicked out again in her anger, booted foot connecting with the computer table. The frail wood cracked under the inhuman strength of her muscles and gave out with a hollow groan. Wide-eyed, Kira jumped to catch the aged computer, arm slamming against the hard-drive beneath it and her breath hissing between her teeth.
With a cried, "Ooh!" Grey jumped forward to help some of the destruction, leaping agilely over the main desk to try and help Kira with the chaos. She stopped, however, when Shia struggled to get up, muscles gliding against the simple white T-shirt he wore. He was halfway to his feet when Sam bucked again, literally throwing him off of her.
Eyes wide, Shia slammed into Grey, knocking them both down again with a whoosh of air. From the doorway, Ada had to turn away to keep her laughter in check. Dahlia merely sighed, eyes narrowing slightly when the Twain twins walked around the corner, eyebrows raised high. To strangers, it was almost impossible to tell them apart, even at close range. The hair cut as also almost exactly the same, save for Cameron's spikes were natural. Chase tended to have unruly curls that had to be soaked in hair gel to rein in some amount of control. Despite the odds, Dahlia knew them apart immediately.
Chase tended to have a smile on his face no matter what time of day. If not a smile, then his eyes were crinkled slightly at the corners. Cameron was prone to rock back on his heels and shove his hands into his pockets as he bit the inside of his lower lip, as he was doing now. It was Chase, the hunky god he was, who asked, "What the hell is going on? I was in Eco when I heard all this going on. Sounded like someone used a wrecking ball up here. Surprised Principal Macintyre isn't huffing his way here." The principal was a tender subject to the superheroes, for he had an acute dislike for them. He refused to leave them alone, and set impossible rules against them. When and if in a fight, they were forbidden to retaliate, or even defend themselves, for their "powers" were inhumane and dangerous in any situation. He refused to let them play sports—which was understandable. The only reason he still allowed them in the school was the school board, who happened to have an uncanny liking to their main sponsor, Hannah Matthews.
Dahlia idly watched Cam pull her sister to his chest without seeming to notice, lithe arms folded over her shoulders as she gently bit his large palm to help cease the giggles spilling from her rosy mouth. "Sam and Shia, and a helpful dose of Kira. Now, we've added a pinch of Grey and a hell of a situation," Dahlia said monotonously.
Lips turned down in a frown but eyes glowing with mirth, Dahlia plowed her fingers roughly through her hair, shoving the thick mass into a messy ponytail at the nape of her long neck with a band from her wrist.
"Guess it's up to me now," she muttered. Chase almost had to lean in to hear her over the sharp growl from Grey as Shia's hand fell somewhere it wasn't supposed to, followed quickly by a male cry of pain when Shia stupidly made a snappy comment about her being so damn tiny and ended up with a knee to the ribs.
Chase couldn't help but smile when his eyes landed on the flustered Kira, who was staring down at the pair, computer monitor still held in her strong hands. She was so damn cute, cheeks flushing pink and white teeth sinking into her full lower lip. Even Dante seemed to be drawn to the picture she presented, for his lavender eyes shifted down her form in wonder, almost as if he were finally seeing the beauty she really was.
Dahlia shoved past him, forcing his gaze away from Kira. It was immediately riveted to the dark Goth, who, if he wasn't mistaken, just threw him a very malicious glare for looking in Kira's direction. He wanted desperately to think she was jealous, but he knew that she was more annoyed at his sudden attraction (no matter how brotherly it was) to her innocent Kira than anything.
Obviously angry, Dahlia reached down to jerk Sam to her feet. Had she not been so graceful—walking or fighting or breathing—Sam might have tumbled at the strength behind it. But as was expected for such a talented girl, Sam merely straightened, heels digging into the ground to prevent herself from falling.
"Damn Shia," she muttered, arching her back to pop out the kinks. "For someone who works out so much, he sure does have a boney butt."
"Leave my butt alone, please," he grunted, hands on either side of Grey's head to keep from crushing her delicate body. His ribs throbbing painfully as he quickly rethought that statement. Delicate my ass, he thought with a scowl, noting the way her lips twisted in a cocky grin. He knew full and well she had just peeked into his brain and couldn't help but add, for such a tiny, frail, weak little thing, she sure does have a helluva kick.
He didn't know whether to laugh or scream when she reached between them to pinch the skin of his stomach. "Watch it, Pretty Boy. If you ever designate small, frail, tiny, midget, weak, short, petite, or anything that has to do with my height—which, might I add, is perfectly normal—in the same sentence, thought, or formations of words, I will make sure I cut off those long legs of yours—maybe something else too that you seem so damn proud of—so watch it."
Shia flinched at the implicated threat as he eased off of her. "All right, all right, Midget. No need to get all snippety about it." He deftly avoided the well placed elbow that aimed for his hip and patted her violet head. It did not even reach his chest. "Yes, you're right. Four feet is normal."
She gave a small cry of anger. "I'll have you know, you stupid little tan giant, that I am five feet tall!" She jerked her head up to glare directly into his eyes. Shia bit back the urge to slouch to make it easier for her.
"Four feet, eleven inches, Grey," Dante injected with a twitch of his lips. His long, pale fingers danced across the rings of Kira's notebook.
"Oh, bit me," she grumbled. Her mouth slipped into a pout. "Well, if I'm…small," she forced out, the word sounding more like a hiss, "then you're a damn giant. There is no one in this school as tall as your six foot seven frame. Gah, picking on me when you're the one we should be snickering at." She folded her arms over her chest, moodily throwing her waist length violet hair over her shoulder. "Freak," she added sulkily when her friends and brother snickered.
Shia couldn't help it. With a chuckle, he leaned down to kiss her pouting mouth, ignoring both the shocked gasp from her and the roar of blood that seared through his veins.
He pulled back, a grin shaping his mouth. Something lurked deep within his green eyes, however, and Grey couldn't stop the shiver that trailed hot fingers down her spine.
"Well, now that all is somewhat normal, we should go off to lunch," Starfire said from the doorway. Her cheeks were flushed from her laughter, eyes still dancing with mirth. Her arm was thrown comfortably over Chase's waist. "Grey, if you don't hurry, you will have to wait in line—"
Ignoring the heat that pooled deeply within her, Grey darted past the group she had known all her life and took of down the halls like a cheetah scouting prey. Shia sighed with a shake of his head, attention riveted to his still brooding sister.
"Sorry about my boney butt, Sammy." He draped a casual arm over her shoulders, tugging her to the door with a grin. "Guess I need to do some booty warm-ups in the morning to add some muscles to those beautiful suckers."
"Booty warm-ups? Shia, you're such an idiot," she mumbled, hiding the chuckle behind a well-aimed glare.
As they walked out the door, Shia turned his head to wink at Kira, who stared down at the computer as if she did not understand how it came to rest in her hands. "By the way, Angel, that head of yours could be used as a mighty handy weapon."
Kira's gaze snapped up as Shia strutted out of the room, fingers caressing the red skin across his square jaw. An apology was heavy on her tongue, but she couldn't seem to speak it aloud. Heart sinking at the knowledge that she had hurt her brother—and wrecked her mother's class room—Kira turned to the chaos, cringing at the poor computer desk. How was it that she always managed to wreak so much havoc wherever she went?
"Here." Kira jerked when her notebook slapped against the desk, unusual eyes darting up to see Dante lean a slim hip against the desk, eyes scanning over the scattered papers. "So this is what you do when you skip class," he said with an approving nod. "Don't think I could pull off the trouble that you do."
He watched the emotions skitter across her achingly sweet face as she gently sat the monitor down, teeth immediately skimming across the fullness of her bottom lip. He found himself staring at the softness, breath catching slightly when his mind swarmed with images of taking her mouth with his own…
Her signature blush painted her cheeks as her unique eyes landed on the thick notebook. He nearly jumped when she snatched out a hand and scooped it up to cradle against her chest like a child. He blinked when the blush deepened to a deep rose.
"I…t-thank you…for writing down my notes," she said softly, eyelashes fluttering over her gold and green eyes. "I-I'm sorry to have t-troubled you with it."
Dante gave a lazy shrug, mentally chastising himself for thinking about anything romantically inclined about Kiranne. "Eh, don't worry about it. Someone had to do it, I guess, though that damned jackass made sure to go out of his way to write useless crap to make me write more."
A soft smile tugged at her lips. "T-thank you," she repeated, voice soft and sweet. Something tugged at his heart, causing the lazy boy to scowl. He did not like the way this shy, innocent girl made him feel. She was too damn pure for her own good. It would be her downfall, he knew, if anyone could force themselves not to sink into the light that we Kiranne Grayson.
He closed his eyes and stretched, deftly forcing himself to stop staring at her and focus on the important thing at hand: his future naptime.
"Guess we better head down to lunch. My tree is calling out to me. She misses me." He sighed contentedly when the image of his favored sleeping spot came into mind. He would gladly lie there anytime of day, rain or shine. And he only had a limited chance to do so. Lunch only lasted for fifty minutes.
"I have to clean," she murmured. Dante cracked open one eye as she knelt down to gather the papers scattered around the desk. Her long braid draped over her shoulder, caressing the soft skin of her forearm as she reached for the sheets.
Dante felt a frown tugging at his mouth when his legs refused to listen to his mind and just leave. He should have been downstairs, basking in the sunlight as he stretched contentedly under the weeping willow, but he found himself kneeling beside her, hands reaching for the papers.
For the second time that day, his hands brushed over hers. He cursed loudly, jerking it back as if scorched and staring at the skin as if waiting for it to burst into flames.
"Damn," he muttered, catching her small flinch from the corner of his eyes. Unsure if it was his touch or his reaction that had her cringing, Dante scowled. This whole touch and shock thing was about to seriously piss him off. He did not like dealing with the unknown, which was exactly what this was. This couldn't happen every damn time his hand skimmed over hers.
Never one to let the unknown rest, Dante cursed and grabbed her hand in his. The heat was there again, racing down his arms and stabbing into his heart, which gave a content leap of arousal.
Kiranne's eyes went wide, breath catching in her throat as the tingling died down, leaving only a wild, thumping heart that coursed heated blood through her veins. "D-Dante—"
"Well, hell." Dante scowled down at his hand, so much paler than her own. "I was hoping it was something else."
"Something else?" Her voice was soft with confusion. "W-what was it? Do I keep shocking you? I'm sorry." Her eyes lowered, long lashes brushing against her silken cheeks. Long tapered fingers curled slightly against his palm. The simple movement sent the heat coursing again, but his heart gave an unusual clench that had nothing to do with desire.
He sighed, his napping fantasy gone along with all thoughts of keeping his thought of Kiranne Grayson PG. "No, Kiranne, you didn't shock me. And please," he added gruffly, "don't apologize for every little insignificant thing. You did nothing wrong." Other than being so damn cute when you blush and making my damn traitorous body hot for you. Why is it that I can't touch you without felling like a horny teenage boy? Gah, I haven't felt like this since I was fifteen. Hell, even then I was calm and collected and I'm not even thinking about having sex with…ah, shit.
"Oh…well, then what is it?" Her eyes lifted to his and he found himself watching as her left eye tinted a bright gold, while her right eye seemed to turn sea-green. It amazed him at how easily her eyes shifted colors with her moods.
Dante sighed and shook his shaggy head, wings of raven's hair catching sexily on his long eyelashes. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing you'll have to worry about for a little while yet."
An eyebrow shot up at this, head tilted slightly as she watched him slip to his feet. Finding the look endearing, Dante rolled his eyes, holding out a large clawed hand with a smirk twisting his lips. "Come on. Let's get lunch."
Kiranne stared up at his hand, marveling at how long the slim fingers were before his meaning slipped into her mind and a blush bloomed beneath her tan skin. She ducked her head shyly as Dante laughed.
"Come on, Kiranne. You—maybe me, if I feel up to it—can clean this up during our free period. 'Sides, I'm starving." As if to prove his point, his stomach gave a rumbling groan. Surprised, his reached down to pat his flat stomach lovingly. "Awh, don't worry. I'll fill you up in a minute, my sweet."
Kira tried to hold back the giggle by biting her lip, but a few managed to wiggle forth. Dante blinked, trying desperately to wrestle the romantic notions out of his head. His face was devoid of his internal conflict as he motioned to the door with his head, long hair falling over his eyes. He tossed it away with an impatient jerk of his head. "Come on. I won't wait much longer."
This time, when he held out his hand, Kiranne took it gratefully.
The cafeteria was alive with laughter and movement when Kira and Dante walked out of the doorway. Students clogged the lunch lines as Dante weaved through them, hands shoved in his pockets.
Kira followed behind him, head lowered and fingers lacing together, somehow managing to move through the crowed without plowing anyone over. She glanced up, however, when a call from Grey caught her attention.
"Hey, Kira! Over here!"
Unique eyes scanned over the crowed, but she found now sign of the petite witch. Eyebrows drawing together, Kira looked again, eyes roaming over every person she could. Dante walked beside her, long black hair covering his eyes again.
"I hear but I don't see," he murmured. He caught an annoyed, "Oh, for the love of God," before someone hefted Grey onto their shoulders. She waved wildly from the left side of the cafeteria, the light streaming from the tall windows casting her hair lavender.
"Right here! Come on, I look and sound like an idiot over here!" Grey glanced up at the ceiling, which her head was quite close to. "Sides," she added, but only loud enough for her to hear, "This idget will probably hop up just so I smack my head against the wall."
She yelped when said boy did, petite body huddling down as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "Watch it, Shiamar. My threat still stands."
Shia frowned as he reached behind him, large hands swallowing her waist as he lifted her high and dropped her to her feet. The top of her head barely skinned his bottom ribs. She whirled, pointing a black claw at his ribs. "Do not do that again."
He held up his hands in defense, mouth shifting into an amused smile. "All right, all right. Promise never to try and smack your head against the ceiling when it seems so tempting."
Grey huffed, gloss-slicked mouth slipping into a pout. "You're so mean."
He chuckled, pressing his hand to her back and herding her toward her mountain of cafeteria food. "Come on, Midget, your food calls." She turned with a glare and set her teeth into the tender skin covering his ribs. He yelped and jerked back as the sting raced down his torso. "Ouch! What the…what is it with you woman and biting?"
Grey sat down with a pleased grin, idly picking up a fry and slipping it between her lips. "Told you not to call me that, jackass."
Dante and Kiranne finally made it to their table. Dante slouched into a chair beside his older sister, while Kira slinked toward Sam, who was already patting the empty seat between her and Adara. A platter of food already awaited her, steam rising from the wrapped burger and grease-drenched fries. As Shia drilled furious green eyes into the chortling witch, Kira daintily dug into her food.
Dahlia shook her head and leaned back in her chair to lift his shirt, much as she had done to Chase earlier that morning. "Wow. You do realize, Grey, that you just gave Shia a hickey, right?"
"What?" Wide-eyed, Grey whirled around, only to get an eyeful of sleek muscle beneath golden skin. She blinked, eyes roving over his torso and mouth going dry. Chase rolled his eyes, gently planting his elbow into Dahlia's ribs. "Sneak. All Shia has is a bite mark. You just wanted to see Grey make a fool of herself by drooling, much as she's doing now."
Dahlia caught that half-eaten fry as it headed for her forehead, popping it into her mouth as Grey sputtered in anger. "That—you—I was not—you sneaky bitch."
Eyes alight with humor, Dahlia dropped her brother's shirt, winking at him as a flush spread over his high cheekbones. "Ah, I know. Figured I might as well leave my mark today."
Growling, Grey whipped away from him, arms folded over her chest and legs crossed angrily. "Stupid little—and I was not drooling. Who in their right mind would find that attractive? Gah, he's almost one of those sickening bodybuilders."
Sam shook her head in amusement while Ada snuggled more comfortably in Cam's lap, hand pressed her to mouth to hide the grin. Kira merely watched the scene, heart sinking at the thought of another disaster. At least this one is not my fault, she mused with a slight shrug, unaware of the small tilt of Dante's mouth.
Someone shoved into Shia, and a blonde head popped up beside him. Talon Davis stared at the back of Grey's head, plastic maroon lunch try balanced against her hip. "Dude, are you blind? Shia's freaking hot. How can you say he looks like one of those steroid junkies?" Boldly, thirteen-year-old Talon jerked up his shirt again. "This," she said, eyes moving over his abdomen, "is what fuels teenage hormones. He's just gorgeous. If I weren't older…"
Shia swatted the girl away, cheeks flaming as he wrestled his shirt back down. "Damnit, Talon, have you no shame?"
She grinned unabashedly. "Nope."
Chase chuckled. "So, Tally, I hear you got caught with Caden."
"Sure did." Talon skipped over to him, plopping down beside him with no thought about it being the upperclassman table of superheroes and companions. "He had a freaking heart attack. Don't see why, though. I mean its human nature to want to kiss, right? Besides, it's not like we were about to have sex or anything. Getting caught was nothing. Your mom was awesome, by the way. Scared the hell out of him, made it look like I was getting booted physically out the door, then took me into the living room and laughed her ass off. Guess she didn't care if we were well on our way to going the distance."
Still sore about being tricked by Dahlia, Grey moodily unwrapped her first cheeseburger and slapped on the necessities. "You better not be thinking about sex, Talon Davis. You're thirteen years old, and I swear on all that is holy, if I find that you and the next Twain whore are at it, I'll make your life a living hell. You won't want me on your tail. Just ask Shia."
Behind her, Shia shook his head quickly. "Worst punishment ever."
Talon shrugged. "When I'm ready, I'm ready. Anyhow, I have to go eat with Caden before he drills angry wholes into my head. He's a rather moody boy," she said with a sigh, grabbing up her plate and nearly trotting over to her new interest.
When Talon was out of ear shot, Chase turned fiery black eyes to Grey. "Next Twain whore? What's with that?"
Dahlia slid her fork into the creamy cake served in a Styrofoam bowl, lifted it to her lips. "She means that every one of you Twain boys are whores. Cameron, well, he's an exception, for the only girl he has ever been with is the one he is with now. You, on the other hand, are a playboy."
Chase watched her slid the desert into her mouth, ignored the flames of desire nipping at his stomach, and scowled. "Excuse me, but I'm not the only one here who's gotten around."
"I know," Dahlia said, pierced tongue flicking out to swipe at the icing on her bottom lip. "But you're the worst one."
Dante snickered, reaching over to pluck a fry from Kiranne's plate. Kira didn't even blink. She did raise her eyes, however, when Grey rounded on him. "You're horrible too, you damn slut."
Dante raised a winged eyebrow. "Slut? I am not a slut, oh Queen of the Shrews. I'm a normal teenage boy sating my lust and I just happen to have a few takers. Besides, sluts beg for it. I don't. I also have a girlfriend."
As Kira ducked her head to hide the hopelessness, Grey reached over to slap the back of his head. He flinched away from her, nearly pouting as he stood up and walked to the other side of the table, easily sliding Kira over so he could squeeze in another chair. His thigh skimmed across hers as he settled in comfortably and Dante found it almost impossible to ignore the thrum of arousal beating through his system.
"She's a freaking toy to you."
Dante smiled. "Ah, but a very good toy. A personal favorite." He set the chair on hind legs when Grey tried to reach across the table to hit him once again, one long arm thrown over Kiranne seat. The men chuckled, save for Cameron, who was smart enough to keep his amusement in with his love current residing on his lap. She was close enough to do serious damage if she let her elbow fly.
But Dante regretted the words the minute they slipped out, for pain flitted across her face before fury bled into the lavender depths. "Dante Adrian Logan, you are so going to get what's coming to you for that comment. I might not like Miranda Kendall that much, but that was a derogatory remark to all women. It is jerks like you that make me hate men so goddamned much."
Appetite vanishing, Grey stood up, legs of the chair scrapping against the tiled floor. "See you outside," she muttered, shoving past a shocked Shia and dumping her food into the trash bin.
Eyes wide, Dante scrambled out his chair, nearly mowing over a group of freshman girls in his pursuit to beg forgiveness from his sister. He held the girls shoulders to steady her, eyes scanning the crowd. He saw the violet waves of her long hair heading for the courtyard door and cursed. The freshman gawked up at him, blush spreading across her cheeks at his touch. Dante ignored the quite giggles from her friends as he moved away, nearly running to the double doors.
Grey was in fast pursuit to the large fountain in the middle of the courtyard, where they spent every school day during lunch. It was their reserved spot, had been since Grey and the set of twins had been freshman four years ago.
Grey stormed up to the marble fountain, red clouding her vision and furious tears burning her throat. She shouldn't be so mad, she knew, but that comment of her brother's brought back all the hate and pain so many years before, when her heart had been shattered by a callous remark so much like Dante had said. The scabs over her wounded pride peeled back, and now she felt the utter despair bleed through her again, submersing her in the past she so desperately tried to bury. She had done well the past two years, but now she felt all of her hard work wash away with her façade.
She plopped down on the marble, head dropping into her hands. She knew Dante was fast approaching, knew he was drowning in guilt, and felt like an ass. She didn't mean to lash out like that at him, but it was so hard to be so damn happy all the time, especially when someone said something so cruel about women being used so uselessly.
Dante hesitated near her, hands hovering over her shoulder. Grey had lived a hard past, one that no one but his parent and he knew. He had no right to say something so sick, no matter if it was supposed to be a stupid joke. Dante sighed softly and sat beside her.
"I'm sorry," he said, hand lifting up to tuck his shaggy hair behind his ears, a mannerism he had developed at a young age when he was truly upset at something he had said or done. He did it rarely, and it was usually only caused by Kiranne, but Grey had to smile nonetheless at how sweet her baby brother really was, despite his sarcasm and pigheadedness.
"I'm the one who should be sorry," she mumbled, scooting closer to him to lay her head against his shoulder. "I snapped for no reason. I knew you were joking, but it just brought it all back and I could keep from getting angry."
He leaned his cheek against the top of her head, the scent of her favorite fruity shampoo calming his senses. "You know I don't think before I speak. Troublesome problem, but I can't help it."
She chuckled. "You're as bad as dad is with his stupid jokes. Never thinks 'em through when he says them."
Dante turned his head to press his lips against her hair. "Promise I won't say anything like that again, 'kay?"
She shook her head, brushing away the angry tears that stubbornly fell. "Thanks. If you do say them, make sure Kiranne doesn't hear. She might think that is all women are meant for: being toys for men."
Heart sinking in guilt, Dante threw his arms around her small shoulders. "Right. I'll have to remember that."
Grey glanced up when Shia's scent wafted toward her. Hastily, she scrubbed her eyes and sat up, leaning down to poke through her monstrous purse. Dante glanced down at it with a frown.
"Why do you carry a freaking suitcase with you? I don't know how the woman mind works, but I'm pretty sure that you don't need that much crap in a purse."
She glanced back at him with a frown, eyes rimmed with red. "I need every little thing in my bag, Dante. Without this bag here, I am not whole. I am a walking shell of a girl with no thought beyond that of missing my bag." To prove her point, Grey hefted the black bag into his lap.
He grunted at the weight. "Jeez, Grey, this thing weighs more than you."
Shia was now near them, eyes clouded with pained curiosity, but mouth still smiling. She knew it was a sign that he was dying to ask, but was unwilling to step past the boundary until it was brought up. It was one thing she admired about the strong teen. He didn't pry into anyone's business. He could be a pillar of support, yet never asked to know why. Despite the fact that she was constantly fighting with him, Grey found that it was the one thing about him she really needed from time to time.
Outwardly, she didn't acknowledge the tall Tameranian, but her body was completely aware of his presence. Trying to ignore the steady pulse of desire, Grey reached into the bag and pulled out a random object. "See, I happen to need this."
Eyebrow arching, Dante asked, "You need a corkscrew?"
Grey blinked. "Yes. It holds many memories."
"You don't drink."
She smiled, pain crawling back into the dark abyss from whence it came, but ready to leap back at the smallest memory. "I found it somewhere…not sure where, but I found it and its mine. So shut up." Discontented with her argument, Grey pulled out the biggest makeup case he had ever set eyes on.
"See? I need this. Oh, and this," she chirped as she pulled out about ten pens, all in varying shades of neon colors. "And I need this, and this too, can't live without that. Need this, too, and you see this? Yes, have to have with me at all times. And—"
Dante rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay, you need your bottomless purse that'll end up breaking your shoulder in the long run."
Grey winked. "See? I always win." Pulling the heavy bagged from her bothers lap, Grey pulled out the makeup bag in hopes of repairing the damage of her anger. She could still feel the heat of her fury burning her cheeks as she slapped on more base.
Shia sat down beside her, thighs bumping casually against hers. The feeling that swelled in her chest was far from informal on her part, and Grey felt her heart pick up speed. It was still unruly when Shia peeked over her shoulder to prod at the makeup filled to the brim inside the black and white stripped bag.
"What is all that?" He asked curiously, picking up an eyelash curler and tilting it in his hands as if it were a foreign device. Finding him utterly adorable, Grey plucked it from his hands. "It's an eyelash curler, nimrod. It, you know, curls eyelashes."
He ignored the obvious ploy, instead leafing through it to find another article. He picked up lip gloss, unscrewed it. Sniffed. "Fruity," he said with a nodded, His eyes lifted to her mouth. "Was this what I tasted earlier?"
He had not meant for his innocent comment to make her blush, but it was exactly what she was doing. Feisty, hardheaded, I-can-take-care-of-my-self-even-if-I-am-a-bit-shorter-than-normal-human's was blushing because he mentioned their earlier kiss. He found himself aching to kiss her again, even though he had long ago admitted that the little dragon was a pain in the ass and swore that she would forever annoy him. It was strange to say the least, for he had never felt the urge to kiss her…well, unless you excluded the first time she's planted one on him, or the constant day dreams, or the sex dream he had last night—heck, or every single night since he was thirteen…
Well, hell, he thought with a frown, idly lifting to gloss to smell again. So much for that…
Grey snapped out of her daze with a shake of her head, long hair tumbling over her shoulders and down her chest. He found himself watching the decent with a little bit too much interest
"Actually, it is. Did you enjoy it? Personally, I really like it. Hey, that reminds me, I need to go buy some more."
Shiamar smiled at her antics. Leave it up to Grey to plow on casually, as if nothing embarrassing had happened. The urge to lean in again forced him to his feet, gloss in hand. "You know, Grey, you don't need makeup."
She glanced up at him, a mere flutter of lashes, and plucked the lipstick from his hand to toss it back in the pile. "Course I do. I look like death warmed over without it."
He glanced over his shoulder at the mingling students, now pouring out the cafeteria like water. "I think you look beautiful either way."
Grey's eyes snapped up to his face, heart stuttering in her chest as the voice in her head squealed and proceeded to giggle insanely. "What did you say?"
Shia turned back, sexy grin spreading over his mouth. "Said you look fine either way. Don't think I stuttered. Is your hearing range as short as your body?"
That snapped her out of her revere fast, causing her brother to sigh as the normal bickering irrupted. "So troublesome," he mumbled, mood lightning when he spotted his tree, void of all other humans, save for the few group of sophomore girls who lingered around the perimeter in hopes of getting close to him. He shrugged, uncaring. So long as they didn't bother him…
He walked to his tree, nearly giddy at the prospect at napping when Kiranne walked out, only to be targeted by none other than the Dick himself. Happiness vanishing, Dante scowled, clawed hand fisting. His eyes met the brown depths or Dick's, locking and holding for what seemed like hours. There was humor in Richard's, and a fair tinge of challenge. Never one to be screwed with intentionally, Dante waited until Dick was closing on her.
Lazily, he called out to her. "Kiranne, get over here."
Body turned completely away from Dick's—pleasure swamped Dante as Richard glowered at him—Kiranne's diverse colored eyes lifted to his, blush blooming. Hands lifted as if to strangle him, Richard could only watched as Kira dragged herself toward the damn shape-shifter, body language all but screaming her attraction to the boy despite the self-consciousness weighing her down.
Dante waved happily at him as Kira moved to stand in front of him, at least six feet away from him. Finding the movement oddly cute, Dante reached out to grab her arm and drug her body towards him. In her shock, she all but fell into him, hands fisting against his shirt and head tipping back to stare at him wide-eyed.
"Come on. I need you to be my guard while I sleep to make sure no one tries to rape this beautiful, sexy body of mine."
He knew she wanted to roll her eyes, but was too busy concentrating on the out of control blush at such close contact. He pushed her up gently, brushed off her shoulders. His fingers accidentally skimmed across her collarbone and he had the pleasure of feeling the heat spread over her skin and dip into the collar of her white Falcon Dojo T-shirt.
"We have, what, thirty minutes? Good, all I need to rest. I can sleep the rest off in class. Now, remember, make sure no one tries to lay hands on this hunky piece of meat." He managed to drag a smile out of her despite the embarrassment.
Dante settled beneath the tree, long, lithe body stretching out. He sighed in pleasure, eyes fluttering closed as the April breeze combed loving fingers through his long locks. "This is the life," he murmured, lazily reaching up, eyes still closed, to grab Kira's hand and tug her down. She ended up half-sprawled against him, chest pressed against his hips.
Dante managed to keep from ripping her up to his mouth, instead concentrating on the feel of her raging heartbeat against his skin. "I know you want me Kiranne, but I think we best wait till we're alone."
He didn't miss the sigh or the sudden spike of her scent. Misery smoldered together with despair. He knew, without prying into her mind, what she was thinking. Somehow, with his joke, he managed to make her feel unwanted again. Dante sighed softly as she scrambled up. If only she knew…
Kiranne sat beside him, a good foot away from him, head tilted away from him. So wrapped up in her thoughts was she that she missed to blur of pink and white that leaped on Dante, legs on either side of his hips.
By the time she managed to turn her head, said blur was already kissing one very shocked shape-shifter. He relaxed slightly when he notice who was running her skilled tongue over the seam of his mouth.
"Miranda."
Kiranne frowned at the girl, unable to turn away when she ground her hips provocatively against his. Dante jerked, eyes clouding. "Damnit, Randi, not here. You're killing me." His eyes narrowed slightly, eyes dropping down to her short skirt. "Oh God, you're not even wearing underwear, are you?"
Miranda winked. "You'll find out later." She turned her body to study Kiranne with blatant dislike. She waved her hands dismissively. "Shoo, now. Let the adults play."
Something shifted in his chest as Kiranne scuffled to do as she was bid. "Miranda," he growled. "She's fine." Ignoring the pout his girlfriend was currently harboring, Dante reached to grab Kiranne again.
"Don't leave because she told you to. Stay if you want." He threw a frown at Miranda, who looked away and proceeded to fix her short bob of brunette hair.
He kept his eyes locked with Kiranne's, heart sinking when she turned away with pain muting her bright eyes. She got up without a word, walking slowly toward her siblings. Chase, who had watched the whole thing with anger bubbling in his chest, sidled to Kira's side, immediately trying to coax her into a laugh. He made sure to turn toward Dante when they reached the fountain, eyes screaming profanities.
Dante's eyebrows drew together as he nodded in understanding. Oblivious to her boyfriend's plight, Miranda leaned down to kiss him heavily, tongue skimming over the roof of his mouth.
Dante tried to respond. He tried to force his body to take pleasure in the attention he received constantly, but for reasons unknown, Dante could not bring himself to feel anything but the guilt eating away at his soul.
He wasn't interested in what Rebecca had planned. Personally, he found the whole idea of raping and murdering superhero girls degrading, and all together sick. What was the world coming to if raping all that was supposedly good in this world?
He wasn't black or white when it came to classifying his political interest. He was gray, neither good nor evil. He did what he pleased with no thought towards his counterparts. Both sides had tried to wrangle him in, but he was content with bouncing around, poking into their business and laughing behind their backs.
But this…this was something he had never dealt with. This evil was more sinister than any hostile takeover. This was destroying innocent girls because they happened to be the blood relatives of past victims. It was sick, and he found himself unconsciously leaning toward the white side of the world.
He had gone to the meeting out of simple curiosity. It was his nature, as was studying the army of people. He thought it would be some nonsense about another plan of world domination. He went because he knew it would amuse him. But walking into the warehouse, hearing the plot and seeing the women had screwed with his head, made him stop and think about what was really going on.
The Titan girls had done nothing wrong to the one called Rebecca. It was her sick plan to take away the present and future of her past victims to regain her own sick life. He wanted to turn his back to them, to try and force himself to forget the plot, the sick torture planned for those beautiful virgin girls, but his heart refused to let him. He had to do something, even if it was to help the good side of life.
He lingered in the large drawing room at Rebecca's manor, presence blending with the rest of the idiots pulled into the plan. He recognized a few of them. Others were strangers, mere humans with nothing but guns as their weapons. He knew that they were the ones to truly fear.
The one who he remembered having such a strong want for Dahlia was close to him, arms folded over his chest. His body language was loose, almost lazy, but his eyes were sharp and oddly expressive, despite the fact that he couldn't find a single emotion in them.
"Lotta people here," he said casually, eyes scanning the crowed. Rebecca was no where to be seen, but her husband was there, sitting comfortably at the couch while sipping a cup of tea. His eyebrow rose. Didn't seem like the husband was exactly right in the mind, either…
"Yes."
He was mildly surprised that he received an answer. "So many people fighting for a chance to shine. Wonder how many of them will off each other to get it done."
"Hmm. Interesting point. I care not."
He brushed off the man without a second thought when Rebecca walked in, cheeks flushed and a stoic bear of a man trailing in behind her. She looked like she had just come from a tumble between the sheet, and if her husband had any indication, he did not show it.
The room quitted, and he was almost impressed with Rebecca and her presences. She could grab hold of a good amount of people attention, which happened to make a good speaker, he mused, watching neutrally as she stepped onto a chair with the help of the pale bear-man.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I was away on business." A secretive smile flitted over her lips as she smoothed down her skirt. "Now, on to more pressing matters. It has been decided that we are to begin immediately on our project. I do not want to waste anymore time. Eighteen years has been enough. Now, I need you to group off, if you don't mind."
She rubbed her shoulders and glanced behind her at the man she had walked in with. "Gizmo here is our technological genius. He is going to be my main man, and all those who happen to be good with computers will be under his supervision. Those who do not meet his requirements will be dealt with, and placed in another group where your talents are needed. Now, those of you who deal with any sort of mechanics, be it computer or car, moved toward this man here."
By the time all the scuffling had died down, seven people were gathered behind them. There were two women, both who seemed as dead as the weapon wielder next to him. The rest were men, all young and composed. It was a rather dismal scene, but he had no more time to study them, for Rebecca shooed them off after Gizmo, who disappeared without a glancing behind him.
Rebecca watched him with a sort of longing before turning back to winked at her husband. Floozy, he thought with a sigh.
"Archers, snipers, and weapon wielders will be studied, and I will be there to personally watch. I will be the one who decided who stays and who goes. All of you who think you are up to par with my expectation, please follow Blade out the door."
The man next to him shifted and walked off; following the same path that Gizmo had taken. The room was nearly empty now.
"As for the rest of you, I take it you have superhuman powers?" They all nodded, and a smile broke over Rebecca's face. "Good. You are to be my main warriors. You, I know, will be able to fight against the Titans bitches fairly. If you will, please, go with my husband. He will lead you to the basement, where he will study your powers."
He frowned slightly. Everyone followed the redhead out the door, leaving only him and Rebecca alone in the room. Well, so much for being discreet. Should have followed the weapons…
She glanced over at him, eyebrow raised. "I'm sorry, did you not hear? Are you part of the arsenal?"
He shook his head. Arsenal? All those fighters were nothing more than tools? Actually, that didn't shock him. All of the people here were tools to Rebecca.
"No," he said with a yellow smile. "I'm more talented in a different area. Figured it would be stupid to trot after a group I don't belong in and risk getting killed when I don't met your standards."
She stepped down from the chair with a tilt of her head. "Caught that, did you?"
He nodded, hands slipping in jean pockets. "Don't put it past you."
He was surprised when she laughed, eyes alight. "Ah, I like you. So, you don't play around do you?"
"I find it stupid and unnecessary. There's no need to beat around the bush when you can just as easily get through your mission without faults."
"I see." She walked up to him, leaning her head back to watch him. "What is your specialty?"
He pulled his eyes away from her to study the surroundings. Classy. Rich. Yet there was something off about it, like it was hiding something behind the bright yellow walls. "I'm a…spy, of sorts."
"A spy?" Her eyes lit up again. "Well, I think I can use you, Mr. Spy." She turned away as she unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it from her shoulders. She moved toward the tray of tea on the mantel in nothing more than a white slip. "What made you come?"
Heart beat almost unsteady, he shrugged, face masked. "Bored."
Tea in hand, she turned to him, surprise flitting over her features. "Bored? You came here because you had nothing better to do?"
"Ah, you jump too quickly to conclusions. I was bored when I went to the first meeting. I became hooked, I guess, afterwards. Now, I'm enthralled. You're plan is wicked at best. Very evil. Very complex. Very in-depth. There's no room for mistakes. It something I look for in my bosses. You have the field mapped out, all possible outcomes planned. You mind is ingenious."
She smiled, sipped her tea. "Thank you. Do you plan on spying for me?"
He let a smile slip over his features. "You plan on killing me if I say no?"
She laughed again. "I really like your spunk, kid. I want you with me. I want you to find out all the little details about those girls as you can. Can you do that?"
He nodded. "Sure. Got anything background info I can use? To get a good feel for them?"
She grinned behind the flowered china. "What kind of sick bitch do you think I am? Of course I do."
He walked out the mansion, papers tucked beneath his arms. As he strutted down the sidewalk, whistling, he figured his mentor would be highly pleased with the new batch of information.
Can you believe I actually went to my junior prom Saturday? I was surprised at myself. Had a really good time too. Then, I went horseback riding for the first time ever Sunday. It was so awesome. Anyway, these are the reasons why I haven't updated sooner. Sorry for the delay, but I was having so much fun.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as I did when writing it. Really like this for some reason…
All right, you people are going to get annoyed with me for doing this again, but it needs to be done.
I NEED A BETA!!!!
Yes, I know, I've said this before and have had many people volunteer to do it, but I slack off and just post it without having someone look over it. Those of you before who've said they would do it, I'm sorry, but this time, I'm dead serious. No playing anymore. I will be serious in this.
If you are up for the job, e-mail me instead of leaving it in a review, please, for it is so much easier if I have your e-mail before hand, instead of having to go and dig it up. I feel dirty and sneaky when I do that.
So, if anyone is interest in the job—this would include all stories, not just this one, so be aware—please e-mail me. The only thing I require is fast returns and side-notes on how you liked it and if you didn't. My last beta—who I lost contact with and miss terribly...really need to track her down again...—always left her opinion on what she liked and didn't, and it made it easier to fix. I can always go back and delete the comment of the rough draft, so don't be afraid to write to your heart's content. This is all I ask, so if you want to beta it, I will be forever in your debt.
Oh, yeah, and I'm switching this to M, because of all the innuendoes dealing with sex and whatnot. There won't be any—at least not as of yet—but if it is rated M, I won't have to curb the teenage hormones. It's much easier when you can actually write a teenager without trying to make them all innocent and not hormonal. Seriously, what seventeen-year-old isn't thinking of sex? Heck, even Kira does, though it is still innocent, in a way.
Ooh, speaking of seventeen…I have a total of fourteen days before I turn the big one seven. I so can not wait until the eleventh…