[Author's Note: Before anybody says anything about anything, I suck at life and I realize this. Update weekly? Such a silly, silly Super Nerd. :P I really do apologize but I'm gonna try super hard to update this... more often... I'm not going to be spicific because then it won't happen, but yeah. Here's another chapter.

Please keep in mind there is cursing. Mild, in my book, but I don't know about yours. So that's why the warning. Hopefully, you enjoy this chappie.]

Chapter Seven

When I made it back to my apartment, I wanted to sleep and cry, then sleep more. But funny enough, no dice. I had work in an hour and I needed a shower. And when I rounded the corner and headed for my room, I figured the shower wouldn't happen either, as Layla stood nervously outside my apartment.

"Where have you been? I called and texted you a hundred times!" She was all but screaming at me.

I pulled the phone out of my pocket. It had been on silent. And a hundred was incredibly unrealistic. It was more like five calls and twelve text messages. "Huh. Sorry." I said, pulling out my room key and letting myself in. Without an invitation, Layla followed. I couldn't have pulled that out of a hat.

"What did you do to Warren? He's freaking out, Jade." Layla said, beginning to pace.

I ignored her for the moment, going into the bedroom and throwing off my hoodie. Why did I feel like I needed to check on the gun every time I was in this room? It was pissing me off! More than I already was, anyway. "Layla. Just chill. Ok. It's no big deal." I called.

"No big deal?" She just about screeched this sentence at me. "No big deal? Will's front yard was on fire, ON FIRE! There was fire fighters and everything. And we had to make up some crackpot story about playing with fire. Like we're six!"

Why was she so worked up? Because her set-up had failed? Because her boyfriend's lawn was on fire? I hated grass anyway. "Layla. Why are you here?" I asked, sitting at my dinner table as I came back into the room, crossing my arms over my chest.

"What happened?" She asked, finally stopping in her back-and-forth.

"Warren wants something from me that I can't give him until he gives me the same courtesy." I told her. I loved my vague answers, because it was an answer and another question all at the same time.

"Like what?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest and giving me a look that clearly read 'you've got to be kidding me.'

"Did you try asking him?" I offered.

"Of course not! He was on fire! I enjoy being barbequed as much as I enjoy eating barbeque." She said, returning to pace.

"Ya know, grilled squash is really yummy." I said, trying to distract her. But she caught me.

"Stop changing the subject and answer my question." She said, and I believed this to be the first time Layla had gotten agitated in a long time. She usually took everything in stride.

"He lied to me, Layla." I told her, looking at the table. Sure, why not? I could spin this around. I had once been told I was good at manipulating people. I didn't know if it was true or not, but hell, let's give it a go.

My statement had made her stop walking, and look at me. She was waiting for an explanation.

"I know, that you know, that he's a super. Why didn't he tell me before? If he's going to lie about having powers, is he going to lie when he becomes a full-fledged super? If we actually started dating, which will never happen, is he going to lie to me when he goes zooming off on missions?"

Layla looked at me thoughtfully. She obviously hadn't seen it like that. She was so absorbed in her super hero world; she forgot there were mortals out there who didn't know. "Well, that is an awfully valid point." She said, sitting at my table.

"I mean, if we started dating, which will never happen, and he goes flying off, am I going to know he's safe? Am I going to know he's out there fighting a giant robot? Is he going to tell me that or am I going to have to find out once the newscasters get there?" I sighed.

She regarded me carefully. "I can understand your standpoint. You don't have powers. You don't know how it works. I hadn't thought about it like that. Maybe Warren didn't either. Did you try to talk to him?"

"Um, no. He started smoking and I kicked him out." I told her honestly. Ok, so maybe I left out the part where he called me a liar. But that's ok. She doesn't need to know everything, right?

"Ok. I'm sorry I came over here yelling at you." She said, sincerely.

I nodded. "I know you guys go to super school. I know that you've probably known each other for years, your gang and you. I got that. But Layla, I've never stuck around one place for more than seven months. Not in the last three years anyway." I said and knew I'd just given away a little part of my hidden identity.

Thankfully, Layla missed my timeframe slip up. She just nodded. "I really think you need to talk to Warren. I've never seen him act this way." She told me, standing up and walking to the door. "And just so you know, in between fire balls, Warren told me your uncle came over this morning. He and I both know that wasn't your uncle. Just…" She trailed off with a sigh. "Just be careful, ok?"

I nodded to her and she left my apartment. I just sat there, staring at the wood grain. I slowly picked myself up from the table. I had no idea what I was doing, but my gut took me into the bedroom. The moment had arrived that I despised with eternal hatred.

I picked up the purse from the bottom of my closest. It was bigger than my other purse, but small enough to not injure the new addition. With shaky hands, I propped up the false board, pulling out the cold hunk of metal. I took an uneasy breath as I laid it in the bottom of the purse.

"Why do I need this?" I asked in disgust as the firearm was forced into my possession.

"You need to be able to keep yourself safe. We won't always have another agent in the area." The Commander told me. Of course I knew how to use it. They'd trained me with it, I just had no idea they'd actually be giving me one. "It's a Glock 28. It's a .380 caliber pistol, with a clip that holds 15 rounds."

I just stared at him. Part of me thought this was a sick joke, but he was serious as he continued explaining to me. "It's small enough to fit in your purse, but big enough to injury anything coming at you. It weighs about nineteen ounces unloaded, and about twenty-four with the clip in it."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat the size of a baseball. He was actually telling me I might actually have to shoot someone. A living, breathing person, instead of the practice dummies I was used to.

With the end of his explanation, he handed me the gun.

I returned to my dining room as my phone sounded itself. I set the purse on the bed, gun inside. I picked up the device and remembered I had set an alarm for work. I sighed, picking up my skateboard. I went back into the bedroom to pick up my purse.

It was heavy, heavier than I'd ever had it. And almost awkward to carry. I felt like there was a neon sign above my head reading, 'THERE'S A GUN IN HER PURSE.' Awesome.

I dashed out of the building, laying down the board and kicking off. I sailed down the sidewalk and got to the payroll clock with two minutes to spare. Maybe not having Warren in my life was a good thing. I think this was the third or fourth time I'd ever been to work early.

My manager gave the seldom seen 'good job' look and I continued to the locker room. I almost wanted to carry the pistol on me, fearing I'd be attacked out of nowhere. I put my thought on pause.

What was I thinking? No one had found me out. Granted, two people knew my uncle wasn't visiting me. They knew I was hiding something; that was all. Nobody knew I was under cover or a secret agent. Why was I freaking out so bad?

I pulled on my sales apron with a blinding white name tag, stating a name I hated. Why Jade? It was a thought I'd come back to several times. I mean, they wanted me to fly under the radar, so they came up with something I'd never even heard before? Maybe it was just me and I was behind the curb on names or something?

But why not Jane? Why not Jill? Hell, even Shannon was a more covert name than Jade. I sighed to myself and went into the back room. Baby clothes. Sweet. Please note the sarcasm.

Taking the dolly and rolling down the aisles, I zoned out. I wasn't shaken from my thoughts until I ran into a wall. Well, ok, it felt like I'd run into a wall. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry." The stranger and I said at the same time. But I looked up to see Captain America Junior.

Could this day get any freaking worse? Yes? Ok. Because, as soon as he opened his mouth, guess what? It did. "Warren's freaking out."

No 'hey, how are you?' There wasn't any 'how's work going?'

"Well, Stronghold, since you asked, I'm doing fine, thanks. And yourself?" I mocked as I took the dolly and rolled away from him. I was mumbling curses towards his direction when he came running up to stop in front of me. "I'm sorry, but please move. I have work to do." I told him, trying to make my way around him.

But he was having none of it. Nope. Built like a freaking brick wall. And he was making me mad. The Agency part of me momentarily thought about shooting him, but the human part of me squished that as soon as it came to mind.

"I'm serious. He lit my lawn on fire. Which, isn't a big deal, since it's happened before. But seriously. The only time I've seen him that mad was when he threw me across the cafeteria last year because I talked about his dad." Cap'n USA told me.

I heaved a monumental sigh for what seemed the hundredth time today. "Will, drop it. I already had this huge talk with Layla. Please, go ask her. She'll be more than glad to fill you in, I'm sure." I said, making towards his left and surprisingly he let me.

"I did. She told me what you talked about." He said, moving to walk next to me.

His statement confused me. "Then why are you still stalking me?"

"Don't you think Warren at least deserves to hear it from you? He's never once been mean to you. Actually, I know for a fact he's been the nicest person around you in a long time." He said, keeping my pace easily.

But his words maybe me lose focus and clip a corner I was rounding with the dolly, which pitched me forward. My forehead bounced off the tile at the same time my knee bounced off the dolly.

I whispered a string of curses, letting an old habit grab hold of me. I used to cuss like a sailor. I was holding my head gently as I somehow managed to sit up. Oh, Wonder Boy was helping me. Just awesome.

He looked at me worried for a moment before realizing I wasn't deathly injured. He looked at me for a long time, making me uneasy. "Jade. I know you've got a hard past. I'm not going to lie and say, I know how you feel, because I know that if I'd been in the same situation, I would been a lot worse off than you. I know I'm a little naïve and green. But Jade, Warren's been through a lot too. Maybe not the same stuff, but how do you compare traumas?"

His words made a lump form in my throat that I quickly swallowed before water works manifested. "Jade, please. I know that you don't want to talk about it. I think it's safe for me to say, that I know it hurts. And I know that you're hiding something. Maybe it's so bad, you think if you tell, everything's going to fall apart."

I just stared at him. Did he know? Had he found me out? I took a quick inhale of breath, hoping he hadn't noticed. But he did.

"I'm not asking you to tell me. I'm not asking you to tell Layla. Hell, I'm not even telling you to go spill your guts to Warren. But I am telling you this; there was a time when everyone pushed Warren away because of who he is. And he pushed back, so they ended up farther away than they already were. But he let you in. He told you one of his biggest secrets. Don't push him away for that. I don't think Warren can be pushed away anymore."

His tone suggested bad things. Terrible things. Possibly things I had once inflicted on myself. He stood up, holding out his hand. Reluctantly, I took it from him and he stood me up. He leaned over and picked up the dolly for me.

"Just… think about it before you push him away anymore." Were Will's last words to me as he turned and left the store.

By the time I got back to my apartment, I'd missed three calls from Layla, two from Magenta, and five from Zach. There were also seventeen unopened text messages sitting in my inbox. I wanted to throw the thing at the wall. I hadn't listened to any of the voicemails. I didn't want to hear their damn concern.

I didn't want their damn pity.

I didn't want their damn 'we didn't know you're such an injured child' speech. They could all shove it up their asses. I could literally taste my own bitterness in my mouth. It was almost sickening. But it was keeping the Agency part of me alive and well. I couldn't afford to feed my human side with concern, worry, and pity. But feeding my Agency side with anger and hate was much less expensive.

I wanted to destroy something; the wall, the kitchen table, my arm. Something. My anger needed soothed a bit and violence was the only thing that would cure me. I was so mad; I was seeing red around the edges.

Walking to the bathroom, I took the razor I used to shave my legs and drug it across my forearm. I couldn't feel the pain, so I did it again. Then I saw the blood running out of the break in my skin and how it kept coming. Then urgency kicked in. My self-preservation went into overdrive and I grabbed a towel, wrapping my arm up. Now the pain was coming and I could tell it'd be a while before it stopped.

I bit my lip to hold myself back from screaming. Even with Warren's room being two floors above mine, I could tell he'd hear and come running. And that was so the last thing I needed right now. I slowed the bleeding drastically, then headed into the bedroom. I pulled a first aid kit out from the back of the closet.

Pulling out a couple butterfly closures, I tried to keep the cut together. There was no way I was going to the doc for stitches. I'd never hear the end of it from somebody I was sure. I then covered it with the biggest bandage I could find. Finally, I wrapped it in an ace bandage to keep the big Band-Aid on.

I sighed, leaning against the bed. What the hell was wrong with me? What was I even doing? I couldn't even think right. I couldn't tell at this point if I needed Warren to steady my sanity, or if he was making me go crazy. Because, both were acceptable in my book. I wanted Warren around. I wanted him around as much as possible. But my Agency-Self-Preservation side was on edge every time he was near me.

I was worried. I didn't want to blow my cover, because that had unspeakable consequences. I pictured being stoned or lynched. There was a knock at my door and I slowly stood, making sure all of my wounds were covered by the wrap.

Layla stood in front of my door, hand in hand with Will. I nodded to both of them, fearing my voice would betray me. I could tell they knew I was mad. So I was grateful when Layla tread lightly. "We want you to come over for a movie night, if you don't have anything going on."

I just stood there looking at her. I almost didn't comprehend what she'd said. She must have seen my look, because she elaborated. "I know that Will and I are sticking our noses into something that's none of our business. It's just that Warren is one of our best friends and we hate to see him hurt. But we should trust that you have your own reasons that we don't need to know about."

I nodded. "Thank you, Hippie." I hadn't meant it rudely. It was just my new nickname for her.

"What happened to your arm?" Will asked, loosely gesturing to my wrapped appendage.

"I broke a jar at work. It cut me up pretty bad." Yep, that was a pretty good lie. And if they ever saw me without the bandage for some reason, the reasoning was good too.

"Do you want us to take you to the doctor?" Will asked, concern obvious in his voice.

"Nah. After all the times I've sewn myself back together or wrapped myself up, I should be a doc myself." I gave a little smile. "So, when do you want me to come over?" I asked.

Will was still wary, but Layla was helping me out now. "Right now, if you want? Will can fly us over to his house." Then I got an idea. I opened my mouth, but Layla beat me to the punch. "No, Warren's hiding out in his place. He hasn't talked to any of us since this morning."

I nodded. "Well, just let me get my shoes." I said, leaving the door open. The bathroom wasn't very bad, but I closed the door none-the-less. I pulled on shoes and socks, then grabbed my purse. No way was I letting the thing out of my sight anymore.

I came back into the living/dinner room and smiled. "Ok, I'm ready whenever." I said, grabbing my phone. I had been messing with it a little bit, so I could at the very least operate it now without a huge struggle.

Layla smiled at me and took my elbow with her hand. Will followed us out as I locked and closed the door. We walked down the stairs and out onto the grass. We hid behind the tree out front, where Will had landed the night he'd saved me from being mugged.

Layla and I each took one of Will's hands and he lifted off. I was still scared of heights, but this view was also amazingly beautiful. The sun had just gone down, so there was residual red and pink from the sunset.

Three minutes later and we were landing in Will's backyard. I let go of his hand as soon as we touched down. He smiled at me, putting his arm around Layla's waist. They headed into the house and I followed. Just as we got inside, the door bell rung and my whole body tensed. But thankfully, no hot head. Just Zach and Magenta.

I smiled at them, even though they gave me that 'poor you' look I hated with the utmost passion. I shrugged it off and Will popped in a movie. I sat on the love seat Warren and I had occupied at the last movie night. But that was ok; it allowed me to sprawl out.

I laid down sideways, as Zach and Magenta sat on the carpet and Will and Layla took the couch. Even when the movie started, I had no idea what was going on. It was another scary movie, but it didn't scare me. Maybe my robot mode had never really turned off.

We were halfway through the movie when the doorbell rang again. I thought nothing of it as Will gave Layla a look, which she shrugged to. Will stood up and walked to the door. From my love seat, I had a clear view of the door. So when the local pyro stood there, I didn't move. Hopefully, if I didn't move, he wouldn't see me.

But no dice. Today was not my day. When Warren saw me, he pushed past Will to stand in front of me. "What is your problem?" He growled. Yes, growled. Like he was a cornered badger.

"I wasn't aware that I had a problem." I said, acting as if I wasn't completely freaking out. This was going to end very badly.

"You have got to be kidding. You're fooling yourself if you're thinking this isn't wrong." He said, glaring at me.

I knew he'd forgotten there were other people in the room, but I was all too aware. "Dear Warren, whatever are you talking about?" I asked innocently. I noticed his shoulders began to smoke. Yep, robot mode was still on. I didn't care.

"Who was the guy this morning?" He said through gritted teeth.

"I thought we went over this? He's my uncle." I told him.

Apparently, he didn't like my answer. His shoulders just rolled smoke and I could tell he was one more evasive answer from lighting up. Still didn't care.

"No he fucking was not." He growled again, nearly yelling. It was the first time I had heard him cuss and for some reason, it startled me.

I slowly stood up, looking him in the eye the whole time. "I'm not sure if you're really aware of this or not. You might not be, since you seem to be a controlling asshole most of the time," I said, keeping my tone level.

"But I don't give a flying fuck in space if you don't believe me or not. He is my uncle. He was coming to check on me. And I don't have to answer to you about who does, and doesn't, visit my apartment."

And that was my wrong answer. The fire started at his fingers, slowly spreading up and into his shoulders. But I didn't stand down. I didn't back away either, despite the intense heat the flames gave off.

He was shaking and I could tell me was doing everything in his will power to not light me on fire. I was grateful for that. But as soon as the fire started, it stopped. I watched him carefully as he spoke. "What happened to your arm?" He asked, concern lacing his voice. He gently took my arm.

Even though he had been on fire five seconds before, his fingers were only warm to the touch. The change in his voice startled me a bit. He went from 'I'm going to light you on fire' to 'are you ok?' in 4.2 seconds. "I just broke a jar at work. Kind of shredded me up." I said.

He didn't believe me. I knew that. I wanted to tell him everything. But I couldn't. I literally, physically could not spill my guts. "Just tell me the truth." He whispered, long black and red strands of hair falling to his face.

I took a shaky breath and drew my arm from his gentle, yet callused fingers. I moved to the side of the couch and picked up my purse. Without saying anything else, I left out Will's front door and headed down the street.

[Also as a little side note, I made up title for all these chapters from song lyrics. This chapter's lyrics come from Hurricane by Theory of a Deadman. Check 'em out. But at the end of this story, whenever the hell I get it finished, I'll post a page with the corresponding title lyrics and song info. Just so you know.]