The rooftop was quiet now as the two boys sat, their legs hanging over the edge, as one would heave a deep breath the other would exhale. One of them, the one in white was still smoldering, a scorch mark across his chest. The dark one rustled up the already messy hair of the other.
”You’re getting soft little brother”
He knew it just meant he cared, yet his hands still tried to push him away, spawning only more laughter.
“Come on Alex, what is going on? That was bad even for you. “
“Don’t call me that!” Came a defensive cry. “That isn’t my name anymore!” It sounded childish coming from the one in white.
“Alex, your still my little brother, if anyone is Nova its me, I’m older, and I refuse to call you that name we came up with when we are five. And I still don’t know how you got your friends to call you Xander” The dark one laughed warmly leaning over to watch what was going on below them.
“Ad-dam! Come on!”
He was quickly cut off “Oh so its okay for you to call me my name, but I have to go down a list for you, to find out which one we can go with for today? So anyway, what’s going on?” There was a pause before the question could be answered “Stuff with that Tara girl? Oh wait, sorry. Stas-sis. “
He laughed a bit in a teasing tone, but quickly stopped seeing a hurt look come from his brother. “Come on, you have to admit its kind of funny you both really stick to these made up names.”
He let the comment go before responding, uncertainty in his voice already leading the conversation. “I… I don’t know, it’s just....” He gathered himself up, straightening before he spoke again. “I like her Adam, I really do. More than anyone else, but I don’t know I mean we don’t even hold hands or anything. When we are alone though its different, its like she is a different person. She is nice and thoughtful and even sweet, like a whole different person. She said she was going to start trying to be that person, who she really is more, but its like she completely avoids me in public now. She used to just get mad”
Adam scoffed flicking a small particle of concrete over the edge. “Monkeys”
“Don’t call her that!” The one in white called out in a defiant voice, angered and upset.
“That really is a nerve for you isn’t it? You know its true right? They are an evolutionary generation or two away from monkeys. I mean they even write about it. You know they call those people great thinkers.”
“Adam don’t call them that, I’m serious.”
“Okay okay, no more monkey talk, but come on humans can be pretty messed up. Its obvious she likes you for whatever reason, but its not enough. To me, it sounds like she might be a bit freaked about dating an alien.”
“What? No! She wouldn’t she isn’t like that, I mean she is different too”
“Look, I don’t know why she acts the way she does. I try to avoid humans remember? You’re the one who spends all the time around them. I’m just saying, they aren’t exactly open to aliens, isn’t their latest policy to shoot on sight? Or is that just Rikti, I can’t remember”
Defensive again the white one tried to speak up “ Its not like that and you know it! They are nice to me at the school, I bet they would even be nice to you!”
Another scoff came “If I want to learn how monkeys interact, I will pay the three dollars to get into the Zoo.” There was a slight pause “You keep saying how great they are, but look at the one person closest to you. “
There was a silence between them that the dark one finally broke. “Alex I am just trying to look out for you okay? If you want to stand by her you can, I won’t tell you not to, just be careful.” He slowly stood stretching his wings out. “In the end its not up to you though, we know where you stand”
Nova sat there quietly looking up, not sure what to say. He knew what he wanted to say, but what good was it. In an instant his brother was gone, vanished with a crackle of energy and a wisp of black and purple mist.
The Brothers Nova
Moderator: Student Council
Re: The Brothers Nova
((Post Rated R for More Violence than Normal))
The camera came into focus, showing a ring of Outcasts and Trolls strangely gathered around two figures in the center. The location had to be Boomtown judging by the twisted remains of the city, crumbled concrete and twisted steel everywhere.
”What’s going on Man?” A voice came from behind the camera.
“Dude these two were screaming at each other, I think they’re gonna fight”
The camera shot up to the center of the ring, where two young men circled one another, the one had only a pair of white pants on, with tied cloth around his feet. Two large wings shot out from his back, feathers white down to the tips where a hue of pale gold seemed to tip the bottom of them. In each of his hands was a swirling mass of white and gold energy. The other seemed to be an exact copy, only colors dark, jet black feathers tipped in a deep shade of violet wearing the same style of pants, feet tied off with a dark cloth. In his hands a swirling mist of dark energy, a mixture of onyx and violet.
Whatever was happening it was beyond words now, and angry, focused faces looked to one another as they slowly circled around. The ring of noise and bodies around them cheered and jeered, as they watched.
All at once the one in black moved first, the two orbs of energy drifted out from his hands as if he had been preparing them. They hovered beside him, seeming to grow more violent in nature. Immediately the white one leapt into the air bringing the two orbs in his hand together, a single large mass of energy formed above his head. In a seconds time the crowd was silent, as the camera tried to follow their movements.
The two dark orbs began to launch beams of energy towards the one seeming to reach the apex of his leap, wings spreading causing him to hover. The first barrage missed, but the second one was already being released, more intense than the former. The large white orb from above the one released all at once, quick moving smaller spheres of energy spiraled down towards the assault. There was a flash of light as they collided, a split second later a small shockwave coming before the sound of an explosion ripped through the air. The camera caught as the one in black simply vanished in a puff of energy, focusing back as quickly as it could on the other one still in the air, it was just quick enough to see him appear behind, a dark sphere of energy charged in his hands.
There was another explosion, as a white orb hidden in the white ones wings detonated sending them flying in opposite directions. Both landed hard, but composed quickly, their skin already cut open from the rough ground. The one in white turned first, a surge of energy rushing over him as it seemed to focus into his right leg. There was a moment of silence before it smashed into the shattered concrete, white energy ripping up through the ground racing towards black one. The ground itself shook, and it was not without consequence. Nearby, the top of a tall, destroyed structure began to crumble, the vibrations through the ground enough to push the structure over its already extended limits.
The camera shot up to see it begin its fall, as the dark one leapt into view. His eyes turned towards the distraction, but with a different purpose. A small detail, easily overlooked in the intensity of the moment was captured on the camera. The three fingers of his right hand curled in as if they were tugging on strings. Three dark portals flung what look like vagrants just outside the ring. The camera twisted in a blur just in time to see the energy vortexes close, and three very frightened people look around confused, thankful to be out of the structure. The view struggled to find its way back to the action, as a blur of white had collided with the other tackling him to the ground, seeming to have never noticed what had taken the attention away from the fight.
“This is *#%@ing epic” someone called as the two bodies rolled across the harsh landscape. Another explosion occurred that blew both bodies away from each other, a mixture of darkness and light. They both landed hard on a knee, an arm supporting their weight against the ground, eyes seeming to catch for just a moment. In unison they dug their foot into the ground pushing off hard charging towards one another.
In what seemed like slow motion, each step they took towards one another their bodies seemed less and less human, until just before they collided, they were two forms completely made of energy. The one a glowing mass of gold and white, the other a swirling mist of violet and blackness. The collision brought another moment of silence as they were flung back. Before they could even land, whatever they were now, the two blurs changed direction back towards one another, clashing again and again, spiraling upwards into the sky.
“What the %*&*” was uttered, as suddenly everyone was quiet, the camera searching out the two figures in the sky. There was a moment where there was nothing, without knowing, it seemed everyone in the crowd was holding their breath. A shockwave hit them first that forced a held breath from their lungs, then two massive explosions blanketed the sky, each with their distinctive shades. A few, stumbled back, others shielded their eyes from the bright light, the camera flickered for a second, as it caught something falling. It was too quick to make out who it was, but they fell hard with no attempt to brace for the landing, the body of the black one took an unnatural bounce on the solid ground. The white one soon followed, landing hard, but bracing to resist the worst of the fall. Both heaved deep breaths in and out; smoldering and scorched they tried to stand.
Though the white one seemed to have come out ahead in the sky, it was the dark one who was on his feet first. He rushed over, no signs of energy swirling in his fists, his body cut badly, to the point where streams of blood could be seen running down the side of his face, his arms as well his stomach. Just as the one in white found his footing, the dull thud of flesh against flesh rung out, and he never made it to his feet, going down hard into the concrete. The black one turned his back, walking away, for the first time on camera speaking.
“This is what its all about, what you have gotten from spending every day with them.”
He leaned over to the side spitting out a mixture of blood and saliva, it spattering across a solid slab of rock on the ground.
“Where is this strength you get from being around them, where is this strength they have! Look around you!” Wide arms motioned to the destroyed ruins of the city. “This! This is their strength! To destroy! Even in the face of annihilation they can’t put aside their petty differences, and they continue to destroy one another!”
The crowd murmured about what was being said, the faces that could be seen through the camera weren’t happy, they were after all members of the gangs who would take advantage of Rikti strikes at times, waves of crime weren’t uncommon as raid sirens would go off in another part of the city.
“Yet through it all, you stand by…” he was cut short as the one in white gathered the strength and lunged tackling the other hard to the ground. The camera continued to capture the footage; it became hard to discern what was happening as they grappled with one another. One moment the white one seemed to have the advantage landing several solid blows, before he was flipped off and the black seemed to land several as well. It was almost hard to watch, but in the same instant impossible to look away. They managed to struggle to their feet still connected, both a bloody dirty mess, as they struggled in almost silence. The dark one seemed to finally get the upper hand as he brought a knee to the face of the other, standing him straight up eyes rolling back into his head.
The white one fell hard to the ground seeming to be out cold, shallow short breaths the only evidence of life. The other stumbled over to a makeshift throne of twisted steel and concrete, finding a place to rest his arms as he sat back against a solid slab. His chest heaved, as the winner became obvious. The murmurs of the crowd picked up again as they began to disperse, the camera taking one last look at the two bodies, one laying in a pile of rubble, the other with his head down, messy black hair covering his eyes. Just before it shut off, it caught an image, two feathers, one black the other white crossed over one another laying in the dirt. He and his friend left already talking about how awesome this was going to be, the friend quickly speaking up “You need to post this right away”
The crowd was gone now, going back to whatever they had being doing for the day; the two of them just lay there. The black one tried to wipe some blood away from under his nose, but the skin of arm already damp from perspiration did little aid the situation.
“Is this what you wanted Nova? To fight like this, so you could claim that name for yourself?”
He slowly pushed himself up; holding his side where it looked a piece of steel had punctured his skin at some point. He walked over to his brother, standing over him for a moment. A spark of energy seemed to be pulled from the white ones chest, his complexion shifting to a pale white for a moment, the larger cuts of the dark one seemed to heal rapidly. After a moment he bent over picking his brother up, still unconscious and tossed him over his shoulder.
He let out a sigh as he turned towards where he knew the campus to be.
“If this is what you really want” he whispered in a heavy tone before the air around him crackled and split as the two of them vanished into a black vortex.
The camera came into focus, showing a ring of Outcasts and Trolls strangely gathered around two figures in the center. The location had to be Boomtown judging by the twisted remains of the city, crumbled concrete and twisted steel everywhere.
”What’s going on Man?” A voice came from behind the camera.
“Dude these two were screaming at each other, I think they’re gonna fight”
The camera shot up to the center of the ring, where two young men circled one another, the one had only a pair of white pants on, with tied cloth around his feet. Two large wings shot out from his back, feathers white down to the tips where a hue of pale gold seemed to tip the bottom of them. In each of his hands was a swirling mass of white and gold energy. The other seemed to be an exact copy, only colors dark, jet black feathers tipped in a deep shade of violet wearing the same style of pants, feet tied off with a dark cloth. In his hands a swirling mist of dark energy, a mixture of onyx and violet.
Whatever was happening it was beyond words now, and angry, focused faces looked to one another as they slowly circled around. The ring of noise and bodies around them cheered and jeered, as they watched.
All at once the one in black moved first, the two orbs of energy drifted out from his hands as if he had been preparing them. They hovered beside him, seeming to grow more violent in nature. Immediately the white one leapt into the air bringing the two orbs in his hand together, a single large mass of energy formed above his head. In a seconds time the crowd was silent, as the camera tried to follow their movements.
The two dark orbs began to launch beams of energy towards the one seeming to reach the apex of his leap, wings spreading causing him to hover. The first barrage missed, but the second one was already being released, more intense than the former. The large white orb from above the one released all at once, quick moving smaller spheres of energy spiraled down towards the assault. There was a flash of light as they collided, a split second later a small shockwave coming before the sound of an explosion ripped through the air. The camera caught as the one in black simply vanished in a puff of energy, focusing back as quickly as it could on the other one still in the air, it was just quick enough to see him appear behind, a dark sphere of energy charged in his hands.
There was another explosion, as a white orb hidden in the white ones wings detonated sending them flying in opposite directions. Both landed hard, but composed quickly, their skin already cut open from the rough ground. The one in white turned first, a surge of energy rushing over him as it seemed to focus into his right leg. There was a moment of silence before it smashed into the shattered concrete, white energy ripping up through the ground racing towards black one. The ground itself shook, and it was not without consequence. Nearby, the top of a tall, destroyed structure began to crumble, the vibrations through the ground enough to push the structure over its already extended limits.
The camera shot up to see it begin its fall, as the dark one leapt into view. His eyes turned towards the distraction, but with a different purpose. A small detail, easily overlooked in the intensity of the moment was captured on the camera. The three fingers of his right hand curled in as if they were tugging on strings. Three dark portals flung what look like vagrants just outside the ring. The camera twisted in a blur just in time to see the energy vortexes close, and three very frightened people look around confused, thankful to be out of the structure. The view struggled to find its way back to the action, as a blur of white had collided with the other tackling him to the ground, seeming to have never noticed what had taken the attention away from the fight.
“This is *#%@ing epic” someone called as the two bodies rolled across the harsh landscape. Another explosion occurred that blew both bodies away from each other, a mixture of darkness and light. They both landed hard on a knee, an arm supporting their weight against the ground, eyes seeming to catch for just a moment. In unison they dug their foot into the ground pushing off hard charging towards one another.
In what seemed like slow motion, each step they took towards one another their bodies seemed less and less human, until just before they collided, they were two forms completely made of energy. The one a glowing mass of gold and white, the other a swirling mist of violet and blackness. The collision brought another moment of silence as they were flung back. Before they could even land, whatever they were now, the two blurs changed direction back towards one another, clashing again and again, spiraling upwards into the sky.
“What the %*&*” was uttered, as suddenly everyone was quiet, the camera searching out the two figures in the sky. There was a moment where there was nothing, without knowing, it seemed everyone in the crowd was holding their breath. A shockwave hit them first that forced a held breath from their lungs, then two massive explosions blanketed the sky, each with their distinctive shades. A few, stumbled back, others shielded their eyes from the bright light, the camera flickered for a second, as it caught something falling. It was too quick to make out who it was, but they fell hard with no attempt to brace for the landing, the body of the black one took an unnatural bounce on the solid ground. The white one soon followed, landing hard, but bracing to resist the worst of the fall. Both heaved deep breaths in and out; smoldering and scorched they tried to stand.
Though the white one seemed to have come out ahead in the sky, it was the dark one who was on his feet first. He rushed over, no signs of energy swirling in his fists, his body cut badly, to the point where streams of blood could be seen running down the side of his face, his arms as well his stomach. Just as the one in white found his footing, the dull thud of flesh against flesh rung out, and he never made it to his feet, going down hard into the concrete. The black one turned his back, walking away, for the first time on camera speaking.
“This is what its all about, what you have gotten from spending every day with them.”
He leaned over to the side spitting out a mixture of blood and saliva, it spattering across a solid slab of rock on the ground.
“Where is this strength you get from being around them, where is this strength they have! Look around you!” Wide arms motioned to the destroyed ruins of the city. “This! This is their strength! To destroy! Even in the face of annihilation they can’t put aside their petty differences, and they continue to destroy one another!”
The crowd murmured about what was being said, the faces that could be seen through the camera weren’t happy, they were after all members of the gangs who would take advantage of Rikti strikes at times, waves of crime weren’t uncommon as raid sirens would go off in another part of the city.
“Yet through it all, you stand by…” he was cut short as the one in white gathered the strength and lunged tackling the other hard to the ground. The camera continued to capture the footage; it became hard to discern what was happening as they grappled with one another. One moment the white one seemed to have the advantage landing several solid blows, before he was flipped off and the black seemed to land several as well. It was almost hard to watch, but in the same instant impossible to look away. They managed to struggle to their feet still connected, both a bloody dirty mess, as they struggled in almost silence. The dark one seemed to finally get the upper hand as he brought a knee to the face of the other, standing him straight up eyes rolling back into his head.
The white one fell hard to the ground seeming to be out cold, shallow short breaths the only evidence of life. The other stumbled over to a makeshift throne of twisted steel and concrete, finding a place to rest his arms as he sat back against a solid slab. His chest heaved, as the winner became obvious. The murmurs of the crowd picked up again as they began to disperse, the camera taking one last look at the two bodies, one laying in a pile of rubble, the other with his head down, messy black hair covering his eyes. Just before it shut off, it caught an image, two feathers, one black the other white crossed over one another laying in the dirt. He and his friend left already talking about how awesome this was going to be, the friend quickly speaking up “You need to post this right away”
The crowd was gone now, going back to whatever they had being doing for the day; the two of them just lay there. The black one tried to wipe some blood away from under his nose, but the skin of arm already damp from perspiration did little aid the situation.
“Is this what you wanted Nova? To fight like this, so you could claim that name for yourself?”
He slowly pushed himself up; holding his side where it looked a piece of steel had punctured his skin at some point. He walked over to his brother, standing over him for a moment. A spark of energy seemed to be pulled from the white ones chest, his complexion shifting to a pale white for a moment, the larger cuts of the dark one seemed to heal rapidly. After a moment he bent over picking his brother up, still unconscious and tossed him over his shoulder.
He let out a sigh as he turned towards where he knew the campus to be.
“If this is what you really want” he whispered in a heavy tone before the air around him crackled and split as the two of them vanished into a black vortex.
-
Stasis Kiss
- Supreme Commander of teh Intarwebs
- Posts: 2403
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:24 pm
- Location: just left of center
- Contact:
Re: The Brothers Nova
"Attention: Biological Form."
"....Oh, man!"
Stasis "Almost There" Kiss, dead last in every hundred meter dash event since the eighth grade, put on an extra burst of speed and prayed for the miracle that somebody out there sure owed her. Skidding around the corner, she sprinted to the next building, pistoning her arms and probably trailing panicked ice crystals like breadcumbs.
If she could just break line of sight, maybe she could lose the now-alerted patrol behind her before they called in a half hundred of their buddies. The Rikti were a worldwide menace, sure, no question. Still, one thing she'd realised during another situation eerily similar to this one was -- that the guys walking perimeter detail didn't always feel like chasing if it was too much effort.
She hurdled over a couple of boxes and charged around another corner, figuring zig zag was as good a direction as any. As plans went it certainly wasn't one of her worst. Then again, she'd definitely had plans go better than this.
"Query: Intrusion?"
"....Oh, man!"
She windmilled her arms, nearly on top of the four Rikti soldiers clustered against the wall. Two were kneeling, doing something she couldn't quite make out. There were small green chips on the ground. One was looking right at her, weird alien face doing weird alien face things. The fourth was already groping for the wicked looking rifle strapped to his back.
"Confirmed: Unauthorised Biological Form."
Well, just what can you do when you charge around a corner right into yet another cluster of guards, interrupting what looks suspiciously like a craps game?
"Tag, you're it!" she shouted. And pelted back the other way.
Thirty seconds later she heard the muted wail of the general alarm going up and the ominous sound of booted alien feet starting to converge on her frantically changing position. It just wasn't fair. This was supposed to be another game of Touch-Me-Not with the security cameras, not Hide And Seek. The game had rules. It had points. It even had a bonus round if she could get all the cameras on the first pass without being caught. And just to rub salt in the wound she'd only managed five this time, which was her worst score in weeks.
Stasis dug down deep and ran for it.
___________
This time she couldn't dodge in time. The energy pulse hit with sickening impact, chewing ravenously through the stasis field, trying to reach the dead center which was her. She grabbed it, ate it, forced it to die but the heartbeat of time had two more soldiers in her face and she fell back desperately, literally collapsing. A blade sliced air above her head.
She scrambled to the side as cold snapped down like a breakwave, slowing flesh.
Three steps out of reach and charged, she whirled and brought both hands down. Nobody close enough to hit but the shock tore through the air, scattering bodies. Through the shifting kaleidoscope of vision, she half shouted a frustrated word only Mis used. Why were there always too goddamned many? Four, six, ten. Too many. Fourteen.
She whirled and ran farther into the complex. Break sight. Hide. Find a way to get out. Just three minutes out of sight and she could figure this out. Just two minutes.
Something winked under a halogen and she threw out a hand as she ran and yanked savagely. The metal eye frosted, blind as another light shattered. Darkness would help.
Out of the corner of her eye, shadow fluttered. She dodged, side stitched, spinning on a back heel to try and watch behind and the sky at the same time. Feathers. A vibrating frame with outstretched arms, alighting. Flesh gleamed, curved tracings sketching dull mysteries across collarbone, shoulders.
"Nova!" she shouted. "Nova! Dayball, no!"
She almost felt the energy pulses behind her as rifles fired, seeking the new target. The space between her shoulders tingled, fear exploding under her tongue like the taste of wood. No, dayball, no, you stupid idiot, you'll get hurt.
She was suddenly just there, turning, spreading her arms wide as fingers reached. Visible motion for the invisible current. Energy to her, energy for her. She stripped it, built it, tried to return it. Frost hammered a ghost pattern onto her skin. Too many but she could do this forever. She could do this forever. She would do this forever.
Wings spread behind her as he touched down. She felt them like a benediction or curse.
Stasis laughed. Swallowed ice like a pure color -- and let it all go.
Running wasn't her strong suit anyways.
___________
He was faster, smoother somehow. She leapt and took one to the ground just as a blast tore through the air where she'd been, nailing a blade and shattering it. She grabbed both shoulders of the creature underneath her and cold tore though bone and sinew. No need for more, no time. She was up and he was right there, wings oddly shadowed in the shifting light, his foot braced against hers. He went low, hands to the ground and she thrust out a fist into the dead space. Stripped potential so fast that the air screamed as the ice lance formed, spearing a soldier against a wall. She blinked, crystal vision fracturing.
"Let's get out of here." His voice was flat with effort.
"No way, we can do it! Nova, get down!" She shoved, not even enough time to worry about the state of her hands. He said a word she'd never heard before and she had a second to wonder if he'd been hanging around Mis too. Laughing with excitement, she blew a kiss to the gunner taking aim across the hangar. Ice clung like a sudden lover to his torso and the alien stumbled, falling, disappearing.
"We can do it! Fight, Nova! Come on!" She turned away, tensing to spring for the next group.
"You're as stubborn as he is." Behind her she felt him stand to his full height, felt the wings curve out with a snap. "I don't really have time for this right now."
Something terrible and hot was breathing on her neck. She felt it through the stasis like a half second of presentiment. Flashover.
Then one of the soldiers under her gaze simply... wasn't. Roiling energy like a dark whirlpool ripped into existance, greedy as a child. A second. A third. He was standing so close behind her she felt muscle flexing. Vortex energy cascaded down her skin like a horrible dream caress. A fourth.
What?
She twisted, hands spread. She looked up with eyelashes rimmed in frost.
Dark eyes, darker hair. Unmarred skin. A star burned on his brow, off center. Nova? Not Nova.
The face was the same... oh, but the smile was nothing she'd seen before.
"Hello, Stasis."
When he reached out, she didn't know what to do. It was Nova.
Mirror Nova.
The thought held her paralyzed even as warm fingers burned through the cold. Long enough that darkness rose, wrapped them up and she just watched his face. And then she couldn't see to see.
"....Oh, man!"
Stasis "Almost There" Kiss, dead last in every hundred meter dash event since the eighth grade, put on an extra burst of speed and prayed for the miracle that somebody out there sure owed her. Skidding around the corner, she sprinted to the next building, pistoning her arms and probably trailing panicked ice crystals like breadcumbs.
If she could just break line of sight, maybe she could lose the now-alerted patrol behind her before they called in a half hundred of their buddies. The Rikti were a worldwide menace, sure, no question. Still, one thing she'd realised during another situation eerily similar to this one was -- that the guys walking perimeter detail didn't always feel like chasing if it was too much effort.
She hurdled over a couple of boxes and charged around another corner, figuring zig zag was as good a direction as any. As plans went it certainly wasn't one of her worst. Then again, she'd definitely had plans go better than this.
"Query: Intrusion?"
"....Oh, man!"
She windmilled her arms, nearly on top of the four Rikti soldiers clustered against the wall. Two were kneeling, doing something she couldn't quite make out. There were small green chips on the ground. One was looking right at her, weird alien face doing weird alien face things. The fourth was already groping for the wicked looking rifle strapped to his back.
"Confirmed: Unauthorised Biological Form."
Well, just what can you do when you charge around a corner right into yet another cluster of guards, interrupting what looks suspiciously like a craps game?
"Tag, you're it!" she shouted. And pelted back the other way.
Thirty seconds later she heard the muted wail of the general alarm going up and the ominous sound of booted alien feet starting to converge on her frantically changing position. It just wasn't fair. This was supposed to be another game of Touch-Me-Not with the security cameras, not Hide And Seek. The game had rules. It had points. It even had a bonus round if she could get all the cameras on the first pass without being caught. And just to rub salt in the wound she'd only managed five this time, which was her worst score in weeks.
Stasis dug down deep and ran for it.
___________
This time she couldn't dodge in time. The energy pulse hit with sickening impact, chewing ravenously through the stasis field, trying to reach the dead center which was her. She grabbed it, ate it, forced it to die but the heartbeat of time had two more soldiers in her face and she fell back desperately, literally collapsing. A blade sliced air above her head.
She scrambled to the side as cold snapped down like a breakwave, slowing flesh.
Three steps out of reach and charged, she whirled and brought both hands down. Nobody close enough to hit but the shock tore through the air, scattering bodies. Through the shifting kaleidoscope of vision, she half shouted a frustrated word only Mis used. Why were there always too goddamned many? Four, six, ten. Too many. Fourteen.
She whirled and ran farther into the complex. Break sight. Hide. Find a way to get out. Just three minutes out of sight and she could figure this out. Just two minutes.
Something winked under a halogen and she threw out a hand as she ran and yanked savagely. The metal eye frosted, blind as another light shattered. Darkness would help.
Out of the corner of her eye, shadow fluttered. She dodged, side stitched, spinning on a back heel to try and watch behind and the sky at the same time. Feathers. A vibrating frame with outstretched arms, alighting. Flesh gleamed, curved tracings sketching dull mysteries across collarbone, shoulders.
"Nova!" she shouted. "Nova! Dayball, no!"
She almost felt the energy pulses behind her as rifles fired, seeking the new target. The space between her shoulders tingled, fear exploding under her tongue like the taste of wood. No, dayball, no, you stupid idiot, you'll get hurt.
She was suddenly just there, turning, spreading her arms wide as fingers reached. Visible motion for the invisible current. Energy to her, energy for her. She stripped it, built it, tried to return it. Frost hammered a ghost pattern onto her skin. Too many but she could do this forever. She could do this forever. She would do this forever.
Wings spread behind her as he touched down. She felt them like a benediction or curse.
Stasis laughed. Swallowed ice like a pure color -- and let it all go.
Running wasn't her strong suit anyways.
___________
He was faster, smoother somehow. She leapt and took one to the ground just as a blast tore through the air where she'd been, nailing a blade and shattering it. She grabbed both shoulders of the creature underneath her and cold tore though bone and sinew. No need for more, no time. She was up and he was right there, wings oddly shadowed in the shifting light, his foot braced against hers. He went low, hands to the ground and she thrust out a fist into the dead space. Stripped potential so fast that the air screamed as the ice lance formed, spearing a soldier against a wall. She blinked, crystal vision fracturing.
"Let's get out of here." His voice was flat with effort.
"No way, we can do it! Nova, get down!" She shoved, not even enough time to worry about the state of her hands. He said a word she'd never heard before and she had a second to wonder if he'd been hanging around Mis too. Laughing with excitement, she blew a kiss to the gunner taking aim across the hangar. Ice clung like a sudden lover to his torso and the alien stumbled, falling, disappearing.
"We can do it! Fight, Nova! Come on!" She turned away, tensing to spring for the next group.
"You're as stubborn as he is." Behind her she felt him stand to his full height, felt the wings curve out with a snap. "I don't really have time for this right now."
Something terrible and hot was breathing on her neck. She felt it through the stasis like a half second of presentiment. Flashover.
Then one of the soldiers under her gaze simply... wasn't. Roiling energy like a dark whirlpool ripped into existance, greedy as a child. A second. A third. He was standing so close behind her she felt muscle flexing. Vortex energy cascaded down her skin like a horrible dream caress. A fourth.
What?
She twisted, hands spread. She looked up with eyelashes rimmed in frost.
Dark eyes, darker hair. Unmarred skin. A star burned on his brow, off center. Nova? Not Nova.
The face was the same... oh, but the smile was nothing she'd seen before.
"Hello, Stasis."
When he reached out, she didn't know what to do. It was Nova.
Mirror Nova.
The thought held her paralyzed even as warm fingers burned through the cold. Long enough that darkness rose, wrapped them up and she just watched his face. And then she couldn't see to see.
Last edited by Stasis Kiss on Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:16 am, edited 3 times in total.
"So pay attention to me; I don't talk for my health."
"I want you on my team."
"... So does everybody else."
"I want you on my team."
"... So does everybody else."
Re: The Brothers Nova
Where to go?
Go back. Back where this all started seemed to make the most sense, back to where he had come in, actually anything to get away. The darkness washed over them then reality faded back into view, as quick as the decision was made. His arm quickly fell from around her. Secretly, inwardly he grimaced from the contact.
But this was not right. Aliens with surprised expressions stared at them, another patrol only barely recovering from their sudden materialisation. This never happened. His teeth set at the notion of such a thing as bad luck but what else could it be? His dark eyes darted around. She... her, Stasis seemed to just be recovering from the sudden trip, already looking unhappy as she realised the same thing he just had.
"Holy! What the..."
A tight arm around her snuffed out the words as air was forced out from her lungs, a mixture of surprise and pressure. He ducked down, taking her with him as the first shot seared over their heads.
Harsh, dark energy in his voice and grip. "Hang on. This is going to be bumpy."
The words had barely left his lips as his wings snapped out, knocking away those closest. Her grip began to tighten instinctively, winding around his neck. Without gentleness he launched them up, propelling them skyward. The world blurred from strained speed and he slitted his eyes. He needed a moment, just a moment to concentrate and find some place further away.
The discharge of the energy weapons turned the air to a choking tingle. Then - darkness again. Unnatural, still, unmoving darkness. No world, no light ever. Only a second though before the reality settled in once more like a shield, the blur of movement fading, feet landing on firm ground. They stood on a concrete platform surrounded by monuments, statues. One stood with a pair of bent stone wings, holding a shield, looking down on them as if in approval.
He craned his neck up smiling inwardly, only the slightest hint trickling to his outward appearance. Then he was brought back, away from that moment, as he looked down to closed eyes clinging around him, a face buried against him, lost and uncertain wanting the disorienting effects to be over.
The ruffle of feathers could be heard as wings folded down to an idle position. Her eyes awoke to the world with that, her blank eyes scanning the area to be sure it was over with. Only then did her arms loosen as she jumped back. Relief washed over him. He flexed his fingers to get rid of the feeling.
She straightened, no longer the same girl holding so tight, he could all but see the armor rising again out of nowhere. She blew out a chuff of air sending some hair in her eyes off to the side.
"Are you out of your mind?! Just who do you think you are?"
The young man stood there with a faint frown, the only expression he allowed himself, crossing his arms over his chest. The stance obscured some of the markings, exposing others. He might have been taller than Nova, maybe it was just in the way he held himself. Standing there eyes swirling with hues of violet, he seemed to tower over her. Then, without warning or explanation the expression softened. A familiar voice broke the aura of silence around him as the last wisps of energy faded.
“Sorry about that. Bad luck, yeah?”
Pale eyes widened. The differences were so obvious but the similarities almost frightening.
"I don't know you." The words were a question.
"No. I'm his brother." He didn't want for whatever was forming in her eyes to make it to her lips. "I was looking for you. I wanted to ask you some questions. Even after what he said about you, I just didn’t expect to find you in such a situation. Next time maybe I'll just call first, yeah?”
There was a sudden grin to his face, easy enough. She studied it as if he held some great truth because maybe it did.
It was different. Different than the way Nova would look to her and smile. She sighed, a bite of cold escaping her lips to vanish into the air. She studied him and he let her, curious what she would come up with. Her eyes slid away from his arms, chest as the rich olive tones of flesh entered her field of vision once more. A low growl hid a mumble, something of shirts running in the family.
He leaned back against the cool concrete, a dark wing flattening out on either side of him. He watched her, almost in the same way she studied him, trying to answer some of his own questions. It was then reminded himself, this was not something to look forward to. He was not her friend, in truth he knew more than he let on, though only through the stories his brother had told, he was doing this for Nova, right?
Eyes satisfied, they drifted back to meet her gaze, waiting for the same from her. How to ask? What the hell are you doing with him, lacked the eloquence he desired, but it got the point across. It wouldn't do, Nova was happy, on some level he always was, but something was different over the past week.
"You know what I am here to ask you about?" It seemed a reasonable enough start, the shake of her head answered to quickly though.
"He's my brother, what are your intentions?" Emphasis fell on the shortest words of the question, as his eyes scanned for any cues that may come from her. They eased every so slightly as something entered his mind, quietly he waited to see if all this fear was irrational after all.
Go back. Back where this all started seemed to make the most sense, back to where he had come in, actually anything to get away. The darkness washed over them then reality faded back into view, as quick as the decision was made. His arm quickly fell from around her. Secretly, inwardly he grimaced from the contact.
But this was not right. Aliens with surprised expressions stared at them, another patrol only barely recovering from their sudden materialisation. This never happened. His teeth set at the notion of such a thing as bad luck but what else could it be? His dark eyes darted around. She... her, Stasis seemed to just be recovering from the sudden trip, already looking unhappy as she realised the same thing he just had.
"Holy! What the..."
A tight arm around her snuffed out the words as air was forced out from her lungs, a mixture of surprise and pressure. He ducked down, taking her with him as the first shot seared over their heads.
Harsh, dark energy in his voice and grip. "Hang on. This is going to be bumpy."
The words had barely left his lips as his wings snapped out, knocking away those closest. Her grip began to tighten instinctively, winding around his neck. Without gentleness he launched them up, propelling them skyward. The world blurred from strained speed and he slitted his eyes. He needed a moment, just a moment to concentrate and find some place further away.
The discharge of the energy weapons turned the air to a choking tingle. Then - darkness again. Unnatural, still, unmoving darkness. No world, no light ever. Only a second though before the reality settled in once more like a shield, the blur of movement fading, feet landing on firm ground. They stood on a concrete platform surrounded by monuments, statues. One stood with a pair of bent stone wings, holding a shield, looking down on them as if in approval.
He craned his neck up smiling inwardly, only the slightest hint trickling to his outward appearance. Then he was brought back, away from that moment, as he looked down to closed eyes clinging around him, a face buried against him, lost and uncertain wanting the disorienting effects to be over.
The ruffle of feathers could be heard as wings folded down to an idle position. Her eyes awoke to the world with that, her blank eyes scanning the area to be sure it was over with. Only then did her arms loosen as she jumped back. Relief washed over him. He flexed his fingers to get rid of the feeling.
She straightened, no longer the same girl holding so tight, he could all but see the armor rising again out of nowhere. She blew out a chuff of air sending some hair in her eyes off to the side.
"Are you out of your mind?! Just who do you think you are?"
The young man stood there with a faint frown, the only expression he allowed himself, crossing his arms over his chest. The stance obscured some of the markings, exposing others. He might have been taller than Nova, maybe it was just in the way he held himself. Standing there eyes swirling with hues of violet, he seemed to tower over her. Then, without warning or explanation the expression softened. A familiar voice broke the aura of silence around him as the last wisps of energy faded.
“Sorry about that. Bad luck, yeah?”
Pale eyes widened. The differences were so obvious but the similarities almost frightening.
"I don't know you." The words were a question.
"No. I'm his brother." He didn't want for whatever was forming in her eyes to make it to her lips. "I was looking for you. I wanted to ask you some questions. Even after what he said about you, I just didn’t expect to find you in such a situation. Next time maybe I'll just call first, yeah?”
There was a sudden grin to his face, easy enough. She studied it as if he held some great truth because maybe it did.
It was different. Different than the way Nova would look to her and smile. She sighed, a bite of cold escaping her lips to vanish into the air. She studied him and he let her, curious what she would come up with. Her eyes slid away from his arms, chest as the rich olive tones of flesh entered her field of vision once more. A low growl hid a mumble, something of shirts running in the family.
He leaned back against the cool concrete, a dark wing flattening out on either side of him. He watched her, almost in the same way she studied him, trying to answer some of his own questions. It was then reminded himself, this was not something to look forward to. He was not her friend, in truth he knew more than he let on, though only through the stories his brother had told, he was doing this for Nova, right?
Eyes satisfied, they drifted back to meet her gaze, waiting for the same from her. How to ask? What the hell are you doing with him, lacked the eloquence he desired, but it got the point across. It wouldn't do, Nova was happy, on some level he always was, but something was different over the past week.
"You know what I am here to ask you about?" It seemed a reasonable enough start, the shake of her head answered to quickly though.
"He's my brother, what are your intentions?" Emphasis fell on the shortest words of the question, as his eyes scanned for any cues that may come from her. They eased every so slightly as something entered his mind, quietly he waited to see if all this fear was irrational after all.
Re: The Brothers Nova
Nova sat on a familiar roof top looking over the city below him, knees were pulled up tight into his chest, his chin rested on his knees. He sniffled again wiping his eyes, there was really nothing out there to see, but the darkness when he closed them made him uncomfortable. There was something different about him, as he sat there wrapped on in a large coat, the cool nights of spring still dictating that one bundle up, the two large wings that normally shot out from his coat were no where to be seen. Well, one could take a decent guess as to where exactly they were. Two golden feathery tips protruded out of the bottom of his jacket. It was just large enough that he could fold them in behind him, maybe it was why no one had seen him around.
Everything still kind of hurt, his body was stiff and sore, like when he hadn’t stopped patrolling that one time, for hours on end. Only he hadn’t done much, just sat there quietly for the better part of the night. Her words still echoing in his mind, anger seemed like the right emotion, he had told himself quietly this would happen so many nights. It still hurt though, when it finally did.
Quietly a figure landed beside him, shrouded in shadows and mist, a violet haze retracted into it, and a pair of dark wings folded back as Adam, his brother set out down quietly beside him. He really didn’t want to hear “I told you so” but expected it. His body relaxed when it never came, just silence as the two of them sat looking out over the city.
----------------
“Hiding your wings now?” Broke the silence nearly an hour later, the darker of the two leaned back to see how they were folded. “That can’t be comfortable, I guess, in perspective its kind of small though right?”
Nova only nodded quietly taking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly.
A shoulder from the dark one leaned into him and he smiled, the way only a twin could to the other, and it worked for just a moment, he broke down and smiled back. “It will be okay you know? This will pass, well part of it at least.”
Nova nodded again, before his face returned to its original state.
There was silence again, it wasn’t awkward, just accepted.
Finally Nova’s voice broke, it was hoarse, quiet, like he hadn’t spoken in several days. “I want to come live with you” The darker of the two shook his head and grinned “Oh no, not happening. Don’t even think about it”
A hurt expression came to Nova’s face, as he wanted to ask why, but before words could find their way from his throat, an answer was given. “You have to finish this, its important, to us.”
“Why?” He half pleaded in response “I can barely pass history, and their language is weird, and I do okay in math, the way they do science, I just don’t get and” There was a pause “I don’t belong there, not with them”
A reply came after brief though “What about all your other friends? All those other stories, the girl you thought was a reincarnated guardian. The girl replaced by technology. The boy who “You” claim could replace me, the one with the strange ears.”
“Matt is really nice, probably even nicer than you” For the first time Nova laughed a little, it sounded almost strange, but inwardly his brother looked relieved. They both sat a moment quietly before the darker of the two spoke up.
“Do you remember, when we were leaving how upset you go that we had to leave everyone else behind. You sat there, on that hill just like this only without your wings stuffed in a jacket. You said you didn’t want to leave, and that it wasn’t fair, and I think even that you might hate everyone on the planet because they wouldn’t replace Luminara, or Premiere or Nexus or Aeon or whoever else.”
Nova snickered again “One of my friends down here, Violet, she calls herself Aeon, but she is nothing like her. At all.”
“Anyway” He continued “You came down here and you made new friends, you always do. I don’t really know how sometimes, but you do. I know you “ There was a strange almost harmonic sound saturated with energy that came from his lips “….her, but she doesn’t like you. Just don’t quit because of it, that’s all.”
Nova nodded only slightly “I know I can’t, it just, it really hurts. I don’t want to face them all, to have to talk about it for the next month, to have them bring it up every time I sit down to hang out after class”
“Well” his brother replied standing, wings flexing out and stretching “Not everything can be easy, you know that. And oh yeah… I told you so.” His hand went down and ruffled Nova’s hair causing a groan to erupt as hands tried to bat him away. “Come on, lets get something to eat” Already knowing the answer that he “wasn’t hungry” was coming, the two of them emerged from two dark portals in front of a familiar shop.
“Lets go, you look terrible, and pale, and take off that jacket” Adam grinned back standing there with the door open, Nova followed, upset at what he said, but glad to be upset at something else.
Everything still kind of hurt, his body was stiff and sore, like when he hadn’t stopped patrolling that one time, for hours on end. Only he hadn’t done much, just sat there quietly for the better part of the night. Her words still echoing in his mind, anger seemed like the right emotion, he had told himself quietly this would happen so many nights. It still hurt though, when it finally did.
Quietly a figure landed beside him, shrouded in shadows and mist, a violet haze retracted into it, and a pair of dark wings folded back as Adam, his brother set out down quietly beside him. He really didn’t want to hear “I told you so” but expected it. His body relaxed when it never came, just silence as the two of them sat looking out over the city.
----------------
“Hiding your wings now?” Broke the silence nearly an hour later, the darker of the two leaned back to see how they were folded. “That can’t be comfortable, I guess, in perspective its kind of small though right?”
Nova only nodded quietly taking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly.
A shoulder from the dark one leaned into him and he smiled, the way only a twin could to the other, and it worked for just a moment, he broke down and smiled back. “It will be okay you know? This will pass, well part of it at least.”
Nova nodded again, before his face returned to its original state.
There was silence again, it wasn’t awkward, just accepted.
Finally Nova’s voice broke, it was hoarse, quiet, like he hadn’t spoken in several days. “I want to come live with you” The darker of the two shook his head and grinned “Oh no, not happening. Don’t even think about it”
A hurt expression came to Nova’s face, as he wanted to ask why, but before words could find their way from his throat, an answer was given. “You have to finish this, its important, to us.”
“Why?” He half pleaded in response “I can barely pass history, and their language is weird, and I do okay in math, the way they do science, I just don’t get and” There was a pause “I don’t belong there, not with them”
A reply came after brief though “What about all your other friends? All those other stories, the girl you thought was a reincarnated guardian. The girl replaced by technology. The boy who “You” claim could replace me, the one with the strange ears.”
“Matt is really nice, probably even nicer than you” For the first time Nova laughed a little, it sounded almost strange, but inwardly his brother looked relieved. They both sat a moment quietly before the darker of the two spoke up.
“Do you remember, when we were leaving how upset you go that we had to leave everyone else behind. You sat there, on that hill just like this only without your wings stuffed in a jacket. You said you didn’t want to leave, and that it wasn’t fair, and I think even that you might hate everyone on the planet because they wouldn’t replace Luminara, or Premiere or Nexus or Aeon or whoever else.”
Nova snickered again “One of my friends down here, Violet, she calls herself Aeon, but she is nothing like her. At all.”
“Anyway” He continued “You came down here and you made new friends, you always do. I don’t really know how sometimes, but you do. I know you “ There was a strange almost harmonic sound saturated with energy that came from his lips “….her, but she doesn’t like you. Just don’t quit because of it, that’s all.”
Nova nodded only slightly “I know I can’t, it just, it really hurts. I don’t want to face them all, to have to talk about it for the next month, to have them bring it up every time I sit down to hang out after class”
“Well” his brother replied standing, wings flexing out and stretching “Not everything can be easy, you know that. And oh yeah… I told you so.” His hand went down and ruffled Nova’s hair causing a groan to erupt as hands tried to bat him away. “Come on, lets get something to eat” Already knowing the answer that he “wasn’t hungry” was coming, the two of them emerged from two dark portals in front of a familiar shop.
“Lets go, you look terrible, and pale, and take off that jacket” Adam grinned back standing there with the door open, Nova followed, upset at what he said, but glad to be upset at something else.
Re: The Brothers Nova
The sky was a mixture of vibrant orange and red, splashed with distant stars and twisted with clouds of cosmic dust. The air out here was warm, it smelled different, you could taste something in it, strange, but you got used to it. A figure stood atop one of the small rocks, floating there, suspended by an invisible force, large wings folded behind his back as he looked out at the shattered world around him. Torn apart within an instant, and left in its broken state without a word.
He laughed slightly, it wasn't home, but more and more he would spend long hours out here. Nothing above him nothing below him, just endless skies, it never got terribly dark, it would just shift to a deep shade of crimson as the four stars would work their way through the sky. A deep breath entered his lungs as his chest puffed out, head arcing back staring into the endless expanse. He took a step forward, nothing there to support him, he simply fell, cutting through the air faster than his wings could ever take him. They remained folded as another floating island quickly approached, a memory entered his mind, sitting there on that roof in Independence Port, falling off the edge after saying good night to her. At the last moment wings spreading wide, he landed hard, but composed on the island only to see some of the native aliens stare at him with angry eyes.
A low growl escaped the larger one, it was easily nine feet tall, the other stood near his height. Raising from his crouched position, the young boy stood strong, white energy pouring over his body, across his bare chest, and down his arms, strange gold markings written in an alien language started to glow. The air around him was heavy, saturated with the mysterious force, the smaller of the creatures stepped back behind the larger, as intense eyes stared it down. As the moment reached its climax a wide grin came to the boy's face and he spun turning his back on the creature, and sprung into the air. A roar bellowed behind him, as the creature gave chase, the ground cracked from where it leapt from.
Ahead was a field of large rocks hanging there as if dangled by invisible strings, Nova made no attempt to flying above the creature, instead cutting into the rocks, everything was moving so fast as he dipped from side to side weaving around the obstacles before him. Something flashed out of the corner of his eye, as he turned for just to second, seeing it leap from rock to rock, catching up quickly. Large claws dug into solid stone with each landing, and thick powerful legs propelled it forward. Two more leaps and it would surely catch the winged boy, or at least be in a position to make the lunge to take him out of the air. All at once, there was an explosion from around Nova, and he took off pulling ahead, a shining trail of energy flowing from behind him.
There was a earth shaking roar of frustration behind him, as he grinned to himself, as he dipped in and out of the rocks in front of him, wings cutting just right to pass narrowly by them. All at once there was a low hum as he dipped around a rock then blackness. A shock waved ripped through the piece of earth and stone shattering it into a million tiny pieces that scattered, yet never fell. He plummeted for a brief second, before he shook his head gaining his bearings. Quickly craning his neck back, he saw it still chasing, the large eye in the center of its head glowing red. There was another low hum as energy seemed to be drawn to it, and all at once another beam projected towards him, he moved just soon enough as it passed through the space between his wings, shattering another boulder in front of him. It never missed a step leaping from stone to stone, this was its home, its territory these were familiar grounds on which to hunt.
It seemed so easy to just take off upward, or simply stop flying and just fall, but he stayed the path, things started to blur as he pushed his speed to its limits, finding it hard to breath as the air passed over him so quickly. There was only fractions of a second to move between each rock, wings angled sharp as they seemed to steer making small movements more than propelling him. The low hum erupted again as a sickening feeling came to his stomach, the rock beside him at that split second exploded his arms shielding his face from the debris as he rolled out of the way. A second later, he was pushing forward again, as the creature tried desperately to keep up. Just when it seemed he would escape, the opportunity came, and he had a clear view in front of him just long enough. His body rotated in the air as he was now facing the creature gliding backwards on his momentum, his bare feet firmly planted on a rock, bringing him to a complete stop. His hands steaded his body as he pushed as hard as he could off the rock, launching himself at the creature, a field of energy building in front of him. There was no expression in its face, no surprise that its prey had suddenly turned to face it and perhaps fight instead of run. Once more energy flooded to its eye, with it came that sickening low hum as a beam erupted from it seeming to be right on target.
There was no time to think, he simply rolled as the blast passed over his back, wincing at the feeling of the intense heat scorched some of his skin. It missed, or missed well enough as he was on the creature in an instant and their momentum collided. Despite being less than half the size, the smaller of the two seemed to have more force behind him, as they flew now in his direction. The two of them crashed onto one of the larger rocks, both bodies rolling, hitting hard against the earth. The creature clawed its way to his feet, while the winged boy used his momentum on the last part of a roll to come back to his feet, sliding across the ground. Both heaved deep breaths, while the boy continued to look intensely at the creature, it snarled, the energy around its eye seeming to focus again.
------------
Nova let out a deep sigh as he sat there quietly waiting for the last minutes of the school day to pass. He rubbed his back, still feeling the burn, or where it was on his back. He looked down to where his pen had been idly drawing in the margin of his notebook. A frown came to his face as he saw the symbol before him, soon guilt filled his face as he looked around to his other classmates, as if they could have understand what he had wrote. He quickly scratched it out, turning the page and started to take notes on the history of the united states during the war of 1812. The look of sadness quickly faded into a wiry smirk as he peered over to a familiar face, chin resting on his hands, one ear drooping just a bit obviously bored.
"Ah hey" came a whisper as Matt perked up quickly with a grin on his own. Nova bit his bottom lip looking around, some other students clinging to the clock, others faces down in notes at the lesson being taught. "Its nice out, ya wanna go hang out down on the board walk. I get paid today, so smoothies on me. " A wide grin came between the two of them as he looked back up to the clock and slumped some.
Matt whispered back "Nova, come on, can't ya like speed up time or something? You can to anything, if you try hard enough, I know it!" Grins and snickers were exchanged again, as suddenly a loud "Ahem" broke the silence. Mr. Norris looked back at the two of them, Nova getting a bright grin and Matt following suit, looking a little nervous, not sure why they were grinning. The teachers lips began to move, just as Nova silently counted "two... one..."
A loud ring of the final bell for the day sounded, and students got to their feet and began to shuffle out. Mr. Norris taking a look outside, then back to the two of them, deciding to let it go this time, after all the two of them had been quiet during the entire class. Though he didn't let them go without a look of stern warning. The two boys looked at each other, one of them letting out a quiet "eep" before they grined and sprinted out the door cutting through the hall.
He laughed slightly, it wasn't home, but more and more he would spend long hours out here. Nothing above him nothing below him, just endless skies, it never got terribly dark, it would just shift to a deep shade of crimson as the four stars would work their way through the sky. A deep breath entered his lungs as his chest puffed out, head arcing back staring into the endless expanse. He took a step forward, nothing there to support him, he simply fell, cutting through the air faster than his wings could ever take him. They remained folded as another floating island quickly approached, a memory entered his mind, sitting there on that roof in Independence Port, falling off the edge after saying good night to her. At the last moment wings spreading wide, he landed hard, but composed on the island only to see some of the native aliens stare at him with angry eyes.
A low growl escaped the larger one, it was easily nine feet tall, the other stood near his height. Raising from his crouched position, the young boy stood strong, white energy pouring over his body, across his bare chest, and down his arms, strange gold markings written in an alien language started to glow. The air around him was heavy, saturated with the mysterious force, the smaller of the creatures stepped back behind the larger, as intense eyes stared it down. As the moment reached its climax a wide grin came to the boy's face and he spun turning his back on the creature, and sprung into the air. A roar bellowed behind him, as the creature gave chase, the ground cracked from where it leapt from.
Ahead was a field of large rocks hanging there as if dangled by invisible strings, Nova made no attempt to flying above the creature, instead cutting into the rocks, everything was moving so fast as he dipped from side to side weaving around the obstacles before him. Something flashed out of the corner of his eye, as he turned for just to second, seeing it leap from rock to rock, catching up quickly. Large claws dug into solid stone with each landing, and thick powerful legs propelled it forward. Two more leaps and it would surely catch the winged boy, or at least be in a position to make the lunge to take him out of the air. All at once, there was an explosion from around Nova, and he took off pulling ahead, a shining trail of energy flowing from behind him.
There was a earth shaking roar of frustration behind him, as he grinned to himself, as he dipped in and out of the rocks in front of him, wings cutting just right to pass narrowly by them. All at once there was a low hum as he dipped around a rock then blackness. A shock waved ripped through the piece of earth and stone shattering it into a million tiny pieces that scattered, yet never fell. He plummeted for a brief second, before he shook his head gaining his bearings. Quickly craning his neck back, he saw it still chasing, the large eye in the center of its head glowing red. There was another low hum as energy seemed to be drawn to it, and all at once another beam projected towards him, he moved just soon enough as it passed through the space between his wings, shattering another boulder in front of him. It never missed a step leaping from stone to stone, this was its home, its territory these were familiar grounds on which to hunt.
It seemed so easy to just take off upward, or simply stop flying and just fall, but he stayed the path, things started to blur as he pushed his speed to its limits, finding it hard to breath as the air passed over him so quickly. There was only fractions of a second to move between each rock, wings angled sharp as they seemed to steer making small movements more than propelling him. The low hum erupted again as a sickening feeling came to his stomach, the rock beside him at that split second exploded his arms shielding his face from the debris as he rolled out of the way. A second later, he was pushing forward again, as the creature tried desperately to keep up. Just when it seemed he would escape, the opportunity came, and he had a clear view in front of him just long enough. His body rotated in the air as he was now facing the creature gliding backwards on his momentum, his bare feet firmly planted on a rock, bringing him to a complete stop. His hands steaded his body as he pushed as hard as he could off the rock, launching himself at the creature, a field of energy building in front of him. There was no expression in its face, no surprise that its prey had suddenly turned to face it and perhaps fight instead of run. Once more energy flooded to its eye, with it came that sickening low hum as a beam erupted from it seeming to be right on target.
There was no time to think, he simply rolled as the blast passed over his back, wincing at the feeling of the intense heat scorched some of his skin. It missed, or missed well enough as he was on the creature in an instant and their momentum collided. Despite being less than half the size, the smaller of the two seemed to have more force behind him, as they flew now in his direction. The two of them crashed onto one of the larger rocks, both bodies rolling, hitting hard against the earth. The creature clawed its way to his feet, while the winged boy used his momentum on the last part of a roll to come back to his feet, sliding across the ground. Both heaved deep breaths, while the boy continued to look intensely at the creature, it snarled, the energy around its eye seeming to focus again.
------------
Nova let out a deep sigh as he sat there quietly waiting for the last minutes of the school day to pass. He rubbed his back, still feeling the burn, or where it was on his back. He looked down to where his pen had been idly drawing in the margin of his notebook. A frown came to his face as he saw the symbol before him, soon guilt filled his face as he looked around to his other classmates, as if they could have understand what he had wrote. He quickly scratched it out, turning the page and started to take notes on the history of the united states during the war of 1812. The look of sadness quickly faded into a wiry smirk as he peered over to a familiar face, chin resting on his hands, one ear drooping just a bit obviously bored.
"Ah hey" came a whisper as Matt perked up quickly with a grin on his own. Nova bit his bottom lip looking around, some other students clinging to the clock, others faces down in notes at the lesson being taught. "Its nice out, ya wanna go hang out down on the board walk. I get paid today, so smoothies on me. " A wide grin came between the two of them as he looked back up to the clock and slumped some.
Matt whispered back "Nova, come on, can't ya like speed up time or something? You can to anything, if you try hard enough, I know it!" Grins and snickers were exchanged again, as suddenly a loud "Ahem" broke the silence. Mr. Norris looked back at the two of them, Nova getting a bright grin and Matt following suit, looking a little nervous, not sure why they were grinning. The teachers lips began to move, just as Nova silently counted "two... one..."
A loud ring of the final bell for the day sounded, and students got to their feet and began to shuffle out. Mr. Norris taking a look outside, then back to the two of them, deciding to let it go this time, after all the two of them had been quiet during the entire class. Though he didn't let them go without a look of stern warning. The two boys looked at each other, one of them letting out a quiet "eep" before they grined and sprinted out the door cutting through the hall.
Re: The Brothers Nova
"You are still broken up over this?" Adam asked easily ducking out of the way of a strike, voice cold and calm as always. Nova didn't break his poise as he continued an assault trying harder and harder to land a hit, each advancing one filled with intensity until desperation set it. The last strike he over extended and Adam was there to catch it, wrapping his wrist around his arm and tugging him forward, now completely off balance he spun him with a haunting ease twisting his arm up behind his back pressing it into his wings.
An uncomfortable groan came from him as his expression tightened wincing in pain. White energy started to creep out of his body as a taunting call came from behind him "Ah ah ah, no cheating" the energy vanished as a look of fear came to his face, Adam holding his index and middle finger in the center of his back. "I give" came softly from him, as his arm was released his head sinking down to the strange looking grass beneath their feet.
"Nova, you can't keep this up, I mean you have been broken up before, but this.. I mean how long has it been now?" There was no answer, it wasn't really something that needed answering. Too long seemed about right.
"Adam you don't understand, what its like, so you can't tell me how long is too long" There was defiance in his voice, but it came out softer than he would have liked. "Do you know why? I don't waste my time perusing things like that, whats the point? Pressing your lips together, holding her hand, a warm embrace. What is the end goal? " The retort, callous in tone, they usually were. It wasn't that he didn't care, he was just annoyed, he did care, they were brothers, twins after all.
"I don't know I just wanted... I wanted it to be her. What ever it is. When we were together, hanging out, even when we were disagreeing things seemed right. Now we never see each other, barely talk, maybe a few awkward words on the comm it just feels wrong. I never wanted it to be like this, if I hadn't, maybe if I hadn't pushed things we would sill be sitting on that roof watching the moon come up? Talking about how Jai broke her heart, or telling a poem someone once wrote about the moon. " There was a slight pause, though no real change in his expression. " Whatever it is, it isn't right. Things aren't right now and I don't think I can change them.'
Adam sat down beside him, making no real attempt to say anything, just looking out at the strange shattered world around them giving an unenthusiastic shrug.
"I feel weird though, because nothing is happening. Things are unraveling and nothing is happening. Stuff is supposed to happen. Remember? You used to help me when things would get out of control?"
Adam nodded "Maybe you've changed?" with that came another uncertain shrug.
----------
The sound of the music was producing small thuds in the background as the up tempo club song throbbed on, a few people here and there making an effort to dance to it. It was an off night in D, it was an off night everywhere it seemed, reminding himself by looking to the quiet comm. His eyes glanced down idly as his warm fingers wrapped around the cool class of deep red liquid. Condensation formed as he rotated the cup, swirling the liquid and cubes of ice enough to create a small whirlpool. Watching it spin to a stop, he remained focused, remembering the conversation they had. How she had stopped, how things no longer moved for her. Why, he thought to himself, could he find her in every little thing. It would be nice to forget, to move on, but he needed something. Something to get moving again, to start what stopped.
He turned his eyes out to the dance floor as is hoping to find an answer out there, of course he found nothing.
It was some time before he looked down to his glass again, the once red liquid now clearer from the melted ice. Giving a shrug he made his way out of D, in search for something else. Icon was always fun for something, there were people in there always moving about, always trying new looks maybe he could find something new.
---------------------
Tugging a new shirt over his head he was greeted by a pair of interesting eyes, they traced him over looking down to her own clothes. A smile broke her lips as she cocked her hip out to the side, resting a hand firmly on it. Her hand, fingers extended wasn't even enough to cover the length of the short leather mini skirt wrapped around her. The same symbol that was spread out tight over his chest stretched across hers. Amusement filled her eyes, as if she was a cat coming upon an injured bird. No sense in finishing it quickly when she could toy around with the helpless creature, give him just enough to believe he had a fighting chance.
His eyes widened a bit as she spoke, addressing him. Her words had meanings, but he only heard the tone in her voice mixing them with the slight motions of her body. A cold chill washed over him as he managed to stammer out some answers, to try and hold a conversation with her, to keep up. Bobby.. its who he thought of, if he looked in the mirror he would see Bobby staring back at him. "Pay attention!" he almost yelled to himself as he snapped back to the conversation.
"... if we happen to meet in a dark alley, I would be in no hurry to run the other way" her words, the way she talked, they did things to his insides twisting them about as his youth was revealed.
He managed to get something out, maybe seeing her at Bruno's before? Maybe he would see her again? "Bobby Bobby Bobby!" echoed in his mind almost taunting him. He focused once more only to watch her walk past him. His eyes made no attempted to hide following her to the door as she disappeared behind the opaque glass. His body leaning back against the counter, almost collapsing beneath weakened knees. A small laugh erupted silently to himself as he finally understood what it meant to be "Out of someones league"
An uncomfortable groan came from him as his expression tightened wincing in pain. White energy started to creep out of his body as a taunting call came from behind him "Ah ah ah, no cheating" the energy vanished as a look of fear came to his face, Adam holding his index and middle finger in the center of his back. "I give" came softly from him, as his arm was released his head sinking down to the strange looking grass beneath their feet.
"Nova, you can't keep this up, I mean you have been broken up before, but this.. I mean how long has it been now?" There was no answer, it wasn't really something that needed answering. Too long seemed about right.
"Adam you don't understand, what its like, so you can't tell me how long is too long" There was defiance in his voice, but it came out softer than he would have liked. "Do you know why? I don't waste my time perusing things like that, whats the point? Pressing your lips together, holding her hand, a warm embrace. What is the end goal? " The retort, callous in tone, they usually were. It wasn't that he didn't care, he was just annoyed, he did care, they were brothers, twins after all.
"I don't know I just wanted... I wanted it to be her. What ever it is. When we were together, hanging out, even when we were disagreeing things seemed right. Now we never see each other, barely talk, maybe a few awkward words on the comm it just feels wrong. I never wanted it to be like this, if I hadn't, maybe if I hadn't pushed things we would sill be sitting on that roof watching the moon come up? Talking about how Jai broke her heart, or telling a poem someone once wrote about the moon. " There was a slight pause, though no real change in his expression. " Whatever it is, it isn't right. Things aren't right now and I don't think I can change them.'
Adam sat down beside him, making no real attempt to say anything, just looking out at the strange shattered world around them giving an unenthusiastic shrug.
"I feel weird though, because nothing is happening. Things are unraveling and nothing is happening. Stuff is supposed to happen. Remember? You used to help me when things would get out of control?"
Adam nodded "Maybe you've changed?" with that came another uncertain shrug.
----------
The sound of the music was producing small thuds in the background as the up tempo club song throbbed on, a few people here and there making an effort to dance to it. It was an off night in D, it was an off night everywhere it seemed, reminding himself by looking to the quiet comm. His eyes glanced down idly as his warm fingers wrapped around the cool class of deep red liquid. Condensation formed as he rotated the cup, swirling the liquid and cubes of ice enough to create a small whirlpool. Watching it spin to a stop, he remained focused, remembering the conversation they had. How she had stopped, how things no longer moved for her. Why, he thought to himself, could he find her in every little thing. It would be nice to forget, to move on, but he needed something. Something to get moving again, to start what stopped.
He turned his eyes out to the dance floor as is hoping to find an answer out there, of course he found nothing.
It was some time before he looked down to his glass again, the once red liquid now clearer from the melted ice. Giving a shrug he made his way out of D, in search for something else. Icon was always fun for something, there were people in there always moving about, always trying new looks maybe he could find something new.
---------------------
Tugging a new shirt over his head he was greeted by a pair of interesting eyes, they traced him over looking down to her own clothes. A smile broke her lips as she cocked her hip out to the side, resting a hand firmly on it. Her hand, fingers extended wasn't even enough to cover the length of the short leather mini skirt wrapped around her. The same symbol that was spread out tight over his chest stretched across hers. Amusement filled her eyes, as if she was a cat coming upon an injured bird. No sense in finishing it quickly when she could toy around with the helpless creature, give him just enough to believe he had a fighting chance.
His eyes widened a bit as she spoke, addressing him. Her words had meanings, but he only heard the tone in her voice mixing them with the slight motions of her body. A cold chill washed over him as he managed to stammer out some answers, to try and hold a conversation with her, to keep up. Bobby.. its who he thought of, if he looked in the mirror he would see Bobby staring back at him. "Pay attention!" he almost yelled to himself as he snapped back to the conversation.
"... if we happen to meet in a dark alley, I would be in no hurry to run the other way" her words, the way she talked, they did things to his insides twisting them about as his youth was revealed.
He managed to get something out, maybe seeing her at Bruno's before? Maybe he would see her again? "Bobby Bobby Bobby!" echoed in his mind almost taunting him. He focused once more only to watch her walk past him. His eyes made no attempted to hide following her to the door as she disappeared behind the opaque glass. His body leaning back against the counter, almost collapsing beneath weakened knees. A small laugh erupted silently to himself as he finally understood what it meant to be "Out of someones league"
Re: The Brothers Nova
"See you third period Matt! Its your turn to take the notes today right?"
Matt turned one last time beaming a grin towards Nova, watching him fiddle with the lock on his locker. "My turn? You mean you aren't gonna take them too?" The call back, laughing now "Not if I don't have too!"
They both laughed at each other and waved as he vanished into the crowd, two brown ears could be followed bobbing in between people as he made his way through. Nova started to work the lock on his locker, 26, he always went too far on that last one as a moment of frustration hit him, the late bell rung and people were starting to pick up their pace while he spun the numbers again, pulling it open.
It surprised him, he never really expected it to be there, maybe never was too strong, but it was here already. He could feel the color drain from his face as his hand slowly reached for the piece of paper. Anticipation turned to sickness as he slowly pealed it open. He should have been reading it but his eyes were closed, trying hard to steady his breathing he forgot the world around him still existed. In his mind he wasn't ready, he thought he was, but the slight trembling of the paper between his fingers let him know.
Eyes broke and came into focus as he read the words, it was her hand writing. -Tara, it was the fist thing he saw, he trained his eyes up to the top to read the whole thing. It didn't take long, in truth if it would have taken longer he might have exploded. The sensation of his heart throbbing in his chest, pulsing rapidly drowned out any remaining noise as a cold sweat covered his body. All the color from him was gone as the vessels inside him opened wide pulling the blood from his face. It was almost like a self induced state of shock as he slide back against the cool metal. His legs would not allow him to stand anymore, limbs felt heavy, the weight of his head could not be supported by his neck as it fell over into his arms. It was as if his body had simply shut down.
What did it mean? He pictured in his mind arguing with her, both of them yelling back in forth. He didn't want it to end that way, somewhere deep inside, but what was left to end? A few hollow words scribbled out, probably during 3rd period or maybe before she went to bed. He could picture her sitting there, an annoyed look on her face as if it was something to get out of the way, be done with it already. How to conceal that though? Tara. That would mean it meant something. For sure. His eyes scanned it again, hoping he could hear it through her voice, but there was only silence, he tried hard, strained trying to remember time she said those words as if she could read it to him in his memory.
The urge to break down was strong, it seemed so effortless sometimes. He remind himself of talking with Sam, always okay, always alright, even when you aren't. His eyes refocused and he shook his head, pushing himself back to his feet. A deep breath rushed to his lungs as he exhaled long. Books, class, he was late. He snapped to attention grabbing what he needed, looking back to his hand with the note, he balled it, giving it a small toss into the bottom of his locker, shutting it before it had a chance to bounce out and escape.
The door was just getting ready to be closed as he burst through, the smooth bottoms of his sneakers allowing his built up momentum to slide across the floor as a few of the other students snickered after he slid to a stop. "Ah hey? This doesn't mean I am late right?" That goofy grin came to his face, as the teacher rolled her eyes. "Take your seat please Nova"
He jogged back to his desk sliding in it, legs spreading wide as the right one already started to bounce slightly. "Today we will be covering...." and with that his mind was elsewhere. What did he have lined up? Bobby and Matt were going to reschedule the body paint thing to fix Bobby's chi. Chloe might see him again, but the Bloodvine crowd that followed her around was quickly making her more trouble then she was worth. Did Abby say yes to Friday night? He hoped so, she was pretty cute after all, what with the white hair. This was for Bobby he reminded himself. How to break him away from the crazy girl? The problem with the other crazy girls was they were never crazy enough to put up with being told all those terrible things.
He snickered to himself, looking at what his pencil had produced, a small drawing of a Male being held at knife point by a crazed woman. A title? "What happens when you DON'T use Nova's dating service" He grinned a little wider turning the page over, Matt would have to see that one, he would love it and of course be afraid for Bobby's life. What else was going on? D Friday night, that was going to take some courage, but it would be fun he reassured himself. Alex, the old Alex was back, it was nice to have another who liked to lecture around. Sam though? What had happen to her, why was she here with him on this whole trip wherever it was going. It was almost eerie thinking back to how similar he thought they once were, only to see it again now.
His pencil produced another drawing, a giant robot, and a winged boy facing off against it. Abby and Nigel were there fighting in the background, but only he knew it was them. A title? "I hope its Sunday" Smiling to himself at the inside joke. His mind wandered only not far, Matt and Sam, the three of them flashing their sign, Matt in the center, Sam on the left himself on the right resting their head on his shoulders. It made him smile brighter. She was always okay, even when she wasn't. He kind of understood, or at least he thought he did. His pencil went to work, tracing out a hand contorted into the sign. A title? He brought the lead to the paper, just as the bell rung he looked up to see everyone else mostly packed and ready to move on. He quickly stuffed his things away, darting out of the class, walking by his locker, he looked down almost as if he could see himself still collapsed there. Shaking his head he grinned whispering to the note crumbled in the bottom of the locker "If you are gonna be a real friend, you got some tough competition"
Matt turned one last time beaming a grin towards Nova, watching him fiddle with the lock on his locker. "My turn? You mean you aren't gonna take them too?" The call back, laughing now "Not if I don't have too!"
They both laughed at each other and waved as he vanished into the crowd, two brown ears could be followed bobbing in between people as he made his way through. Nova started to work the lock on his locker, 26, he always went too far on that last one as a moment of frustration hit him, the late bell rung and people were starting to pick up their pace while he spun the numbers again, pulling it open.
It surprised him, he never really expected it to be there, maybe never was too strong, but it was here already. He could feel the color drain from his face as his hand slowly reached for the piece of paper. Anticipation turned to sickness as he slowly pealed it open. He should have been reading it but his eyes were closed, trying hard to steady his breathing he forgot the world around him still existed. In his mind he wasn't ready, he thought he was, but the slight trembling of the paper between his fingers let him know.
Eyes broke and came into focus as he read the words, it was her hand writing. -Tara, it was the fist thing he saw, he trained his eyes up to the top to read the whole thing. It didn't take long, in truth if it would have taken longer he might have exploded. The sensation of his heart throbbing in his chest, pulsing rapidly drowned out any remaining noise as a cold sweat covered his body. All the color from him was gone as the vessels inside him opened wide pulling the blood from his face. It was almost like a self induced state of shock as he slide back against the cool metal. His legs would not allow him to stand anymore, limbs felt heavy, the weight of his head could not be supported by his neck as it fell over into his arms. It was as if his body had simply shut down.
What did it mean? He pictured in his mind arguing with her, both of them yelling back in forth. He didn't want it to end that way, somewhere deep inside, but what was left to end? A few hollow words scribbled out, probably during 3rd period or maybe before she went to bed. He could picture her sitting there, an annoyed look on her face as if it was something to get out of the way, be done with it already. How to conceal that though? Tara. That would mean it meant something. For sure. His eyes scanned it again, hoping he could hear it through her voice, but there was only silence, he tried hard, strained trying to remember time she said those words as if she could read it to him in his memory.
The urge to break down was strong, it seemed so effortless sometimes. He remind himself of talking with Sam, always okay, always alright, even when you aren't. His eyes refocused and he shook his head, pushing himself back to his feet. A deep breath rushed to his lungs as he exhaled long. Books, class, he was late. He snapped to attention grabbing what he needed, looking back to his hand with the note, he balled it, giving it a small toss into the bottom of his locker, shutting it before it had a chance to bounce out and escape.
The door was just getting ready to be closed as he burst through, the smooth bottoms of his sneakers allowing his built up momentum to slide across the floor as a few of the other students snickered after he slid to a stop. "Ah hey? This doesn't mean I am late right?" That goofy grin came to his face, as the teacher rolled her eyes. "Take your seat please Nova"
He jogged back to his desk sliding in it, legs spreading wide as the right one already started to bounce slightly. "Today we will be covering...." and with that his mind was elsewhere. What did he have lined up? Bobby and Matt were going to reschedule the body paint thing to fix Bobby's chi. Chloe might see him again, but the Bloodvine crowd that followed her around was quickly making her more trouble then she was worth. Did Abby say yes to Friday night? He hoped so, she was pretty cute after all, what with the white hair. This was for Bobby he reminded himself. How to break him away from the crazy girl? The problem with the other crazy girls was they were never crazy enough to put up with being told all those terrible things.
He snickered to himself, looking at what his pencil had produced, a small drawing of a Male being held at knife point by a crazed woman. A title? "What happens when you DON'T use Nova's dating service" He grinned a little wider turning the page over, Matt would have to see that one, he would love it and of course be afraid for Bobby's life. What else was going on? D Friday night, that was going to take some courage, but it would be fun he reassured himself. Alex, the old Alex was back, it was nice to have another who liked to lecture around. Sam though? What had happen to her, why was she here with him on this whole trip wherever it was going. It was almost eerie thinking back to how similar he thought they once were, only to see it again now.
His pencil produced another drawing, a giant robot, and a winged boy facing off against it. Abby and Nigel were there fighting in the background, but only he knew it was them. A title? "I hope its Sunday" Smiling to himself at the inside joke. His mind wandered only not far, Matt and Sam, the three of them flashing their sign, Matt in the center, Sam on the left himself on the right resting their head on his shoulders. It made him smile brighter. She was always okay, even when she wasn't. He kind of understood, or at least he thought he did. His pencil went to work, tracing out a hand contorted into the sign. A title? He brought the lead to the paper, just as the bell rung he looked up to see everyone else mostly packed and ready to move on. He quickly stuffed his things away, darting out of the class, walking by his locker, he looked down almost as if he could see himself still collapsed there. Shaking his head he grinned whispering to the note crumbled in the bottom of the locker "If you are gonna be a real friend, you got some tough competition"