Ashes to Ashes

It was October 29^th, a Monday morning. It was not all that unusual for those days to be especially bad for the Sidekicks since the bullies seemed to take out the loss of their weekend out on the weaker ones. Therefore, as Warren moved through the halls he did bear witness to the random locker-packing or other unsavory activities. Naturally though some Heroes took the example Stronghold had set and helped out. He did not bother.

Work the previous evening had been rather rough. Freon had taken her date to the Paper Dragon for dinner. She knew Warren still worked there. The pay was good and it was not like he had much else to do since it kept him from thinking. However, he had seen them. Oddly, he found that though he did feel anger it was not as intense. The disgust with her was intense. Maybe...it had also hurt a little too. He had still had enough emotion pent up that sleep was nearly impossible.

Coming around a corner, he was snapped out of the spiraling train of thought by what he saw. The hall was packed by students who were lined up to stay out of the way and watch. Warren stared in surprise as Speed and Lash stuffed an unfortunate Sidekick into her locker and slammed the door. Last he and everyone else knew those two were with the Major-Pain-in-the-Neck and her cronies in the lock-up. Here they were though, there was no mistaking their laughs or taunts.

Eyes narrowing, he forced the sudden rise of temper back down. These two were here, free and likely for a reason. Already a path was clearing for him however. Likely it was because of the tell-tale waves of heat rising from Warren's fists. He took it and stepped forward. Keeping control was the primary concern though a flame or two did lick along his fingers.

"Let the girl out, assholes."

Both of the lackeys turned to look at him. Speed casually leaned against the locker holding the unfortunate Sidekick. "Gonna make us, Peace?"

Just as Warren was about to do just that, someone moved in front of him. Blinking at Crystal, he shied away rather than brush her arm with his hand. They were a little too close together. She must not have noticed.

"You're in my way. Move it."

Lash was the one taken most by surprise as the girl stepped forward and gave him a shove that actually sent him backward against a locker with a crash. Speed straightened only to have Crystal tilt her head forward to Look at him over the tops of her glasses. For a full minute and a half the two faced one another. Finally, one moved. Mutters rose from bystanders as Speed actually snorted and turned to head off with Lash stumbling to follow.

Not waiting until the two were out of sight, Crystal turned away and reached out to open the locker so the poor sidekick could get out. It was a mistake. Warren saw Lash turn and the arm come around. He reacted instantly as his hand came up already aflame. The shot was precise, calculations already completed in the back of his mind. The fireball hit the stretching arm at Lash's wrist and the force sent it just enough to the side that he hit a locker instead of the girl.

Unfortunately, that brought Speed into it. A second later Warren was slammed into a locker as the beefy guy shot forward and used his shoulder as a battering ram. Just as he hit the lockers, Speed was virtually lifted from the ground, being spun inside a small cyclone. Crystal had one arm out, hand toward the bully to show she was controlling that wind. The wind cut off and Speed dropped to the floor with a grunt of surprise.

The entire thing could have gotten messy since Lash decided to try hitting Crystal again just as Speed threw himself at Warren. A sudden blast of force sent all four of them staggering and trying to catch their balance while ears rang painfully with after-echoes.

"STOP!"

Students scrambled out of the way--if they had not already been thrown aside by the blast of wind or the shout--as Coach Boomer and Principle Powers arrived on the scene. Warren could tell from the looks on their faces...well, naturally they were all in a bit of trouble. Crystal was pushing herself away from the lockers. Somewhere her glasses had been knocked off and her hair was no longer in the ponytail. She however turned to finally open the locker.

As the girl managed to unfold and wriggle out, things were silent. Lash and Speed stood still and Warren kept his silence until the locker was closed once more. When all four had their attention on the frowning Coach Boomer and Principle Powers, she sighed and folded her arms across her stomach, slowly shaking her head.

"I suppose I shouldn't be overly surprised. However, I am quite disappointed."